A Brother's Love Ch. 02

"But you CAN see them...just open you eyes and open your heart...help them understand that death is not bad...it is rest...it is all part of life, my darling, and clinging to those we've lost will do no good. Everything has an ending Kristopher, just as every cloud has a silver lining..." She smiled warmly at him and Kit saw light pouring from her eyes. She looked like an angel.

"Where will you go mama?" he asked weakly.

Jeanette smiled brightly and looked towards the sky. "Just as you will be their angel here on land, I will be their angel of the sky. I will watch over them, just as I will watch over you...I will always be around, even if you cannot see me." Jeanette looked towards the sky once more and nodded softly, as if to someone unseen. "Now, my darling, no more questions. I haven't long before I must go."

Kit swallowed hard and stared up into his mothers beautiful, glowing face. In all his life, she'd never looked so serene and happy. There were no cuts or bruises on her face or arms or legs; there was no fear in her eyes, just breathtaking, golden light; and strangely, it felt really good to know she was finally free, finally at peace within.

"Now come, my darling, we have an appointment we must not miss." She said.

Kit furrowed his brow, not understanding her meaning and Jeanette laughed. "Come..." she stood up and held out her hand for him to take. She was warm to the touch, which surprised Kit. He'd always thought ghosts were cold.

"Where are we going?" He asked.

"I want you to meet a friend of mine...someone who will help you understand what it is you must do."

"Why can't you stay and help instead?" he said, feeling strangely weightless as he began to climb down the straw bales.

"Because I have work to do my darling...besides...my friend is much better acquainted with being dead than I...he will know exactly what it is you're to do."

Kit held his mothers hand and laughed as she began to skip by his side. The night air was cool and everything seemed light and suspended, as though it was all a strange dream. He hoped he wouldn't wake up.

Kit began to forget about everything and became captivated by his mother, twirling and skipping in the starlight. Jeanette danced like a ballerina. Her feet tapped and pattered on the stone beneath them, her arms and hands slicing the air like ribbons. Her hair glinted and swayed, her body leapt in unheard rhythms.

Finally, as she began to slow, Kit's attention was diverted to the fence, now barely six feet in front of them. Specks of light like fireflies fluttered in the air, pulsing, and grouping together to form a strange, undetermined shape. Kit squinted, trying to make out their pattern.

"Mama...look..." He breathed.

"Hush." She whispered gently, still swaying left to right, her eyes closed and a smile lighting her face. "Think happy my darling...think of the sunset in the mountains...think of the squirrel in the garden at home...and of love...think of love above all else."

Kit did as his mother told him and thought. He focused on his mother, watching her face, thinking how beautiful she was and how much he loved her. She opened one eye and smiled at him, then let her gaze rove. "Look Kristopher...it's working...you're bringing him through."

"Bringing who..." Kit gasped as he turned to see what she was looking at. Where the fire flies had been just moments before, now stood a man...he a strong, worn-looking face and greying, hazel coloured hair. His eyes were almost black, yet somehow, it seemed like they were made of light, just like his mother's.

"Hello Kristopher" he said softly, offering his hand for Kit to shake. His voice was deep and soothing. It filled kits head with warm fuzz. "My name is Jonathan. I've been sent to help you on your new path."

Kit didn't know what to say. He wasn't sure he could speak. He reached out and shook the man's huge hand. "Hi." He muttered.

"I cannot stay, I'm so sorry...I would love to chat, but...the boss is calling and we must hurry." Jonathan smiled warmly. "I will be back in a few days Kit, when we will have much more time to talk. I just thought I should introduce myself before I start rudely popping in and out your life. Jeanette?"

Kit had absolutely no idea what this man was on about, but hearing that his mother was due to leave, he panicked and turned to her. He threw his arms around her waist and held tightly, not wanting to let her go.

"Eh, come now, my darling...do not fear...mama has to leave, is all...come...you my not feel it now, but you're very close to death my love and I cannot let that be." Jeanette took him by the hand and led him back across the yard. "However, I have such a clever boy...because of all the places he could have gone, Kristopher Alden managed to find a house lacking in children. You know why?"

Kit shook his head. "Because the nice people who live here cannot have children of their own. They would very much like to adopt a child...one in need of love and shelter and a warm bed to sleep in...and you, my darling, happen to be the most perfect child in the entire world."

His mother had led him to the front of the farm house, where wide wooden steps led up to a large veranda. Little purple and blue flowers were blossoming in pots outside. A straw mat lay in front of the screen door, bearing the words 'welcome home'. Although scared, Kit couldn't help but be reassured by his mothers smile.

"They will look after you, I promise...now...come and hold me, I must go..." she beckoned, her arms open as she knelt beside him.

"No mama, please..." Kit begged, clutching at her with all his might. Tears sprang to his eyes. Jeanette had to fight back her own, choking down her pain until she was gone.

"Yes, my love...I must..."

"Jeanette, we must leave now...there's no more time." Jonathan said from across the yard, his voice carrying across the silent air.

"Be good Kristopher..." Jeanette said, feeling her body go light. Kit gasped, seeing his mother becoming transparent in front of him, her body breaking up into little fleck's of blinding light. "Remember...life isn't always easy, my love, but it's the greatest of all adventures...it must be lived to the full!" she called. "I love you with all of my heart darling! Never forget!"

And with that, the light faded and she was gone.

Suddenly, all his exhaustion and hunger came flooding back. Kit saw spots of white appear in his vision as his knees buckled beneath him. Gasping, Kit fell to the floor with a heavy thud and began to wretch bile onto the veranda.

Lights came on beyond the screen door, though Kit was barely aware of any of it.

"Who is it Bill? What's out there?" a woman's worried voice sounded faintly.

"I don't know. Stay there Maggie...Jesus Christ! It's a boy!" Bill gasped.

And that was how it had all begun.

*

Lena's first day at school went surprisingly better than she'd thought it would. She wanted to tell Kit that he had been right, that everything was ok, but he wasn't home when she got back from school.

She sat quietly in the kitchen, watching Maggie cook when she wasn't looking and pretending to read when she was. She wanted to help her bake; she'd loved it when her mom used to let her, but she didn't want to tell Maggie that.

Maggie, of course, had already noticed Lena watching and knew she wasn't reading as she hadn't even turned a page of her book.

"Hey little lady...I could really use a hand over here...I'm just no good at making cookies...think you could help me out?" Maggie asked, looking up just in time to catch the grin that had spread across Lena' face. Then she realised Maggie was watching and straightened herself out.

"I s'pose." She mumbled.

"Great! Go wash your hands then and come down when you're ready."

"Ok." Lena raced off upstairs to the bathroom, grinning to herself as she climbed the stairs. She tried not to show too much happiness in front of people. She didn't want them to think she'd forgotten her family, or that she was happy with where she was. Not that she was unhappy, it just wasn't her home. At least not the one she was used to, where she had her mother and father and Matt...

Taking care to wash between her fingers and under her nails, Lena then lathered the soap in her palms and watched as she rinsed her hands under the water. The soap bubbles trickled away down the plug hole. Her worries were like that sometimes...just seeming to trickle away. She laughed to herself and turned, searching for the towel.

"I wish I knew what you were laughing at."

Lena froze and spun round, almost screaming when she saw her brother standing behind her. She stood wide eyed, unable to speak, staring up at him. Her brother's face mirrored her own.

"Matt..." She breathed.

"Y-you can...you can see me?" he stuttered.

Lena nodded. "Am I not meant to?" she said dumbly. Of course she wasn't meant to! Her brother was dead!

"No! I mean, yes!" Matt's face broke out into a grin and his eyes sparkled with laughter. "Touch me!" he demanded.

Lena still wasn't sure whether to laugh or scream. Trembling, she reached out her wet fingers and touched his outstretched hand. She leapt back in surprise. Not only could she touch him, he was warm! And yet...he didn't feel quite solid...but almost. Gulping hard, she stepped forward and touched him again, this time letting her fingers feel him properly. She couldn't quite name what it was that felt different, just that he felt...softer somehow...

"M-matt...what's going on?" She asked, her voice barely more than a whisper. "Have I gone mad or something?"

"No, not at all kiddo!" he grinned. "You are one-hundred percent as abnormal as you always were!" He laughed, brimming with so much happiness that Lena couldn't help but grin with him. Before long, they were both laughing and hugging each other and Matt was leaning down, letting her touch him and play with his hair, making sure he really was real.

Then suddenly--

"Lena? Are you alright in there?" Maggie's voice through the door.

They both froze.

"Er, yeah...um, I'll be out in a minute!" Lena called.

"Riiight...I'll...see you down stairs, then?" Maggie said, sounding disbelieving.

"Ok!"

Lena and Matt stood looking at each other, listening as Maggie's footsteps slowly faded.

"Why are you here?" Lena asked, still unable to believe her own eyes.

"That's the thing! I've been here all along. But for some reason you just didn't know it! It's been driving me insane! But then Kit..." Matt paused, unsure if he should mention Kit, as that was something complicated to explain. He wasn't sure if Kit wanted her to know at all, but then he hadn't said so, so maybe he didn't mind. He quickly decided, that for now, at least, he wasn't going to mention it.

"What about Kit?" she asked.

"Nothing...take too long to explain now. Just...you've gotta keep smiling, ok? Keep being happy and you'll be able to see me. Will you do that for me kiddo?"

Lena beamed to hear him call her 'kiddo' and nodded eagerly.

Matt grinned and ruffled her hair. "You're the best. Now go...show Maggie how good you are at making cookies before she thinks you've gone mad, talking to yourself in the bathroom."

"Can no-one see you but me?" she asked, pausing as she turned to leave.

"Pretty much." Matt said. "Don't tell anyone ok? Our secret?"

Lena nodded. "Our secret."

She grinned once more, blew him a playful kiss which he caught and clasped to his heart as he always did and then left the bathroom.

Downstairs, she smiled as she came to Maggie's side in the kitchen, seeing how she'd weighed out flour, sugar and butter ready. She'd got a whole load of other ingredients stacked out near Lena, so that she could decide what flavour and decorations she wanted for them.

"So what flavour are you going for?" Maggie asked.

"Mmm...what do you like?"

"Oo...I like peanut butter. So does Bill." Maggie replied, smiling.

"Me too. But I like raisins too..." Lena said.

"Kit likes the raisins ones best...he likes them with cinnamon too...saying that, Kit just likes cookies in general."

Maggie and Lena both laughed. Maggie grinned down at her and winked. "Good to see you're smiling."

"It feel's good to." Lena replied.

Turning back to the cookies, Maggie leaned over and pulled the raisins and peanut butter towards her. "I say...half and half?"

"Sounds perfect." Lena grinned.