Hey guys I actually have 2 more chap as long as this one (even longer) already written but i guess you know what I wait before posting them...
Chapter 10
Mel was starting to get to Timothy's dad when Jim asked:
-You'll be ok?
-Yeah, why wouldn't I?, replied Mel surprised.
-Let's see... maybe 'cause he already hurt you.
-Jim! Come on! He didn't do it on purpose and you know it.
They looked deeply in each other's eyes. Jim knew she was right, but he couldn't help but worry about her.
-Well, I guess I can't ask you not to talk to him after all we did to help Timothy, anyway...
-After all you did!, corrected Mel. Don't worry I'll be fine. You can come with me if it reassures you, she said posing her hand on his chest. Jim took her hand in his.
-No, it's your... thing. I don't want to interfere in this, but I'll stay close by.
-I hope you will!
Melinda put herself on tiptoe to kiss Jim. He took her in his arms, kissed her back and hugged her closely. Then Mel started to walk towards Timothy's father, holding Jim's hand as long as she could. She looked at him one last time, they smiled at each other.
Mel then started to focus on what she would tell the man or better how she would have to tell him. When she had almost reached him, she realized that he was crying. She slowly approached him.
-I guess it still hurts... , she said more to herself than to Timothy's father.
-I'm sorry? Asked the man, turning his back to Mel to hide that he was crying.
-Your son, Timothy?
-What? How do you know that? He asked very surprised.
-All in good time, first I would like to talk about what happened yesterday, and before that I would like to introduce myself 'cause, well the circumstances weren't very favorable when we met. My name is Melinda Gordon, she said raising her hand.
She was taking all the time she could before getting to the point, since the 'revealing her gift' part was always hard for her. The man shook her hand.
-Vince McOlin, he said still a bit confused.
-I think you remember my husband, Jim Clancy, added Mel with a shy smile, while turning her head to look at Jim, who was walking along the water, almost always watching them.
-Yeah, of course I do. Can I say again that I'm really sorry for what I did. I can't tell you how bad I feel, I-
-Hey, you don't have to, and you don't have to be sorry, it was nothing, really. I'm the one sorry that we reacted like that. Jim shouldn't have been so hard, he's really not like this usually, I swear! It's just that he's been waiting for this for like... ever, so he would, well, we would be devastated if anything had been wrong, explained Mel while putting her hand on her stomach.
The man smiled seeing this.
-Sure, I understand, I would never forgive myself if I had done something to you. So you're sure everything is fine?
-Well, not one sign that something could be wrong, so Jim said that there was no reason to worry.
-Good, I'm glad, he said obviously relieved.
Mel took a deep breathe, she looked at Jim, who, seeing that she started to feel uncomfortable, understood that she was about to tell her secret. So to encourage her, he blew her a kiss and made his cute supporting smile. Mel smiled back at him, waking up the courage to speak.
-I have something else to talk to you about, she started.
Vince looked at her, hoping to have an answer on how she knew about Timothy. Of course:
-You asked me how I knew about your son, Timothy, well... the thing is that I... I met him. In fact he's the reason that I'm here, talking to you...
-This can't be possible, my son is dead, he drowned right here in this fall, practically a year ago, Vince said, tears coming in his eyes.
-I know, he... he told me his story, he told me all that happened that day, replied Mel.
-Are you listening? I just told you that Timothy is dead. How would he tell you his story?
He started to get upset, Mel knew she had to explain everything to him, otherwise things would get worse, even if she wasn't sure that thing wouldn't get worse no matter what.
-I... I have a gift, I can speak to and see the... dead, their spirits. I have seen Timothy, he is the one that told me you would be here, in Georgia, 'cause this is where he died, he told me that you would come here today. He explained to me how he died this morning, that he felt from the boat, how everyone tried to save him, but it was too late.
Mel tried as hard as she could to make him believe her. Vince remained silent, when she stopped speaking, he looked at her, tears slowly rolling on his cheeks, he shook his head:
-How can you say that? Is this a joke? What kind of trick did you use to know all this. Maybe only Internet, uh? What do you want from me, a message to give to him, maybe a message from him? 100 to say to he loves me, 200 to tell him that we'll never forget him, that he'll always be in our heart! I'm not buying!
-I don't want anything from you, I don't want your money, I just need you to help me figure out why your son is still, why he can't move on.
Vince was now really angry, he started to yell.
-Maybe he just can't move on 'cause he's dead, alright! I don't know why you make up this story, or if this is just a bad joke, but you won't have me with your lies, ok? Now you better leave me alone, he finished in a threatening tone.
-Is there a problem here?
Jim put an arm around Mel, she felt really relieved to feel Jim beside her, 'cause she was starting to feel unsafe.
-Yes, there is one, said Vince, angrily.
He had lowered his voice though.
-I think you're wife is either trying to swindle me or she's just nuts!
-For your own sake you better never say this again..., Jim said with a threatening voice.
He had rage in his look. He couldn't bare to hear people insulting Mel. And even if she acted like she was used to it, he knew it hurt her every time.
-Please you have to believe me, insisted Mel, I can't help him if I don't know what is keeping him here.
-Stop saying that my son is here! Ok?, he then turned to face Jim. If you don't want me to be rude, make her stop lying like this!
-Hey! If she says that Timothy is still here then he is still here.
-Mt McOlin, he is here right now, slowly said Mel.
-Why do you insist? I don't believe you anyway.
-Hey, so you finally talked to him, said Timothy, who hadn't paid any attention to what his dad had just said.
-Yeah sweetie, but I don't think he will ever talk to us again, he doesn't believe that you're here.
-I should have thought about that. He only believes what he can see, he used to tell me that if you don't have any proof then you can't believe.
-Unfortunately he's not the only one...
-Ok, that's enough!
Vince left them shaking his head in disbelief.
The little boy watched his dad leaving with a sad face.
-I'm sorry Timothy, but I don't think your dad is going to help us, but maybe you should tell me why you wanted to see him, I might be able to help you.
Mel suddenly felt dizzy, she almost lost her balance, but Jim helped her to stay steady.
-Hey Mel, what's wrong?, he asked worried.
-I don't know I just feel dizzy, I must be more tired than I thought.
Mel had still trouble to stay up, they walked in direction of the forest to hide from the sun. Mel sat down on a rock. Jim knelt down to look at her.
-You better?, he asked taking her hands.
-Yeah, don't worry, I probably just need to sleep. We should go back to the cabin.
-You decide. What about Timothy?
-He's gone...
Mel got up to go back to the camp.
-You think you can walk until the cabin?, asked Jim.
-Yeah don't worry. I told you I probably just need to rest, Mel said trying to reassure him as much as herself.
They both feared that this could be something much more serious.
When they arrived, even though it was only the late afternoon, Mel went straight to bed. Jim sat down on the bed looking at her, worried.
-You think it can be ...
She couldn't say it. Jim took her hand.
-Hey, don't think about this now, ok? Like you said you may only be too tired. We'll figure everything when you'll be rested. There is nothing we can do anyway, and if there is any problem the best thing to do is to stay lie down. So stay here, don't worry and try to sleep.
-Ok, doc!, she answered with a little smile. Will you stay with me?
-Of course, if you want me too.
-Yes. But if you want to do something else, you can. I don't want you to stay here just because I asked you to.
-I want to. Plus what do you want me to do without you? Mel smiled. Do you want anything? Water? Tea? Soup?
-Just some water, thanks.
Jim kissed her head, and got up. When he came back, less than a minute after, Mel was already asleep.
-You really needed to rest, whispered Jim, putting the glass of water on the bedside table.
He kissed her tenderly, and lie down close to her.
Mel woke up in the middle of the night, she was still feeling tired but she needed to walk a little, so she got up, she smiled seeing Jim sleeping peacefully. She noticed that he had still his clothes on too so he'd probably felt asleep not long after her. She gently caressed his hair and left the bedroom.
She went into the main room and almost screamed. On the couch, there was Timothy playing with the string of his swimsuit.
-Timothy? What are you doing here?, asked Mel trying to catch her breathe.
-I just didn't wanted to stay with my dad tonight, and I didn't wanted to come home either, so I thought maybe I could come here, I wanted to ask permission but you were already asleep, he said timidly.
-It's ok, don't worry. You're very welcome here, Mel said with a smile.
They stood silent for a moment.
-I'm sorry again that your dad won't help me help you. I will try to talk to him again. I'm not going to let you down now.
-That's also why I wanted to come here, began to say Timothy, getting up, I think I won't need your help, maybe I won't even need to cross over.
-What? What are you talking about? You can't stay here, you have to go into the light.
-Well that's not what your brother said...