“You have suffered two grievous losses in the past. Is that not true?” Thomas’s voice was almost a whisper.548Please respect copyright.PENANA7NhwC85qDE
548Please respect copyright.PENANATqcLzB60gy
“Yes, I have, but…” she was unable to finish.548Please respect copyright.PENANAyvC3KXubid
548Please respect copyright.PENANAzDZ6h2Daf2
“A little girl in an auto accident. And the miscarriage of a little boy not too long ago.”548Please respect copyright.PENANAMg2BR9k9oo
548Please respect copyright.PENANA9sN0iMDWwG
Grace sat down on the stairs as Thomas’ caring voice overwhelmed her. He waited for her to answer.548Please respect copyright.PENANATRyZ5wkVQD
548Please respect copyright.PENANAOgxqEgZP2j
“Yes … it’s true … but they died and I buried them.”548Please respect copyright.PENANA8NrCh08QZF
548Please respect copyright.PENANA2Xn8BhINRJ
“They did not die, Grace. No one ever dies. I have been looking after them since those fateful days.”548Please respect copyright.PENANAiRR6KOqyVI
548Please respect copyright.PENANAEvZFbfrtH8
“I don’t understand. Thomas? What are you trying to tell me?”548Please respect copyright.PENANA4h9XNJXnKm
548Please respect copyright.PENANAjdBhUGA2sU
“I’ve been waiting for you, Grace, to tell you that they wish to return to you.”548Please respect copyright.PENANA0oBFpMGETj
548Please respect copyright.PENANAxWBxv7uQyj
“But that’s impossible,” Grace replied as tears welled in her eyes.548Please respect copyright.PENANAeSuTXApwlD
548Please respect copyright.PENANAQ5m2uXuZcm
“Nothing is impossible.”548Please respect copyright.PENANAoQOjjRrs6u
548Please respect copyright.PENANAOuqOxMlcvt
“But how?”548Please respect copyright.PENANALVSAgsUb7g
548Please respect copyright.PENANAkfkEUo5bQk
“You have separated from your husband, the father of these children. Is that correct?”548Please respect copyright.PENANAt1CkuyU85u
548Please respect copyright.PENANAtWiA2RaOAN
“Yes, it is. The loss was more than Charlie could bear. He was so unhappy, I let him go.”548Please respect copyright.PENANAsPTHzaSj8V
548Please respect copyright.PENANARCs6mYuz6v
“He is not doing well. You need to find him.”548Please respect copyright.PENANARSKGE3jj9m
548Please respect copyright.PENANAJR40sEtB0y
“I don’t know where he is.” Her tears overflowed their banks and cascaded down her cheeks.548Please respect copyright.PENANAPYMMo6f1Q2
548Please respect copyright.PENANA1QvskIarrh
“Not now, Grace. Tears will not help. Be strong and vigilant.” Thomas moved away from the railing.548Please respect copyright.PENANAq5XvlPsexx
548Please respect copyright.PENANAOzbSVYneWw
“Wait! Thomas! I want to see...” Grace rushed up the stairway to the balcony. “Thomas, please,” she looked in all directions, “Morris, where is he?”548Please respect copyright.PENANAsiQtrPD5bi
548Please respect copyright.PENANAmVbMD7974J
Morris joined her at the head of the stairway, “I’m afraid he’s gone, my dear.”548Please respect copyright.PENANA7nbN8ciZz3
548Please respect copyright.PENANAnOFHiwxNv2
“Maybe he’s...” Grace hurried to the back of the balcony and the alcove where she first noticed Thomas. The scattered afternoon sunlight danced through the balcony as the moving clouds overhead broke apart. Grace turned and looked at Morris and plaintively asked, “What am I going to do?”548Please respect copyright.PENANAnsXwrgHBs7
548Please respect copyright.PENANAFcxShyZzFh
“I believe Thomas gave you the answer, my dear. Be strong and vigilant.”548Please respect copyright.PENANAoULg9nTFF4
548Please respect copyright.PENANAPOceJx8mos
Grace turned and looked into the empty alcove. As she was about to leave, she stopped, bent over and picked something up from the floor. “Oh, my God,” she murmured. She turned and ran to Morris, “Look, Morris.”548Please respect copyright.PENANAJWCGsxZMGW
548Please respect copyright.PENANAcxTH7ldoDU
“What is it, my dear?” Morris was pleased to see the joy on Grace’s face.548Please respect copyright.PENANAvGEJbJjTxJ
548Please respect copyright.PENANA6G2wDmueR3
Grace held a small bracelet of colored beads, “This belonged to my Sarah. I placed it in the casket with her.” She turned and looked back to the alcove, “My baby boy!” She turned to Morris, “Do you think what Thomas said is true? Will they come back to me?”548Please respect copyright.PENANAzVkOhogveR
548Please respect copyright.PENANA9XwNtjNdXN