Chapter 57

“Like a…I have no idea,” I said.

“Never mind. I’m getting cold.”

AJ stopped drawing, so I did, too. “Abby?” He said it, though we all turned to face her.

“We’re sorry.” Her sad expression there in the moon’s glow required me to say it.

“It was an angel.” She seemed quite flustered.

“Oh.” It was obvious once said. “Yeah.”

“Do you believe in that stuff, spirits and guardian angels?”

No one answered Abby right away.

“We do this thing at work—it’s tradition. Long before I started there, they were doing it. I think they do it at most hospitals. When someone dies, we open a window.” Abby got back up on the fallen log. “To set their soul free.”

“I like that,” AJ said.

“Sometimes, maybe…if you leave a metaphorical window open…they can come back when you need them, you know?”

Major climbed up next her. “That would be nice.”

I took the spot on the other side.

“You might really hear your dad singing, AJ.”

“I’ll listen harder than ever.”