Free Deadly Decision by Regina Smeltzer Page B

opened a conduit and once again allowed it access to the mortal world? Had Barbara brought it here, or had it come on its own? The curtains moved toward me, and I steeled my muscles for action. The sheer fabric now became one with the screen, and then puffed into the room again. From the window, I could see the tree limbs dancing against the dawn sky. I waited until I heard Ted and Trina go downstairs before I got up. I chanced a quick look in the mirror. Bags hung under bloodshot eyes. I had not heard any movement from Barbara in the next room. I hoped she slept better than I had.
    As I entered the kitchen, I noticed the broom and dust pan propped against the hutch. Must be battling dirt again. I reveled in the normality, after the haunting experiences of the night before.
    “Hey Dad. You sleep well?”
    “Fine as always, honey.”
    Trina handed me a cup of coffee, black and hot. It burned my throat. I was grateful for the discomfort; I was still human.
    “I’m really worried about Barbara,” Trina said. “I mean, is she healthy?”
    “She’ll be fine. When she gets up she’ll be as good as new, ready to take on the world.” At least I hoped so.
    I shared Trina’s concern, but my fears were not for Barbara’s physical wellbeing, but for her spiritual safety. The previous night had been nothing like the quiet sessions we had shared at her home. Walking up the attic steps had transported me from pee wee football to the NFL, a place way out of my comfort zone. Thoughts of the entity that had possessed Barbara sent new shivers over my warmed body.
    The morning sun flooded the kitchen, but still I probed the space for unusual shadows, looking for anything that appeared not quite right: a distorted section of the floor, a clouded portion on the ceiling, an unusual spot on the wall.
    At the sound of an engine grinding, I turned to Trina. “What’s he still doing here?” Once Mitch had removed all his possessions from the house, I had hoped Trina would be free of him. I gritted my teeth, knowing he must have been hanging around during the two weeks I was gone.
    “He needs the money and we need the help. Sandra agreed to pay him to do odd jobs on the house for Ted. He only works a few hours a week.”
    “What does he need money for?” I went to the door and watched as Mitch sauntered away from the house toward the garage. What was it about the kid that pushed my hot button just by seeing him?
    “What are your plans for today?” Trina asked.
    I poked my finger through the hole in front of me. “How about I start my summer jobs by replacing the screen in this door?” I watched Mitch enter the garage. “Nice list you created.” I nodded toward the refrigerator where a long piece of tri-folded paper had a list of jobs under each of our names. Trust Trina to be organized. I needed to put my back into manual labor. Maybe part of my need was the knowledge that working muscles produce heat, or perhaps, like the burn of my coffee, the pain of physical labor would reinforce that I was alive. Work was my therapy, and I needed a long session today, but more than that, I needed to talk to Barbara. Alone.
    “You have a guest, Dad. Take a few days off and show her the town.”
    We both grinned, knowing it would take all of thirty minutes to cover the entirety of Darlington, but this was my way to get Barbara alone.
    “Did I hear someone suggest seeing the town?” Barbara stood in the kitchen doorway, looking rested and fresh. I expected her to spend a sleepless night, and appear in the morning with dark circles under her eyes and complaints of a sore throat. Being possessed by evil had to produce aftereffects. She appeared unscathed.
    While she helped Trina finish breakfast, I buttered toast and drained two more cups of coffee. After we polished off crisp bacon, eggs over-easy and perfectly buttered toast, all of which Barbara swallowed without grimace, Trina again brought up the agenda of the day.
    “I thought you might