Eyes Only Read Online Free Page B

Agree?”
    Myra fingered her pearls. She really hated waking up with a hangover, but the bourbon was smooth. She nodded vigorously.
    â€œAttagirl, Myra. Okay, let’s get this food out there to the tables. The boys are beginning to look mighty hungry.”
    Myra walked over to the sink to wash her hands. She looked out the garden window, as she always did when she washed her hands. Soap and all, her hands flew to her mouth when she saw a vision in white on the little knoll at the end of the garden. Her spirit daughter. A second vision appeared. Then two visions. The second figure was Annie’s spirit daughter. Her voice strangled, she gasped for Annie to join her and pointed at the knoll. Annie dropped the cheese platter in her hands, and the cheese balls rolled across the floor, but not so fast that the dogs couldn’t catch them.
    â€œLook, Annie. The girls are dancing. It’s almost as if there were a flagpole out there. Remember the year we put up a maypole and decorated it with ribbons and flowers? Oh, Annie, look how beautiful our daughters are! Look at their lovely smiles. Oh, dear God, they’re blowing us kisses. They know we’re here! Oh, Annie!”
    Annie reached out to Myra with a death grip and held her tight. Somehow, she managed to blow a kiss to the dancing girls. Myra did the same.
    â€œRemember the time we were standing here, and they appeared, wearing those cherry-red coats with the white fur collars? They were little then. They were on the knoll then, too, and it was snowing. Oh, God, Annie, I don’t understand this. They were little girls then. Now they’re seventeen. I know they’re seventeen, because I remember those dresses.”
    â€œI wish they’d come closer,” Annie whispered in a hoarse voice.
    â€œThe knoll was their favorite spot. They had tea parties there, they played games, and there was that maypole. Then there was the time they wanted to sleep in a tent on the knoll. We put up the tent, and we were worried sick they’d be afraid during the night, so you and I hid in the woods to watch over them.”
    â€œWe spied on them, Myra. And we fell asleep before they did. We did hear some of their girlish secrets, which we never divulged.”
    â€œThey knew. They were always one step ahead of us, Annie.”
    The spirit daughters stood still, blew kisses, then waved. Myra’s hand flew to her cheek. As did Annie’s hand.
    â€œI felt it! Did you feel it, Myra? Mother of God, what does it mean? Is it an omen of some kind?”
    â€œI don’t know, Annie. I don’t know!” Her hand still on her cheek, Myra looked around in a daze at the dogs, who were staring up at her and wondering if more cheese balls would fall their way.
    â€œHey, need any help in here?” Alexis called from the doorway. “Dennis said the steaks are ready to come off the grill.”
    â€œWe’re good, Alexis. I dropped the cheese platter. It just slipped out of my hands. We’ll be out in a minute. You can take that bowl of potato salad if you want while Myra and I clean up the mess on the floor,” Annie mumbled.
    Alexis gave both women a sharp look but didn’t say anything. She took the bowl of potato salad and went outside.
    â€œLater, when we hit that bottle of bourbon, we can talk about this. Okay, Annie?”
    â€œAbsolutely. I saw them. You saw them. That makes it as real as the last time.”
    Myra swept the bits of pottery into the dustpan Annie was holding. “Oh, that was real, all right. I just want to know why our girls appeared to us today, when we’re having this little party and the meeting afterward. I think it means something. My daughter told me when I needed her the most, she would be here for me. Maybe she thinks I need her today. You, too, Annie. We can dwell on this later. Now we need to attend to our family and enjoy the party. Smile, Annie. We just had a miracle. It was, you