Whisper smiled a sad smile. "You can't stop them Daddy. It is the way it is supposed to be."
.
I didn't know what to say. My still partly drunk mind, was trying to piece together what Whisper was saying. I was not 100% sure I understood, but I did understand that if Evangeline and I were together, then I might possibly lose Whisper.
And that was a possibility that I did not want to have to deal with.
"I won't let them take you. I will talk to them."
.
Whisper giggled a little. It was so nice to hear her do so.
"You can't talk to them Daddy. They only talk to me."
.
"Who are they?"
.
"I told you, Daddy. They are my parents, Alice and Calvin Dove. They are the ones that sent me back."
.
"Then you tell them that I want to talk with them. I will make this right, sweetie."
.
She kissed my cheek.
"They are angels, Daddy. They will not talk to you. They only talk to me.
They would not listen, even if you could."
She took a deep breath.
"I have tried to talk sense into them, but they will not listen. I even got mad at them, but it was no good."
.
I was trying desperately to understand what Whisper was saying, but the more I listened, the more confused I became.
With what had happened the day before and the terrible hangover that I had, the conversation was making less sense as it went along.
.
I stood up. "I need a shower. We will talk about this more, when my head is clearer."
.
"Want me to make you some coffee, Daddy?"
.
I gave her a strange look.
"I would love a coffee, but ..."
.
"Oh, sorry Daddy. I guess we don't have a coffee maker."
.
I thought of something. "There is a campfire one, with the camping equipment, somewhere at the back of the basement, but hell if I know where it is."
.
"I will get it Daddy."
She jumped off the bed. "I will find it. You go shower."
She disappeared.
.
I showered, shaved and changed my clothes. I felt 100% better, but still had a ways to go.
As I walked down the hallway, I could smell coffee.
.
"That smells so good," I commented, as I walked into the kitchen.
Whisper passed me an aluminum coffee mug.
"Thank you sweetie."
It was hot, black and tasted great.
"Where did you find the coffee."
.
"There was a can with the camping stuff."
.
I leaned unsteadily on the counter.
.
Whisper appeared right in front of me.
"What's wrong, Daddy? What do you need?"
.
"Just a headache, sweetie."
.
"There are some ibuprofen in the cabinet downstairs," Whisper informed me, as she disappeared.
A second later she reappeared, with bottle in hand. She tried to open it, but couldn't.
"The cap is stuck, Daddy."
.
I smiled slightly.
"It is a childproof cap, hun."
I opened it quickly and took a couple ibuprofen for my headache, washing it down with the coffee.
.
"Sit down, Daddy."
.
I nodded and sat at the kitchen table.
Whisper filled my mug and then looked toward the hallway.
"Your cell phone is ringing."
.
I couldn't hear it.
"I have no idea where it is."
.
Whisper put the coffee maker back on the stove and disappeared again. Seconds later, she was back, with my cell phone in hand.
It was still ringing.
.
"Its Evangeline," she informed me, nonchalantly.
.
I shook my head.
"Shit."
I had forgotten to call her. I picked up the telephone and pressed, accept.
"Hello."
.
"Thank god Will, are you ok. I phoned like a dozen times last night. I've been up all night. All kinds of thoughts going through my head.
Are you okay? Are you hurt?"
.
"I'm ok Eva. Really. I'm fine."
.
"That doesn't sound like ok or fine to me. What's wrong Will?"
.
I looked at Whisper sitting on the counter near me. My heart was breaking. What was I to do?
.
"Will? Will? Are you there?"
There was panic in her voice.
.
'Yea, I'm here Eva. Look, something important has come up and I need a couple days to sort things out. I really don't think I would be very good company."
.
"Honey, let me help you," Evangeline pleaded.
"Whatever this is, I know we can work through it."
.
"No. This is something I have to do myself. Please try to understand, Eva."
.
There was a moments silence, then her voice came back, sad and low. "Are we ok?"
.
"Of course we are."
I looked at Whisper, again. I had lied, something I never did, but I couldn't think straight at the moment and I didn't need Evangeline continuously pressing me for answers, I couldn't give her.
"We are just fine. I just need to sort this shit out."
.
"Do you know what happened?"
.
"I do," I said, quietly.
.
"Who? Why?"
.
"Sweetie, please," I pleaded.
"It is a family thing. I just have to get to the bottom of it and get it all sorted out."
.
"Family did that to you? Your niece?"
.
I took a deep breath.
"More or less, but everything is fine now, Eva."
.
"She destroyed your home, Will. That is not fine."
.
"I know. I know, but it is just stuff, hun. It can be replaced. The main thing is that no one is hurt and the cats are fine."
.
"What about you?"
.
"In all honesty," I sighed.
"I am more hurt than angry and more than a little hungover."
.
I could hear her laugh.
"That's understandable."
.
"Just give me a couple more days, sweetie and then we will get together and talk about this."
.
"Promise, Will?"
.
I nodded my head.
"I promise."
.
"Okay.
Anyway, I got a call from the town of St. Anthony this morning. They saw the brochure I did for Grand Falls and they want me to do one for them. I could go do that and when I come back we can sort this thing out. It will only take a couple days."
.
"Ok, that's a good idea."
.
"You want me to drop in along the way?"
.
I did, but, "I am on my way out, hun. I have to go to Corner Brook and get ...
well, a whole pile of shit."
.
She laughed.
"I guess you have. Well, maybe we will pass each other on the highway."
.
"We probably will."
.
"Hey, love you," she reminded me, sweetly.
.
"Me too Eva. Talk to you soon."
.
"Call me tonight?"
.
"I will. Love you."
I hung up the phone.
.
"You look really sad Daddy."
.
I forced a slight smile. "I am ok sweetie."
I walked to the stove and poured another coffee.
"I am going to go into Corner Brook and get some new dishes and stuff.
And a pile of groceries."
.
"I will stay here. I will finish sorting out the records. I didn't get it all done last night."
.
I nodded and finished my coffee.
"Thank you, sweetie."
I motioned for her to come to me.
"I love you Whisper."
.
She floated to me and put her arms around my neck. She kissed me on the cheek.
"I am so sorry Daddy. I love you so much."
.
"It is ok. I better go. Look after the cats."
.
"I will, Daddy."