The light flickered. “See? There it goes again. It’s a sign that Rebecca is here.”
“It’s a sign that it’s time to change the light bulb.” Naomi got up from the table. “I think there’s a pack in the hall closet.”
If it was Raphael, he needed to act fast. He didn’t know how much time Raphael would be available to him. “I need to be going now. Thanks for the meal, Welita,” he said as he watched Naomi disappear around the corner.
Welita shuffled to him and patted his arm. “You come over any time.”
Naomi came back into the kitchen. “Leaving?”
“Yeah, it’s been a long day.” He faked a yawn.
“Let me walk you to the door. Chuy, you wash the dishes.” Welita threw Chuy a dishtowel and took Lash’s arm. “And do them right this time. Last time you left spots,” she said.
Chuy looked over to Naomi. “We need to buy Welita a new car and a dishwasher.”
Naomi unscrewed the light bulb and set it down on the table. “She already has a dishwasher—you.”
Chuckling at their banter, Lash walked with Welita to the front door. He was glad he’d accepted Chuy’s invitation, and he hoped he’d be asked back again soon. As much as he knew it would be painful to leave them when his assignment was completed, it felt good to feel something other than anger and hate after so long.
When Lash stepped out onto the front porch, Welita looked back to make sure that Naomi and Chuy stayed in the kitchen, then she quietly shut the door. “Lash, you look like a good boy. I know you’re in that therapy group with Naomi. She had a hard time trying to deal with losing her father so soon after her mother’s death. I know you can help her.”
Lash was stunned. Did Welita know who he really was? “I’m not sure what you mean.”
“Rebecca told me you could help her.” Welita held his gaze for a moment before she continued. “After meeting you, I know she’s right. My Naomi needs someone like you.”
Lash was floored. She knew nothing about him, except what Rebecca had told her. How could she put so much faith in someone she hardly knew? “I’ll do what I can, but I’m not sure how I can help.”
“Keep doing what you’re doing. Ever since she started that group, she’s been happier. I thought it was because the psychologist was doing a good job. Now that I’ve met you, I see there’s another reason.”
“I don’t think I’m the reason. I think she just got better with time. You know what they say, ‘time heals all wounds’ and all that shi—uh, I mean, stuff.”
“No, it’s you. I see the way she looks at you. She hides it. But, I know. A grandmother always knows.”
She likes me! Naomi likes me. For a fleeting second, Lash allowed himself to feel elated with the thought before he shut it out of his mind.
“I like Naomi, and she’s fun to be around. I can definitely see us being great friends.” What was he supposed to say? Sorry, but I’m an angel like Rebecca, and I’m not supposed to fraternize with the people I’m assigned to?
Welita smiled slyly, as if she wasn’t totally buying what he was telling her. “You have that look in your eyes, too, when you’re with her.” She opened the door and stepped inside the house. “You’ll be more than friends. A grandmother knows.”
***
After Welita closed the door, Lash waited until he heard her conversing with Naomi and Chuy before running to the back of the house. There was no sign of Raphael. It’d been a while since he’d last heard from him, and he really wanted to see him. He was so afraid he’d mess up his assignment, and he needed Raphael to give him some direction on what he should be doing.
Lash’s suspicions about Dantan had been confirmed when he’d overheard him talking to Sal during Naomi’s first group therapy session. Dantan had been paid off to keep an eye on Naomi. Lash didn’t know for why or what purpose, but it couldn’t be good. If there was some way Lash could make her stop going to the group, he would. He hated to admit it, but Dantan was a good shrink—too good. He was able to draw out his group members’ secrets. There had been times when Lash almost started to talk about the plane crash and, consequently, reveal himself. He wondered if Dantan knew about Luke and Sal’s real identity. Maybe that was how Dantan got his powerful gift of persuasion.
“Raphael, where are you?” Lash whispered out into the darkness. He peered through the window into the empty kitchen. The light above the table flickered.
“Raphael,” he whispered again
A woman’s voice drifted through the air. “Leave with her soon. You are in danger.”
“Who’s there?” A warm breezed fluttered over him and his head started to pound. Then he remembered. He heard the voice before—a long time ago. An image flashed across his mind: a woman with dark hair, beside a fire, stirring something in a small pot. She turned to him, and a warm smile lit up her face. And then, she said a name he heard from only one other person.
“Lahash.”
Chapter 12