Chapter Thirteen D: Guardian Angel

Aaron always wondered how he would respond to a sudden emergency and always hoped he would never find out. In the reality, things happened too quickly for him to respond in any way. He was holding Pol in his arms before Alex hit the floor and Jack was yelling “Call 911!” before Aaron could comprehend that the blood on his hands was coming from Pol’s chest.

“Pol!” he cried. “Help’s on the way. Hang in there Darling.” She groaned, the first sign that she was not yet dead.

“Aaron,” she whispered, “are you all right?”

“I’m fine, love. Shh. Don’t waste your strength. You’re hurt,” he said as if she didn’t know. He grabbed for a blanket and pulled it up over her, wadding a corner to press against the wound.

“Hold me, Dearie,” Pol said. “I’m afraid we won’t be able to grow old together after all.”

“Pol, you can’t die,” Aaron said. “You are my guardian angel. How would I survive without you?” She smiled, beyond the pain.

“Should have gotten an angel with an immortal body,” she said. “Aaron, you must finish the work. Don’t let it fail. You can do it. I’ll be watching.”

“We’ll finish it together, Pol,” Aaron said. “I’m not letting go of you now.” He gripped her hand with an uncommon strength.

“I’ll wait for you. Come when you are finished,” she said with a shuddering breath.

“I’ll be here for you, Pol,” Aaron started, but another hand was taking Pol’s hand from him. He looked up to see the architect through his tears. “Please, let her stay.”

“I can’t,” the architect said. She took Pol’s hand and Pol stood up and walked toward the stained glass window. Aaron could tell that he was no longer holding more than an empty shell. “Like Hattie, there is a place for you, Aaron Case. You will be remembered.” The architect placed an arm around Pol and stepped through the glass. Pol turned back and held Aaron’s gaze until she was out of sight.

Jack was at Aaron’s shoulder kneeling beside him. Aaron clutched Pol’s lifeless body to his chest as he rocked back and forth a pitiful moan issuing from deep within him. “I’m sorry, son,” Jack said softly. “I’m so sorry.”

The rest was a blur. Ambulances, police, and FBI agents arrived within the hour. Nina was taken into custody and Alex’s body was removed. Before she was taken away, Aaron faced Nina. They looked deeply into each other’s eyes and a degree of understanding passed between them. Without saying anything to each other, they knew that they would get through this and there would be a common bond in the future. They may never be friends, but they would be allies.

After Pol’s body was also taken to the examiner’s office the remaining five and one neighbor who had come when the scene was nearly clear, picked up the casket of Mad Aunt Hattie and carried it across the road to the open grave where the cemetery crew lowered it into the waiting grave. Aaron knew that he would be sitting next to this grave and one that would be dug next to it for many years to come.

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