Where Are the Angels chapter 39
From: Melissa
Date: Sun, 8 Jul 2001 13:34:22

Josette woke the next morning to find Natalie fussing about the room. "What are you doing Aunt Natalie?" Josette asked.

"Ma petite you gave me a start," Natalie said when she recovered herself.  "I thought you were sound asleep," she said sitting on the edge of the bed beside Josette.

"You don't need to do anything for me Aunt Natalie, I'm fine," Josette insisted.

Natalie put her hand on her cheek, "I know, but I thought I would do a little something for you.  It makes me feel useful."

"And you are, by being here with me," Josette said hugging her aunt.  "Thank you for coming Aunt Natalie."

"I wouldn't dream of staying away at a time like this, you need your family around you," Natalie said.  

"How long are you and Papa planing on staying in Collinsport?" she asked.

"We have made no plans yet," Natalie told her.

"I think I'll get up now," Josette said.

"Well then I'll leave you," Natalie said, "I'll be downstairs if you need me."

"Thank you," Josette said and kissed her aunt's cheek.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Joshua leaned back in his chair and looked up at the ceiling.  Naomi had surprised him with the arrival of André and Natalie duPrès as well.  It would be more complicated now with them here; to make sure everything went smoothly.

What was he going to do about Barnabas?  Not long ago he thought he would be able to kill his son, after all he was a monster, no longer his son. But now after many hours of talking to Barnabas, he knew that he could kill him.  

Barnabas was still his little boy.  The one that used to come to work with him and sit in his own little desk next to his father's, and pretend to be working on papers just as important as the ones that Joshua was working on.

Linda walked into the office, "Sir there's a young lady to see you. Are you busy?"

"No send her in," Joshua said.

When Linda returned Joshua saw to his surprise that following her was Laura Wicke.

Joshua stood up with surprise, "Laura, Linda didn't tell me that it was you.  Please sit down."

"Thank you Mr. Collins," Laura said sitting down in the chair that sat before the desk.  She looked apprehension.

"What can I do for you," he asked sitting back down.

"I don't really know if I should even have come here, but I didn't know where else to go," she began.

"What is it Laura?" he asked, "What ever it is you can tell me."

"Well I don't know if it even happened, but it seemed so real.  I swear saw Barnabas last night.  I was taking a walk near the cemetery, I decided that I would go to my grandmother's grave.  I heard a noise and looked up.  I was your son, I couldn't believe my eyes, I mean he's dead, I couldn't have seen him, but I swear to you it is true."

Joshua sat back; this is what he feared the most, someone seeing Barnabas.  

He had warned him to be careful.  "Are you sure that it wasn't someone else, perhaps someone who looks like my son?"

"I suppose that it could have been, but I was so sure."

"Laura I know how real it must have been, there have been many times that I thought I saw Barnabas, and even Sarah, but in the end it was never them."

"I'm sorry for coming to you like this I shouldn't have come to you, it was very wrong of me," Laura said regretfully.

"Don't worry about it too much," Joshua said grateful that she believed what he said so easily.  "Have you found work?"

"Yes I got a job at a school, in Bangor."

"Are you still living in Collinsport?" he asked

"Yes," Laura said.

"That's quite a drive, are you planning on moving?"

"Yes, I found a small house, and I will be moving at the end of the month," she replied.

"Well congratulations," Joshua said.

"Thank you," she said getting up from her chair.  "I'm sorry for bothering you," she said again as she walked out.

Outside Laura began to smile wickedly; she looked in the window and brushed back her hair.  It worked out beautifully.