Heavenly (6 page)

"Not so fast little missy." She plopped Abria onto a bench and began strapping her in.

Smiling, I looked at the distracted faces of the other little children on the bus, some staring into space, others focused

out the window. Then I saw Matthias.

He sat at the very back of the bus, alone. Smiling. "Hey!" I pointed at him.

Preoccupied with strapping Abria in, Marla didn't look where I was pointing. Dapper Dan had stolen the opportunity

to sip the Starbucks waiting for him in his drink holder.

"You know that guy?" I asked, looking at Dan. Dan set his cup down and craned around.

"What guy?"

"That one... in the back." I pointed at Matthias who sat angled in the seat, one arm resting on the bench in front of him, the slightest smile on his lips. I was sure he could hear me; the bus was a short compact model.

Dan looked through his long rearview mirror, then turned around. "I don't see anybody."

A rock lodged in my throat. "You... don't?"

"Just the kids. You ready there Marla?"

"I'm having a hard time with this buckle," Marla grunted.

I made my way around her bent-over backside and in six fast steps stood in front of Matthias. I stopped, staring down

into his gray-blue eyes. That reassuring calm I'd felt yesterday oozed into the air around him, the soothing warmth settling

into my very bones. My mouth opened but nothing came out.

"There." I heard Marla say. "All strapped in and safe, little missy." Abria squealed.

I wanted to ask Matthias what he was doing, and how was it that only I saw him. But I couldn't find my voice. His

brows tweaked, as if he knew I was tongue tied, and he settled back against the window with a glittering grin.

"You'll need to get off the bus now, honey." Marla's voice was right behind my shoulder.

"He's there. In the seat," I said, pointing at Matthias again. "You see him, right?"

I tore my eyes from Matthias, afraid he'd be gone if my gaze left him for even a second, to see Marla's reaction. Her

face was blank.

"There's nobody there, honey. Maybe you didn't get enough sleep last night?" She patted my shoulders and, with her

hands gently on my arms, turned me and escorted me down the aisle.

I kept glancing back at Matthias. Questions raced through my head and jumbled into a mess I couldn't sort. I realized

then, there was a very good possibility I really was overtired and hallucinating.

Slowly, I took the steps of the bus down, confused, fascinated, pausing for one last look at him. He was still there, still

watching me, still smiling. He waved. I didn't dare wave back; I'd look like a whack job. Marla finally had to nudge me out

so the doors could squeak and flap shut.

On the sidewalk I stood, staring at him through the window. Then a thought occurred to me. I turned and ran into the

house.

"She got on the bus okay?" Mom asked when I flew past her. I scrambled for my purse.

"Yeah, fine. Bye, Mom." I saw the purse on the entryway hall tree, snatched it and was back out the door, racing to my car before I could take another breath. The bus' back end, with Matthias in it, was just pulling away from the curb.

I ran to my car, unlocked it and hopped in. "You can't get away from me, I snickered, tossing the muffin and my

purse into the empty passenger seat. I started the car, yanked it around and rode the tail like a cop after a criminal.

How could only I see him? He was right there.
Right there in the back of that bus.
My eyes weren't playing tricks on me; I'd been close enough to see him breathe. Close enough that I'd been swamped with that warm blanket aura of his again.

Matthias didn't notice I was tailing the bus, he remained sitting forward, facing the children. I almost honked the horn.

I couldn't wait to see his face when he realized I was onto him. He wore that same outfit I'd seen him in yesterday and the

first day I'd seen him. What was that all about? Was the guy fashion challenged?

At a stoplight, I tried to maneuver myself for a peek at his shoes through the emergency exit door, but only saw the tip

of his right foot—an off-white pair of casual looking old man style shoes.
Blech.
He was definitely fashion challenged.

"I'm not letting you out of my sight, Mister Matthias," I said, then let out a snort. "I'm going to get to the bottom of whatever it is you're up to and I'm going to do it today. No more of this slinking around. I want to know what you're up to and what you want with my little sister and a bus load of handicapped kids."

The bus started on its journey again and I stayed glued to its behind. I turned off the CD player. I started to sweat.

A few minutes later, we were at Abria's school. The drop off was lined with buses. I couldn't follow suit in the special

unloading lane, so I parked on the street, got out and boldly strode right to the back so Matthias would see me. He did.

He stood, looking out the window at me.

I set my hands on my hips and slit my eyes at him. "That's right. I'm watching you," I said, pointing at him, speaking loud enough I was sure he heard me above the rumbling diesel engines. "And you better not think of doing anything to these kids."

He held up his hands, as if to surrender. His whole face smiled: his eyes, lips, even his teeth shined bright. How could

Marla and Dan not see this guy? I glanced at the front of the bus, saw the two of them unloading the children one at a time.

Were they old
and
blind?

When I took my attention back to Matthias, my heart dropped. He was gone. I ran to the front of the bus, but only

Dan and Marla were there, along with the children and their teachers who greeted them and escorted them inside every

morning.

Dan looked at me, confusion on his face. Heat flushed my skin. I sent him a quick wave and jogged around to the

other side of the bus, searching for Matthias.

I saw him standing under a tree at the edge of the parking lot. I hadn't seen him get off the bus, and I'd watched

everyone line up and exit, one-by-one.

My head emptied of thoughts.
Who is he?

Driven by curiosity, I took slow steps until I was within five feet of where he stood. His soft curls gleamed in the

sunlight. The fair color of his skin nearly melted into the silky fabric of his shirt and slacks which radiated a soft, electric-like glow. I wrung my clammy hands over and over. Swallowed. Searched for words, but nothing came into my mind.

"Hello again," he said. The moment his voice filled the air, the wrinkles in my anxiety smoothed out.

"This isn't funny," I sputtered. The pleasant look on his face vanished. His eyes narrowed in confusion. "You

following Abria," I continued. "It isn't funny and it has to stop." I stepped closer, courage pumping through my system. "I bet you didn't think I'd come after you."

He took a deep breath. Good. He breathes. He's a human. I felt a little rush of relief but I still had too many questions

to completely disregard his Behavior. A quick scan of his arms: feathered hair. At the opening where his shirt was

unbuttoned: smooth skin. But a lot of guys waxed nowadays. I stared at his chest, just to make sure I saw it rise and fall.

Definitely human.

My gaze lifted to his. A crooked smile lifted his lips. Heat flushed my cheeks and I averted my gaze, gathering dignity

and composure. The same comfort and reeling of safety once again settled around me, and, in my heart, I knew everything

was going to be okay. In fact, his expression was so pure, I felt guilty having accused him of something I wasn't sure of. "I was certain you'd follow me," he said.

"You were?"

"You love Abria. You'd do anything to protect her."

"She's my sister. Of course I'd protect her. Which brings me to you. At first I thought it was just a coincidence—you

know—when you found her at the park. But now I'm starting to think you've got an ulterior motive."

He shot me a lopsided grin. "You're mistaken."

"Then why are you following her—me, or whatever it is you're doing? I don't know you. You show up and disappear.

Do you
like
doing creepy?"

"Doing creepy?"

"Being all criminal and that?"

"Do you feel afraid?"

The feelings that overcame me whenever he was near left no room for fear, but I couldn't admit that to him—stranger

that he was.

His blue-gray eyes locked on mine. "In your heart, you're not afraid, are you?"

I wet my lips, swallowed. "No."

"I'm not here to hurt Abria or you," he said.

I shifted. "You're just saying that because I caught you."

"You're a feisty little bearcat, aren't you? No, I'm not just saying that. Test a man's temper why don't you?"

Bearcat?
The word caused me to stumble. "Then why are you here?"

He looked around, as if in thought, took in a deep breath, and then his sharp gaze once again focused on me. "I watch

out for Abria."

"I knew it!" I let out a nervous laugh. "Phew. I thought I was going nuts. Who hired you? Was it Pastor Perrigan? He's really fond of my parents, and he knows how hard it is to live with Abria."

Matthias seemed amused by my deduction. "No, it wasn't."

"Then... who was it?"

"Someone... else."

"Now you're doing creepy again. Tell me who hired you. No, better yet, you tell whoever it was they can take their CSI job and shove it for all I care. We don't need a pity party. We've done just fine taking care of Abria on our own. Besides, I don't want someone watching her who doesn't have the guts to show his face."

His eyes widened. The air around us suddenly tensed like it did before a lightning storm. A shudder slid down my

spine. He threw back his head, breaking out in a rich, hearty laugh, cutting the tension in the air until it was gone.

"My-oh-my," he said. "You are lively."

"Look you flamer, whoever you think you are, you've chosen the wrong family to stalk, because we won´t stand for

it."

He crossed his arms over his chest and rocked back on his heels, enjoying the tail end of his laugh. "You've got it all

wrong." His firm tone penetrated me to the bone. "I'm not here to do anything but protect her."

"What do you mean? Explain yourself."

"Gladly." His eyes lit on something behind me, and I turned. Marla was heading my direction.

"Oh, no. You... don't move," I shot him a warning look. "No more of this disappearing thing you conveniently do whenever somebody comes along, understand?"

A slow smile spread his lips wide. He was gorgeous, no getting around it, and my female heart fluttered. "I wouldn't

dare."

"There you are honey." Marla came right to me, her brow furrowed. "Are you all right?"

"Yes. Yeah. I'm fine. Just getting a little fresh air and talking to this joker."

Marla's eyes widened as she looked around. "Talking?" "This is the guy I saw sitting on your bus. His name is Matthias.

Although I'm not sure that really
is
his name. But I'm going to find out." I gestured to Matthias, who, thankfully, had not pulled one of his vanishing acts. He stood with his hands clasped behind his back, his mouth turned up at the edges.

"Honey, I don't see anyone." Marla's voice quavered. She put her arm around me. "Let me help you back to your car."

I couldn't move. She tugged, but I refused to budge, panic bouncing in my stomach. I could excuse her age for her

faulty eyesight on the bus, but here we stood five feet from Matthias. How could she miss him?

"He's right there," I said, pointing to where he stood.

She looked right at him, but the deep crease in her brow told me she thought I'd lost it. Again she gently urged me

with her arm wrapped around my shoulders. "Why don't you come this way? There's a nurse on staff at the school and I'm

sure she'd be happy to—"

"No." I yanked free of her embrace. "I'm okay. Really." I pressed my fingertips to my temples and closed my eyes.

Then opened them. "Look, Marla." I took her by the arm and led her smack up to Matthias' chest but he took a step back, hands up.

"No touching." He shook his head. "No touching if she isn't my charge."

"Your
charge?"
I snickered. "Marla, you heard what he said, that he can't touch you?" I waited for some glimmer of recognition on Marlaś concerned face, but it never came. In fact, she turned white.

She leaned close to me, so close I thought she was coming in for a kiss. She sniffed my breath. "Maybe you ought to

let Dan drive you home," she whispered.

I let go of her arm, and stared at Matthias, his eyes like a hawk, pinning me in place. This woman really could not see

him. My mind emptied. Marla muttered something, but the words were buffered by my dulled senses.

"I... need... to... sit." I collapsed to the grass in a daze.

"You want me to get a doctor?" Marla asked.

"No. I'll be... fine... I think." I glanced up at Matthias. The instant my eyes met his, peace spread through my insides, thawing the stony cold shock in my system. I couldn't tear my gaze away, drawn by a magnetic force I couldn't resist.

"Should I get you some water? Maybe some food? Have you eaten? You're a tiny little thing. You're not anorexic are

you?"

I let out a light laugh. "No." I buried my head in my hands. "I'll be okay. I think I can, I think I can, I think I can."

"You won't get behind the wheel until you're good and sure in the head, will you?"

"No, I won't." I met Marla's concerned gaze. "Thanks."

"You're welcome, honey." I watched her start back for the bus and when she was out of hearing range, I shifted my

gaze to Matthias again.

He sat down next to me. His nearness sent my pulse into a whirl. He leaned back on his hands, his gaze fastened with

mine. I had so many thoughts, even more questions. I didn't know where to begin. All I knew was that, twice now, I had seen