Forever, Jared

Secrets

Shannon pulled into a strip mall parking lot. Everyone piled out of the SUV and walked to a café at the end of the row of stores. The interior was dark with wood paneled walls, heavy drapes and black upholstery. The hostess seated them at a quiet back booth, Jared and Katie on one side of the table, Shannon on the other.

A waitress came to the table, dressed Goth-style and wearing a huge silver crucifix around her neck. Katie was puzzled when Jared and Shannon turned away, Jared shutting his eyes tightly and Shannon burying his face in his hands. Katie ordered tea, but Jared encouraged her to get food, so she added a buttered bagel. Through his hands, Shannon mumbled for black coffee. Jared declined to order.

When the waitress left, Jared and Shannon looked relieved.

"Nice place you picked," teased Jared. "Next time, let's hang out in a church."

"I'm just happy I didn't burst into flames," replied Shannon. The brothers laughed.

While they waited for their order, Shannon studied Katie's face. Jared watched Shannon.

"Not convinced?" asked Jared.

"Doesn't look like her. Well, okay, there's a resemblance..." Shannon tapped his lips with his index finger.

"Where were you born?" Shannon asked Katie.

"Bossier City, Louisiana."

"Date of birth?"

"December 26."

"Can you really heal people?"

Katie froze.

"No."

"How did you save that guy at the press event?"

"I didn't. The defibrillator did." Katie started fidgeting.

"The defibrillator broke."

"Before it broke. I don't know," Katie mumbled.

"Shannon, enough," Jared said. He turned to Katie. "Do you know the story about the angel and the broken soul?"

"What?" asked Katie, confused by the turn of questioning.

"Jared, that's irrelevant," said Shannon.

"She knows it."

"Every girl in Louisiana knows it. It's a Cajun classic."

"It's French," Katie corrected Shannon.

Shannon threw up his hands.

"Whatever! Jared, you're trying to tell me Marilyn just happened to find the right girl on the side of the road, dropped out of the sky or something to save a random dude's life. I'm not buying it!"

Katie was stunned. First it was Jared and Shannon's strange subtext about her life playing out in front of her. Now Marilyn was a part of it – who else could have told Jared about saving the homeless man? And who told Jared about Katie knowing the angel story... was it Barry? Katie recalled his odd looks and comments to Jared and Marla on the balcony last night.

Everyone is having a secret conversation about me.

The waitress returned with their order. Jared and Shannon turned away again. Katie stared at her food, her appetite gone. After the waitress left, Shannon took a big swig of hot coffee and sighed.

"How can you drink that?" asked Jared.

"Easy. Open mouth, pour in," joked Shannon.

"Damn. Just the thought makes me sick."