Sara-Kate's Spirit Read online

  Sara-Kate’s Spirit

  Natalie-Nicole Bates

  Table of Contents

  Title Page

  Sara-Kate's Spirit

  Copyright

  CHAPTER ONE

  CHAPTER TWO

  CHAPTER THREE

  CHAPTER FOUR

  CHAPTER FIVE

  About the Author

  Books to Go Now

  Excerpt from Ssara-Kate’s Spirit

  “Just let go,” she encouraged.

  “I don’t want to die,” he whispered, his voice thick and raspy.

  “It will be better, Reed, I promise.”

  “You know my name. You must be some kind of angel.”

  She smiled. “Not exactly. I’m just here to help you transition into your new life.”

  Tears poured from his eyes. “Please don’t leave me.”

  “I’m not going anywhere, she said, and sent as much comfort and love through her hand and into his body as she could muster, without completely draining herself. Sirens blared off in the distance, and Reed’s breath became ragged. As he took his final breath, she lifted her hand from his forehead, and pressed a kiss against his cool skin.

  When she saw the flashing red and blue lights of police and ambulance vehicles, she decided to make her exit from the scene. There was nothing more she could do now but return home to her own dimension, to her body and her bed.

  Copyright

  Sara-Kate’s Spirit

  Books to Go Now Publication

  Copyright © Sara-Kate’s Spirit 2017

  Books to Go Now

  Cover Design by Romance Novel Covers Now

  http://www.romancenovelcoversnow.com/

  Also published on Smashwords

  For information on the cover illustration and design, contact [email protected]

  First eBook Edition December 20165

  Warning: the unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in prison and a fine of $250,000. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form without written permission from the publisher, except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages for review purposes.

  This book is a work of fiction and any resemblance to any person, living or dead, any place, events or occurrences, is purely coincidental. The characters and story lines are created from the author’s imagination and are used fictitiously.

  If you are interested in purchasing more works of this nature, please stop by

  www.bookstogonow.com

  Watch for Natalie-Nicole’s Other Books

  Antique Charming

  Back To You

  Sometimes in Autumn

  Remember the Stars

  Just in time, Valentine

  Amii’s Angel

  One Winter

  Rules of Love (Mobile Mistletoe #6)

  Sunset Surprise (Sunset Beach Romance Series Book 4)

  Forget-Me Not Christmas (Handmade for Christmas Anthology- Christmas 2014)

  Christmas with the Black Sheep

  Color My Christmas (Christmas 2015)

  Twice as Nice Christmas (Places To See ~ Bulgaria)

  Sugarplum Christmas (Mobile Mistletoe #8)

  Surprise, You’re a Christmas Bride

  CHAPTER ONE

  Sara-Kate’s peaceful sleep was shattered by the sound of crunching metal and images of black smoke.

  If she were conscious, the decision would be easy. She would shut out the world and stay in her comfortable bed.

  It wasn’t her job anymore to worry about the welfare of people in trouble. As it was now, she still went above and beyond what was expected of her.

  But often in sleep, the unconscious overrides common sense, and the emotions of spirit were harder to keep in check.

  Sara-Kate rose out of her body with the grace of a butterfly. With her feet hovering several inches from the oak floor, she floated from the bedroom, down the staircase, and through the front door as if it wasn’t there.

  Her instincts carried her through her front garden, beyond the gate and onto the road—the place she never ventured to in her human form. Her self-imposed exile wasn’t because she was cold or cruel, she simply couldn’t face any more heart breaking loss. To stay inside her own piece of heaven was to keep her heart safe. Besides, there were strict rules when it came to spirits and the living.

  Something looked different.

  Even though she never left the sanctuary of her home, she knew how the road beyond looked, the layout of the houses. This place was different. This was another dimension.

  She died a long time earlier, and could pass through dimensions with ease. Occasionally, she couldn’t control it—like tonight. It happened before. Still, no matter where she travelled, she still managed to find her way home.

  Now, there was a matter at hand.

  An acrid smoke filled the air, a sure sign an accident occurred on the unfamiliar road. This was confirmed by the sight of twisted metal. Bittersweet emotion filled Sara-Kate. While it was true that a human life was most likely lost, a soul would move on to a new plane of existence, where peace and love might be waiting.

  A plane Sara-Kate never rose to.

  She drifted to the car, one time a fancy little red import, and passed through the window. and into the passenger seat. By the look at the interior, the car’s airbag failed to deploy, and lurched its driver forward against the restraints. Her eyes focused on the driver, by his uneven breathing, he was still alive, just barely.

  Blood bubbled from his nose, and his eyes fixed to the ceiling. She leaned over and smoothed back his long dark hair from his face. Laying a gentle hand against his forehead, she tried to instill healing into the man, but her instinct told her clearly her healing would not be enough to save him. Instead, she hoped her touch would instead bring him comfort.

  His head turned only enough to connect his eyes to hers.

  Shock rocked her. Could he actually see her? There was a fear and disbelief in his eyes for sure, but he was focused on her eyes, as well. Even at the brink of death, no one ever detected her before. Now she thought, he’s very, very special. He would go on to do amazing things in his next existence, and that brought Sara-Kate great joy.

  “Just let go,” she encouraged.

  “I don’t want to die,” he whispered, his voice thick and raspy.

  “It will be better, Reed, I promise.”

  “You know my name. You must be some kind of angel.”

  She smiled. “Not exactly. I’m just here to help you transition into your new life.”

  Tears poured from his eyes. “Please don’t leave me.”

  “I’m not going anywhere, she said, and sent as much comfort and love through her hand and into his body as she could muster, without completely draining herself. Sirens blared off in the distance, and Reed’s breath became ragged. As he took his final breath, she lifted her hand from his forehead, and pressed a kiss against his cool skin.

  When she saw the flashing red and blue lights of police and ambulance vehicles, she decided to make her exit from the scene. There was nothing more she could do now but return home to her own dimension, to her body, and her bed.

  ***

  The sound of banging on her front door startled Sara-Kate out of her deep sleep. The room was still dark, without even a trace of sunlight peeking in from beneath the window blinds.

  She was once again safely within her own walls.

  She sat up in bed, and her vision swerved. She exhausted a great deal of energy trying to comfort the dying man in the car. Any mild discomfort she felt now w
as worth it if it brought him any peace at all. In a short time it would pass, and she would feel her normal self once again.

  At the edge of the bed, she held her eyes closed momentarily. When she opened her eyes, her vision cleared. She slipped her feet into slippers, and reached for her terry cloth robe slung over the back of a wing chair.

  The rhythmic pounding on her front door continued. Someone sure was anxious to speak with her. Occasionally, the courier would arrive before seven to drop off and pick up. Today must be one of those days.

  Holding the bannister, she hurried down the stairs to the landing, and flipped on a light switch that illuminated the foyer leading to the front door.

  Unlocking the deadbolt, she turned the door knob, and flung open the door.

  Sara-Kate stood in mute shock, and stared at the man who stood in her doorway with a suitcase in his hand.

  It was the man with the long dark hair, who died in the car accident just a short time ago. The man who she watched take his final breath.

  Yet, here was on her doorstep, a bit disheveled, but looking very much alive as she was.

  Only he wasn’t really wasn’t alive.

  Then again, neither was she. Not really, anyway. Not like she was right before she died in 1929, at age eighteen.

  She understood her predicament on this earth, but somewhere the Fates messed up big time with this guy. Or perhaps, she thought, I did something to cause this mishap.

  Her vision swerved again, this time from a jolt of anxiety, and she grasped the doorjamb for support.

  “Can...can I help you?” She forced the words out through a suddenly dry throat.

  He looked so lost and vulnerable. Dark eyes huge, and confused. Her heart hurt for him, and his condition.

  “I think I fell asleep behind the wheel, and had an accident with my car. I don’t know where I am, or how I got here.”

  Sara-Kate brought comfort over the years to many people who were departing one life for the next. None of them ever followed her through dimensions before.

  “Come in and sit down,” she said to him. She would figure out how to handle this situation.

  He stumbled on the threshold, and she grabbed his arm for support. He let go of the suitcase he carried, and it hit the hardwood floor with a bang. She guided him into the darkened living room, and eased him gently onto the sofa.

  Now what?

  He shivered all over. “Is it cold in here? I am so cold.”

  It was early autumn, but still very muggy and warm. He was still shedding his humanness, she guessed. The feeling would pass, and he would settle into his new self.

  “Stay right there,” she patted his shoulder. “I’ll get you a blanket from upstairs.

  She dashed up the stairs, painfully stubbing her big toe on the top step. “Ouch!” she groaned under her breath, and hopped on one leg into her bedroom. At the foot of the bed she lifted the lid on a linen chest, and removed a heavy patchwork quilt.

  She descended the stairs, more carefully this time, still feeling the throbbing pain in her toe. Her visitor was sitting in the same position she left him, shivering mightily, and staring forward. She went about arranging the quilt over his shoulders and back.

  “There you go, Reed.”

  His face turned to hers at the mention of his name. “How do you know my name?” he asked.

  Panic rose in her throat. She couldn’t just bombard him with the news that the life he knew was gone, and they were earthbound spirits. Hers by choice, his probably not so much. Besides, it wasn’t her job to tell him he died in the car accident. The Fates put them both in this heartbreaking position. It was the Fates’ job to sort it all out. Yet somehow, Sara-Kate knew that it was now her job, that her choice had been taken away. She just didn’t know how or when she would tell him, and how he would react.

  It was against every fiber of her spirit to lie, but right now, she felt she had no choice. She sunk into the sofa next to him. “You must have told me, Reed.” The lie hit her like a punch. Now to temper the lie with a truth. “My name is Sara-Kate.”

  A flicker of life rose in his dark eyes, and she felt exposed under his scrutiny. “You look, and you sound, like an angel. A flame haired angel.”

  A slight smile played on her lips. He thought she was an angel earlier as well, right before he died. “Not quite an angel, Reed.”

  “And this place,” he continued. “It smells like some kind of heaven.”

  It was the lingering smell of lavender and rose that still permeated the air. Flowers from her own garden that she worked with on a daily basis, creating special healing-infused candles, oils, and sachets.

  She reached for his hand, and took it between her hands in an effort to warm him. He was ice cold, not warming at all, she thought with dismay. She could make him a cup of tea, she considered. But in his current state, the tea would burn him.

  There was another possibility that might help.

  “Reed, would you like to sit in a bath for a while? It might warm you up a bit, and you can get into bed, and sleep.”

  He nodded slowly. Maybe he was aware of what she was saying, she wasn’t quite sure how much he was comprehending. He was definitely in shock. A shock that no doctor could cure. Only time, and eventually understanding, would help now.

  “I’ll start the water in the bathtub, and I’ll be back to help you, okay?”

  “Okay,” he answered. The tone of his voice was mechanical, automated.

  She ran a gentle hand through his long, jet black hair before rising from the sofa. As she climbed the stairs once more, things became clear. She had no choice, she had to care for him, and eventually, if the Fates abandoned him, she would have to tell him the truth.

  The light switch illuminated her bathroom. With its soft pink walls, vanity lighting and mirror, it reminded her of a Hollywood starlet’s dressing room. It was one of her favorite rooms. A welcoming place she could always retreat to.

  She turned on the bath taps, and tested the water with the back of her hand. She reached on onto a glass shelf and opened an apothecary jar of botanical bath crystals. She poured a half handful of pastel colored crystals into her hand, before flinging them into the air, and pausing to watch them fall into the water like colored rain drops.

  The momentary diversion was fleeting. There were more pressing matters to attend to. Namely, Reed.

  He would be okay, she assured herself. He had to be.

  When he found out the truth, there would be two choice for him to make. Accept what he was, or go crazy and be closed up in some kind of mental health facility, until he would wither, and maybe, eventually perhaps, cease to exist. Or worse, she thought, he could just go on year after year...forever. Unwilling to accept the truth, and lost to the demons that would fester within him. She seen that happen before. It was a fate worse than any hell.

  She shivered at the thought of what could be.

  Hopefully, he would accept.

  After all, she had been on her own for decades, and forged a more or less tolerable life. She had a beautiful home, a successful business, and she still managed to bestow help and healing on others from inside her four walls.

  But her walls were both her protection and her prison, as there were times she was desperately lonely. Yet she never ventured out, and with the exception of the occasional handy man or delivery person who was quickly ushered out when their task was completed, she never invited anyone beyond the threshold of her home.

  Not until now, that is.

  She blinked back tears. It wasn’t fair to be put into this position. What had she done to anger the Fates this time? How she wished her spirit wouldn’t have ventured out of bed when the accident happened.

  In the next second after the thought entered her mind, she bowed her head forward and sobbed.

  She hated herself.

  She rested her forehead on her arm against the side of the bathtub, and cried. She cried for not only Reed’s predicament, she cried for wishing she never he
lped him, she cried for what was now an unpredictable future for them both.

  At least the rushing water filling the bath drowned out the sound of her sobs.

  “Why are you crying, Sara-Kate?”

  Or so she thought.

  She lifted her head, and spun her upper body in the direction of the voice.

  Reed stood in the doorway of the bathroom, still deathly pale and hollow-eyed from his experience, he clutched the door frame.

  Quickly, she stood up and latched on to his arm, amazed he had the strength to climb the stairs without falling. “Reed, what are you doing here? I asked you to wait downstairs.” She hoped her words didn’t come off as harsh and chastising to him. Still, he was invading her space.

  “I heard you crying.”

  He heard her all the way downstairs?

  “Why are you crying, Sara-Kate?” he repeated.

  “It’s not important, Reed. I’ll tell you about it someday. For right now, let’s get you into this bath while it’s still warm, and you can get into bed, and sleep.”

  He didn’t move, instead he shivered and stared.

  She really, really hoped he didn’t stay this way permanently. At the very least, he wasn’t violent, and she didn’t get the vibe he would become violent.

  She took his icy hands into hers, and walked backward toward the vanity chair, pulling him along with her until she reached the chair. “Okay, let’s just sit you down, okay?” When he didn’t answer, she maneuvered the plush pink chair until it was against the back of his knees. With both hands on his shoulders, she applied gentle pressure downward until he sank into the chair.

  Reaching out, she ran a gentle hand across his stubbled cheek, and used her hand beneath his chin to tilt his face slightly upward.

  For a moment, her face inches from his, she stared into his dark eyes, and wondered what exactly was going on behind them. Fear? Confusion?

  She took in a deep breath of courage. “Okay, Reed. Let’s do this,” she said, as she prepared to enter into unknown territory.

  She reached for the hem of the long sleeved black t-shirt he wore and pulled upward, his arms raising with the motion. She tossed the shirt onto the hamper. His arms were muscled and firm, with a spray of dark hair. His belly was flat, hinting at regular visits to the gym. Dark, curly hair covered his chest. The kind of hair a woman could curl her fingers around at night in bed, when she was safe in his arms.