Accidentaly Divine by Dakota Cassidy (books to read romance .txt) 📕

“She’s going to die alone and I can’t bear it, Wanda. I can’t. She’ll have no one,” she said, fighting a sob.

Wanda grabbed her hand and pulled George toward her. “But that’s what Effie wants, honey. Who are you to decide what’s right for her? Who are you?”

Who was she? Wasn’t that her whole problem? Figuring out who she was and where she fit? How dare she try and make Effie fit into her mold?

In that moment, she was actually able to see Dex’s reasoning behind Effie’s wishes and she knew she had to make it right.

Sniffling, she gave Wanda a quick hug. “Can you give me a sec, Wanda? I just have to talk to Effie one more time. I need to tell her that I respect her choices because it’s her life, but I also have to tell her if she needs me, I’ll be there.”

Wanda hugged her back, squeezing her. “You sure?”

Wiping her tears, she nodded. “I’m sure. I’ll be right back.”

Wanda pointed to the pathway that led to Effie’s door. “I’ll wait right here, but you’ll always be within eyesight. Don’t go anywhere but Effie’s door, okay?”

George nodded before she walked back up the pathway to Effie’s and knocked with a sharp rap of her knuckles.

“You’re back again. Want to dig through my underwear drawer?” Effie asked with disdain when she popped the door open.

She reached out a hand to her, her eyes imploring Effie to listen. “Effie. I’m sorry. I was wrong. Flat-out wrong. You’re right, I had no business telling you what you can and can’t do with your life. I realize I was projecting my own feelings about leaving this world on you. I don’t want to die alone, and I guess I thought no one else should either.”

Effie cocked her head, her wispy gray hair lifting with the cold wind. “But if you’re an angel, aren’t you already dead?”

Tucking her purse under her arm, George shook her head. “I’m half angel, half human, and the story hasn’t gotten any shorter since I saw you twenty minutes ago, so I won’t bore you. Suffice it to say, it hurt my heart to think you’d be alone when you… I just…” She stopped in order to gather herself and fend off tears. “I just wanted you to be surrounded by love when it was your time to leave, and I didn’t want David to think he was going to be able to create a relationship with you when…when you won’t be here after you go to Cabo. But I realize those decisions aren’t up to me. I know now you’ve been through hell since you were diagnosed. It’s not up to me to tell you when you’ve reached your limit, and I just wanted to apologize.”

Effie’s face softened again, and she finally took George’s hand, hers icy and dry. “I’m tired, George. I’m so very tired. I’ve been fighting this a long time, and the longer I fight, the end result never changes. I’m dying, George. I’m dying, and I made my peace with it when I decided to die with dignity. Please don’t think I haven’t given this more thought than anything I’ve ever done before. I was a lawyer, you know. We think about everything.”

Man, did she ever know what it was to be tired. George let her chin fall to her chest to hide her tears. “I’m sorry, Effie. I’m so sorry, but I need you to promise me something, please?”

Effie gripped her hand tighter. “What’s that?”

“Promise me you’ll consider sharing this with David when you meet. And if you don’t, but you change your mind and you want someone with you, someone who’ll stay until the end, call me, find me, do whatever you have to in order to get in touch with me. I promise I’ll be there as fast as my wings allow.”

Tears filled Effie’s aging eyes. “Will you fly with those angel wings?” she teased.

George snorted a little. “I think I’ve done enough damage here on the ground. Flying might have to wait. But if I have to crawl, I’ll be there.”

Effie looked at her for a long moment, and then she whispered, “Your heart is pure, Georgina Maverick. Never let anyone tell you otherwise. You take good care. Both you and that handsome young man of yours. He’s a good egg, too.”

The lump in her throat grew and as tears streamed down her face, she smiled through them and nodded. “Thank you, Effie.”

Patting her hand one last time, Effie Sampson let George go and smiled through her tears, too. “Maybe I’ll see you on the flip side?”

“I’ll look for you, Effie. I promise I’ll look.”

“Goodbye, George.”

Her throat tightened, but she still managed to whisper, “Bye, Effie.”

With those last words, Effie smiled one last time and closed her door. George let her forehead rest against the cool steel in order to gather herself before going back to her car.

Dex had been right, and now that she’d taken the care, the time to hear Effie, rather than imposing her feelings on her, she knew that. Regret slashed through her for the harsh words she’d used with Dex. She’d reacted instead of listening with her heart, and she hated that they’d argued.

Would she have preferred Dex had told her at the outset no one knew about her and she wasn’t destined to die the night she fell?

Yes.

But had being a guardian angel been one of the best things that had ever happened to her? Had it brought all these amazing people into her life who’d welcomed her like she was one of their own? Had it helped her share that night with someone for the first time and eased her guilt?

Yes. Yes to all of it.

Did the fact that Dex had saved her months of hospital time and more pain and she didn’t have to suffer physically after all her mental anguish really upset her in the long run?

No.

Did she wish he hadn’t saved