CHAPTER EIGHTY-SEVEN
(part six)

Friday evening — 5:40 P.M.

Jacob helped Jill out of the back of MJ’s SUV. When Jill turned to get Katy and Paddie from their car seats, Jacob went to the driver’s window to talk to MJ.

“We’ll see you Sunday?” Jacob asked.

“SUNDAY!?” Honey leaned over to ask Jacob.

“I have a little surprise,” MJ said. “Jake helped me find a little place in the mountains. I thought maybe a weekend away.”

When she didn’t respond, MJ got nervous.

“J-j-j- just us. I th-th-thought i-i-it would b-b-be nice.”

Honey gave a little cheer. She kissed his cheek and MJ looked relieved.

Feeling movement, Jacob leaned down to pick up a tired Katy. He looked over at Jill as she lifted a sleeping Paddie into her arms. Their eyes held for a moment. They were a little loose, happy and looking forward to spending naptime in each other’s arms.

“Have a great time,” Jill said.

She leaned in to kiss MJ’s cheek. Honey blew her a kiss. Standing in the driveway, they waved to Honey and MJ as they drove off. Jacob leaned over Katy to kiss Jill’s lips. They began to walk toward the Castle.

“You think we…” he said.

Jacob stopped walking. His face stiffened from smiling to serious, almost deadly. Jill touched his arm to make sure he was all right. When he looked up, he gave a terse whisper:

“Wake up Paddie. Jill! Do it now.”

Jacob ran around the back of the Castle to the foot high stained glass windows of Delphie’s chapel. Without hesitation, he kicked out the antique glass from one of the windows.

“Jacob! No,” Jill said. “Those are irreplaceable!”

He nodded to her then went back to work kicking out the window. When the window was gone from the space, he laid his coat over the ragged edges of the frame.

“Go down there,” he said to Katy.

“I don wan to, Daddy,” Katy said. “I’m really tired.”

“Katherine Marlowe, you will get down there this instant,” he said.

Stunned and terrified by his tone, Katy began to cry. She squirmed out of his arms and hid behind Jill’s legs.

“You’re scaring her,” Jill said. “What’s going on?”

“Something terrible. That’s what’s going on,” Jacob said, his voice somewhere between despair and rage. “Katy and Paddie are in danger. Katy in particular.”

“Let me go with them,” Jill said. “Get them settled.”

Jacob nodded. He hadn’t thought of Jill going with the kids. That was a better plan. She would be safe. If he died…

Rather than finishing the thought, he took a groggy Paddie from her. He set Paddie on the ground. Holding her hands, he guided her through the tight space. He dropped her to the ground. She ran to a pew and dragged it under the broken window. Standing on a pew, she took Paddie from him.

He picked up Katy and kissed her cheek.

“I’m sorry, Katy,” Jacob said. “I got scared and…”

“You scared me when you were like my old Daddy,” Katy said. “I thought you hated me.”

“Never,” Jacob kissed the girl’s cheek. “I can only, always, love you. Even if I’m scary.”

“Don’t worry, Daddy,” Katy said. “Your Mommy explained everything.”

“Celia?”

“I call her Naomi,” Katy said.

The little girl threw her arms around Jacob.

“I love you, Daddy,” Katy said. “Just remember, you’re stronger than him because you can love. Love will kill him. I don’t know what that means but that’s what your Mommy said to tell you.”

Jacob kissed Katy’s head. He helped her through the opening to the chapel and into Jill’s arms. Jill set Katy down then returned to the opening.

“I love you, Jacob Marlowe,” she said. “You come back to me.”

He leaned down to kiss her.

“I love you,” he whispered.

He stroked her cheek then watched Jill take the kids toward the pillows near the back of the chapel. With one last look, he ran toward the side entrance of the Castle. Holding open the security door, he let out a breath.

This was it. This was the moment he’d spent the last months preparing for. He was fit and strong. His mind was clear. His mental and psychic capacities had grown with steady practice. He was as ready as he would ever be.

For a moment, he wished he was somewhere else, someone else. He wished he didn’t have to open this door and fight to the death with a man he barely knew. He wished for a hundred more quiet mornings and sunlit summer evenings. He wished for the children, his children, he might never meet. He longed to see Katy married and happy.

But Jacob was never one to waste a lot of time on wishes. The moment passed and he was ready again.

Nodding to himself, he opened the oak door and walked inside.

Denver Cereal continues on Monday…