“’S okay,” I whispered, though neither of them were there anymore. “I say it’s okay. The angel can ask anyone she wants into the garden.” I closed my eyes. Nick put a hand on my head, and I smiled. “Hi, Nick,” I said softly, opening my eyes. “Are you still here?”

“Yes, I’m still here.”

“Good,” I said. “’Cause when I can stand up, I’m going to give you a bi-i-i-g kiss.”

Nick’s hand fell from me and he took a step back.

Ivy grimaced. “I hate this part,” she muttered. “I hate it. I hate it.”

My hand crept up to my neck, and Nick forced it back down. I could hear the faucet dripping again on the carpet: plink, plink, plink. The room began to revolve majestically, and I watched it spin, fascinated. It was funny, and I tried to laugh.

Ivy made a frustrated sound. “If she’s giggling, she’s going to be all right,” she said. “Why don’t you take a shower?”

“I’m okay,” he said. “I’ll wait until I know for sure.”

Ivy was silent for three heartbeats. “Nick,” she said, her voice thick with warning. “Rachel stinks of infection. You stink of blood and fear. Go take a shower.”

“Oh.” There was a long hesitation. “Sorry.”

I smiled up at Nick as he edged to the door. “Go wash, Nick Nicky,” I said. “Don’t make Ivy go all black and scary. Take as long as you want. There’s soap in the dish, and …” I hesitated, trying to remember what I was saying. “… and towels on the dryer,” I finished, proud of myself.

He touched my shoulder, his eyes flicking from me to Ivy. “You should be all right.”

Ivy crossed her arms before her, impatiently waiting for him to leave. I heard the shower go on. It made me a hundred times more thirsty. Somewhere, I could feel my arm pounding and my ribs throbbing. My neck and shoulder were one solid ache. I turned to watch the curtain move in the breeze, fascinated.

A loud boom from the front of the church pulled my attention to the black hallway. “Hello?” came Keasley’s distant voice. “Ms. Morgan? Matalina said I could walk in.”

Ivy’s lips pursed. “Stay here,” she said, bending over me until I had no choice but to look at her. “Don’t get up until I get back, okay? Rachel? Do you hear me? Don’t get up.”

“Sure.” My gaze drifted past her to the curtain. If I squinted ju-u-u-u-ust right, the gray shifted to black. “Stay here.”

Giving me a last look, she gathered up all her magazines and left. The sound of the shower drew me. I licked my lips. I wondered, if I tried really hard, could I reach the sink in the kitchen?

Twenty-Seven

There was the rattle of a paper bag in the hallway, and I tilted my head up from the arm of the couch. The room held steady this time, and a fog seemed to lift from me. Keasley’s hunched figure came in, Ivy close behind. “Oh, good,” I whispered breathlessly. “Company.”