She walked over and sat in Mitch’s chair near the sliding-glass doors. He called it the “most comfortable chair in the world,” and loved to sit in it. It was his corny joke, but now she wanted to hear him say it. She had an overwhelming need to feel his presence. All these months of confusion and conflict had torn them apart and left them unable to see the tremendous love they shared. She flashed on the night her dad had waited up for her and, in her best Dad voice, said to the silent room, “He’s a keeper.” That brought a smile to her face. She hadn’t realized how good it could feel to smile. It was as if her face had been frozen since November. She started to chuckle; for some reason, the squeaky noise that came out of her sounded totally ridiculous and hilarious. Then she laughed so deeply and loudly, and for so long, that eventually tears of joy rolled down her cheeks and she had to gasp for air to catch her breath, which only made her laugh more.

At that instant, she was startled by the sound of someone knocking on the glass door a few feet away. She looked up to see a strikingly beautiful woman with brilliant white hair, gesturing for Carolyn to unlock the door and allow her to enter. Certain she was in a dream, she did as instructed. It was not until their hands touched that Carolyn discovered that the woman was indeed very real, and very much alive.

Despite the fact they were strangers, they silently clung to each other as if they were long-lost sisters, and then stepped back and looked deeply into each other’s eyes, holding hands as women often will. Carolyn was confused, speechless. Then Rachel whispered in her ear and told her what to say.

“I’m Carolyn. What’s your name?”

CHAPTER 15

What a Difference a Day Makes

God whispers to us in our pleasures,
speaks in our consciences,
but shouts in our pains.
—C. S. Lewis

JOANNA SMILED BECAUSE she knew Rachel had reached across into the sphere of the living and had reassured her dear friend. It brought a sense of ease and comfort to both women.

Even though Joanna had seen countless people respond to her with a look of utter astonishment, it still delighted her when someone was genuinely awestruck, as Carolyn was at that moment. Her expression was priceless: a mixture of child-like wonder and confusion, but not fear, despite having just invited into her home a stranger who seemed to have appeared out of nowhere. At such times Joanna had to remind herself to keep her ego in check; she was simply a messenger.

“Hello, Carolyn, my name is Joanna, Joanna Larson, and I am so happy to meet you!”

“Do I know you, Joanna? I think I do! You look familiar and I could swear I’ve heard your voice before.”