“Oh, like that is going to stop me,” Grandmama responded.
Amaliya was so shocked she couldn't move. She pressed her hand against her throat as she stared aghast at her grandmother.
“On TV they said she was dead. Your Uncle Samuel told me the same thing last night. And now she sits here, pale as a ghost, not able to eat, and as cold as the grave. ”
“If she's dead, you are taking this really well,” Sergio joked, and shoved half a tortilla in his mouth.
“Unfinished business,” his grandmother assured him. “I watch TV. Touched by an Angel, Medium and the Ghost Whisperer. She has unfinished business. ”
Slowly, Amaliya put down her fork. Her mind overwhelmed by her grandmother's words, she didn't know what to say.
Sergio rolled his eyes. “C'mon, Grandmama. She's sitting right across from us. ”
“Did the bad Satanist kill you?” her grandmother asked in a soft voice. “Do you want us to tell the police who they are so you can go into the light. ”
Amaliya opened her mouth to answer, then shut it, still not sure what to say.
“She's not dead,” Sergio said again.
“Yes, she is,” his grandmother answered, and looked very sad. “All my girls die young. ”
“Mae is still alive,” Sergio pointed out. “And Kelly Ann. ”
“Mae is too mean to die and Kelly Ann is too stupid,” their grandmother decided, and crossed her arms over her ample chest.
“You do realize that is your daughter and granddaughter you're talking about,” Sergio said with a smirk.
“Stop being a smarty,” Grandmama said and smacked his arm. Leaning toward the completely stunned Amaliya, she said once more, “Do you want us to tell the police who killed you?”
“Uh. No. ”
Looking disappointed, her grandmother sat back. “Why not?”
“Uh. ” Amaliya sat with her mouth hanging open, then shut it firmly. “I am not dead. ”
“Exactly. She has a pulse. ” Sergio leaned over and gripped Amaliya's wrist firmly. “See, Grandmama, she has a. . . ” He hesitated, then looked at Amaliya with shock. “Where is your pulse?”
Amaliya stood up sharply and put her hands on her hips. She opened her mouth to talk, then closed it again.
“You need to go to the light,” her grandmother finally said.
“I can't,” Amaliya answered automatically.
“You're really dead,” Sergio said softly. “No way. We talked on the phone. I picked you up off the bus. ”
“Maybe she thinks she's alive, so she acts alive,” Grandmama considered.
“I'm not. . . . dead. Like that kinda dead. ”
“But you're dead?” Sergio finally stopped eating. “No way. ”
“Oh, shit, this wasn't the way I planned this to go down. ”
“Don't swear,” her grandmother said automatically, pointing an accusing finger at her.
Pacing back and forth in the kitchen, Amaliya ran a hand over her hair. The holy relics were starting to make her want to run away. They weren't right next to her, but she could feel their power pushing on her. “This was supposed to be our tearful and emotional loving farewell. ”
“Well, you still need to go to the light,” her grandmother said firmly.