12. The Dreamer-The Bee

14 years earlier...

"G...U...T...T...A...T...E...guttate," the twelve year old chirped.

"Yes!" he shouted and clapped.  No one turned, the audiences attention remained fixed on his daughter.

"How is Anna doing?" the words echoed around him.  Moments later, Aislinn appeared with her scythe.

"Good so far, but she still has a ways to go," he answered as his daughter stepped away from the microphone.  The dimples dotted her cheeks as she tried to keep a smile from taking over her face.  They were the same dimples her mother had.

"I didn't think I would care so much, but I hope she wins.  We put a lot of time into helping her study," Aislinn said wryly.  The past few weeks had put their normal nightly routine on hold.  He had insisted they visit Anna and spell words in her dreams.  So far it seemed to have worked.

The next time Anna was up, he placed his hand in his wife's.  Literally inside hers.  He had no physical form at the moment.  Claire couldn't feel him either, but the action gave him comfort.  Her own hands were gripped together in her lap.  Not that either of them needed to worry.  Anna spelled the word correctly.

"Mommy!" Anna rushed to Claire's arms after the Bee was over.  Her fingers clutched the blue ribbon.

"Anna-kins!  I'm so proud of you!" both parents echoed at the same time.  Only Claire was heard.

"Do you think daddy will be proud?" the small disappointment broke his heart.

"I know he will be," Claire answered.

"I am," he told his daughter.  She couldn't hear.

"He promised he would be here," Anna looked down at her ribbon.  Aislinn reached and squeezed his hand.  It was the only physical comfort he could have at the moment.  He needed it.

"I know he did, but he had to go.  His job sent him away,"

"To England," the child sighed and his heart broke.  He wrapped his arms around Anna.  She couldn't feel it and his arms would pass right through her.  But he needed to hold her.

He felt solid flesh.  Sadness seemed to drain from Anna.  Smiling, she looked back up at Claire.

"I think he was watching me in spirit, mom," unconsciously she toyed with her blue ribbon.

"I think you're right.  Come on, let's get some ice cream!" and they walked off.  Aislinn looked at him, her expression unreadable.

"That shouldn't have happened,"