“I have a soul mate?” she asked Freddy breathlessly, in awe of what he was showing and telling her.
“Yes, you were created just for him.” Freddy picked her up and sat her on his lap.
“What’s his name?”
“You have to find that out for yourself. It won’t be any fun if I tell you everything.” Freddy twisted his face in a comical look.
“How am I supposed to recognize him?”
Freddy placed his hand over her heart. “Souls don’t have names, and sometimes other souls try to trick you into believing they’re your mate because they lost theirs, or they’re tired of looking, but you’re a Coleman, and you’re strong enough to wait for the one who belongs to you.”
“I am?”
“Yes, you are.” Freddy’s face grew so serious that Ginny had to lean against his chest, shivering at the faraway look that had come into his eyes. “You have to be very strong, Ginny. The strongest you’ll have to be in your whole life. When you find him, you’re going to have to be very brave. Promise me?”
The last time she had made a promise, she’d had to leave her family and ….
“Do I have to go down in another airplane?”
“I ain’t going to lie to you; scarier than going down in an airplane. But in return, I promise you that Silas and the other boys will be there to help.” Freddy laid his cheek down on top of her head. “Leah and I will be helping you in a different way, but you’ll know we’re there with you.”
Straightening off his chest, she puffed her chest. “As long as I know you and Leah will be there, too, I won’t be scared. I promise.”
The promise she had made still rang in her head. Was this what Freddy meant about her being brave?
Dad and Leah, Ginny resumed her prayer, please keep Gavin safe. Please, I swear I’ll keep my promise to be brave, just bring him home. Let Jody be right that Gavin will change his mind and Silas can save him. Please.
Her mind went back, replaying the day of her birthday. Leah had been at her mother’s, and they were saving the cake and ice cream until after Freddy had picked her up. To keep her mind off the cake, Freddy had taken her upstairs to hang her star mirror on the wall.
Bouncing up and down on the bed must have driven Freddy nuts, but he had patiently nailed it, ignoring her exuberant behavior.
“Now I have one just like Leah’s!” Ginny clapped in enjoyment. “I can hardly wait for Leah to come home.”
Freddy went to shut the door before sitting down on the bed beside her. “Yours and Leah’s are different. Just like you’re different from the rest of the youngin’s.”
“How come?”
“Leah doesn’t have a soul mate. Not everyone gets one. And don’t be telling her. It’ll make her really sad.”
Tears came to her eyes. She wanted Leah to have a soul mate, like her. Her eyes lighted on her dad as an idea occurred to her. “I can share mine with her.” Ginny laughed in delight.
Freddy laid a gentle hand down on top of her head. “You know how I told you all the youngin’s have gifts that make them special?”
“Uh-huh.”
“Do you know what your gift is, Ginny?”
“No. What?” she whispered at the gentle way her dad was staring at her.
“Laughter.”
“Laughter?” Disappointed, she unhappily jumped off the bed. “I want one like Silas, Isaac, or Jody’s. Anybody can laugh.”
Freddy took her hands and sat her back down. “Laughter heals, Ginny. Laughter is the most special gift of all. That’s the gift we lost when a Coleman became a Porter. You brought it back to us, and the one your soul mate is going to need most of all.”
“Okay ….” She wasn’t really convinced, but if her dad said so, then it had to be true.
“Don’t ever lose that gift. Laughter heals even the most scarred souls.”
“I’d rather read the stars like you and Jody.”
“Baby girl, when the right man laughs with you, you’ll not only read the stars, you’ll be able to reach out and touch ’em.”
“Wow … Really?”
“Really, really.” Lifting her onto his shoulders, he danced around with her. “Don’t forget to grab those stars ….”
Ginny was brought back to the present when Isaac stood up from the rocking chair.
“They’re coming.”
Ginny stood up, looking to her older brothers for guidance. “What should I say?”
“Just be yourself.” It was Moses who answered her. “He’s like a wounded animal right now. Let him come to us ….”
Ginny tried to listen to Moses’ advice; she really did. It lasted until Gavin got out of the truck.
She was unaware she was even moving. Her lips moved, but she was unable to form words with the silent sobs coming out.
While her brothers held back at Moses’ suggestion, Ginny lost what little mind she had left.