Keepers of the Underworld

Chapter 11

It was mid-afternoon as Sephi was making her rounds. In the back of her mind, she kept thinking about what Dee had told her about Yannis. Knowing that such a vile human was a resident in the center made her skin crawl.

Sephi was going to meet one of the newest residents, and this one broke her heart. It was a young girl who had a rare pediatric glioblastoma, an incurable brain tumor, and all treatments had been exhausted. At ten years old, Ava had been through more than most who reached a ripe old age.

When Sephi arrived at Ava’s room, she saw the door was open. She thought that was a bit odd but nothing that needed to be addressed. She knocked on the open door before she went in. On the bed was a frail girl with a few strands of bright red hair still clinging to her scalp after the many rounds of chemotherapy and radiation. The little girl gave her a tired smile as Sephi neared the bed.

“You must be Ava. I’m Sephi. I’m one of the nurses who will be taking care,” she told the girl before turning to the adults beside the bed. “If either of you needs anything or needs a moment and would like someone to stay with Ava, just let us know. That is what we are here for. We’re not here just for the residents, but their families during this time.”

“Thank you. I’m her mom, Tammy, and this is her dad, Jay,” the woman told Sephi. “We have a three-year-old son, which makes this harder. How do you explain that his big sister isn’t…” Tammy trailed off, and a tear ran down her cheek.

“It’s alright. If you haven’t been able to explain it to him, I will help you with it if you like. I have done it many times over the years, and I understand how hard it is for the families, especially young children,” Sephi explained.

“Thank you,” Jay said as he took Tammy’s hand. “We have tried, but how do you explain this to a child who is so young that they don’t understand what it all means? He doesn’t understand what death is.”

“It takes time, and by putting it into terms, he will understand. I will help you with that. My job is to not only take care of Ava, but to make things easier for everyone in the family,” Sephi said with a kind smile.

“Thank you,” Tammy whispered.

“You don’t need to thank me. The attorney who helped you arrange everything for Ava is my husband. I’m sure Dee explained all the legal elements of Ava coming here. Let me explain the more personal side,” Sephi said with a gentle smile.

Tammy and Jay nodded in reply to Sephi. Ava gave her a weak smile as she watched her every move.

She pulled a chair over, so she could sit with Ava’s parents beside her bed. “Our priority is to make Ava and her family as comfortable and happy as you can be until it is time. Anything you need, please tell us, and we will do our best to make it happen. If Ava wakes up in the middle of the night and wants her favorite ice cream, tell us, and we will try to find it for her and after that, we will make sure it is kept here and ready for her. If she does not want to eat her vegetables, don’t make her eat them. Ava’s only job right now is to be as happy as she can be.”

“Can I have ice cream now?” Ava asked.

“Of course! What kind would you like? If we don’t have it, one of us will go to the store for you,” Sephi grinned.

“I like cookie dough but chocolate or vanilla are OK if you don’t have it,” Ava told her meekly.

“We don’t have cookie dough, but I’m sure my husband would like a break from his boring paperwork,” Sephi giggled as she took her phone out and sent a message to Dee. He instantly replied that he would get the ice cream and be back in a few minutes. Sephi slipped her phone back into her pocket and said, “He will be here in a few minutes with it.”

“Thank you,” Ava giggled.

“It is our pleasure,” Sephi told her.

“We had our doubts about bringing Ava here, but I think we made the right decision,” Jay said as he squeezed Tammy’s hand. “This is just so hard.”

“I have two children, Melanie and Zach, who are both grown. I can not imagine going through this with either of them. I want you to know that I will treat Ava as if she is mine. I want you and Ava to tell me all of her favorite things. Favorite colors, food, TV shows, movies, and anything else you can think of. We want to know all of it, so we can make sure she has it.”

For the next ten minutes, Sephi talked with Ava and her parents, making lists and taking notes. Sephi assured them it was fine to bring her favorite pink and purple bedding and pillows, stuffed animals, and toys. Her parents were welcome to bring a library of her favorite movies for Ava to watch. Sephi wanted the sweet child to have everything that made her happy.

A tap on the door made them pause. Dee was standing in the doorway holding a shopping bag. He walked in smiling broadly as he pulled a quart carton of cookie dough ice cream out of the bag.

“I heard that a lovely young lady was in desperate need of some ice cream,” Dee said as he walked to bed and opened the carton before giving it to Ava. He pulled a package of spoons out of the bag, opened it, and gave one to Ava. Dee smiled and softly said, “I hope this is the kind you like. If it isn’t, I want you to tell me which one you like, so I can get it for you, and we can keep it here. That way, you can have it whenever you want.”

“Thank you,” Ava said as she took a bite. “I like this one.”

“Good! In the morning, on the way to work, I will get more so you don’t run out. What else do you like? Candy? Cookies? Pizza? Dino nuggets? What do you like? I will make sure the kitchen is well stocked. I’m Dee, by the way. I am Sephi’s husband, and I am the lawyer for the center here, so I can make sure it happens,” Dee told Ava with a wink, making her giggle.

“I like pizza rolls and dino nuggets,” Ava told him between bites. “I like egg rolls, too.”

“Oh, you are a girl after my own heart. I like those things too,” Dee told her. “Make sure you tell Sephi everything, and if you think of something, have your parents write it down and give it to one of us. Can you do that?”

“Mm, hm,” Ava nodded as she ate her ice cream.

“Good girl,” Dee smiled at her. “I will come visit you later.”

“Thank you, love,” Sephi told Dee.

“Of course, my sweet,” Dee said to Sephi before addressing Ava’s parents. “Tammy, Jay, if either of you or Ava needs anything, please let me know. Call me anytime, including after hours. That is why I gave you my cell number. Do not worry about what day or time it is. If you need anything, call.”

“We will,” Jay told him.

“Thank you for everything you are doing,” Tammy said.

“There is no need to thank me. I would do anything for Ava. No child should ever need a place like this, and no parents should have to go through what you are,” Dee told them. “I must finish up some things in my office. If you need me, call or stop by.”

He smiled at Ava as he looked at her one last time, eating her ice cream. Dee gave a nod to her parents before he turned and left the room to return to his office. Every time he saw Ava, he thought of his daughter and her being in Ava’s place. That made his chest clench at the idea of losing one of his children. Dee was a god and the king of the underworld, but losing one of his children would bring him to his knees. That was why he was determined to ease the pain for Ava and her family in any way possible.