Tears From Heaven

By: Hansongirl

The second book in The Love You Till the Day I Die Chronicles

Chapter 1

For an instant, two circles hung side by side in the light blue Oklahoma sky. One was the yellow sun, the other a black-and-white soccer ball. Kara Evans, age fourteen, caught her breath and positioned herself under the one that was falling. It struck her chest with a dull thud and bounced onto the green grass before her.
"Go! Go! Go!" "Defense! Defense!" "Score!" The shouts and cheers were coming from everywhere. They came from the sidelines, where more than a hundred parents, teachers, and students watched, some standing stock-still, others jumping up and down enthusiastically. They came from Kara’s teammates, who now spread out beside her as she began to dribble the ball down the field. And they came from the opposing players, yelling at each other to get into position.
Although she was somewhat small for her age, Kara was an able soccer player, and dribbling the ball was second nature to her. Her eyes scanned the field ahead, looking for a teammate to pass to, or a foe to fake around. Two kids from the opposite team were closing in on her, and Kara deftly passed the ball to her left. Michelle Parks, the right wing, trapped it and passed it back, leaving the hapless defense out of position, and scrambling behind.
As she dribbled across the midfield line, Kara could see teammates to her right and left, and two nervous fullbacks from the other team backing up. She knew she’d have a good clean shot at a goal.
She could almost see the ball flying past the goalie and getting caught in the netting...
FWEET! The ref’s whistle blew, halting the game. Kara stopped short, puzzled, and ran her fingers through her straight, light brown hair. She was certain that her team wasn’t offside and she hadn’t seen anyone commit a foul. Kara instinctively looked to the sidelines. There, she saw something that made her freeze...her father, holding Kara’s black and white warm up jacket. Coach Robbins was waving for her to come off the field. Alison Wicks was coming in to substitute for her.
Kara knew the reason he’d been taken out of the game had nothing to do with sports.
It was her mother.
For a few brief moments back in the game, she’d managed not to think about her. But now the thought sent a cold shiver through her. She started to jog slowly off the field. As Alison ran by, she patted Kara sympathetically on the shoulder.
Everyone knew about his mother. Almost.
Kara reached the sidelines. She was only half aware of Coach Robbins telling her she’d played a good game. Meanwhile, her father stepped toward him, holding the warm up jacket open for Kara to slip on.
"It’s not..." Kara couldn’t finish the sentence. It couldn’t be the end. Not yet.
"No." Ben Evans shook his head. Ben was a handsome man of average height in his early forties. He was wearing a gray suit that was slightly wrinkled around the knees and elbows.
Kara shot her father a side-long look. "Then, why am I out?"
"Dr. Porter thinks it might be soon," Ben said. "He said you should come now."
They started back toward the parking lot. The autumn Oklahoma air was dry, and the temperature was in the upper seventies. A roar went up from the crowd behind them, but Kara didn’t bother to turn around.
"You ain’t gonna call them and tell them to come, are you?" Kara asked slowly.
Her father was quiet for a moment. Then he said, "Yes, Kara, I am, it’s only going to be Tulsa," in a halting voice.
So this was it.
Kara felt a pang deep within. Her father had once told her that he wouldn’t call the relatives until the end was truly upon them. Ever since then, it had been the one question Kara always asked. As long as the relatives hadn’t been called, there was hope.
The Evans family lived in a woodsy part of Canton. Their house was water-front, right at the edge of Canton Lake, which was a beautiful place. Kara loved Canton. Her friends were there, and she had a lot of them, even though Canton was a tiny town.
Kara didn’t want to go to such a large metropolitan city like Tulsa. She liked the quiet of the woods in which she lived all her life. Tulsa was too busy, and too loud. She sighed deeply as she climbed into the passenger side of the car.

The hospital was the color of red sandstone and surrounded by gravel gardens and assorted flowers and trees. As Kara and Ben walked down the long corridor, the late-afternoon sun sent orange shafts of light through the open windows and doorways. It was fall, and the sun, as always, seemed to be a hurry to turn red and disappear behind the mountains in the west.
The hall smelled of medicine. Kara’s heart began to beat fast, and she always experienced the mixture of dread and longing she always felt when she came to the hospital. Ahead was her mother’s private room, and as she and her father approached, Dr. Porter, wearing his white medical jacket and stethoscope, stepped out of the room. The balding older man looked over his bifocals at Kara and Ben. Sometimes in the past he’d smiled when he saw them coming. Today he did not.
Dr. Porter met them outside the door.
"Can we go in?" Ben asked.
"She’s asleep," Dr. Porter said. He glanced quickly at Kara. "But I think this is a good time for Kara to see her."
"Thanks, Doc." Ben said. He and Kara started toward the doorway, but Dr. Porter touched Ben’s arm.
"Ben, could you stay out here for a moment? There are a few things I think we should talk about."
Without her father, Kara hesitated by the door, but when Ben Evans nodded slightly, Kara stepped into the dimly lit room.
The lights were off, and the shade had been pulled down, allowing only a thin shaft of reddish sunlight in. Meg Evans lay propped up by pillows, her sunken ringed eyes closed and her mouth slightly agape. Thin green tubes ran from a tank of oxygen into her nostrils, and a rack with several plastic bags of IV solution hung over the bed and fed down through a long tube into a back of her hand.
Kara felt a lurching sensation. Her mother had literally wasted from a beautiful robust woman into a gaunt, hollow-cheek, gray-skinned wraith. Even though Kara had seen her several times in this state, it still seemed impossible to her that this was really happening.
That her mother was really dying.
She quietly sat down in a chair beside the bed. Out of a sense of curiosity and impossible hope, she glanced around at the equipment and at the things on her night table, as if there might be something there that would indicate her condition was actually improving, despite the grim look on Dr. Porter’s face.
But nothing was different. All the equipment necessary to keep her mother alive was till there. The vase of roses was still on the night table, only the roses had started to wilt. Next to them was a photograph in a silver frame. It was a photograph of her mother in a long white dress, a big smile on her face, walking with Kara through a peach grove with the peach trees in bloom. It seemed impossible that the photo had been taken only the spring before.
Meg Evans’s eyes flickered and opened. For a moment Kara and she just stared at each other, and Kara had the feeling she didn’t know where she was. Then she seemed to focus on her, and a small smile appeared on her cracked, chapped lips.
"Kara, honey..." She spoke slowly and with effort, but even in her debilitated state, Kara could feel the aura of love that seemed to emanate from her.
"Hey Mom." Kara smiled slightly.
"Why didn’t you wake me?" her mother asked.
"I thought you were tired."
"You know I’d rather see you," Meg said. "I’ve been waiting for you. To talk to you."
Kara held her breath for a moment. She had been dreading this. Did she want to say goodbye? Or tell her how she had to be strong? Or talk about all the things she’d half to do after she was gone? Kara couldn’t bear it.
"Has Dad told you everything?" Meg asked.
Kara stared at the floor, trying to fight off the tears that felt as if they were about to spurt unwanted into her eyes. She nodded.
"Then you know there’s gonna be some difficult times ahead," Meg said. "You’re going to have to be strong."
Kara shook her head. She couldn’t stand hearing her talk about what it would be like when she was gone. "Mom..."
"Don’t worry, Kara," her mother said softly. "I’ll always be with you. Always."
"I know Mom," she whispered. "You’re not going to die. I promise. You’re not going to die, ‘cause I won’t let you! You can’t die! It just ain’t possible. You’re too young to die."
She could tell her mother was fading. The effort to talk had caught up to her. But for one brief moment, she looked back into her eyes, and she could have sworn she was agreeing with her. Her lips moved slightly, and it seemed she was repeating that word again.
Always...
She wasn’t going to die. Not really.
Kara wouldn’t let it happen. She couldn’t let it happen...
Then Meg’s eyes closed.
A sense of panic grabbed Kara. "Mom?"
She lifted her head and saw the waves on the heart monitor beat, and she relaxed, continuing the watch the monitor.
The waves weren’t strong...Kara jumped up. There must’ve been some mistake. But when the waves became slower...one...two...and there was no more, but a single line, Kara screamed and ran out the door.
BLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEPPPPPP!!! The heart monitor was calling for help.
"DR. PORTER!!!" Kara screamed, sobbing.
Ben’s head whipped to Kara and ran to her, gathering her in his arms, and just holding her.
Father and daughter watched as doctors and nurses ran into the room, and for fifteen minutes they continued to watch until Dr. Porter came out of the room, his head bowed.
"I’m sorry, Ben. We lost her." Dr. Porter said quietly.
"NO! No, no, no!" Kara sobbed as she pounded her fists into Ben’s chest.
"She’s gone?" Ben asked haltingly.
Dr. Porter nodded slowly.
Then, Ben grabbed Kara’s fists, and held her close to his chest, crying tears of pain.

Chapter 2

She looked around her room. Kara squatted down and peeked into her dresser drawer, making sure there was nothing left. She straightened up and scanned her room. The wicker hamper in the corner was empty. The walls were bare, all her posters had been taken down. The lap top computer that had sat on her desk for three years was already shipped to Tulsa. The shade on her window hung a little crookedly and her bed was made.
She went downstairs to the kitchen. The dishes from the previous night were still in the sink...not that she was able to eat. A hanging philodendron in the kitchen window appeared to be shriveling from lack of water. Kara watered it and looked around. The kitchen looked dingy. It had never looked that way before.
She pulled open the refrigerator. Immediately a sour odor wafted into her nose.
"Eew! I think I’m gonna puke."
Holding her nose, Kara took the milk container out and went over to the sink. She ran the water and then emptied the container. The milk came out in lumps.
"We’ve got enough in the bank and accounts due to carry the payroll another three weeks." Ben came in, talking on the portable phone. "Well, I don’t know what we’ll do after that. Yes, I know Japan’s ready to sign, but I can’t go there now. Christ Jesus, Lou, my wife’s funeral is tomorrow! Look, either they’ll wait or they don’t. Simple as that. Talk to you later."
Ben hung up and rubbed his face with his hands. He had dark rings under his eyes. Kara sometimes woke up in the middle of the night and heard him thrashing around, unable to sleep.
"Sleep okay?" Ben asked.
Kara rolled her eyes and stalked past him. "If you call ‘okay’ not sleeping, yeah, I had my beauty rest."

"Kara, talk to me, honey." Ben said, his eyes on the road.
No response.
"Kara, I know you’re upset, but can you at least talk to me? We’re almost there."
No response. Three digital beeps from Kara’s Game Boy.
"Talk to me. Tell me how you feel. Kara!" Ben was becoming frustrated.
Still no response. The music of the game came on. "Great."
Ben had the sudden urge to grab the game system and throw it out the window, but instead, he pulled over to the side of the road. "Kara,"
Color ran up Kara’s neck as she whipped her head to him. "WHAT?" She snapped.
"Don’t you dare raise your voice at me!" Ben yelled.
"What do you care, you’re just passing me around the stupid place like I’m some game. You don’t give a damn about me. You’re sailing off to Japan and staying there for God-knows-how-long and then when I’m good and sixteen and made a buncha good new friends, you’re gonna come sailing back and plucking me outta Tulsa and back to the land of the unknown!" Kara yelled back.
"Dammit, Kara!" Ben raised one hand, as if to slap Kara. She didn’t flinch, but only glared at him with steely eyes.
"Go ahead, smack the crap outta me." Kara challenged.
"Kara I don’t want to fight with-" Ben was cut off by his daughter.
"Too late. Now shut up, drive, and leave me alone." Kara said, unbuckling her seatbelt, turning around and climbing into the back seat. Pretty soon, Ben could hear the digital music of her Game Boy again. Sighing, Ben floored the accelerator and continued to drive.

"So, when’s your cousin coming?" Zac sat, tapping his fingers rhythmically on the table.
David shrugged. "I Dunno. Soon.."
"Oh. Cool." Zac said.
"Boys, do you want anything up there? A drink maybe?" Susan, David’s mother, called up to them.
"No thanks Mom!" David yelled back.
"Okay!"
David turned back to Zac. "The last time I saw her, she was really annoying."
"She probably thought you were annoying too." Zac laughed.
David rolled his eyes and stuck his tounge out at Zac. "She wouldn’t let me pull those stupid pig tails!"
Zac laughed. "How old were you?"
"Seven."
"Gosh, that was seven years ago. Don’t you think she’s changed a bit?" Zac asked.
"Maybe." David shrugged.
"So, why is she coming here anyways?" Zac asked, stretching out on the light blue carpeting.
David sighed. "Her mom died a while ago. We were planning on having her stay here."
"Aww, that’s too bad. I wouldn’t know what to do if I lost my mom or dad. Maybe Christene could help her." Zac said quietly.
"Yeah, Chris would definitely know." David said, sighing.
"Chris took it pretty good, if you think about it." Zac continued.
"I’m surprised she wasn’t all bitchy when she first came here." David flipped through a magazine.
"Well, Christene’s kinda like Taylor. She doesn’t express her emotions. She wasn’t really apathetic, but it was more like she refused to show her real feelings." Zac stared up at David’s ceiling.
"Yeah."
"Why doesn’t she stay with her dad?" Zac wondered out loud.
David looked at him with sad green eyes. "Because he can’t take care of her. She doesn’t know it, but he’s wasting away too."
"Oh man." Zac murmured.
"Yeah, I know." David muttered.
"Ok, well, doesn’t matter. She’s probably cool."
"Maybe."
They both laughed.
Downstairs, the doorbell rang.
The boys exchanged looks.
"Maybe that’s-"
"Is it-"
They said it at the same time, paused, then laughed.
"Come on let’s go see." Zac grabbed David’s elbow and lead him downstairs.

Susan hugged her niece. "Kara, it’s so great to see you!" She held her at arm’s length. "You look so beautiful! Just like..."
"Don’t finish that. Please." Kara whispered, her eyes stinging with tears. Ben finished unloading all of Kara’s luggage in the house.
"Oh, honey, I’m so sorry." Susan said softly.
Kara shrugged.
"MO-OM! Is that Kara?" David called from upstairs.
"Honey, come down here." Susan called.
Ben hugged Susan. "Hiya Sis. Here, I need to talk to you..."
Kara stood alone, standing in the hall. David came running downstairs, his friend at his heels.
"Hey Kara. You need help with your...oh my GOSH! How much stuff do you have?" David’s mouth dropped when he saw her luggage.
Kara shrugged. "Hi."
David and the boy stood looking at Kara.
"Hey, I’m Zac." The boy stuck out his hand.
Kara slipped her hand into his and shook it. "Kara," She gazed at Zac intently. "Hey, you’re that Hanson dude, aren’t you?"
"Yeah, I’m the drummer." Zac grinned.
"I thought you lived in Hollywood or some big shot city like that." Kara said, a little confused.
"Nah, Tulsa’s home. It’s where our friends and family are. It’s always gonna be home." Zac grinned.
"Easy for you to say." Kara muttered.
Zac sighed as he chewed on his lower lip. Kara had the type of pain that he and his brothers had to go through when his grandmother had died. "Ok, Davy-boy. Let’s see what we can do." He picked up a suitcase and handed it to David, and picked up two more. Then he turned, and went up the stairs and set the suitcases down on the floor in the bedroom.
Kara stepped into the room and looked around. Her eyes almost filled with tears. They had modeled this room into an exact version of her old room back in Canton...almost. "It’s really...nice."
David scratched the back of his head. "Well, it’s not much, but, it’s pretty good."
"I guess." Kara said softly.
"Kara, my brother’s girlfriend," Zac started off.
"Which one?" Kara asked.
"Uh...Taylor."
Her expression was blank.
"The middle one?" Zac suggested.
"Oh. Him." Kara nodded.
"Um, his girlfriend uh...she can really help you out here." Zac said, picking his words with difficulty.
"Don’t tell me her mom is dead too." Kara snorted and rolled her eyes.
"Actually, Kara, both of her parents are dead." David said quietly.
Kara paled. "Oh no. How’s she dealing?"
"Actually, she’s pretty good. I’ve never seen her fall apart before because of this. She’s really strong, and she really can help you. Her name’s Christene and she’s the ni...one of the nicest girls I’ve ever known." Zac said.
"Oh." Kara looked down at the floor.
"Well, we’ll leave you alone now if you want to unpack and all that stuff." David said.
"Kara, you ok in here?" Susan poked her head in.
"I’m fine Mo...Aunt Susan." Kara’s eyes stung with tears when she realized that she almost called her aunt ‘Mom’.
"Do you need any help unpacking?" Susan asked, her curly red hair framing her pretty face.
Kara shook her head. "It’s ok."
"All right. Come on boys, Dave, Zac, come on let’s go." Susan urged them with her eyes.
"Nice meeting ya, Kara." Zac called over his shoulder.
"You too Zac." Kara said quietly.
David nudged Zac playfully once they were out of Kara’s earshot. "So, whattya think?"
Zac just grinned and his cheeks turned a tiny bit pink. "She’s cool."
David grinned back and poked Zac. "Kara Hanson. I think there’s a ring to that."
Zac stuck his hands into his pockets and didn’t say anything, but had plastered a silly smile on his face. David didn’t know, but Zac secretly thought that there was a ring to ‘Kara Hanson’ too.