Caden could smell the aromas of beer-battered tilapia fish sticks and tater tots throughout the house while they baked in the oven.
He lay on his bed as he checked out a new app on his smartphone. When it was time for dinner, he left his room to head downstairs.
On his way, he took a cursory glance into the bathroom as he walked past it. He saw Trina standing before the mirror, her back to him, as she brushed her hair with calculated strokes.
When he entered the kitchen, he signed and mouthed, “What the hell—”
“Uh-uh-uh,” Josslyn signed, indignant. “Watch your language, young man. That kind of talk is not permitted in this house at any time, under any circumstances.”
“You know we taught you better than that,” Nathan signed.
Caden gazed at Trina, then turned to Josslyn. “How . . . how did she get down here?” he signed.
“What do you mean?” Josslyn signed. “What an odd question.”
“I was just upstairs, and she was in the bathroom, brushing her hair. When I left her to come downstairs, she was still in the bathroom!”
“No, I wasn’t,” Trina signed.
“Then how did you get by me on the stairs?”
Josslyn looked Caden in the eye. “She has been here with me in the kitchen.”
They all realized at the same time what had happened.
“Apparently, it was that spirit,” Josslyn signed. “It has shape-shifting abilities. It can make itself appear to be whatever or whoever it wants. It’s part of its deceptive nature. Remember, the devil is a liar and the father of lies and he never stands in the spirit of truth. Ignore it, rebuke it, and bind it in the name of Jesus. Lift it up into the hand of the Lord through the name, spirit, and precious Blood of the Lamb.”
“Amen,” Nathan signed, as did Caden, Trina, and Josslyn.
“I know I’ve said it before,” Josslyn signed, “and I’ll say it again, I just can’t wait till someone from one of the paranormal organizations gets here and does an investigation. However, we need to bear in mind that they said on their website that e-mails would be answered within forty-eight to seventy-two hours as they have other cases, also.”
Nathan shook his head in frustration. “Well, the sooner their asses get here, the better.”
Josslyn’s jaw dropped. She noticed the angry look etched on his face and that his eyes were cold. She shook her head and blinked a few times. “What did you say?”
“I said, the sooner they get here, the better.”
Josslyn shook her head. “No. You said something that was rather un-Christian. You never spoke like that before.”
“What did I say then?”
“I’m not repeating what you said, but I’ll tell you it wasn’t very nice. Just go fix your plate and eat your dinner.”