Heaven Bent
Book 2
By
Robert T. Jeschonek
*****
SMASHWORDS EDITION
Copyright © 2012 by Robert T. Jeschonek
www.thefictioneer.com
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*****
Previously in Heaven Bent: Movie star Stag Lincoln got a warning from a man claiming to be his future self. He did a dangerous stunt anyway and ended up in a helicopter crash. Waking up, he met a young woman who told him he'd died and gone to Heaven...and that she was his daughter. There's just one problem...
"I never had a daughter!" That's what I said as Lillian helped me off the bed in the all-white room where I'd awakened. "This is impossible!"
"Um, no it's not." Lillian laughed and gave her long black hair a toss. "You're not going to make me explain the birds and the bees, are you, Dad?"
Standing there, I stared at her, looking for something familiar in her face. "But, see, I never had a daughter. I never had children, period."
Grinning, she pressed a finger against my lips. "That you know of."
She had a point. I did sow my share of wild oats. "Then tell me, who's your mother?"
Lillian shook her head. "That's a secret. I'll tell you later." She took me by the arm and led me toward the door. "For now, we need to get you settled in."
"Secret, huh?" I scowled at her. "Then at least tell me how you can be my daughter when you look like you're in your thirties."
She shrugged. "Time has no meaning here." She reached for the doorknob. "All times are one in Heaven."
As she opened the door, bright light flooded into the room. Squinting, I shaded my eyes with my hand.
"This way, Dad." Lillian stepped through and pulled me with her. "Let me show you around."
Still squinting, I followed her out of the room. My heart beat harder as I wondered what was coming next--and if getting expelled from paradise would be part of it.
You know the old toast that goes, "May you be in Heaven a half-hour before the Devil knows you're dead?" Well, I was starting to wonder when my half-hour would be up. I hadn't exactly lived the kind of life that's supposed to lead to a heavenly reward. And then there was that last bit, during the movie stunt that killed me.
The part where I shot the helicopter pilot in the head.
"You'll love it here, Dad." Lillian squeezed my arm as she walked me down a white corridor filled with light. The ceiling, walls, and floor all gave off an intense white radiance. "I'm so glad you made it."
I just smiled at her. Because, honestly, I didn't want her or anyone else thinking too much about whether I deserved to be there in the first place.
We stopped at a door at the end of the hall, and she reached for the handle. "After you." She bowed as she pulled the door open and ushered me toward an even stronger brightness.
Bright light wasn't the only thing she was guiding me toward. I heard the sound of harps playing and bells tinkling softly. The sweet fragrance of flowers mingled with salty sea air.
It reminded me of the visit from my supposed future self, back before the helicopter crash. I'd heard bells and smelled sea air then, too. I'd thought it was all special effects, a load of B.S. from prank-playing colleagues--but, in retrospect, maybe it hadn't been such B.S. after all. The warning had certainly come true, hadn't it?
Maybe this was where so-called Future Me had been "broadcasting" from in the first place...and he hadn't been so "so-called" after all.
"Okay, Dad?" Lillian looked at me with concern. I guess I'd been standing there longer than I thought.
"Sure, sure." I flashed her a big Stag Lincoln Hollywood grin, the one that always made the ladies melt. "I'm just excited, I guess."