My mother‘s eyes grew wide as she pointed to my bowl. “Is this some new thing with you?”
“All the kids are doing it.”
“I thought you didn’t like following trends.”
I scooped up a big spoonful of cereal. “Changed my mind.”
Back to pushing each other’s buttons. Just like old times.
Mother marched over to the table and picked up my half-eaten bowl of cereal. “I think you’ve had enough.” She dumped the bowl into the fancy porcelain farm sink. “You’re really quite spoiled, Taylor. Your life is too easy.”
Would she treat me this way if she could remember I had died? If she knew how hard it was to win the Cloud Nine Contest? Or that I held the fate of Heaven in my hands?
“Easy? If you only knew what I’ve been through.”
“Taylor, I have no idea what’s gotten into you this morning. You better go somewhere and cool off. But not Julie’s house. She’s a bad influence on you.”
“Fine, Mom. You’re right.” I marched over to the mudroom and tugged my book bag over my shoulder. “I’ve been a total slacker. I’m going to the library.”
***
Hiding out in Julie’s bedroom felt so familiar. It had become my safe place, my sanctuary from my mom, who Julie nicknamed Cruella Deville. Yet it also felt a lifetime away. Amazing what being dead can do for your perspective on things. I glanced around her bedroom with fresh eyes. She had far better taste than I did. Everything from the pale teal walls, to the matching comforter set with just the right amount of pillows, was perfectly color coordinated. If Julie wasn’t so into becoming a chef, she’d make a great designer.
Julie kicked at my leg that dangled off the edge of the bed. “What are you thinking about? Looks deep.”
She didn't know the half of it. “What would you say if I told you after you left me last night, I died.”
“I’d say you must have had quite some buzz from that strawberry smoothie. Instead of a protein boost did you have them add in a pinch of acid?”
No one was ever going to believe what happened to me. So why was I trying? “Well, I did almost get run over by one of those tour buses.”
She laughed. “Now that I believe. They drive like maniacs.“ She sat down next to me. “So spill it out. What did Cruella Deville do this time?”
A pain hit my heart. I’d missed Julie’s friendship so much I wanted to hug her so tight she couldn’t breathe. But just like with my mom, I had to act like it was just another day. I leaned back on the stack of pillows. “The usual. Bitched and moaned about how late I stayed out. How you’re a bad influence on me.”
“Does she know you’re here?”
“No, of course not. I told her I was going to the library to study.”
Julie glanced at my book bag. “Oh, so that explains why you brought your backpack.” She punched my arm. “I swore you were going to steal Rodney.”
I laughed. Rodney was Julie’s brother’s iguana. “How did you know? I thought I should hang with one of my kind.”
She touched my arm. “Chilly as usual. Maybe you should go sun on a rock with Rodney.”
I loved being back with Julie. Celery was a great new friend, but Julie and I had a history. A friendship that went back to kindergarten. It felt like a huge betrayal not to tell her the reason why my skin felt slightly cool to the touch. Why humidity didn’t bother me like it did her. That I’d discovered I was part alien. Julie always made fun of people who believed in conspiracy theories, ghost and aliens. It was going to take time to convince her—or an invasion by Palmer and his men.
Julie punched me in the arm. “Earth to Taylor? What is up with you?”
I couldn’t tell her my big truth, so I decided to tell another. “I’m in love with Ryan.”
She sat up on the bed. “Jeez, no wonder you’re so sad. I still can’t believe he’s gone.”
Crap. Of course he was. He died a week before me. “Yeah, it’s been really tough.”
Her arms encompassed me in a soothing hug just like Gram’s. “I’m so sorry. I should have realized how hard it has to be for you. The funeral was just a little over a week ago. I’m a terrible friend.”
I hugged her back. “No, Jules, you’re perfect. I missed you so much.”
“Missed me?” She let go of my waist and touched my forehead. “Are you okay?”
I was anything but.
***
I put my key in the lock, turned the knob and opened the front door as quietly as I could. It was past dinnertime and my parents were in the family room watching TV. I really wasn’t in the mood for another showdown with my mom, so I planned to sneak upstairs. The fifth creaky step gave me away.
Mom called out. “Taylor, did you get your studying done? Did you get something to eat out of the machines?”
“Yeah, Mom. I grabbed a combo at the Taco Shack.”
“Can you let Lucy in? She’s scratching at the back door.”
I tossed my book bag in the closet and cut through the kitchen to let her in. I opened the door and Lucy jumped up and tried to lick my face off. I wanted to cover her in kisses too. But my mom would kill the moment by making some crack about how many germs dogs carry in their mouths. Instead I patted her head. “Good to see you, too, girl.” Lucy trotted behind me as I made my way upstairs to my room. Lucy couldn’t stop licking the back of my legs. It was like she remembered I had died and wanted to make sure I was real.
I threw myself on my bed and Lucy jumped up next to me. I stroked her head. “You remember when you visited me in Heaven, girl? You were the most awesome prize I won up there.”
She barked twice.
“Wasn’t Mr. X really scary when he tried to take you away from me?”
Lucy bared her teeth and growled.
Could she really remember what happened to her like me? Somehow the idea felt comforting. Ever since I’d returned to my old life I kept feeling ashamed to be alive. Like I had survivor’s guilt. Celery and Ryan were dead and stuck frantically trying to repair Heaven. What if Heaven collapsed? They would be permanently dead and it would be my fault. Returning home had become a nightmare. Being alive again, I realized how painful life can be. How I longed for the innocence I had before I died. Stroking Lucy’s luxurious fur used to pacify me, but not any longer. The weight of Heaven’s fate on my shoulders forced me to grow up. Being an adult sucked.
I punched the pillows in frustration, when a sudden sense of urgency and pressure hit my body. A strong twinge made me cross my legs. Lucy stopped licking my legs sensing something was wrong. “What the heck is going on girl?” My instinct made me bolt off the bed and run straight for the bathroom. Lucy barked as I gripped my side. “OMG. I need to pee!”
I sat down on the toilet and laughed. “Welcome to being alive again.” Lucy barked and held up her paw up for me to shake. “Thanks, girl.” I got up and headed back to the bed. Using the bathroom for the first time in months was exhausting. A benefit of Heaven I was going to miss. Lucy jumped up to join me. I patted her head. “Guess I should be happy my body is working normally.”
Lucy didn't bark her usual agreement with what I’d said. Instead, she fidgeted on the edge of the bed. “What is it, girl? Something wrong?”
She jumped off the bed and raced down the hall and down the stairs. I ran behind her. She scratched at the front door like she needed to go out and do her business. Did her watching me pee make her have to go? “Okay, girl. Just let me get your leash.”
I walked back toward the kitchen and grabbed her leash off the peg by the pantry. Before I could turn around, the doorbell rang. Lucy barked like crazy.
My mom shouted out. “Taylor, get that dog under control, and answer the door! We’re trying to watch Downton Abbey.”
Horrors, we were interrupting her favorite show. She loved Violet Crowley, the dowager mother, because her character was as abrasive as she was. Too bad Mom wasn’t as witty. “I’m on it, Mom.”
I grabbed ahold of Lucy’s coll
ar and covered her muzzle. Strange, she normally didn’t act like this. “Calm down, girl.” I tugged Lucy away from the door so I could peer through the peephole. All I could see was someone’s chest. Why did mother have to buy an old Tudor house? People used to be so much shorter when the house was built in the 1920’s. The brass knocker struck the door in a distinctive pattern. Where had I heard that before?
Celery had used a similar knock on the detention wall. But she was busy up in Heaven. Wait a sec. Blaine knew the knock too. Could Palmer have found me already? I swallowed hard and loosened the brass chain and opened the door a crack. Lucy plowed through the door, knocking the chain free from its slot. She jumped up on top of a guy with so much force he stumbled backwards and fell on the brick pathway. Lucy’s big fluffy body covered up half the guy’s body so all I could see was his jeans and a pair of Nikes. Could it one of Palmer’s men? The Nikes looked kind of like Blaine’s. Why didn't Father send the ray gun with me?
The guy tried to talk, but Lucy kept licking his face. Strange, she only did that with people she really liked. Wait a sec, today was Saturday. It had to be the pool guy, Tad. Lucy loved him. A hand shot straight up and the guy gasped for air. “Enough, Lucy. I’m happy to see you, too.”
I’d recognize that voice anywhere—Ryan.
Chapter Six
The UFO Squad
“Ryan, what are you doing here?”
The crooked grin I loved so much crossed his face. “I’m here because I missed you.”
I gave him a hug. “My father wouldn’t send you down because you’re lonely. Has to be something far bigger than that.”
“Okay, I’m busted.” He led me over to the porch chairs and we sat down. “I’ve been communicating with the UFO group for your father. He decided to send me to the meeting too. In case you need backup.”
Why did my father think I needed Ryan’s help? Was he worried the UFO guys might capture me? I plopped down in the chair. Part of me was thrilled to see Ryan again, and the other was a bit disappointed Father felt I couldn’t handle the meeting on my own. “Do you have the info? I’ve been waiting for Father to tell me where and when.”
“Yes, it’s at 8:00 PM tonight.” He held out a paper. “Here’s a map of how to get there.”
I scanned the map. Looked like the UFO group headquarters was in the Valley. “How have you been communicating with them? Did Mr. X make you a special earpiece?”
“No, I talk to the UFO group through the guardian angels.”
“Really? You mean they actually do watch over people on Earth?”
He laughed. “Yep, all the time. The angels were more than happy to help if it would save Heaven from ruin.”
“So the angels knew where the UFO group was?”
“Of course. The guardians always thought they were a bit crazy. But not after they realized aliens had hijacked Heaven. Made them believers.”
“I’ll bet. Did Sabrina know any of the UFO group?”
“No. But she’s been helping us in other ways. My angel, Endora, is the guardian to the second in command. Think she said his name was Clark.”
“Wow, so they guard more than one person?”
He flashed me his crooked smile again. “With over seven billion people on Earth they need to more than double up.”
I laughed. “No kidding. And now I know why bad stuff can happen. They’re trying to juggle too many people. Must have been what happened the night I died. Sabrina was busy with someone else.”
Ryan nodded. “Endora apologized to me. She said the night I died she was busy with one of her people in Australia.”
“Seems like they need to hire a bunch more guardians.”
“I said the same thing. Endora told me only a certain amount of angels are qualified to be guardians.”
“Crazy. Hey, have you seen your parents and Noah yet?”
“No. Your dad sent me here first. I can’t wait to see them again. I want to pinch Noah’s cheeks off.”
“I bet. Being alive again takes a bit of getting used to.”
He laughed. “Yeah, I had to take a whiz the second I got here.”
I gave him a smile. “You better not have peed on my mom’s rose bushes.”
Ryan gave me a sheepish grin. “Hey, how’s it going with her, anyway?”
I let out a sigh. “Just like old times.”
“Uh oh, that doesn’t sound good.”
“I’d forgotten how much we butt heads. Julie nicknamed her Cruella Deville for a reason.”
He laughed. “Makes me grateful for my normal family.” He stood up and brushed grass off his jeans. “Speaking of my family, I better head off to see them. I’ll come back and pick you up for the meeting tonight.”
“Okay, say hi to Noah for me.”
He kissed my forehead. “Sure thing.”
“Ryan, remember your family won’t know what happened to you.”
He nodded. “See you soon. In the meantime, practice acting like an alien. We need to convince the UFO group that Palmer is really going to invade Earth for them to help us.”
I laughed. Like that would be easy. I still had a hard time getting used to the fact I was part alien myself. “I’ll be sure to turn green and grow a set of antennae.”
***
Ryan pointed to a long driveway next to a typical ranch house in the San Fernando Valley. “Brice said to meet him in the back. The headquarters is in an RV.”
Figures. Fits right into the UFO nerd stereotype. “Before we meet up with them, how’d it go with your parents?
He looked off in the distance. “It’s was strange to be with them again after all this time. I wanted to kiss my mom and dad the second I came through the door. But they would think something was wrong, so I just acted normal. I had to hold myself back from squeezing Noah too hard.” A tear traveled down his cheek. “I never thought I’d see him again.”
If only my family reunion had been filled with so much love. I hugged him. “I’m so glad you did.”
He stroked my cheek. “You made that happen.”
I took his hand. “I think Father deserves the credit. He created the Cloud Nine Contest after all.”
Ryan nodded. “That’s true, and I’m grateful for that.” A door slammed in the distance. “We better get going.”
I followed Ryan as he continued walking down the driveway. “How many people are we meeting with?”
“Four. Just the core people in Brice’s group will be there.” He ruffled my hair. “I hope we can convince them you’re legit.”
How ironic. Now I had to actually prove I was part alien.
We reached the end of the driveway and spotted a beat up RV parked at the back of the lot. Surrounded by foot high weeds, it didn’t look like it had seen much adventuring lately. The outside had a faded graphic, which read “Raptor” with a giant talon clutching the top of the door. Three satellite dishes dotted the roof like a strange crown.
I pulled on Ryan’s sleeve. “Are you sure we aren’t walking into a trap?”
He gave me an encouraging grin. “I told you Endora vouched for him, he’s cool.” Ryan knocked on the RV door two times then tapped out a tune. The door swung open revealing a tall guy with chiseled cheekbones, long shaggy hair, and a nice tan. So not the UFO geek leader I was expecting. The only hint he wasn’t a regular guy—a baseball cap with the slogan ET Was Here. The leader, Brice, waved us in. “Great to finally meet you in person.”
Against one side of the RV stood a bank of shelves. All kinds of electronic equipment hummed and clicked while police scanner chatter sounded in the background. A guy with his ginger hair pulled back into a ponytail sat on a beat up sofa. He wore a black T-shirt with a green bug-eyed alien on the front. Must be the smart ass in the group. So far I wasn't impressed. But I had to trust my father knew what he was doing when he picked the group.
Back by the kitchen stood a girl with bright purple hair wearing a matching purple jumpsuit. At least I wasn’t the odd girl out. The ginger hai
red guy with the stupid T-shirt raised his hand “Which one of you is the alien? Your human transformation is very impressive.”
The girl looked straight at me. “I think it’s the girl. The auburn hair color looks fake.”
Quite the deduction from someone who had grape Jell-O tinted hair.
Brice motioned for us to sit on the banquette. “Would you guys back off? They’re here to help us, remember?”
I sat down next to Ryan, still trying to figure out what I could do to convince them who I was. In the movies, aliens usually have special powers. I couldn't do anything.
Ryan put his arm around me. “This is Taylor. She’s the one I was telling you about. The proof you asked for.” The girl with the purple hair pointed to the guy on the sofa. “See, Neo? I knew it!”
Brice scowled at the girl. “Trinity, that’s no way to represent mankind.”
I whispered in Ryan’s ear, “Are they for real?”
He whispered back, “Looks like their parents were big time Matrix fans.”
Brice moved next to me. “I want to apologize for my squad’s behavior. They’re just a bit nervous. Not every day you meet an alien.”
The tall, lanky guy standing next to Neo held up some kind of gadget. “Her electro impulses are reading normal. I need some proof before I’ll believe her.”
Great. Must be the second in command, Clark, showing off for the squad. Talk about being put on the spot. “I’m sorry you’ll just have to take my word for it. I’m only half Katran from the Triangulum Galaxy. The Katran are a lot like humans except they need a high humidity environment. Their body temperature is lower. Ninety-five point three.”
Trinity jumped up and touched my arm. “You don’t feel that cold.” She spied my birthmark. “What’s that?”
Brice pushed her away. “You’re really crossing a line, Trinity. Back off.”
I instinctively drew circles around my birthmark trying to calm down. This meeting sure wasn’t going well. “It’s the mark of the Katran. All of us have one.”
Heavenly Returns Page 5
