by Terri Reid
Clarissa chuckled. “But if I feel the Spirit of Christmas, I’ll want to be good anyway, right?”
“Right,” Mary said. “And the more you allow yourself to feel that spirit of goodwill and peace, the greater the joy and peace that will come from it.”
“What does he look like?” Clarissa asked.
Mary thought back to the red-robed spirit with the glow of joy emanating from him. “Exactly what you’d think Santa looked like,” she said. “But he has the light of love all around him.”
“I think I like this Santa better than the other one,” Clarissa decided. She picked up a cookie and took a bite. “It’s realer.”
Mary grinned at Bradley and then smiled at Clarissa. “Exactly,” she said. “It’s much realer.”
Chapter Three
Lifting Clarissa up, Bradley watched his daughter place the angel on the very top of the tree. “Good job,” he said when she secured it on the vertical branch.
She smiled at him. “This is the best Christmas tree I’ve ever had.”
“I agree,” Bradley replied, putting her back on the ground.
“Grandpa Stanley,” Clarissa asked, “what do you think?”
Stanley walked over, placed his hands on his hips and studied the tree carefully, his face displaying serious concentration. Then he lifted one hand and stroked his chin thoughtfully. “Well, I was thinking that maybe the tree from 1953 coulda been a might better,” he said slowly, but then he shook his head. “But now that I remember it, it tweren’t quite as sparkly or as tall as this one.”
He smiled at her. “Yes siree, this tree takes the cake.”
Clarissa grinned and threw her arms around Stanley. “And you’re real old,” she said excitedly. “So, you’d know stuff.”
Chuckling, Stanley bent down and wrapped his arms around the little girl. “Yes, indeed, I’m almost as old as Santa Claus,” he said. “And I do know stuff.”
Clarissa leaned back and looked at Stanley’s beloved, wrinkled face. “My mom said that you met Santa Claus,” she said. “But you didn’t get to see him.”
“She’s right,” he replied. “He was helping us get six little orphans back home where they belong.” He paused, remembering the burnt remains of the orphanage and the six tiny ghosts who had waited years for Santa to come. “He was right there in the room, and he spoke to your mother.”
“Like he knew her name?” Clarissa asked, impressed.
Stanley nodded. “Now, I ain’t saying he knew her personally-like,” he explained. “But I reckon he’d heard of her. Your mom here, she’s pretty famous in the place where spirits hang out.”
Clarissa turned and looked over to Mary. “Are you famous?” she asked.
Mary laughed and shook her head. “I doubt it,” she said. “Santa was just helping me with a case, that’s all.”
“You worked with Santa?” Clarissa asked, her eyes widening with new respect for her mother. “So, you’re like an elf?”
Stanley laughed out loud. “Biggest elf I’ve ever seen.”
“Stanley,” Rosie immediately chided him. “That’s not nice. Mary’s not big, she’s pregnant.”
“I wasn’t saying she was fat. I was saying she was tall,” he said, defending himself. “She ain’t fat t’all. As a matter o’ fact, I was going to get after her for not eating more. She’s too skinny by half.”
Mary grinned at Stanley, picked up a cookie and took a bite. “Better?” she asked with a wink.
He chuckled. “Iffen you get yourself a glass of milk, I’ll be happier than a pig in mud.”
“That’s gross,” Clarissa said.
Mary laughed and nodded at Stanley. “I will go right in and pour myself a glass of milk,” she said. “Just to make you happy.”
Still chuckling, she left the living room and walked into the kitchen. As she moved to open the refrigerator, out of the corner of her eye she saw a shadow dart from the corner of the room. She quickly turned and walked past the refrigerator to the far end of the kitchen. She looked all around the room, but nothing was there.
“That’s odd,” she said softly.
“What’s odd?” Mike asked, appearing next to her.
She smiled at the angel. “I thought I saw something, a shadow, dart across the room,” she said. “But I looked and couldn’t find anything.”
Mike didn’t smile, but slowly studied the room.
“Okay, Mike, you’re spooking me,” she said, trying to keep her voice light.
He looked back at her and shrugged. “I guess I’m still wary about whatever was in the asylum,” he said. “I’m worried that it might have followed us home.”
“Okay, now you’re not just spooking me, you’re scaring me,” she said. “What are the odds?”
He shrugged. “I don’t know,” he said. “Because I couldn’t figure out what we were dealing with.” Then he sighed and smiled. “And maybe I’m just being paranoid.”
She nodded. “Well, it wouldn’t hurt to be extra vigilant,” she said.
“And it wouldn’t hurt to see what we can find out about those former residents of the asylum,” he replied, gazing around the room once more.
“Yes,” she said slowly. “And Mike?”
He looked back down at her. “What do you need, sweetheart?”
“Could you guard Clarissa even more closely until we figure this out?” she asked. “If it’s the thing from the asylum, Bradley and I have already faced it down once, but Clarissa…”
He smiled at her. “Don’t worry,” he said. “I’ll put myself on double-time guardian angel duty.” He looked beyond her towards the living room. “Are you going to mention anything to Bradley?”
She shook her head. “Not yet,” she said. “It could have been just a shadow from a car passing by, and he’s so nervous about Mikey’s arrival that I don’t think he could handle any more stress.”
Shaking his head, he stepped closer. “He can handle it,” he whispered. “And, if you want my advice, you’ll mention it to him.”
“Wow, this is serious,” she said, her stomach tightening.
He laid his hand on her cheek, and she could feel the cold from his touch. “Not serious,” he said, “just cautious.”
But Mary thought his eyes told another story.
Chapter Four
Later that night, after the house was dark except for the sparkling lights of the Christmas tree, Mary crept from her bedroom down the stairs to the kitchen. She stopped at the foot of the steps and smiled, her gaze drawn to the popcorn strung haphazardly on the tree. Stanley and Rosie had insisted the tree needed an old-fashioned look to it. Unfortunately, more popcorn was eaten than strung, so only one strand lay in the middle of the tree, like a narrow belt on an oversized waistline.
Clarissa had fallen asleep almost immediately, and Mary was sure there were visions of sugarplums dancing in her head. Stanley and Rosie had left for their home soon after, and she and Bradley…
Her smile grew wider, and she sighed softly. There was nothing like snuggling in the dark with only the glow of the Christmas tree lighting the room. She slowly descended the last step and walked towards the kitchen. The glass of milk she’d forgotten to pour earlier that night was tempting her, as were the sugar cookies packed away in the cookie jar. She pulled open the refrigerator door and smiled. “Snuggling burns calories,” she laughed as she took the milk carton out and put it on the counter.
She froze and stared into the living room. She could swear that something moved in there. She walked around the counter, towards the living room, and heard a soft giggle. It sounded like a child’s voice, but there was something about it that sent chills down her spine. “Who’s there?” she asked, walking to the entrance of the room.
The giggle repeated, this time clearer.
“I don’t find this funny at all,” she replied firmly, trying not to show her fear. “Now, if you want my help, you will show yourself.”
She looked around and saw the branches of the
Christmas tree shake. She started to step forward, but a sudden grip of instinctual fear held her back.
“Where my bike?” the voice asked in a sing-song manner.
“Your bike?” Mary asked, her voice shaking slightly. “I don’t have your bike, and you have to go.”
The giggle repeated, and then the voice called out, “Mary. Mary. I’ve found you.”
Mary gripped the edge of the couch, her knees weakening beneath her. It was the voice from the asylum, and it was in her home.
“Mike,” she whispered, her voice dry and her heart pounding against her chest, praying the guardian angel could sense her need. It was hard to form words, hard to push them out her mouth. “Mike. I need you.”
“No one is going to help you,” the young voice mocked. “It’s just you and me this time.”
Suddenly Mike was standing in front of her, facing the tree, his body glowing with a powerful light. “You will leave this house,” he said. His voice, although calm, seemed to reverberate around the room. “And you will leave it now.”
“I want Mary,” the voice replied in a sulky tone.
“You can’t have her,” Mike said.
“Oh, yes, I can,” the voice countered. “And you can’t stop me.”
Mike slowly glided forward until he was in front of the tree. “I don’t think you realize who I am,” he said softly, but his words held strength. “I can stop you.”
There was a moment of silence, and the tree shook. “You can’t be everywhere,” the childish voice replied, and Mary shivered at the malevolence in it. “I will get my way. I always get my way.”
Suddenly, it seemed to Mary there was more light and air in the room. She pushed herself away from the couch and moved closer to Mike. “Is he gone?” she whispered, looking around the room.
He nodded. “For now,” he said. “Are you okay?”
She nodded. “Thank you,” she said. “I was so frightened.” She shook her head. “I’m never frightened like that. I’m not afraid of ghosts.”
“This was more than just a ghost,” he said.
“More?” she shook her head, confused. “Like what?”
“Like nothing I’ve ever encountered before,” he replied.
“What haven’t you encountered before?” Bradley asked from the bottom of the staircase.
Mike glanced over to Bradley but stayed next to Mary. “We had a strange encounter of the asylum kind,” he said.
“The asylum?” Bradley asked, rushing to Mary’s side. “Are you okay?”
She nodded again. “Yeah. Yes. Mike came and…” she stopped and looked at him. “What did you do?”
Mike grinned at her. “I just flexed my angelic muscles,” he teased, trying to remove the fear from her eyes.
“How long is he gone?” Bradley asked.
The smile dropped from Mike’s face. “I don’t know,” he said. “He was easily intimidated. And, there’s something else about him.”
“Like what?” Bradley asked.
“Like, I’m not sure, but I’d really like to call Ian in on this one,” he said.
“Yeah, good idea. I’ll just get my phone,” Bradley said, starting to turn.
“No,” Mike said. “You go upstairs with Mary and watch over Clarissa. I’ll go talk to him in person, then I’ll come back.”
Then he turned to Mary. “You need to tell Bradley what happened tonight and what happened earlier this evening,” he said.
“Something happened earlier?” Bradley asked. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
She blushed and met his eyes. “I got distracted,” she said, and then Bradley reddened slightly, too.
Mike chuckled softly. “Okay, no more distractions,” he teased. “Go upstairs, watch over Clarissa, and I’ll be back as soon as I can.”
Chapter Five
“No! No, Gillian! No!” Ian shouted as he thrashed around in his bed, his arms reaching out. “I’m coming. I’m coming.”
Mike stood at the edge of the bed, watching his friend in the throes of an awful nightmare and wondering if he should wake him. Ian’s face was filled with anguish, and there were tears flowing freely down his face.
“Gillian!” Ian suddenly screamed and immediately sat up in his bed, the blankets pooling around his waist.
He stared blindly into the room for a moment, and Mike realized he was still half-asleep.
“Are you okay?” Mike finally whispered.
Ian slowly turned his head towards Mike. “Can you save her?” he asked, confused.
“Dude, I can try,” Mike said. “Where is she?”
Shaking his head, Ian dismissed the last dregs of his nightmare from his mind, and his eyes cleared. “I’m so sorry,” he said hoarsely. “I’ve had a bit of trouble with my dreams lately.”
“No,” Mike said, gliding closer. “Don’t apologize. Is everything okay? Is there anything I can do?”
Ian smiled bitterly. “Aye, well, I don’t think this fits into your job description,” he said. “But if for some reason I discover you can help, I promise I’ll be calling.”
Then his eyes narrowed, and Ian cocked his head. “Why are you here?”
“It’s Mary,” Mike began.
“The baby?” Ian asked immediately.
Mike shook his head. “No. No, the baby’s fine,” he said. “But I think whatever we encountered at the asylum followed her home. It visited her tonight.”
Ian studied Mike. “And just what aren’t you telling me?” he asked.
Mike sighed, shook his head and glided around the room slowly. “I can’t get a read on it,” he said. “It’s not a demon. I can tell that much. But it’s pretty powerful and…” He turned back to Ian. “Dangerous. Very dangerous.”
Ian stood up and walked across the room to his closet, pulling jeans from a shelf and slipping them on.
“Wait, you don’t have to leave now,” Mike said. “I—”
“No, I’m fine,” Ian said quickly. “I find my sleep has lately been interrupted by nightmares, and I’d just as soon not face them again.”
He slipped on a shirt, then pulled a gym bag down and started putting extra clothing in it. Mike was torn. He knew that Ian had the skills to discover what this entity now haunting Mary was, but he couldn’t get the image of Ian’s grief-stricken face out of his mind.
“Is something wrong with Gillian?” Mike finally asked. “Do you need to stay? Do you need my help?”
Ian stopped packing for a moment and turned to Mike. “Aye, there’s something wrong,” he admitted sadly. “But there’s naught I, nor anyone else, can do at the moment. It’s all a waiting game for now.”
“Are you sure?” Mike asked. “I don’t want to take you away…”
Ian laughed, but the sound was bitter. “I’d rather be helping than sitting here feeling sorry for myself,” he said. “Besides, I know you wouldna left their side unless it was urgent.”
Mike nodded. “It’s urgent, and I’m worried,” he said. “But…”
Ian shook his head. “No,” he said. “It’s actually a boon for me. I’m a wee bit muddled, and this will give me the chance to clear my brain. So, it’s thanks I should be giving to you.”
Mike smiled at his friend. “I’ll put in a good word upstairs for you,” he said.
Ian smiled wanly. “Aye, I can use all the help and good will I can get,” he said.
“Okay, I’m going to go back,” Mike said. “I’ll let them know you’ll be there in a couple of hours.”
Ian nodded. “Aye, the traffic should be light this time of night,” he said. “I’ll be there as soon as I can.”
“Thank you,” Mike said as he slowly faded away.
Ian stared at the spot Mike had just occupied and sighed slowly. “No. Thank you,” he said softly. “Truly.”
Chapter Six
Mary and Bradley sat on the window seat in Clarissa’s room, Bradley’s arm around Mary’s shoulder, holding her close to his side. They stared in silence at their daughter
sleeping peacefully underneath the quilt her mother, Jeannine, had started and the other women in her life had completed for her birthday. The adolescent kitten, Lucky, was curled up next to her, sharing the pillow.
“What do we do?” Bradley finally whispered.
“We fight it,” Mary replied quietly, sitting up and facing him. “We fight it and we don’t let it win.”
Bradley shook his head. “No. What do we do once Mikey is born?” he asked. “How are you going to handle all of this and a baby?”
She leaned back against him and sighed. “I don’t know,” she said, placing her hands protectively on her belly. “I’ve sat up nights thinking about that very question. I just don’t know.”
He nodded and turned and placed a kiss on her head. “We’re a team,” he said. “Remember that. We’re a team and I’ll do whatever I can.”
She glanced up at him. “It changes everything, doesn’t it?” she asked. “Being a parent? It changes everything.”
“Yes, it does,” he replied, his eyes focused on the little girl in front of them. “Or, at least, it should.”
“I’ve never felt so…” Mary paused to think of the word as she, too, looked at Clarissa. “I want to say caring, but it’s more than that. It’s almost feral, how protective I feel towards Clarissa and Mikey.”
Bradley chuckled softly. “The she-lion defending her cubs,” he whispered.
“Exactly,” Mary said. “Don’t mess with my cubs. I’ve never been a violent person…”
Bradley’s cough interrupted her, and she immediately turned to him. “What?” she asked.
“I’ve talked to your brothers,” he teased. “I’ve heard stories.”
She shrugged and grinned. “Well, mostly, that was self-defense.”
“Mostly?” he asked.
“Well, Tom’s nose was a misunderstanding,” she admitted.
“A misunderstanding?” Bradley questioned.
“Yes, he misunderstood that I was not in the mood to be teased,” she replied. “But, I quickly cleared up that misconception.”
