In Due Time

by Bethany Claire

  “Grandmother…” he whispered her name softly, so as not to scare her. While she was a whole lot nicer than Grandfather, Cooper also knew her to be pretty jumpy. If he scared her and she screamed, then Aunt Jane would find him for sure. “I’m over here. Aunt Jane and I are playing hide-and-seek.”

  Grandmother turned to him and smiled, bending over as she whispered back to him, “Are you? Who’s winning?”

  Cooper scrunched his nose as he thought. He wasn’t sure if there really were winners and losers in hide-and-seek since you took turns hiding and seeking, but if Grandmother was asking, he certainly wasn’t going to say it was Aunt Jane. “Well, since she hasn’t found me yet, I guess I am. What’cha calling me for?”

  “Maybe I just wanted to talk to my grandson, hmm?”

  Nope. Cooper didn’t say that, but he knew that’s not why his grandmother called him. She was nice enough, but she didn’t really like kids very much. She wasn’t like Bebop. She wouldn’t come looking for him just to spend time. Instead, he just smiled and waited for her to tell him what was really going on. Eventually, she relented.

  “I have something for you. Strangest thing really. I don’t know why anyone in Scotland would mail you a letter all the way here when you’re just visiting for a week. Why wouldn’t they just send it to your new house so that it was waiting for you at home?”

  Cooper did his best not to leap out from his hiding place and fall onto the floor in his hurry to snatch the envelope from Grandmother’s hands, but he felt his eyes double in size with his excitement. “A letter? I’m so glad, Grandmother. I was getting real worried about her. I think she’s even older than you!”

  His grandmother frowned, and Cooper realized that maybe that wasn’t the nicest thing to say. He didn’t understand it really, why old people didn’t want to be called old, when all he wanted was for everyone to think he was just a few years older.

  “And just what is that supposed to mean? Why would you worry about her just because she’s older than I am? And why is someone as ancient as me writing you a letter?”

  “Uh…” that was too many questions for him to answer at once. Maybe if he just answered one, she would forget about the others. “She’s my pen pal. Mom set it up so that I could learn how to write.” Cooper smiled, rather impressed with his explanation—it wasn’t even a complete lie, which made it even better.

  “Oh. Well, that seems like a good idea actually. Would you like me to help you read it?”

  “No!” This time, Cooper did nearly fall out of the tiny square elevator as he stretched his arms as far as they would go to snatch the letter. It would be awful for Grandmother to see whatever Morna had written him. She wouldn’t understand, and she’d question everything. “I want to try and read it myself. I won’t get any better if you help me.”

  “Okay, whatever you say.” Grandmother smiled as she reached forward and fluffed his hair like he was some sort of dog. Cooper did his best to keep from shrugging away from her. “I guess I better let you get back to hiding before Jane makes her way down the hallway. Just don’t break anything.”

  Cooper shook his head as Grandmother took off down the hallway. What did she think he was…an animal? It’s not like he ran around, knocking things off the shelves. He knew better than that. Aunt Jane was much more likely to break something than he was…but maybe that’s who Grandmother was worried about.

  Once Grandmother was no longer visible, Cooper scrunched his legs up and closed the door to the elevator, enveloped in darkness once more. Truth was, he could make out most of the words himself pretty easily; it was Morna’s handwriting he always had trouble with. Usually, he asked his Dad or Bebop for help, but Bebop was at home and he couldn’t let Dad read this letter.

  As he waited for Aunt Jane to find him, he thought about who else he could ask and then smiled as he heard her approaching. Aunt Jane would be the perfect choice. She would assume that any mention of magic was just his pen pal playing games with him as she always did, and she wouldn’t ask questions. She was one of those rare grown-ups that Cooper liked best—the ones that still had an imagination. Grandmother, he thought, could take a lesson or two from her youngest daughter.

  Now that he had Morna’s letter in hand, hide-and-seek didn’t seem like so much fun. He wanted desperately to learn what was inside. Kicking the door open with his feet, Cooper dropped the short distance to the ground just as Aunt Jane turned the corner into the hallway.

  “Oh, Coop, I’m sorry! Did you give up on me? I dropped in to check on a friend real fast. I shouldn’t have kept you waiting so long.”

  “Don’t worry,” he grinned and grabbed one of her hands, pulling her to the staircase so she would sit next to him. “I didn’t really wait that long. Grandmother came to give me this,” he extended the letter in his aunt’s direction. “Will you help me read it?”

  “Of course I will. Although, from what I hear, you’re a pretty talented reader—quite the wiz kid.”

  “Nah.” Cooper shrugged. It made him uncomfortable to know that everybody thought he was so much smarter than he should be at this age. It wasn’t like he tried to be, it was just the way he was made. “I can read but my friend’s handwriting is sort of scribbly—I think it’s called cursive.”

  “Ah. I see. Well, I’m sure you’ll have that mastered before too long. Let’s see what’s inside, shall we?”

  Cooper snuggled in close, fidgeting with anticipation as Aunt Jane opened the letter. Before she could begin reading, Cooper reached out a hand to still her. “Oh and just so you know, we have like this make-believe world between us, so anything you read that sounds crazy, it’s just us pretending.”

  “Oh. Okay. Very cool. Thanks for letting me know.” Cooper watched as Jane stayed silent for a few moments, reading the letter through to herself before reading it out loud to him. Bebop and Dad always did the same thing. It drove him nuts.

  “Come on Aunt Jane, just tell me what it says. I’ve been waitin’ ages for this letter.”

  “Have you? Well, does your imaginary world with this friend of yours have something to do with your dad finding a girlfriend?”

  “Uh, okay, maybe that part’s not so imaginary. I was just telling her that I think he needs to find somebody. This lady is real good at pretty much everything. I thought maybe she could help find him a lady.” Cooper squirmed uncomfortably. He could see his aunt’s confusion but was thankful that she said nothing else as she read the letter aloud to him.

  Dearest Cooper,

  I’m sorry it’s taken me so long to get back to you. Jerry took quite a tumble you see, and typical stubborn man that he is, wouldn’t allow me to use magic to heal him. He required hip surgery, and we have been in Edinburgh while he’s been recovering. But not to worry, he’ll be just fine.

  Cooper grinned as Jane paused and looked down at him. “Magic to heal him, huh? You weren’t joking about her imagination.”

  “Yeah, I already told you that.”

  “Right you did.” Clearing her throat, Jane continued.

  I know you’re worried about your father, but don’t you remember what I told you before I left? Everything takes time, and everything happens exactly when it’s supposed to. Still, I know it’s hard to be patient when we see those around us hurting, especially when they’re missing one of the most precious things in all of life—love. Not to say that your father’s life isn’t filled with love, he loves you as much as I’ve seen any father love his son, but a man needs more than that, as you well know.

  Here’s what I will tell you now, Cooper. You’re a wise boy, wiser at six than most men ever become.

  Jane paused once again to thumb his nose, and she leaned in to him and kissed him on top of his head. “She’s too right, Coop. You’re one cool kid.”

  Cooper leaned into her in acknowledgement, anxious for her to continue.

  You also pick up on things that most without magic do not. You feel things. Always trust those feelings, Cooper. Even though you’re s
till a kid, those feelings are there to guide you. I believe very soon you will understand just exactly what I mean and, when you do, you’ll be quite right I’m certain.

  Your father will have his chance at happiness, but neither you nor I can prevent his messing it up if he chooses to. That part is up to him.

  I think that’s it for now. On your way back home, stop by and say hello. Jerry and I would both love to see you.

  All my love, your favorite witch,

  Morna

  “Favorite witch, huh? Just how many of those do you know, Coop?” Jane laughed as she stood and picked him up. “This lady sounds like quite the character. I think I’d like her very much.”

  “Oh, you would. I’ve never known anyone who didn’t love Morna.” Cooper paused, thinking about what he’d just said. “Not that I know very many people who know her. She doesn’t get out too much. Hey, can you put me down, please? I want to go put my letter away. Thanks for reading it to me and for playing hide-and-seek. You’re pretty cool, too.”

  As his aunt sat him down and waved him off, Cooper clung the letter to his chest. He couldn’t wait to find out just exactly what Morna was talking about.

  * * *

  Kathleen expected it was in her head, but it sure seemed like Mrs. Mitchell had given her twice the number of tasks to complete today than on any other. She simply couldn’t wait to be finished so that she could load up Jane’s car and ride back with her to the city, to the apartment where she would pack up her belongings before beginning her life in Scotland.

  As she stood in the long hallway, dusting each painting that had been dusted every day for the last six months, she glanced down at her dust rag to see very little dirt coming away off the surfaces. What would it hurt, if just once, she skipped a few and moved on to the next thing on her list? Surely, it would do no harm at all.

  Settling to her decision, she slipped the duster away and turned to head in the other direction, stopping as she caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror hanging next to her. Her black bob that fell almost to her shoulders seemed to be getting a bit long, and her green eyes stood out starkly against her pale skin. It was time for both a haircut and some sun, neither of which she was apt to have the time to get in the near future.

  Movement in the bottom of the mirror startled Kathleen, making her jump. She screamed as she took in the sight of a young boy grinning widely from behind her. She turned to him, hand on her heart, breathing heavily as she struggled to slow her heartbeat. “Sorry for screaming. You scared me to death.”

  “You,” the boy’s arms were crossed but he lifted one finger to point at her, smiling mischievously as he did so, “are so busted.”

  “Busted?” Taking a breath, Kathleen took in the boy’s small stature. His hair was adorably curly, and it hung wildly around his face—a dirty blonde hue that contrasted with his deep green eyes. Kathleen thought him to be the cutest child she’d ever seen. One day, he would be quite the heartbreaker.

  Stepping closer to him, she extended a hand, smiling as his little fingers grasped on tightly. “My name is Kathleen, and you are?” She knew who he was well enough but thought it best to let him introduce himself.

  “I’m Cooper. And yeah, you’re definitely busted.”

  “Busted for what exactly?”

  “For skipping all that dusting. And don’t you tell me you weren’t either because I’m an expert. Trust me, I get in trouble for skipping chores all the time.”

  “Oh. Can it be our secret?”

  The boy smiled, making a heart-melting attempt at a wink. “Yeah, sure. I won’t tell anybody.”

  Kathleen and Cooper walked the length of the hallway together, only separating as she moved to the set of stairs leading downward while Cooper moved to the ones going up.

  She made it one step down before she noticed that he had turned to watch her. Glancing up, she tilted her head at the look in his eyes. Cooper had both hands on the handrail as he pulled himself up to peek at her.

  She waved, wondering if he waited for her to say goodbye. “It was nice to meet you, Cooper. Catch you later?”

  “Yeah…” he hesitated. “Hang on one second. I want to look at you for a minute.”

  Kathleen couldn’t help but laugh. What an odd thing for the child to say. “Okay…might I ask you why?”

  Cooper smiled, the splattering of freckles across his nose becoming visible as light came through a side window. “I’m just tryin’ to picture something.” The boy grew quiet for a short moment before he nodded and began speaking once more. “Yep. Yep, I can definitely see it, and I feel it right here, too.”

  He let his hands go off the rail, and his face dropped so that Kathleen could only see part of it through the spaces in the railing, and she watched him point to his stomach.

  “In my gut. I feel it right in my gut. I know just what Morna meant now.”

  “Who’s Morna?” The boy spoke in riddles.

  “Oh, you don’t know her yet, but you will, I think. Hey, I’m gonna go now, but yeah, I’ll catch you later.”

  With that, Cooper took off up the stairs.

  Feeling more confused than she’d felt in a long, long time, Kathleen made her way down the stairwell to the next task of the day.

  CHAPTER 4

  The Mitchells didn’t realize it, but they lived in the land of awkward. I’d eaten with these people a hundred times, and every time seemed to be more uncomfortable than the last. Grace and Jane’s eldest sister, Lilly, along with her husband, Jim, had driven in from the city to see Cooper. With the exception of Grace, the whole dysfunctional crew was present for the late lunch of spaghetti.

  The table was so long that, even though we all sat around it, we were separated enough that conversation was difficult. Not that there would have been much conversation even if we’d been placed closer together. The atmosphere was forced, and the ever-present frustrated tension, palpable.

  Cooper couldn’t stand it and after a while rose suddenly from the table to slide his plate two seats down so that he could sit closer to me. I could see Walter about to reprimand him and quickly threw a look in his direction that stopped anything he was about to say. Walter might be head of his home, but he knew better than to believe I would let him reprimand my son when he did nothing wrong.

  “Hey, Dad,” he leaned in close to whisper. “What are you thinking?”

  “Nothing, son. Well, about the same thing as you, I imagine. Did you enjoy playing with Aunt Jane?”

  Cooper squirmed in his seat to move closer, glancing across the table to make sure no one was listening in. “It was great, but I’m pretty sure she forgot about me when we were playing hide-and-seek, but it was okay because Grandmother came along to give me something. Guess who wrote me back?”

  “Hmm….” I pulled in my brows, feigning ignorance just to drive him crazy. “I don’t know, Coop. Was it Mom?”

  He poked me in the ribs hard enough to make me drop my fork before shaking his head forcefully. “No, it wasn’t Mom and you know it! Morna wrote me back.”

  “Who’d you have read it to you? Surely not Grandmother?”

  “Aunt Jane.”

  Jane was really the only sane choice, and Cooper knew it. “Good call, son. May I ask what was in this letter?”

  “She told me there might be a lady coming your way real soon, Dad, and she was right! I know who she is. But Dad…it’s up to you not to mess it up. That’s the part that worries me.”

  I frowned and turned in my seat so I could look him straight on. As far as I knew, the only single woman within a ten-year age range of myself that Cooper would have seen since we arrived here this morning was Jane, and he was out of his mind if he thought that was ever happening. “Cooper,” I lowered my voice. “She’s your Mom’s sister. I like your Aunt Jane very much, but that is just never going to happen, son.”

  “What?” He looked disgusted at my suggestion. “What are you talking about, Dad? It’s not Aunt Jane. Are you crazy?”

&n
bsp; “Apparently so. And just who is this eligible lady that you assume is my perfect match? Are you seeing ghosts around here, Coop?”

  “No, but that would be awesome!”

  Only my six year old would be excited about the prospect of seeing ghosts. He’d never really been frightened by much, but all of the strange and magical happenings of the last year had made him even less susceptible to normal childhood fears.

  “Okay, so she’s not a ghost. That’s one point in her favor. So who is she then?”

  “Her name is Kathleen, and she’s a maid here, Dad! I mean shouldn’t it be obvious—that a new maid starts working here right before we come to visit?”

  Oh, what a dreamer he was and apparently a hopeless romantic as well. If only things really worked that way, to have your love life so predestined. “Well, of course, that’s completely obvious. What’s she look like? Let me guess—she’s about six foot two with purple hair and she’s missing her two front teeth.”

  I did a decent job of delivering my guess with a straight face, and it took everything in me not to laugh as I watched Cooper’s face contort with confusion as he tried to decide if I was joking or not.

  “Umm….no. Is that what you want your lady friend to look like ’cause if so, Dad, I don’t think you’re gonna like this girl.”

  Finally, I allowed myself to smile, shaking my head for emphasis. “Of course not, Coop. Go ahead, describe her to me.”

  “Oh, she’s very pretty, Dad. I stared at her a long time to make sure. She’s a little shorter than you, which…” he paused to laugh which I didn’t find amusing at all, “means she’s pretty short. She has shiny, black hair and green eyes a lot like mine. She has a cool voice too—I bet she’s a good singer.”

  “Hmm…” she certainly didn’t sound like a troll. Still, with Cooper’s sweet heart, I imagined he had less discerning tastes than myself. I’d never heard him describe anyone as ugly. “She doesn’t sound half bad, Coop. There’s just one problem…she lives here and we…”