by Alexie Aaron
“But he didn’t say a word?” Dieter questioned.
“He didn’t? Seems like he has been chatting the whole time we’ve been standing here,” Mia said. “Come on, Hero. I’m hungry.”
Mike watched her walk away before he turned to Cid and said, “She’s taller and has had her nose done. What the hell happened to her hair? I swear it was intact when I handed her over to Victor.”
Altair smiled but kept silent. Ted came back with the tome, and the four walked to the farmhouse. Ted stopped and looked out into the woods. “He’s just standing there. Why doesn’t he come over?”
Altair looked at the ghost. “I think he’s upset. Would you like me to talk to him?”
“No. I think he needs to talk to Mia. But right now, her kids need to be with her. I’ll encourage her to come out and see him soon. Although, I’m not sure what the outcome of the conversation will be.”
Mia sat at the table with Brian on one knee and Varden on the other. She looked down the table at her friends and family proudly. Sure, they had some problems to work out, but with this bunch, anything was possible.
“Murph, where are you?” she called out with her mind. There was no response. Mia shook off the rejection and let Varden feed her some goulash.
Ted squeezed her hand. “I think maybe you need to square things with a certain ghost. He’s waiting at the edge of the woods. Altair says he’s upset.”
“What did I do now?” Mia asked, handing Varden to Ted.
“I don’t think that’s it. Brian, would you like to help Lazar with clearing the table?” Ted asked.
“No, but I will,” he said and slid off Mia’s lap and started retrieving the empty bowls, much to the amusement of Babcia.
Mia pulled a cardigan over her cold arms as she waited on the porch. Her eyes scanned the wood line. Her senses pulled her off the porch and headed her to the place where she and Murphy first met. She looked down at the ground and stooped to pick up a few colored stones.
“Whatcha got there?” Murphy asked.
“I gots gold, and you can’t have any,” she teased.
“I think you just have rocks.”
“Gold are purdy colored rocks,” Mia said, keeping up her mimicked voice.
“Mia, walk with me beyond Cid’s hearing. What I have to say to you is private.”
“Mind if I run? I need to warm up. The chill you’re casting off is freezing me.”
“Run, walk, it’s all the same to me.”
Mia felt her chest grab. She took off running, stretching her short legs, using the power genetically given to her from a blood transfusion from her superhuman friend and now brother, He-who-walks-through-time.
Murphy was waiting for her just beyond the North Creek bed. Mia jumped the flowing water and landed just inches from Murphy.
“Well, talk,” she said, looking up at him.
“Do you want me to leave?”
“No. Do you want to leave?”
Murphy didn’t say anything.
“Well?”
“I’m in love with you, Mia. It’s not going away. Dieter has seen this, and it has destroyed our friendship. His mother can’t be soiled by a spirit who won’t go into the light.”
Mia looked down a moment before speaking. “Dieter is a teenager, and everything embarrasses him. He was horrified when Mike and Victor tore the clothing from my body so I could enter the Aerie in Victor’s arms. Mike’s going to sit down and explain the whys and whyfors for me.”
“I’ve sullied the mind of your son, Brian.”
“You’ve introduced a few colorful phrases, one of which riled up an uptight spinster ghost enough to try to kill us. But this happens with every family. Brian is smart, but he’s also too young to think things totally through. I want to blame you, but I see it as a failure on my and my husband’s part. And no, I’m not spanking him.”
“I want you, Mia.”
Mia swallowed hard. Not this again. Every feckin’ spring, old Murph gets amorous. “Tough. I’m with Ted and that’s that. And before you tell me then you have to leave, let me remind you that you belong here on your farm, having my back when we’re in battle, being on my side when others are right and I’m wrong. You’re one of my true friends. You may actually be my best friend.”
“I followed you into the between. I ghosted, pardon my pun, Victor and Altair. I heard their conversation.”
“You must have also seen their fight.”
“Yes.”
“So tell me what was said that is bothering you so much.”
“Altair tested Victor to see if he wanted to be with you. He said no. Altair pressed him by asking if he would after Ted has passed. Victor said that he would stay away. Altair told him, ‘You know Angelo will not hesitate, nor will Murphy, and I think there is interest from the netherworld too.’ How does this angel know my heart? Does everyone know my heart, Mia?”
“I know you love me because you were honest enough to tell me. Angels pick up on these things…”
“Dieter said to me, when you returned, ‘You follow her. Make sure she ends up with my dad.’ I heard him, as I was leaving, add, ‘And not you.’”
“How sad. We that can hear more than words have our hearts broken again and again,” Mia said. “I can’t explain Dieter, except he’s fiercely loyal to Ted. I don’t know why you or Angelo for that matter want me. In your case, I know that I encouraged you.”
“I’m not sure that’s what I want,” Murphy said. “I just know that I have tried to break you free from my heart, and all that happens is that you embed yourself deeper. Altair said that Victor would be the best choice for you, and even I can see that.”
“What gives Altair or you the right to choose my mate? What’s so fucking wrong with my present choice? Ted loves me. He puts up with you! Every time I change, he sees me as wonderful. He faltered once. Once. And that was orchestrated by Roumain.”
“Roumain’s the one Altair says who wants you from the netherworld, isn’t he? He’s dead and is married.”
Mia laughed. “He’ll never have me. I’ll redeem myself before then, I hope. I plan on exiting this earth on the Starship Enterprise. Ted promises to beam me up.”
Murphy, who had watched Star Trek, was not impressed. He changed the subject. “Tell me about Michael.”
“I’m back on the payroll, except I don’t get paid.”
“He doesn’t…”
“No. I’m not high on his list. He referred to me as Sariel’s pet, and don’t go there. Sariel rebuked the demon inside me, so you don’t have to be so insecure… Damn, it appears that I have a type. Insecure men, alive and dead.”
“I’m not…”
“Yes, you are. But I hope that I’ve cleared some things up for you. Think it over and give me three weeks’ notice if you’re going to leave, so I can hire another ghost gigolo to follow me around mooning.”
Murphy had had it. He reached out and pulled Mia over his knee and spanked her hard. Mia was so shocked, she just kicked and screamed until he was done.
She got up and turned around and rubbed her backside.
“Don’t ever do that again,” she growled.
“Stop being so bad.”
“I don’t like you anymore.”
“Yes, you do. Go home, Mia, and think about what you’ve done.”
Mia walked back, stopping at the guesthouse to make sure that Mike and Altair didn’t need anything.
“You’re quiet,” Mike observed.
“Just tired. It’s been a long freakin’ day.”
“Glad you’re around to see it end,” Mike said, climbing the stairs.
Altair was well into the last quarter of the Lagavulin. His eyes took her in as she walked past him on her way out the door.
Mike leaned out over the landing. “For such a beautiful person, she is so tortured.”
“Physically, mentally, and emotionally. But consider this, she was genetically programed to be a cold-hearted assassin, so I think she’s do
ing fine.”
“Looking back, if she hadn’t met PEEPs, do you think she would have been able to seduce and kill Abigor?”
“In a heartbeat. She still could but chooses not to. Right now, Mike, Mia’s dream of being normal is all that is keeping us from being devoured and spit out like watermelon seeds,” he warned.
“How can you say that?” Mike said, incredulous.
“I was there when she burned down her house. I saw it on her face. Yes, there were two Mias inside there, but damn, the one who survived is the one we have to watch out for, because she is the one we could fall in love with.”
“Could? Have,” Mike said and walked into his room and slammed the door.
Altair lifted his glass. “To all you righteous suckers,” he said before he continued with his book.
Ted was walking the ladies to Lazar’s car when Mia joined them.
“Thank you so much for coming to our rescue. I hope the boys weren’t too much to handle,” Mia said.
“They are beautiful children. One needs a few pats on his bottom though,” Babcia commented. “I don’t spank other people’s kids. Get him in line before a bully does it for you.”
Mia just bit her lip and nodded.
“Lazar is settled here,” Magda said. “I would like him to settle back in with us when we have a house to share with him.”
“That is between you and Lazar,” Mia said quickly. “I will mourn the loss of an excellent farm manager.”
“He’s a housekeeper.”
“No. He may help with the housekeeping, but he manages the farmhouse and the guesthouse. He also has become part of our family. He keeps us sane.”
“Harrumph,” Magda said and got into the car.
Lazar backed out and drove off.
“Trouble in paradise, dear. We may lose another wife.”
“I’m not your wife,” Cid called out as he climbed the deck stairs to his office.
“Well, Cid’s put to bed. Varden and Brian went down a half an hour ago. All that’s left is Dieter.”
“I think I need to speak with him, Teddy Bear.”
“I’m going to straighten up the workshop. Will a half an hour be enough time?”
“I hope so,” Mia said.
“How’d it go with Murph?”
“Troublesome. Don’t worry, nothing we can do about it right now. However, Dieter needs some explanations. I can’t palm them off on anyone else.”
“You’re a good mom,” Ted said and kissed her tenderly.
Mia walked up the stairs after not finding Dieter anywhere else in the house. His door was closed, but she could hear him or someone moving around inside. She tapped lightly. “Dieter, it’s Mom. May I come in?”
The door was pulled open fast, and she was pulled almost off her feet and the door shut and locked.
“Yikes!” Mia said, looking at the messy insides of the room.
“I left my window open. Look who has moved in,” he said, pointing to the top shelf of the open closet.
“So that is where all this stuff came from,” Mia said, maneuvering around. “Hero, are you comfortable? I do have an aerie if you prefer?”
The raven croaked and shook his head.
“I guess that settles that. Let me help you find places for this stuff.”
“I’ll do it. You’re not mad that I have a bird in my room?”
“Surprised, but he’s no ordinary bird.”
Hero croaked again and settled into his makeshift nest of outgrown hoodies and jeans.
“Mom, I was so worried about you.”
“I was worried too, but our friends came to my rescue. First, you, Mike, and Hero. Then Victor, the Gray Ladies, Altair, and Michael.”
“About Victor…”
“Sorry about the naked thing. Birdmen won’t enter holy places clothed. That includes the vaults. A good thing to remember before asking to see one.”
“Altair found out what the giving of a heart feather means and…”
“It’s been explained, but there are no hard-fast rules to birdman magic.”
Hero croaked in agreement.
“In my case, I needed to have wings put back into my body to support my back. Victor decided that they should be a duplicate of his wings. I don’t know if you realize this, but Victor is the mightiest of all birdmen.”
Hero picked up his head. Mia could tell he was listening.
“His brother died in a battle that I was responsible for. His soul was returned to your brother Varden. This is the Brotherhood’s way of rewarding their warriors. Victor has been protecting us and Varden for some time now. Victor decided that if I had some of his abilities, I could protect us, and he could move on to work on a special project with John Ryan, Tom’s old boss. They would be working on the Cynosura in Europe and Asia. Giving me his wings wasn’t an impulse. I assure you, Victor doesn’t act impulsively. That’s why he is so good at what he does. So, fast forward, I now have these wings, and because I do, I will be able to fly and fight as he does, and I can hear all those in his genetic line,” Mia said, getting up.
“That means I can hear Varden, Victor, and Hero. Hero is somehow related to Victor and now to me. We have a poet in our family,” Mia said. “He has quite a story to tell us. Let’s give him an opportunity to settle in, and then we’ll sit and listen.”
“He’s going to be hard to explain in my English class project.”
“I have a few ideas about that, but we’ll deal with that later. Dieter, I would like to ask what’s going on with you and Murph?”
“Uncle Murphy, he… ah... He has designs on you.”
“Designs isn’t one of your words,” Mia said. “Who’s giving you this information?”
“Mark and I’ve been comparing notes…”
“K. I know you’ve probably heard this before, so excuse me if I go over old ground,” Mia prefaced. “Once upon a time, there was a lonely fourteen-year-old named Mia. That would be me. Anyway, I met this handsome ghost who, for the most part, didn’t say a word, which is great, because I was one surly teenager. We became friends after he scared the pee, literally the pee, out of Whitney Martin, my high school crush and later boyfriend - after Burt but before Ted. He was the first being to care for me. I fell in love with him and, in doing so, activated the Cooper curse which bonds the fella to me forever. In our case, I was able to break the curse, but the love never left either of us.”
“If you were in love with Murphy, why did you marry Ted?” Dieter asked.
“This is where your inexperience is going to cause us problems. Give me a chance to explain. Then ask all the questions you want. I will answer them no matter how much they will embarrass both of us.”
“Sounds fair.”
“Does it?” Mia squeaked. “K. Ghosts are tolerated on this plane of existence as long as they do not interfere with the living in a harmful or immoral way. The immoral is defined by the Catholic Church. Basically, Murph and I can’t have carnal relations, even though he’s powerful enough to… Well, birds and bees stuff. I’m not interested in Murph that way, basically, because he’s dead. And ew. Murph is a ghost. He’s lived a life, be it a short one, but he lived a life with a wife. He’s dead, honey, and I’m alive.”
“So he can’t give you children.”
“That’s true, but that’s not why I married Ted. Seems to me I have a great son that I didn’t have to give birth to,” Mia said, patting Dieter’s arm.
“Tell me why you married Ted.”
“He wore me down. He was there in my face, protecting me, making me laugh, and making me feel like a million bucks. I didn’t know what real love was until Ted assured me he was the man for me. He knew I was in love with Stephen Murphy when he asked me to marry him, and I knew that Cid came along with Ted. We made it work. Marriage is work, but it’s also wonderful.”
“I saw Uncle Murphy looking at you at the climbing center. His face told me so much. I shared my concerns with Cid, and Cid explained things to me. Your stori
es match. Everyone is so aboveboard with this stuff that I’m ashamed that I don’t feel this way. You have to love Ted and Ted only.”
“Dieter, you love me as your adoptive mother, don’t you?”
“Yes.”
“And you still love your mother even though she’s moved on?”
“Yes.”
“There isn’t a limit to the amount of people you can honestly love.”
“So why aren’t you married to Murphy and Ted?”
Mia coughed. “I don’t think I’m ready for that. Murph and I will stay the best of friends, and Ted and I are married as long as we both live.”
Dieter didn’t seem convinced.
“Did you see a strange tattoo on my chest when Victor carried me off? It’s over my heart.”
“The hummingbirds, yes,” Dieter said, not able to meet Mia’s eyes.
“Ted has the twin on his shoulder. It’s a Native American symbol for eternal love. The hummingbirds are the fiercest protectors of their mates. Altair, before he was forgiven, bound your father and I together with a tattoo that will only take hold if the love is real. We still have it. It has never faded; it only becomes stronger. I hope this will reassure you, Dieter. I’m not going to run off with Murph anytime soon.”
“If you do, I’m going to stay with my dad,” Dieter said.
Mia looked at the seriousness of his face and the intent in his eyes and said, “Good. Now go out there and talk to Murphy. He’s hurt. He values your friendship and thinks of you as family.”
The bird croaked in accord with Mia’s words.
Dieter left.
Mia looked over at Hero and gave him a sad little smile. “Love hurts, but it’s so worth it.”
The raven nodded his head before settling in beneath the rim of the nest.
Mia walked out. She peeked in on Brian, and he was fast asleep. His face told of his youth; the books surrounding his bed told of his intelligence. Mia picked them up and stacked them in the bookshelf. She kissed his forehead and whispered, “Don’t grow up too fast.”
She walked into the nursery to find Varden lying there with his eyes open. She reached for him and hefted him up into her arms. She walked over to the rocker and sat down. “You did good, kid. You saved Mommy and Brian. I wish I could be as brave as you. Your godfather is proud of how you behaved.”
