Ted angled his head. “Does it confuse you?”
“No. Mia is your wife and loves being Mrs. Theodore Martin. No matter what anyone says or wants. You will always hold the enviable spot in Mia’s life.”
“It’s what makes my life so interesting and wonderful,” Ted admitted.
There was a knock on the side of the trailer, and Ethan Aldridge climbed in. “Ethan the Terrible, reporting for duty.”
“Thanks for coming in early. We are just about to start a walkthrough of the house. Grab a headset and listen in while you watch the monitors. Because there are so many camera feeds, Jake and our computer program will alert us to any anomalies. Sometimes, it’s just a drop in temperature. You’ll see a rectangle appear on the screen.”
“Does it matter that the only ghost I can see is Murphy and that’s only when he lets me?” Ethan asked.
“No. I can’t see ghosts. If Mia isn’t here, Enos will be your eyes. He can see the invisible.”
“I have purebred birdman eyesight,” Enos explained. “Someone told me they thought my mother was a birdwoman witch.”
“My step-mother was a witch, and all that I got out of that was kicked out of the house,” Ethan said.
Ted kept his amusement to himself. It would be interesting to see how the orphan warrior and the former trust-fund kid got along.
“Mia checking in.”
“Burt checking in.”
“Cid on camera.”
“I hear all three of you and have Ethan here listening, so stop talking about him.”
“But, Teddy Bear, I was just telling Burt about Ethan’s…”
“She’s just teasing both of you,” Enos said.
“Oh. Enos can hear Mia’s thoughts,” Ted said.
“You mean, you can read minds?” Ethan asked Enos.
“No. I can hear family. Mia is part of my flock, like Brian and Varden are.”
“Man, I really missed the boat being human,” Ethan pouted.
“I’m human, and I’m doing just fine,” Ted said proudly.
“Doesn’t hurt you’re a genius,” Ethan pointed out. “All I have is my spectacular looks, juvenile record, and crappy personality.”
Ted started laughing.
“Cid in position,” Cid called in.
Burt led the way, walking into the foyer of the house. Mia followed taking readings. It was a nice three-bedroom ranch home. Paula’s furniture was worn but clean. The walls held Noah’s framed art.
“Burt, there is a houseplant that looks like it’s got frost damage,” Mia pointed out.
“Noted.”
Mia picked up the fireplace poker and set it by the door.
They walked into the kitchen, and it was in shambles. Mia surveyed the flour on the floor and the open cupboards. “There doesn’t appear to be any footprints in the flour, but it could have happened last.”
“We do have film of what happened last evening.”
“Ted, mark this spot for inserting the film from last night,” Burt instructed.
Mia walked around and collected all the knives, long forks, and kabob sticks. She placed them together on the counter. Next, she opened the refrigerator door. A desiccated head rolled out.
Mia screamed. Murphy was there in seconds, and Enos flew out of the trailer.
“Sorry, guys,” Mia said. “I didn’t expect this. I wonder who it is?”
“I’m sending Ethan over to see if Tom is still at his parents’ house,” Ted said.
Tom arrived, looked at the object on the floor, and took a step back. He looked over at Murphy. “How hard is it for you to open a refrigerator?”
“With an axe?”
“No.”
Murphy walked over and made his hands solid and, after a few tries, opened the refrigerator.
“The head looks like it wasn’t originally refrigerated, but rotted in a dry place,” Tom said.
“Crypt?” Mia offered. “Hoo boy, I think I’m going to go lay down. That gave me quite a fright,” Mia lied, covering her right breast which had begun to leak.
Enos looked at her, hearing the lie in her voice.
Mia opened her jacket and flashed him half a wet T-shirt before she headed for the PEEPs truck.
“Incoming,” she said, forgetting Ethan was in there as she pulled the wet shirt over her head.
“Mia, have you met Ethan,” Ted started.
“What the hell was I thinking?” She ran past the startled kid behind the files.
Ted handed her a fresh shirt.
“I think I’d better get home,” she said. “I’m so embarrassed. Sorry, Ethan.”
“No problem, Mia, I’ll only be scarred for life,” he teased.
Enos stuck his head in. “She’s upset. I’ll fly with her. I want to check the graveyard on the way back.”
“Now, that’s a TV detective I’d like to see,” Ethan said. “Enos Ahlberg in Crypt Chronicles.”
Mia landed and took a moment to thank Enos. “I’m sorry, I thought I was ready.”
“Mia, it’s okay. Today, you’re Little Nell, and I’m taking care of you. Here comes Varden to let you in.”
“But the door…”
“Is only Brian-proofed,” Enos finished.
Varden opened the door and took Mia’s hand. “I heard you had a hard day, Mommy?”
“Yes, Varden, I did. I think your sisters must need to be fed.”
“I think they are still napping.”
“Then I’ll have to use that little noisy machine,” Mia said.
“Come on. Nanny is running the bath for you.”
Mia and Varden took the stairs. They walked into the master suite, and Mia was on the verge of tears but wouldn’t let herself cry.
“Here, express first, then have yourself a soak, and then into bed. I know you think your ready physically, but your hormones are all over the place, dear.”
Nanny closed the door and motioned for Varden to come with her. “She has to cry but won’t cry for fear that she’ll upset you.”
“Yes, Nanny Berta.”
“Let’s go and have ourselves a bowl of ice cream.”
“Oh, Nanny Berta, you read my mind,” the little boy said.
Mia sunk to the floor of the bathroom and cried. She didn’t know why she was crying, just that she couldn’t stop. She managed to hook up the dreaded machine, and by the time she was finished, the bath was the perfect temperature. She sunk beneath the bubbles. When she rose above the bubbled surface, she thought she saw a distortion. But that couldn’t be? Only Murphy knew how to get by the ghost defense Ted had built into the Woodlands.
“Whomever you are, show yourself already. I’m in no mood.”
Whatever it was didn’t have enough power to manifest. Ted’s force field was working. Still, Mia did wonder who it was that was so intent on seeing her that the being would appear in her bathroom. She washed herself quickly, and instead of taking a nap, she delivered her milk to the refrigerator and climbed to the third floor, extended her wings and flew up into the between. She took advantage of the afternoon sun and bared her chest to its healing rays before she flew up beyond the curve of the earth and floated for a while. She saw a beautiful dragon move by, followed by angels who were patrolling the edge of the lake.
Mia took a deep breath and let the current take her. She heard the sound of waves breaking on the shore of an island. She recognized the castle in the middle. She landed and pushed out with her mind. She waited on the beach, and Komal came and took her below the rocks. There she lay on the smooth crystal floor. “Please teach me patience,” she asked.
He smiled. “Roumain is going to slow time and join us. He felt your agony and tried to get to you.”
“I no longer fit into the life I want to be in.”
Komal set a robe down. Undress and put this on. It’s time we drained some of that blue-star energy. It was never meant for anyone living to hold on to for this l
ong.”
“I gifted it to Roumain.”
“He’s preparing himself to take it.”
“Is he not living?”
“He is living and he is dead. He exists far from the grace; yet, there is no one more deserving of it.”
Mia shrugged out of her clothes and put on the orange robe of Komal’s order. It was rough and chafed her body wherever it touched.
“I thought you were on track. You had rejected grace. Why did you allow it back?” Komal asked, moving through her body as if it was but a wisp of smoke.
“Burt was dying.”
“Why did you take on the blue-star energy?”
“Sariel was dying.”
“Do you see the pattern?”
“Other than being too selfish to let Burt and Sariel leave me, no.”
“You’re trying to control your world instead of accepting it. Try changing what you can without sacrificing yourself, and then learn to live with the rest.”
“This is great advice. I fear, I will never be able to take it.”
Komal moved through her and then presented himself as a man in front of her. He wore the same robe as she.
“She is ready,” he said to someone behind her. Mia turned to see Roumain walking towards her wearing a silver robe. The silk was so fine that it dripped off his body and pooled on the cavern floor. Mia waited until he was but a static charge away from her. “Mia, breathe the blue energy into Roumain. Roumain, take in as much as you can.”
Mia opened her mouth, and Roumain sealed his lips to hers. Mia breathed for Roumain and him for her, the living dead and the daughter of the blue star. It wasn’t a kiss; it had nothing to do with sex. It was as if they became one being, and when Roumain could take no more, he gently released her. Komal caught Mia and eased her to the floor.
“Stay,” Komal said. “I will teach Mia to control every cell of her body. No more will the memory of love betray her. She will be able to be calm when her heart wants to scream. I will teach Mia to be the woman she wants to be.”
“How long do you need? I cannot hold back the night like I can the day.”
“Just a few more moments.”
“Yes, Komal.”
Roumain watched as Komal created earthly hands and pulled Mia’s face to his, and as their foreheads touched, the cave burst with light. Roumain shielded his eyes but he could hear Komal speak the ancient tongue and Mia respond in kind. She laughed a deep throaty laugh, and Komal laughed too. The light faded, and Mia stood there alone. She shrugged off her robe and pulled on her clothes. She nodded to Roumain and left the cavern.
Mia found herself on the beach once more. She extended her beautiful wings, now more gold than black, and shot upwards. She turned and bowed to the blue star and laughed as the light tried to take her. She shook her finger and then flew home.
Mia slid into bed and slept.
Chapter Twelve
Mia was still sleeping when Ted came home. He took the stairs two at a time and rushed into the master suite and locked the door behind him.
“Mia, are you alright?” he asked as he drew her to him.
She opened her eyes and smiled. “I just needed time to get my act together,” she said.
“Nanny Berta said that you needed me.”
“She was right.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I’m not very smart. I do, however, feel better. More in control of myself.”
Ted kissed her tenderly. “I’m proud of you. You don’t have to prove yourself to me. Just love me, Mia. Just continue to look at me like you are now, and I will feel exalted. We’ll take this slow. Talk to me. Guide me. Teach me to be patient.”
Mia heard herself in Ted’s last words.
“We’ll learn together. Right now, we better get ready for the Martin invasion.”
“Well, we can’t go back to work tonight because it’s now a crime scene,” Ted said.
“Did you plant the head to get me out of clean up?” Mia asked.
“No, but I’ll keep it in mind for the next time.”
~
“Here we go again,” Mia said to Nanny Berta as they passed her. Mia was carrying Genevieve. Ted had Maeve.
Ted’s mother, Millie, squealed with delight. “Reg, take a picture!”
Reg did as he was told. He then patted his son on the back and kissed Mia’s cheek. “Where are my grandsons?”
Dieter, Brian, and Varden walked in, and Millie squealed again. “They have gotten so big. Reg, take a picture!”
Mia giggled. She waited until Millie sat down and then handed her Genevieve. Millie lifted the baby up and took in the infant’s beauty. “Is this the one with the shiner?” she asked.
“I think it’s fading,” Mia said.
“Well, young Genevieve, I commend you on your victory over the womb. May you grasp life with both fists,” Millie said.
“Did you stop off for drinks?” Ted asked his dad.
“No. Your mother has a mini bar in the RV.”
“Shame on you, I haven’t had a drink. I am drunk on the beauty of my granddaughters. Where is Maeve?”
Ted retrieved Genevieve from the crazy woman masquerading as his mother with one hand and eased Maeve into the curl of his mother’s waiting arms.
“She looks just like Hallie. Mia, you’re going to have a lot of sass out of this one if she takes after her aunt.”
“I’ll consider myself warned.”
“Reg tells me you’re going to christen them early.”
“We didn’t want you to have to make two trips.”
“Very smart. Have you picked the godparents?”
“We have the godfathers. We thought of our friend Tom for Genevieve.”
“He’s the sheriff who delivered them,” Millie confirmed.
“And Andrew because he saved us from being crushed by the veterans’ memorial.”
“I don’t know this Andrew. Is he a Catholic or a Christian?”
“Mother, Catholics are Christians,” Ted said. “I think Andy is a Lutheran, and before you make plans to ship in your pastor, Father Santos is going to baptize them.”
“But then they will be Catholic.” Millie frowned.
Mia, who really didn’t care one way or the other, waited.
“No, they will be baptized as Christians. Mia and I are spiritual,” Ted claimed.
Mia, feeling the grace move within her, couldn’t disagree with that.
“What do you think, Reg?” Millie asked.
“I think, let the kids decide. They have done a fine job with the boys.”
“What about the godmothers?” Millie asked.
“Connie and…”
“Your cousin Sheila,” Millie interrupted. “She is an odd duck, but the experience would be good for her.”
“Over my dead body,” Ted said. “I’m going to ask Hallie for Maeve and Connie for Genevieve.”
Cid walked in the living room. He winked at Mia. “I just made a pitcher of margaritas. Mrs. Martin, would you care for one?”
“Yes, Cid, that will be fine. Call me Millie.”
Lazar walked in carrying a tray of appetizers and an ice bucket full of tall-boy beers. He set them down. “Boys, would you like a soft drink or juice?” he asked.
Varden walked over and asked Mia, “Are we going to jump on the bed?”
“Not tonight.”
“I’ll have a soft drink, please.”
“Mia?”
“Juice. I’ll help you. Ted, introduce your parents to Nanny Berta,” Mia instructed and retreated to the kitchen.
There she worked as Cid’s sous-chef until Maeve decided she’d had enough.
“That’s my cue,” Mia said. “If you need to serve before I’m finished, then do so.”
“I’ll save you a plate.”
Dieter walked in carrying a very angry Maeve.
“I’m sorry, darling. Let’s go upst
airs,” Mia said.
She let out such a shriek that Maggie whined.
“Mia, just go through into my room,” Nanny Berta said, leading the way with Genevieve. Varden slipped in, and as soon as the door shut, Maeve was fine.
Varden tugged on Mia’s dress. “I think the twins have had enough.”
“You too?”
“Me too.”
“Grandma and Grandpa really are nice people. We’re just a little overwhelmed,” Mia said.
“Sit over by the window where it’s quiet,” Nanny instructed.
Mia put a shawl over her and started feeding Maeve. Varden sat and told them a story about a rabbit who ate too many cucumbers. Nanny Berta traded Maeve for Genevieve, and she taught Varden how to raise a burp by rubbing the infant’s back.
Genevieve wasn’t as hungry as her sister.
“I think Maeve was stress eating,” Mia said. “I was stressed out today too. Even after that wonderful bath, I couldn’t get my mind to stop, so I flew up to the between. There I saw a lazy dragon and a group of angels flying patrol. The sun warmed me. I came home and slept, and I woke up feeling more in control. Sometimes, I feel like a machine. My family and friends help me to remember that I was born a human - a human who makes mistakes sometimes, but a human who is blessed with all of you.”
Nanny put her hand to her heart. Varden tweeted. Maeve burped again, and Genevieve smiled a knowing smile.
~
Burt slammed his go-bag down on the workbench in the garage. He heard the house door open and soft footsteps coming his way. Paula opened the garage door and smiled. “I’ve made a homemade pizza. Are you interested?”
“I’m not sure I’m fit company.”
“What happened?”
“Where’s Noah?”
“Watching Toy Story.”
Burt told her what happened. Paula turned a bit green and had to sit down but earned Burt’s respect by fighting through the nausea.
“I’m sorry. Whose head?” Paula asked.
Crossroads Page 13
