“She followed me to my car and told me a tale that was somewhat hard to believe. Therefore, imagine my horror when Mrs. Braverman called to tell me you were coming over to see me. I didn’t know whether I should change the sheets or bar the door.”
Mia covered her face with her hands. “I knew I should have brought a male with me.”
“Which one? Your husband, I think his name is Ted, and there is Cid, his best friend, or Tom, the sheriff and the father of at least one of your children - Lisa wasn’t sure. Of course, there is also the multitude of large handsome men who escort you to preschool to pick up your freakishly smart son Brian. Perhaps you would have played it safe with the gay artist who has painted you during an orgy with one or all of these men.”
Mia drained her glass before blurting out, “Burt. I was going to ask Burt.”
“My old friend Burt. Who is he to you? Oh yes, the ghost hunter you shacked up with at your peninsula home for a while.”
“That’s true,” Mia said. “Before my marriage. After was someone else, and then I married Ted because he’s the one.”
“So, your real life isn’t as…”
“Whorish,” Mia supplied.
“Whorish as Mrs. Lane-Cordoba says it is.”
“Sorry. I do have some behavioral problems, but I have managed to steer clear of sexual liaisons with my husband’s best friend, the sheriff, the large men who are sometimes seen with me, and I assure you that my exes have stayed exes.”
“The gay artist?”
“Acalan, and yes, I have modeled naked for him, and not because he used to beat up the bullies when we were children. I feel since we know all about me, you need to unburden yourself.”
“Quid pro quo? No, I don’t think that would be appropriate because I do have a whorish background. I’m the guy that women warn each other about. I have never taken advantage. No means no, but if yes is there, then yes was enjoyed. How did the last judge put it? Oh yes, ‘Mr. Hogan, I suggest that you never enter a relationship that is going to cost you when you tire of it.’”
“Whoa.”
“You haven’t run out of here screaming.”
“Should I have?”
“Mia, I sensed when I met you that you would accept me for who I am. Maybe now, you’ll wear a chastity belt and not cashmere next time you’re alone with me, but I would really like to have a decent interesting conversation without being worried that I’m being judged and/or reported to the school board for substantiated rumors.”
“I have been around some very complex people. I have found good where there was evil, and brought out evil where I assumed good was, but yes, I accept that you are a man who loves women, not this woman, but women.”
“Good. How much of my real self should I make available to Big Bear Lake?”
“Doesn’t really matter, whatever I do gets misconstrued. I sense you have some soul searching to do. You wouldn’t be in your grandparents’ place if you intended to continue to send a multitude of women in and out of here in the dark of night.”
“True.”
Mia got up to leave, and then she sat back down. “Can I ask your honest opinion, from one sinner to another?”
“Yes.”
Mia told him a brief history about the BBB contest and the poster. She told him about Burt’s problem, without naming him, and her opportunity to fix things by what she feared was debasing herself further with the scanty costumes. “I could give everyone what they want and need but…”
“Don’t do it,” Scott said. “I gather that you hate the kind of attention you’re getting from the Bodacious Beach Body poster. I hate to say it, but the attention you’ll get after becoming the next slut queen of this adventure series, you’re going to hate even more. The man who hasn’t found his way to be a breadwinner hasn’t because you’re enabling him not to. Make this your brother’s last bailout, and Mia, no one who loves you will tell you that you can’t do something. Your loving husband will choke down the bile that rises when you’re ogled before stopping you from doing something that is your dream. Is it your dream? Only you can answer this. There are things we must do in life that we have to do. This isn’t one of them.”
Mia looked at this man who dispensed the hard truths and nodded slowly. “It isn’t. It never was. I used this sexuality to get out of difficult places, but it always left me ashamed and angry with myself. Thank you, Scott.”
Scott smiled. “The next time I need to be talked off a ledge...”
“I’ll be there,” Mia promised.
“I’ll see you and your crew tomorrow morning at the gym.”
Scott watched Mia from the porch.
She backed out and didn’t look back. Looking back sent signals. She didn’t need there to be any misunderstandings between her and Scott.
She drove out of the neighborhood before she pulled over and called her husband.
“Abandoned and abused hotline,” Ted said.
“You’re not abandoned, and all I asked you to do was paint. Noah paints in his sleep.”
“You’re comparing me to a five-year-old. No wonder you’re shacking up with the new hunky history teacher.”
“Think about it. Do I need another pedantic male in my life?”
“Cid has sure cured you of that. How did it go?”
“He was very obliging once I told him the situation. Let the team know to be ready at the gym tomorrow morning at seven.”
“Will do. When are you coming home?” he asked.
“I’m going to stop at the peninsula house first. I’ve decided not to do the Dark World thing. I’m going to break it to Burt personally. I don’t want to do it. I’m not an actress, and they really don’t want anything but a body. I know I pretty much have to own the attention the BBB caused, but I don’t have to add to my problems. I hope you understand.”
“I’m relieved,” Ted said. “I’m not cut out to be a sex symbol’s husband.”
“You big dope, you have to tell me when you have a problem with something I’m about to do. You’re the smartest man I know. I value your opinion. And if we don’t agree, I’m not going to stop loving you because we have a difference of opinion. I know I tend to take the easy way out. This time, I’m going to do what I want to do.”
“And that is?”
“To be with you and our children. I know I have an obligation to be a healer, and I may have to be a warrior if needed.”
“We all have a responsibility to take care of this world, Mia. I applaud and understand your role in it. I hope that being Mrs. Ted Martin isn’t going to be too boring for you.”
“It’s Mr. Ted Cooper, isn’t it?” Mia teased.
“Ha. I still have a tender ego to soothe. Give me this one.”
“You know how I feel.”
Ted was quiet a moment. “Mia, I’ll do my best to become worthy of your love.”
“You already have, Teddy Bear, you already have.”
“Don’t take any of Burt’s shit, Cooper.”
Mia laughed and hung up the phone.
Burt was glad Mia called first before she came over. It was late, and he was already in bed. He managed to pull on clothes before he heard her drive up. He opened the gate and then waited for her at the door.
Mia walked in and closed her eyes to steady herself. Burt was rumpled. His hair was a mess, and his sleepy brown eyes tugged at memories best forgotten.
Mia got right to the point. “I wanted to come and tell you in person that I can’t do the Dark World project.”
“I was going to call you tomorrow and tell you I didn’t want to do it. I crossed way over the line with the costumes I put my heroine in. But it sold graphic novels, so I continued. She is no longer you, Cooper.”
Mia started to cry.
Burt was more confused than Mia was.
“I’m sorry, I’m just so relieved. I didn’t want you to be mad at me.”
Burt stayed behind the invisib
le line of respectability. “Why would I be mad at you?”
“I don’t know, maybe I owe you for saving me.”
“I didn’t save you, Mia.”
Mia put her hand on her chest. “You loved me. It was just for a while, but I know you loved me. Being with you flipped a switch inside. My mother knew it. Other entities give you the credit for turning this machine around. Take it.”
“Mia, you saved yourself. I’m not sure if you didn’t pull us all along in your wake. I had the pleasure of spending some very loving time with you. You returned my love, and I regained my confidence. I have rued my bad behavior and understand why we didn’t stay together. I worried about the direction you took after us, but down deep, I knew that I couldn’t stand in your shadow and understand the challenges you go through like Ted does. I am equally honored by being your friend. Don’t worry about me, I’ll get my act together. It just may take a little more time. I wouldn’t be able to enjoy the income from the movie knowing it came from you putting yourself someplace and being someone, you didn’t want to be.”
“Thank you,” Mia said and turned to leave.
“Mia, don’t take this the wrong way, but please don’t come over here again alone. It’s too hard to remember who we are now. The pull of what we were is too strong here. We haunt this place. I still turn over and expect to see you snoring next to me at night. Because of this, I’m thinking of moving to a cottage Ethan told me about. It’s not as nice as this, but I can afford it. Sell this place. Use that money to help Ed out.”
Mia turned and nodded. “I understand, and I’m not upset. I got some very good advice from a fellow sinner tonight. I’m going to follow it.”
“Good.”
“Oh, tomorrow, we are going to be at the Big Bear Lake high school gym at seven to dismantle the bleachers so we can use them to floor Ed’s house. You don’t have to come; I just wanted you to know why the place is going to be deserted when you come to call on Paula.”
“Cooper…” Burt growled.
Mia walked out the door with a bounce in her step. She got in Cid’s truck and started it up. She looked back briefly at Burt, who was waiting to close the gate, before she backed out and drove home.
Chapter Thirty
Murphy found two more open graves south of the river. He filled them in and waited to see if whoever was digging them would show up. He walked back to the farm, searching the woods with his senses. Who are you? he sent out. You’re not welcome here, move on.
At the high school gym, Mia arrived on time, bearing a large basket of freshly made cookies. She handed them to Scott along with her thanks.
Scott unlocked the door and watched the parade of men who followed Mia inside. A very large man with muscles that no shirt could contain stopped. “I thank you, sir. I’m Ed. These will make an excellent floor for my wife and children to walk and play on.”
“I’m just the key holder. You’re Mia’s brother?”
“Yes.”
“Different mothers?”
“Different parents,” Ed said and walked in.
Scott stood back and tried to figure out the rest of Mia’s entourage. Cid must be the tall handsome guy calling the shots. He was obviously the contractor. Ted would be the tall wiry man with the immense nose. The young giant was a puzzlement. He hadn’t heard any rumors about the broad-shouldered creature with the ready smile. He and Ed were able to carry four times the amount of boards as the other two.
Soon the gym was empty, and Mia was sweeping up. She bent down and picked up a folded piece of paper and put it in her pocket. She wasn’t concerned when the men left without her. She just finished her job, put the broom back in the janitor closet, and walked over to Scott.
She dug into her pocket and put something on her fingers. “This is a paper fortune-telling game. Pick a color.”
“Green.”
Mia then opened it, displaying numbers. “Pick a number.”
“Eight.”
Mia counted to eight while she moved the fortune teller. “Pick a last number.”
“Three.”
Mia opened it. “It says karma will favor you.”
“It already has, I have a basket of cookies.”
“That’s from me. You gave me some good advice last night.”
“What if it had been bad advice?”
“Then it would have been liver.”
Scott laughed. “Your gallant knights have abandoned you.”
“My husband will be back.”
“What if he forgets?”
“Then I’m all yours,” Mia said.
“You’re horrible, Mrs. Martin.”
“I know.”
Ted pulled up.
“Well, fortune has not favored me,” Scott said.
“I have five children and an excellent lawyer, consider yourself very lucky,” Mia said.
Ted got out. He walked over. “She hasn’t been any trouble, has she?”
“No. She told my fortune, and you won.”
Ted shook Scott’s hand. “Do stop in when you’re up our way, and I’ll buy you a beer.”
“I will.”
Mia got in the SUV. “You came back very fast,” Mia said, impressed.
“I made them unload the SUV first. I didn’t want you to be in the presence of God’s gift to women any longer than possible. You failed to mention that he was a handsome, available man.”
“Did I?”
“And that he’s a smart man. Google says that he went to college on a football scholarship but was the class valedictorian. He was shortlisted for the Pulitzer Prize for History.”
“Can you drop me off? I think I can catch him,” Mia teased. “Why did you Google him?”
“Jake did.”
“Did Jake also tell you he’s an old friend of Burt’s?”
“No.”
“Or that I’m not remotely interested in him?”
“Well no.”
“He’s not interested in me beyond making a few friends in Big Bear Lake. He also believes in ghosts.”
“Did you read him?”
“No. That would mean touching him. Believe it or not, Baxter says that’s not the right thing to do when you first meet a man.”
“Imagine that.”
Mia giggled. “Thank you for pretending to be jealous.”
“I wasn’t pretending.”
“Yeah, right,” Mia said. “He doesn’t have your noble nose.”
Ted smiled. “Well, there is that.”
Murphy was waiting on the porch when Ted dropped Mia off. He was headed back to help with the flooring.
“I thought Cid had a job for you?”
“He has many jobs for me,” Murphy said. “I wanted to reserve some of your precious time.”
“I’m so in demand,” Mia teased. “What’s up?”
Murphy told her about his suspicions regarding the activity north of the iron bridge. “I need you to have my back. Fly me in, and be prepared to fight our way out.”
“Sure. Never investigate alone. I’ve been there before, when I was younger. There’s quite a bully there. He may have been the guy who pushed Stephanie off the bridge.”
“I think he’s moving south. He digs trenches that look suspiciously like graves. Adam, Varden, and your father fell in one yesterday.”
“This is the first I heard of this.”
“You were a bit busy and missed supper. You’re getting too thin again.”
Mia was going to object and tell him to keep his nose out of her business, but she knew he spoke out of care for her.
“I’m not hungry like I used to be. I’ll make a point of keeping my calories up, and maybe I’d better start swinging the sword. It’s just been tough to do with the Martins here before and now Paula. I need to be better about protecting the nest.”
“You’re doing a good job. Altair hasn’t had to ruffle a feather.”
“He’s w
atching over Judy. I will alert him to our mission, just in case I totally mess up.”
“When will you be available?”
“Catch me anytime between feedings.”
“I’m going to consult with Mother Nature first. I understand Burt is working on the human side of things, lumberjacks and park rangers.”
“Never a dull moment when there are ghosts about,” Mia said and walked into the house.
~
Burt, Enos, and Stephanie sat waiting for John of Big John’s Lumberyard in a very spacious, well-appointed office. Big John walked in. He was six-eight and about three hundred and fifty pounds. He carried himself well, and Enos was impressed by the man when he shook his hand.
“PEEPs. Ghost hunters, right?” John asked.
“Paranormal investigators, but in this case, ghost hunters works,” Burt said.
“I talked to my foreman on the Eagle’s Nest project, and he did see a few misty things up there, but no one messed with their equipment or trucks, except for Klein. There was nothing wrong with that truck, and I vetted Klein myself. He’s an excellent driver. I’d love to have a dozen men like him. In retrospect, we shouldn’t have been bringing our loads in through town. I’m going to have to take the blame for that one.”
It was hard not to like Big John. Burt and Enos saw his sincerity and accepted his explanations. Stephanie, however, wasn’t buying it.
“When I was up there, I saw one of your lumberjacks destroying an eagle’s nest. I have it on film.” She presented a still shot to John.
“The tree looks like it had been marked by the rangers. Were there eggs in the nest?”
“No.”
“Then no harm done. I’ll put out a memo about environmental responsibility.”
“What do you know about the history of the place?” Burt asked.
“Hold on.” John typed a few commands into his computer and then jotted down a number and went to the large wooden array of file cabinets. He selected a file and walked back. He flipped through the file and then spoke. “We were approached by the preserve. They wanted to thin out the nesting area. I proposed taking the older, but not diseased, trees out. I offered to split the remaining funds after our expenses were taken out. They seemed surprised by this. It’s standard for us. My family has been in this business for a hundred years.”
Crossroads Page 32
