“It’s different living here, than in our apartments,” said Annette. “We hardly see each other without a lot of other people around.”
“Okay, so… you must feel that Anika and I can help somehow, or you wouldn’t have been so desperate to meet with us.”
“Yes,” said John. “We believe it will be better for our relationship, if… well… we move out of the rooms we share with Xander and Jenny.”
“And what do you plan to do instead?” I asked, giving them a narrow-eyed look, and the benefit of the doubt. For now.
“Move to a different room. Together.”
My jaw dropped, and I quickly looked at Miles.
He looked at John seriously for a few seconds, then smiled and held out his hand.
“Congratulations,” Miles said, and John laughed as they shook hands.
Annette held up her hand, and I saw she had two rings, not one, and John showed off his wedding ring, too.
Those two were sure proud of themselves for almost giving me a heart attack!
“I cannot believe you!” I said, as I hugged Annette, and then John.
“You have no idea how we rehearsed,” smiled John. “If we weren’t careful, we knew Anika would figure it out. I can’t believe you did, Miles!”
“Well, it isn’t as though you were hiding your rings,” smiled Miles. “I know your character, too, and what you appeared to be suggesting was in contradiction to that.”
“So when did this happen?” I asked, my eyes probably as large as my sister’s were last night.
“This morning,” Annette smiled.
“Do your parents know?” I asked.
“No, and we need to tell them,” said John. “This is what we both wanted, though. We’ve been together a long time, and… we’re sure.”
“We didn’t want to wait until summer for the rest of our lives to start,” Annette said, and I hugged her again.
“I completely understand,” I said.
“Okay then,” said Miles. “You’ve got your room. We’ll break it to your roommates, unless you want to do the honors.”
“As much as I’d enjoy making Xander spaz out, we’ll leave that to you guys,” John smiled.
“Then go,” said Miles. “Don’t come back for at least a week.”
“Are you serious?” asked John, a look of concern in his eyes.
“We weren’t planning to leave you guys in the lurch,” said Annette.
“Are you kidding?” I said. “We know that. You aren’t leaving us in the lurch, we’ll pull in more people from our other establishments, if we need to.”
“That’s right. You’re welcome to spend your honeymoon here, or at any of our other hotels, if you like. Whatever you decide to do, we’ll see you when you get back.”
“Okay then,” said John. “If you really mean it, then—we’ll see you later!”
He held his hand out to Annette and she took it, then we congratulated them again quietly on the way to the door, and said goodbye.
I started talking the second our bedroom door closed behind us.
“My goodness, can you believe those two! What a couple of actors! They had me completely fooled. It’s a good thing you figured them out, they were about to get a lecture! I was gearing up to channel my inner Mom.”
Miles laughed hard at that.
“If I had any idea, I would have kept my observations to myself! I can’t believe what I missed out on!”
I laughed too.
“That’s okay, I’ll perform it for you later. After I get a good day’s sleep.”
I couldn’t help but yawn.
“Right there with you,” said Miles.
Night and Pandora lay stretched out on the bed, taking up as much space as possible. She winked one eye at us sleepily.
“Good thing the bed’s big enough we don’t have to move her,” I said, scooting in beside her.
“They take up way more space than we do,” said Miles, joining me and wrapping his arms around me as he did so.
I laughed a little.
“Your cat’s trying to push me out of bed,” I said. I could feel all four of her feet pressing against my back.
“Quit trying to push your mom out of bed, Pandora,” said Miles, as Night hopped over me and scrambled ungracefully over Miles, and lay down pressed against his back. “Night, that’s a bad idea. If I roll over, you’re going to be one flat cat.”
I laughed sleepily as Night floated up in the air and came to rest on the other side of his sister.
“He’s got to think that’s fun, or he wouldn’t do it. He knows you’re just going to move him.”
“I’m sure you’re right,” said Miles, as I yawned.
I barely registered Night as he curled up on my legs. By the sound of Pandora, she was making herself comfortable on Miles. Weighed down by contented cats, we fell asleep.
~*~
Miles quietly opened the doors between our bedroom and sitting room.
Doreen was already awake, so we needn’t have worried about waking her. She was however, talking to Elizabeth. Now that, was something to be concerned about!
“Finally!” Doreen said, looking up as we walked in. “I thought you guys were going to sleep all day.”
“Well, you know, that tends to happen when we don’t sleep at night,” I said.
“I’m not tired,” she said, bouncing a little in her chair.
“Yes, well, you’re young,” said Miles, laughter in his eyes.
She looked at him quickly, then laughed.
“And you’re not!”
Miles laughed too.
“You’ve got the same sense of humor your sister does,” he said.
Doreen looked pleased to hear that, which made me pleased.
“I don’t have a sister,” said Elizabeth.
“That’s too bad,” I said. I hoped it wouldn’t throw her into a tailspin if I started asking direct questions, but she seemed to be doing a lot better since removing the costume. “Do you have other family?”
She frowned as she thought, then shook her head in frustration.
Doreen was trying to get my attention, so I looked at her.
“Anika and I have a Mom, a Dad, and a little brother,” she said, then motioned to Miles, encouraging him to talk.
He looked at me and almost laughed.
“Okay Doreen,” he said. “I had a mother, a father, an older brother, a younger sister, and baby brother. Now I have Grandma Polly.”
“I have a mom and dad,” said Elizabeth.
We thought for a second.
“I go to school at Alta Vista Middle School,” said Doreen.
“I go to college at North Glen Haven University,” I said.
“I go to college at North Glen Haven University too,” said Miles.
“I took a college class last semester,” Elizabeth said. “I was planning to go full-time next year, but… I guess I can forget that.”
Her luminous blue eyes filled with tears.
I felt terrible for her, and for everything she lost. And now, she was stuck here like this…
“I’m so sorry,” I said.
“I am too,” said Miles. “I know what you’re feeling.”
Doreen looked sad.
“But how did you…” Elizabeth gestured toward Miles. “I know you’re different. You used to be a lot more different. So how did you become less different than you were then, and than I am now?”
“We talked about this last night,” I reminded her.
“She was asleep,” said Doreen.
“Oh,” I said. I did not remember that. I was focused more on Doreen last night, than I was Elizabeth.
“I was accused of murdering my brother in a fight over his fiancé,” said Miles. “I wasn’t guilty. He and I were both murdered by outlaws. I prayed that I wouldn’t rest until I was proven innocent. A very long time later, Anika came along. She could see me, she could hear me, and she believed in me. It took a lot of miracles really, but sh
e cleared my name.”
“Then… you just came back?” she asked.
“No,” said Miles. “Not exactly. My great-great nephew was lying in a hospital, brain-dead. He was the same age that I was when I was murdered. We looked very similar, and suddenly he vanished and I was in his place.”
“How crazy! You must have been so relieved,” she said, looking at me. “It’s obvious you love him.”
“Yeah. I do. And I was relieved, when I finally saw him again and realized he was alive. The hospital wouldn’t let him go for a long time, so I didn’t know.”
“That’s rotten,” she said, as she pressed her hand to her head. “Most hospitals want to kick you out as fast as they can, but some don’t ever want to let you go.”
She wasn’t looking well. Comparatively speaking.
“Perhaps you need to take a break,” said Miles. “We’ll talk again later and you can join us, if you want to.”
She nodded, her eyes squinted shut.
“What’s happening to me? I don’t understand any of this.”
“We’ll find out,” I said, really wishing I knew already, and had a way to help her. She looked like she was in pain. Why would she be in pain? “Just rest for now.”
She nodded. Pulling her knees up against her chest, she turned, wrapped her arms around her legs, and leaning against the back of the chair she fell asleep. That’s what it looked like, anyway.
“There’s pressure on the force field again,” Miles told me softly. I didn’t have a chance to respond, as Doreen stood and motioned for us to follow her.
Miles and I smiled at each other but didn’t laugh. We’d both been around long enough to know that laughing at anything a pre-teen does, is about as smart as poking a bear with a stick.
Doreen closed the door quietly behind us once we were inside the family room. Miles and I had a seat on the couch, and Doreen sat in a nearby chair. She tucked her feet under her and leaned forward, her eyes bright.
“You can’t ask her questions, she gets real confused,” she said.
“Good observation,” Miles smiled, and Doreen grinned.
“Yeah, but did you notice if you talk she’ll join in?” she eagerly pointed out.
“Nice catch,” I said. “Information gathering will be much easier now that we know.”
Doreen beamed now.
“Did you know she had a receipt in her pocket?”
“What?” Miles and I said together.
“Yeah! We couldn’t get it through the force field, but...” Doreen held up her phone. “I did get a picture of it. So anyway, want to guess where it’s from?”
“How many guesses?” asked Miles, and Doreen laughed.
“None! I’m telling you. It’s from here in Glen Haven.”
“Excellent job!” I said, proud of my sister. I gave her a high five, and so did Miles. “How did you come up with the idea of searching her pockets?”
“Well, she said she’d had on a costume. It’s a rental, and she was kind of concerned.”
“Yeah, it’s in our room,” I said, and made a face. “It kind of got dragged under our bed by the cat. The gown’s okay, but he did a number on the wig. I don’t think she’s getting her deposit back.”
Miles laughed.
“Sorry, it’s not funny. It shouldn’t be funny. It’s just—the thought of Elizabeth in her current state, returning the costume, asking for her deposit back…”
I laughed too.
“She’d get more than her deposit. The owner would likely turn tail and run, leaving the shop behind, much like the previous owner of the Lodge did!”
“Okay, so let’s get back to being serious,” said Doreen.
“Yes ma’am,” I said seriously.
“What more do you have for us, investigator Doreen?” asked Miles. “I’m betting you got more from that receipt than the name of the town.”
“I did!” she said, her eyes sparkling. “It’s from the Safeway on Pratt Avenue and Third Street. She bought a bag of tortilla chips and a jar of cheese dip, and she bought it on October 31st… 2015.”
“Last year!” I said. “Oh my goodness. She died here, in Glen Haven, on Halloween last year!”
“Doreen, I’m impressed,” said Miles. “This information is something we can work with!”
Doreen bounced in her seat and beamed.
“But Miles,” I said. “If there was a murder in Glen Haven, certainly one involving a student at the University, how could we have not heard about it?”
“Remember everything we were involved in around Halloween last year, dear?”
“Yeah… We barely had time to sleep,” I said, remembering. “We were tracking down evidence in a couple of murder investigations at the time.”
“Our plates were full, it’s no wonder it didn’t register, even if we did hear about it. We really can’t have another semester like that,” said Miles.
“No kidding,” I said. I leaned against his shoulder. I felt tired every time I thought about it!
Doreen’s blue eyes were wide.
“Your life is amazing,” she said.
“Yeah, it kind of is,” I said. “It’s also jam-packed. Miles, we need to tell Jenny and Xander they’re minus a couple of roommates.”
“You’re right, we do. We also need to check the mail and see if there’s anything requiring our attention.”
“Can I stay here, if you’re just going to the office to work?” asked Doreen.
I chewed my lip as I thought.
“Maybe so,” I said, buying time. “Why don’t you check on Elizabeth, see if she’s still asleep.”
Doreen hopped up and was out the door.
“So… what do we do about my sister?” I whispered to Miles.
“Hm. We… can ask Trix to keep an eye on her. She’s got her cell phone. Your sister does I mean, I’m sure Trix wishes she had one.”
I laughed at that.
“Chip is here too… you’ve got a force field around Elizabeth, so it isn’t like she’ll have a mood swing and pose a danger.”
“Leave her here then?” asked Miles. “We won’t be gone long. Then we can all have lunch. Or whatever it is one eats after lunch, and before dinner.”
We walked out into the sitting room.
Elizabeth still appeared to be sleeping.
“Doreen, will you and Trix watch Elizabeth for us?” asked Miles.
“Yeah,” said Doreen. “How long will you be gone?”
“We need to talk to my friend Xander. If Elizabeth wakes up, we need you to call us or send Trix to get us.”
“Okay. Do I need to sit here every second and watch?” she asked. The novelty of staring at the ghost in the living room had already lost its appeal.
“Not at all. If you’d rather watch a movie, or read, or whatever, that’s fine,” said Miles.
“Okay. See you later, then,” she said.
“We won’t be gone long,” I assured her. Not that she appeared to need it.
By the time we reached the door, she was settled on the couch with her iPad.
Miles and Trixie exchanged a look, and she nodded. Then he opened the door, and we went out into the hall.
“What was that about?” I wanted to know, once we were alone in the elevator.
“I asked her to keep an eye on Doreen, and let us know again if Elizabeth wakes up. I also asked her to be stealthy about it! She said she knows how to be stealthy, that’s why it took me so long to realize she still has her abilities.”
“True!” I said. “She’s been much stealthier than she was when you were semi-transparent.”
“She says now there’s a lot to lose, if others catch on to our differences. Before there wasn’t.”
“I know that’s true, but what does she mean by that?” I was concerned she might have thought of something we hadn’t yet.
“I can ask for details later, we didn’t discuss it at length. She did say if everyone found out what we can do, our ability to do good would gr
eatly diminish.”
“I can completely see how that would be the case,” I said.
“You’d be a target for anyone who wanted to use your abilities, or use you to control me. Sometimes, Anika… I hate for you to even be out of my sight, because I can’t protect you when you are.”
“I know,” I said, and I put my arm around him. “I hate to be out of your sight because it means we aren’t together. Once we’re through with college, then… I can’t imagine very many scenarios where we’ll need to be apart. So hang in there and try not to worry yourself sick.”
“Okay,” he said, kissing my forehead. “I’ll do my best not to.”
“It shouldn’t be difficult this semester, or this summer even. We won’t be taking classes on campus again until next fall.”
“You’re right!” Miles said. “I like that. Several wonderful months of uninterrupted bliss that I’ll get to spend with you, my beautiful wife.”
I laughed, and hugged him.
“The differences between you and Elizabeth are a lot greater than the similarities,” I commented, as the elevator doors swished open and we stepped out into the corridor.
“I wonder why,” Miles said.
“No idea,” I replied. “But we’ll find out.”
Chapter 12
We greeted Monica, the employee who was manning the check-in counter.
“John and Annette won’t be in for the next several days,” Miles told her. “Call Amanda and tell her we need a sub for the check-in counter, until they return.”
“Yes sir,” she said.
We went through the gate in the counter and inside our office. Miles sat down at the computer and checked email while I sorted through mail.
“Anything requiring our immediate attention?” asked Miles, as he turned away from the computer.
“No. How about you?”
“Nothing that can’t wait,” he said, and looked at his watch. “I’ll call Xander, and you call Jenny. If she can’t meet right now, we’ll tell her John and Annette’s news later.”
“We’re between lunch and dinner, so it’ll probably be fine,” I said. Bringing up the contact list on my phone, I pressed her number.
“Hi, Jenny. You busy? Okay, good. We’re in the office right now, so why don’t you and Xander join us. Yeah, he’s on the phone with Miles. He’s telling him the same thing. Great. See you in a bit.”
The Lodge at Whispering Pines Page 17
