Kurt sighed heavily. “You know what…believe what you want. I’ve had enough of this!”
“I want you to fire her first thing in the morning.”
“Fire her?” He glanced her way. “For what?”
“Isn’t it obvious?” She crossed her legs.
“You mean you want me to fire Jamie for no reason at all, other than your insane jealousy and paranoia?”
“I don’t care what you call it, Kurt. You fire her or I will.”
“Like you fired three of my other secretaries within the past year just because you’re insecure?” he charged. “Well, I’m not doing it and neither are you! I’m putting my foot down, Donna. This woman is a single parent with two small kids to take care of. I’m not gonna let you do this to her.”
Donna glared at him. “So, you love her more than me? Is that what you’re saying, Kurt?” Her lips were shivering and tears were welling in her eyes.
“Argh!”
“You do—don’t you?”
He shook his head hopelessly. Kurt couldn’t recall being that infuriated in all his years. The emotions he had right then and there for Donna were so intense he just knew he couldn’t take much more of her. Unbeknownst to her, he’d made an impromptu decision to end their relationship once and for all.
A heated argument ensued and a few minutes later, the car veered to the side of the road at a speed of sixty-five miles per hour, hitting a guardrail and careening off a steep cliff.
2
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Early the following morning…
Mira Cullen-Newton awoke in the arms of the man whose fate had been sealed on their wedding day.
She was warned not to breathe a word of it, but to carry the exact date death would come for a visit a second and final time in her heart as the burden of an extended blessing. Arising to that knowledge on her vacation was like a weight added to a day that was meant to be filled with happiness and peace. She remembered Karlen’s words so clearly, as well as those of her father and Andy. Yet, as difficult a task it was knowing when her husband, Bobby, would die, she knew she must be strong for both of them. A further challenge was the fact that he was oblivious to the grave knowledge concerning him she’d been made privy to.
Her daughter, Rosie, was with her grandmother, Sara, and Mira smiled as she thought how distinctly clear the teenager had made it to her and Bobby that there was no way in Hell she’d allow her Nana to live alone. Rosie’s well thought out plan comprised of her spending a few nights each week with them at Bobby’s house, and the majority with Sara. Mira pleasantly entertained that assertion amidst all the other thoughts that had to do with the remaining time she sought to make most memorable with her husband.
As Bobby lay fast asleep, Mira quietly made her way over to the window and tucked back the sheer curtain slightly. It was still fairly dark outside though her alarm clock displayed the time as 5:45 A.M. Usually, by then, she would’ve been heading out of her Mom’s house on her way to work at Caring Hands Clinic
She released the curtain, proceeded out of the bedroom and eased the door shut behind her. Before heading up the dark hallway, she flipped on the light switch and later turned the bend which led into the kitchen.
She’d added a woman’s touch to Bobby’s house in the months leading up to her wedding which gave it an immensely cozy feel. She didn’t need to do much in order to make that happen since Bobby had learned a thing or two on his own about basic home decor, and a plus was that he was an overall neat guy.
Mira relished the early hours of the morning when everything was superbly quiet and she was alone with her thoughts before her day got underway. Retrieving a mug from the top cabinet, she sighed as her mind drifted back to their honeymoon cruise to Mexico, already missing the solitude of their time away together. Twelve days had passed since their wedding with five more to go before they both had to return to work.
Holding her favorite glass mug with the words “Bright thoughts, brighter day” painted on it, she closed the cupboards and on turning towards the doorway, came face to face with a man, bedraggled and slightly disfigured in the face, specifically in the vicinity of the forehead. His plain green jacket was ripped in two at the front, white shirt beneath the open zipper stained with what appeared to be a huge puddle of blood in the area of his chest. Standing approximately six feet tall with a low haircut and olive-complexion, he could easily pass for early to mid-forties. He had a chiseled face with high cheekbones and a prickly salt and pepper beard. Underneath what was left of his battered and bleeding face was, in the chasm of Mira’s mind, a once very handsome man. She wasn’t aware that she’d dropped the mug the moment she’d spotted him. His intense gaze had mesmerized, yet befuddled her and she knew his brazen intrusion into her space came with a distinct purpose.
“Who are you?” she asked softly as they stood no more than five feet apart, eyes glued to each other.
Having rushed from the bedroom, Bobby appeared over to her right. “What happened, honey?” He was clearly concerned.
She’d taken her eyes off the apparition for no more than a second only to find when she looked back again, he was gone. That’s when she noticed the broken mug in front of her on the floor.
“I…I… dropped a cup. Sorry, I woke you.” She knelt down to pick it up, tucking her black, curly hair behind her ears.
“Let me help you,” Bobby insisted, stepping inside the kitchen.
He managed to pick up most of the pieces before she did and disposed of everything in the nearby trash bin.
“Coffee?” Mira offered as she swept whatever shards that might’ve remained into the dustpan.
“Might as well. There’s no more going back to sleep for me.” Bobby mounted the counter stool.
“I’m sorry I interrupted your sleep. I don’t know what…”
“No worries, honey. What’s the use of me sleeping any longer anyway? It’s not like you were still there next to me.”
He got the smile that he was looking for, which always made his day. As he sat there, again he realized that he loved everything about her—even her occasional bullheadedness.
“Why are you looking at me like that?” she asked, putting the coffee pot on. She was blushing like a teenager who’d fallen in love for the very first time.
“Why do you think?”
“Have no idea. That’s why I asked.” Mira couldn’t help being a bit feisty with him. That’s what she was accustomed to all those years while she was resisting his advances. Finding the habit difficult to break, now she was doing it with love.
He reached over the counter and gently grabbed her hand. “Your eyes are as beautiful as the heavens and your hair as silky as the…”
“Stop it, freak!” She slapped his hand and giggled.
Laughing, Bobby retreated to his former position.
“You’re too much!” Mira said.
“I’m too much?” He arched his brow.
The smile he cherished was still there; he wished it would never fade away.
“You’re doing it again.” She reached into the cupboard and grabbed two mugs.
Bobby cleared his throat. “Well, in a few more days, it’s back to the old drawing board again, huh?” He opted to change the subject.
“Yep.” Mira sighed.
“When we stopped off at Mexico, why were you dead set against us bringing back any souvenirs?”
“I did bring back a couple of souvenirs,” she said.
“You did?”
“Yeah. They’re still in the suitcase. I picked them up when you went to use the restroom at the restaurant across the street from the vendors. I just didn’t want us bringing back the ones you’d set your eyes on: the water globe and the miniature ceramic doll.”
“But why not? I thought Rosie would’ve loved that doll. I know she probably thinks she’s too old for dolls now, but what the heck?!”
“Those items had attachments, Bobby—dark entities were connected to them. As a mat
ter of fact, I sensed every single object that old man was selling in there had some sort of curse attached to it.”
Bobby’s facial expression altered to one of shock. “What? That’s insane! Why would anyone want to sell cursed objects to random people?”
“I’m guessing because they’re evil. That’s why I didn’t want us buying anything from there. After you went over to the restaurant, I told the old man I knew what he was doing and how wrong he was for trying to ruin innocent people’s lives.”
“What did he say?”
“Nothing. Just gave me that evil stare. I did let him in on a little secret though—that someone had something special cooking up for him and in about a year’s time, he’d fall prey to their spell.”
Bobby was startled by Mira’s revelation.
“Really? Did he respond?”
“Nope. Just seemed troubled by what I’d said. And to be honest, I was kind of pleased that he was. Finally, all the evil he’d done to others would be catching up with him.”
Bobby shook his head. “Amazing, huh?”
“Yep. So, I purchased a couple of souvenirs instead from the tent next to his.”
Mira added sugar and cream to Bobby’s coffee and handed it to him. Then with her own coffee in hand, she went around the other side of the counter and sat next to him.
He leaned in and kissed her. “Thanks for the coffee,” he said.
“You’re welcome.”
“Oh! I forgot to mention that I saw Monique Constantakis yesterday at the hardware store. You remember her, don’t you?” Mira said.
“You mean…your mom’s next-door neighbor’s granddaughter or something like that?”
“Yeah. She and I attended high school together. After that, she and her parents moved to another town; can’t remember where. But she’s back here in Mizpah now, supposedly for a while since she’s recently divorced.”
“I see.”
“Well, she told me my old graduating class are planning a reunion and they put her in charge of getting in contact with everyone who’s not a part of their Facebook group.”
“A reunion, huh?” He nodded. “This makes how many years since y’all graduated?”
“Next month will make fifteen years. I can hardly believe it,” she replied, stirring her coffee with the metal spoon.”
“So…are you going?”
“I don’t know. I’ll be back to work then and with work and everything…I’m usually so busy and when I’m not busy, I’m just so tired.”
“Well, I don’t think you should let anything keep you from attending your high school reunion. These things sometimes only come by once in a lifetime.”
She stopped stirring and looked at him. “You really think I should go?”
“Yep.” He nodded. “But, of course, it’s up to you. Give it some thought.”
She sat quietly for a few moments, then said, “I’ll get Rosie’s take on it when I call her this morning. They’ve arranged a meeting for my graduating class to attend.”
“When is it?”
“Day after tomorrow.”
“And they’re trying to pull this off for next month?” He grimaced.
“Apparently so. I know it seems like short notice, but I’m sure they were planning this way in advance. I just happened not to be a part of it.”
“I know what you mean.”
They sat and chatted for a few minutes and discussed what their plans were for the day.
“I was thinking…how about we go out for breakfast?” Bobby said. “Who wants to cook on their vacation anyway?”
“I agree.” Mira replied. “Who—being you since you’re the designated cook in the family.”
“Right.” He smiled. “I’m wondering if I’m gonna regret volunteering to do all the cooking around here.”
She patted his arm. “Don’t worry. I’ll make breakfast sometimes.”
“Thank you, darling. You’re the best.”
“I am?”
“You know you are, although I think you’re gonna be the death of me.” He took a sip of his coffee.
The smile gradually faded from Mira’s face. Reference to his death was unnerving, yet she knew she had to retain her composure. She realized accepting that sinister fact was going to be difficult, but she assured Karlen, her dad and Andy that she was up to it, knowing if she wasn’t—Bobby would not be there today.
3
_________________
“Well, look at what we’ve got here! The newlywed lovebirds.” Tamara Cooper had gotten up from the table she was sitting at in the diner and went over to Mira’s and Bobby’s. She was holding a roughly folded newspaper in her hand when she stood next to their table. Her dirty-blonde hair was pulled back into a loose ponytail with two curly strands dangling at her ears and she was wearing a cotton light-pink blouse and matching slacks.
“Tammy!” Bobby got up and gave her a bear hug. “You remember my wife, Mira, don’t you?”
“’Course, I do! I was at the wedding, silly!” She nudged him in the abdomen with the newspaper.
Bobby let off a chuckle. He was used to Tamara’s antics. They’d been co-workers for the entire time he was at the mill; in fact, he met her there and she’d once told him she’d started at the company fresh out of high school. As she was now in her fifties, it meant she’d spent at least a good thirty-five years there.
Tamara was the life of the mill; some even joked about her being a starving comedian as she always managed to put a smile on her co-workers’ faces or provoke them into an all out squawk that got them reprimanding stares from their superiors. Bobby had thought Tamara was a good worker, but for some reason, she never got any promotions and was pretty much still at the second lowest position in the company. He’d even been promoted several grades above her although he’d started out at entry level. It didn’t seem to bother Tamara though; she never showed him any ill will.
“Would you like to join us?” Bobby asked her. “Honey…” He looked to Mira for her approval.
“Please do!” Mira urged her. “I’ve heard so much about you, Tammy. It’s a pity we haven’t met before.”
Bobby slid out the chair next to his for Tamara and she eagerly sat down. He then returned to his seat.
“Seeing you at the wedding made me feel like we’d already met,” she told Mira. “You looked so beautiful in that gorgeous gown of yours!”
“Thank you, Tammy.” Mira smiled.
“’Course, no one expected Bobby here to faint at the altar. He’d given everyone quite a scare!” She patted Bobby’s hand. “Well, it’s nice to know you are okay and back into the arms of your dear wife, safe and sound.”
Bobby felt a bit embarrassed that she’d brought it up.
“Yes, it was quite a scare for all of us,” Mira agreed. “I thought for sure I’d lost him, but thankfully, that’s all in the past now.”
“Yes indeed.” Tamara replied.
Bobby turned to Tamara. “Have you ordered your breakfast yet?”
“I have, actually. I’ll direct the waitress over here whenever she arrives with it.”
Bobby and Mira had finished their breakfast which consisted of hash browns, croissants and scrambled eggs, and they were both now sipping their second cups of coffee for the morning.
Bobby noticed a petite waitress heading with a tray of food over to Tamara’s former table. “Is that her?” he asked Tamara.
“Yeah! Honey, here I am!” she summoned the waitress who promptly came over.
“I see you’ve made new seating arrangements.” She smiled. Her narrow, sunken face seemed to have taken on a noticeable task bearing that simple smile. “Here’s your grits and omelet. And a steamy cup of hot chocolate, just how you like it.” She removed the items from the tray and rested them on the table in front of Tamara.
“You’re a gem, Dottie. Thanks so much,” Tamara said.
“You’re very welcome.” She shoved a hand comfortably into her apron.
“You tell
Paul I said it’s high time he gave you a raise, ya hear?”
Dottie chuckled. “I sure will pass that on to him for the hundredth time. I don’t think he’s paying much attention though, Tammy.”
Mira quietly observed the two ladies with her hand folded against her chin. She could tell they shared a good rapport.
“Well, you tell Paul that by the one hundredth and one time he receives this message, if he still hasn’t sorted you out, I’m coming back there to find him and he’s not gonna like it when I do.”
“Will do,” Dottie said. “You folks have a wonderful time. If you need anything, don’t hesitate to let me know.”
Mira and Bobby both thanked her. She was the same waitress who’d brought their food when they’d arrived.
“She’s such a wonderful lady,” Tamara remarked. “Been working in this joint since Paul opened up the place decades ago and he’s been good and stingy with her, that’s for sure. Reminds me of how those bastards down at the mill have been treating me for the past nearly forty years.”
Dottie was suddenly not as bubbly anymore. Very rarely had Bobby ever seen her that way. However, she snapped out of it quickly.
“Hey! Have you two heard about the guy who killed his wife and infant child by running them off Markway cliff?” she asked. “They all perished—including him.”
Mira grimaced. “I’d heard there was a tragic accident, but no mention of it being a murder-suicide. Who said that?”
“It’s all over the paper this morning.” Tamara opened up the newspaper to the page where she’d left off. “See here.” She showed them. “Most of it’s speculation right now since the police haven’t validated the claims. Apparently, a good number of the husband’s and wife’s employees at their law firm have told the media that the couple were having serious marital issues for a long time and on the day of the accident, there was some big argument between them about the husband having an affair with his secretary. Sounds like the wife’s accusations caused the secretary to run out of the office in tears. It was some drama, I’d say. Well, the consensus of the employees is that they noticed the husband seemed very depressed as of late and they think he might’ve killed his family, including himself because of all the stress. It’s a pity the baby was caught up with their dysfunction.”
The Cornelius Saga Series (All 15 Books): The Ultimate Adventure-packed Supernatural Thriller Collection Page 85
