by Lisa Freed
Ouch! Guess I shouldn’t quit my day job. That also got me thinking.
“Say, John, you’re awesome with my furry minions, ever think of getting some of your own?”
“T, you bring this up a lot. I’m not ready for the commitment of pets.”
“Then how about just helping Whisker Kisses out for a few weeks?”
He sat back down next to me, his blue eyes slightly wary. “How?”
I couldn’t contain the grin that broke out on my face. I knew I had him! “Some people are real jerks when it comes to black cats this time of year and we are swamped with ones we pulled from shelters and off the streets to keep safe.”
“Okay,” John said with a puzzled frown pulling his brow low.
“So, if you could find room for a few of them here with you. Temporarily,” I added quickly, “that would be great! And free up more room at the rescue for a few more to come in. We’re getting several calls a day asking for help.”
“That’s all I would have to do? Put them up in a room for a bit?” he still didn’t sound convinced.
“Yup, give them some love and attention, the food, litter, and everything else is covered by us.”
John rubbed at the back of his head, then nodded. “Yeah, I guess I could do that. But only two,” he warned.
“Two is great! Thanks! Want me to go get them now?”
He laughed. “Afraid I’ll change my mind? Slow down some. I can get them later today, just get everything set up.”
I leaned over and threw an arm around his shoulders giving him a brief, hard half-hug. “You’re the best, John!”
“And I’m usually right. Remember that, why don’t you,” he said.
I kept mum on that one.
CHAPTER SEVEN
True to his word, John picked up two of the black cats last night and I felt a tad guilty to not be helping out more so put myself down for four of them. I had two available guest bedrooms, so it was only fair to do my part to help with the current crisis. But that would have to wait. I didn’t feel right getting them and then abandoning them all day while I was out at Longwood Gardens with my niece.
The Delaware morning was gorgeous and a look at the weather app on my phone showed that it would be similar up in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania. I was more than ready for a peaceful, fun outing.
Ever since seeing Adrian in my bathroom mirror, I’d been wimpy and avoided the thing. Instead, I did my makeup in the guest bathroom down the hall. Like part of me seriously believed he couldn’t pop into whatever mirror he wanted. I knew better but, just like millions believed a blanket would protect them from a nighttime boogieman attack, I chose to believe this. Thankfully, it went off without a hitch and after grabbing my coat, hat, and gloves I was on my way to my sister’s house in Newark, Delaware.
Megan and her husband Dan had over ten acres outside of the bustling city and I loved visiting them. Not only did they have a dog the size of a small horse named Timothy who thought he was a lapdog, but there was also a pond on the property complete with fish and visiting geese and ducks.
After growing up in a rowhome in Wilmington with a patch of dirt in the back that my parents called a backyard, Megan’s house seemed just perfect for a child growing up. I was thrilled at what my sister was able to give her daughter and all without my help, despite my countless offers. Truth be told, my sister and Dan seemed to be doing great with the accounting firm that they had started up just six years ago.
As I pulled up to the house, Timothy came charging out. When I got out of the truck his massive paws plopped on my shoulders as he gave me the doggie version of a hug. “Good boy,” I praised trying to avoid his licking tongue.
“Down, Tim!” Megan called from the wrap-around porch.
The large dog instantly obeyed and stood by my feet, his tail lashing my legs as it wagged.
“Amber ready?” I asked walking toward her.
“Oh no, you and I are going to talk first. I mentioned that on the phone, remember?” Megan’s tone left no room for discussion.
“Okay, then,” I said meekly and upon entering the house stomped my booted feet on the brown welcome mat in the entranceway. Then I followed Megan into the cheery cream and taupe painted kitchen. Everything was spotless and I found myself wondering if Megan had hired a cleaning lady because between work and being a mom, I didn’t know how she would have time otherwise.
“Coffee?”
“Absolutely.”
Megan filled two bright blue mugs and brought them over before getting creamer and a dainty china sugar bowl that she set between us at the large wooden kitchen table. She gave me a gentle smile as she watched me stir three spoonsful of sugar into my coffee.
“Enjoy it now before it catches up with you in your thirties,” she said, tucking a wayward strand of pale blonde hair behind her ear.
I raised my eyebrows at that. My sister had just turned thirty. “So…” I let the word drag out, prepared to get it over with but not looking forward to whatever this big conversation was that my sister had planned.
“With Mom and Dad visiting a few things happened and honestly, I’m starting to wonder about Amber,” Megan said, her eyes downcast.
That quirked my interest. “Is Amber okay?”
“She’s fine, bright, so very bright, you know that. It’s just that a few things happened during the visit.” Megan was clearly uncomfortable and her eyes moved around the table but never quite settled on me.
“What kind of things?” I asked though I was starting to have a few suspicions.
Megan’s cup made a thump on the table as she set it down. “When did you know you were different, T?” Her blue eyes searched my face.
I laughed and saw her stiffen up.
“Sorry, it’s just that I never thought I was different until probably thirteen or so. I just assumed everyone else saw ghosts too and could touch objects and get hints from them.” I smiled, staring down into my cloudy, too-sweet coffee, my mind deep in memories. “You don’t recall much from that time, do you?” I asked.
“No,” Megan admitted, her eyes blinking rapidly.
“You were rather busy with college courses,” I offered to take some of the guilt off her. “I would call out the next song on the radio, refused to let go of Aunt Prudy’s turquoise silk scarf…”
Megan interrupted, “I remember that! You would strut around the house with it wrapped around your neck and the end trailing on the ground like some tween-version of Linus.” She laughed at the memory.
I grinned. “I felt all glamorous like some movie star. I even took to carrying a pencil and pretending it was a cigarette holder.”
“But the ghosts, T, when did you start seeing them?”
Ahh...this was what was really bugging her. I could tell that right away by the anxiousness in my sister’s voice.
“I’ve always seen them, it’s just I didn’t fully realize what they were. Seeing people going in and out of walls, I thought they had superpowers.” I couldn’t help the laugh that escaped but I knew enough to reign it in and took a sip of my now lukewarm coffee to buy some time to compose myself. “And it was never a scary thing. Not like that movie with the kid that sees dead people. It’s not blood and gore or exploding guts or them attacking me.”
At her wince, I realized this was not the way to go about this. Quickly I rushed on, “Most of them are very nice and just want someone to talk to or relay a bit of information for them. I even consider one ghost to be a friend.”
“That’s what I’m afraid of. Amber has an imaginary friend. Or at least I thought she was pretend until I saw the chair moving by itself the other day.”
I reached out and covered my sister’s cool hand with my own and gave it a squeeze. “Is Amber upset or scared?”
Megan’s blue eyes opened wide as her head jerked up. “Oh my, no! Amber is always laughing and talking about what adventures she and Abigail are having.”
Mentally, I shrugged. I really didn’t see what the prob
lem was then. “But you’re worried because…” I released her hand to make a rolling motion with mine.
“Because it’s not normal!” Megan snapped then smacked a hand to her mouth with an audible whack. “Oh, T, I’m sorry,” she stammered out, tears starting to fill her eyes.
“It’s fine,” I said though inwardly I cringed. Yup, not normal, the weirdo, that was me.
“No, I shouldn’t have said that.”
“Why not? You obviously think it,” I said, trying to keep my voice calm.
Megan hung her head, her hair falling over her shoulders in a glossy curtain around her face. “I just wanted a simple life.”
I stood up and went around the table to hug my sister. At first, her shoulders were rigid in my arms but with a shuddering sigh she softened and pressed against me. I patted her back and tried to think of something remarkable to say and make everything all better. But I came up with nothing. We had a sucky childhood and Megan had had to grow up way too fast. It wasn’t fair and she deserved a happy adult life, a normal one.
She pulled away and wiped at her eyes with closed fists, black eye makeup smearing all over. Blinking, she sniffed loudly then said in a quiet voice, “I must look a mess.”
“That you do,” I said with a laugh and handed her a napkin from the holder on the table.
“You’re supposed to lie,” she said, scrubbing at spreading black smudges under her eyes.
I waited until she finished, the balled-up napkin placed next to her coffee cup. “Listen, so what if Amber is a psychic? Being one has never held me back from anything, I’m happy with my life. It’s not perfect, and yeah, some of the ghosts can be major pains in my butt, but it’s not the end of the world. And Amber has the benefit of having one kickass mom to help her.”
Megan sniffed loudly, her watery blue eyes pinned on mine. “Thanks, T. I just worry is all.”
“Well, duh, you’re a mom, moms have to worry.” I picked up mine and Megan’s cups and took them over to the sink to dump the coffee out. I left her used napkin where it was, she could handle that.
“Do you want me to talk with her?” I offered.
“Yes and no. I’m not sure. I don’t want to make things worse.”
I thought back to Amber’s easy acceptance of Victor but her worry about her mom being upset. Walking back over to the table I sat back down and gave her what I hoped was a serious look. “Love her, don’t act like she’s any different and don’t make it a big deal.”
She laughed, running her hands through her long, blonde hair. “Easier said than done. Why couldn’t this have happened to you? You know what to do with a mini-psychic.”
“Whoa, I’m so not ready for kids! And so what if she has a little something extra? Again, it’s not that big of a deal and you never know, it might come in handy.”
Megan’s laughter died and the look she gave me could have curdled milk. “You know how I feel about the lottery, Teresa.”
I resisted the urge to roll my eyes. “Yes, mother,” I said.
“I’m serious.”
“And so am I. Look, you’re doing what you want with your life with the tools you were given, your brains. Why is it any different for me because I used my abilities to finance my passion, Whisker Kisses?”
Megan’s mouth opened and closed soundlessly. Then she cleared her throat. “You’re right.”
“Huh?”
“Don’t give me that look. I’m allowed to admit I was wrong. I never thought about it like that.”
My eyes narrowed slightly and I knew I didn’t really want the answer but I asked the question anyway. “So how did you view it?”
“As you not applying yourself.”
“Ouch, sis.”
Her narrow shoulders rose and fell in a careless shrug. “I’m being honest.”
“What did we just say about that?” I groused.
“You asked and besides my viewpoint has changed.” Her hand inched across the table’s glossy surface to cover mine. “We should have had this conversation years ago. And I promise to listen to Amber more.”
Warmth flowed from my sister’s hand through me and I knew she spoke the truth.
“Let’s try to be more open with each other.” I took a cleansing breath and slowly released it through my nose and plunged on before I lost my nerve. “Lance and I are over for good. I didn’t go to Greece for some romantic getaway. It was ghost-related and Lance was mixed up in it.”
I heard an odd gritting noise and looked around to see where it was coming from. After a few seconds, I made the connection that it came from Megan and she was grinding her teeth. “That’s some expensive orthodontic work you’re ruining.”
The noise immediately ceased.
“My life is never dull,” I commented with more amusement than I felt.
“And you’re happy?” she pressed.
“I am.”
“Okay. Well, let me go get Amber, she’s very excited to see you and go to Longwood. Frankly, I’m surprised she wasn’t down here the moment you pulled in.”
I wasn’t. Amber was a very perceptive little girl, abilities or not, and I knew that she was hoping I could calm her mom down.
One thing bugged me still though. “You mentioned Amber acting out during Mom and Dad’s visit? In what way?”
Megan’s already hollow cheeks sucked in further. When she spoke, I couldn’t help hearing the weariness in her voice. “Let’s save that for another conversation.”
“Okay, let me collect Amber and we’ll be on our way. Any time, in particular, you need her back?”
“Unlock your truck and I’ll get her car seat installed. As for time, I’m gone until three, so any time after that is good. You get extra points if it’s later than that.” Megan said, nabbing the napkin and tossing it in a trash bin in one of the lower cabinets.
Going to the foot of the stairs she called up for her daughter. I stood by listening to the rapid-fire stomp of little feet while Megan picked up a bulky looking bright pink car seat that was sitting by the door.
“Aunt Teresa! Aunt Teresa!” my four-year-old niece squealed as she pranced down the stairs making as much noise as a full-grown elephant would. She launched herself into my arms for a hug and a gentle kiss on the cheek. For a brief moment, waves of yellow and delicate hints of green dazzled my eyes as happiness and love flooded over me. Was this a hint of Amber’s aura?
I blinked and the colors were gone. Still, my eyes swept over the room hoping to capture another glimpse of something otherworldly.
“Are you okay, Aunt Teresa?” the tiny sandy-haired imp dressed in stylish jeans and a sparkly Halloween themed Hello Kitty shirt asked, her brown eyes large.
Looking to make certain Megan wasn’t on her way back into the house just yet, I stooped down to Amber’s level once I had the all clear. “Amber, do you see people’s auras?”
“Auras?” she asked, her face scrunched up as she thought that word over.
“Colors. Do people have different colors?”
Her smile was fast and bright. “Oh yes! You are purple, Mommy is orange. I love when the colors dance.” Her little eyes grew big again. “Can you see the colors too?”
Despite my negative head shake I couldn’t help smiling as I shared. “Never could before today. Amber, I saw yours!”
“You did?” she bounced up and down on her small sneakers. “What color am I?”
“Wait, you can’t see your own?”
Her lower lip pooched out a second before her arms folded over her chest. “No, it’s not fair! Tell me what color I am! Please, please, please!”
“Simmer down, half-pint. Yours is a shimmery butterfly yellow with a hint of green. Most lovely.”
Her arms spread as she twirled around the room shouting, “I’m a butterfly!”
Megan came in, her face twisting into a stern expression I recognized instantly from my own childhood when she caught sight of Amber’s excited circles. Before she could open her mouth, I clapped my hands an
d raised my voice slightly. “Amber, where are your things? Let’s get going.”
My sister transferred her glare onto me while we waited for Amber. When the little girl came back with a small purple bookbag and fluffy pink coat, Megan’s scowl broke as she hugged her daughter to her.
“Have fun and be a good girl for Aunt Teresa,” she reminded Amber.
“She always is,” I put in aiming a wink at Amber.
With her hand in mine, we left the house and walked out to my truck. Or rather, I walked while Amber skipped and dragged me forward. She was a pro at getting into her car seat and working the various clips. I tossed her coat and little bag into the front seat with me, buckled up, and we were off.
CHAPTER EIGHT
At the gardens, it was slightly chillier than I had expected so I bundled Amber up in her coat, gloves, and hat. As we walked from the entrance building to the conservatory, I wished I had brought a hat as well as the cool breeze licked at my ears as it blew my hair back. Thankfully, it was warm inside the large building and fragrant with the smells of dozens of different plants and flowers.
But I made a big mistake. Less than five minutes inside and we strolled by the children’s area. Amber begged and pleaded to play in it and foolish me said yes.
A vision of my sister’s steely blue eyes flashed in my mind as I watched Amber happily dunk her arms up to her elbows into a pool of water, laughing as she splashed. Her puffy pink jacket sucked the moisture right up and I knew her sleeves and skin under it would be damp as well. I could only hope they sold kid-sized shirts in the gift shop up front. As for the jacket…there was no way they had those for sale here.
Frantically my mind worked and the only thing I could think of was hoping they had the power hand dryers in the bathrooms. Despite the damage already being done, I demanded the Amber strip her coat off then dragged her, protesting, away from the water toward the bathrooms.
She huffed and crossed her little arms, such a perfect miniature of my sister that I pulled out my phone and captured a few pictures. That done it was down to business. Thankfully, the bathrooms had not only the blow the skin off your hands mega dryers but also a chair beside the toilet. Sweet. And even better, once Amber saw what I was doing, she wanted to hold her jacket up and watch it flutter all around.