by Donna Raider
Richie had no idea what Priest Gloria Thomas was saying. He was too busy watching his mother and Mika. He was so proud of them. It was obvious they adored each other. Just the way they looked at each other made Richie happy. He had never seen his mother as radiant. Her beautiful smile seemed to light up the old cathedral. She deserved the happiness she had found with the priest.
His thoughts flashed to Emily and Nick. So completely, opposite his mother and Mika. Nick had been very unreliable. Richie had no idea where he was. One day Nick was drunk in the alley behind Legion’s Pawn Shop and the next day he was gone. Rumor was Legion had sent him to rehab, but that was months ago.
Emily! He couldn’t believe he had chosen Emily over his mother. He didn’t know what he thought she would be like, but Emily certainly wasn’t what he wanted. She was unreliable and moody, blaming Leah for all her problems.
The best thing that had come out of Emily’s appearance in their town was finding his grandparents, Delilah and Samson. They were good to him and loved him.
His brunette mother caught his eye, and a brilliant smile curved her lips as she winked at him. For an instant shame permeated his being. He still couldn’t believe how awful he had been to her. He had hurt her so much and through it all, she never stopped loving him. She and Mika had created a home filled with love and respect. He always felt safe and secure with them. He thanked the Lord that his home was with them. He shuddered to think how chaotic his life would be if he only had Emily.
He searched the congregation and smiled at his grandparents. Of course, Emily rarely attended church, so he didn’t expect to see her in the audience.
Richie heard Priest Gloria begin the Benediction and could hardly wait to feel his mother’s arms around him. As soon as the amen was uttered, he ran to hug her properly and let her know how much he loved her.
Mika watched as her wife embraced their son. At five- foot-three, Richie was almost as tall as his mother. Leah’s look of pure joy at her son’s public display of affection warmed the priest’s heart. She knew Leah had suffered when Richie chose Emily after she appeared in town. It hadn’t taken the boy long to realize he had made a mistake. Richie was an outstanding young man. Mika considered herself lucky to have Richie in her life and loved him as if he were her own.
Mika moved away from her wife and son to congratulate Gloria Thomas on an outstanding sermon. As she followed her wife and son from the church, she was surprised to see Richie search out Amber and politely offer her his arm. Leah’s eyes locked with her wife’s and a perfectly arched eyebrow shot up.
Everyone seemed to flow from the church to the diner. Ruth and Naomi loved it when the Crosses dined at their establishment. It guaranteed a full house and cash register.
Ruth had gotten all the Elvis records she could acquire and put them on the jukebox. “Making us a fortune,” she grinned, “everyone loves his music.”
“I asked Amber to join us for lunch,” Richie announced as he slid in beside the blonde beauty.
“That is lovely, dear,” his mother smiled a sincere smile as Mika sat down beside her. She subtly moved closer to the priest, so their thighs were touching. She let her hand rest on Mika’s thigh.
Ruth joyously greeted them, “Finally, our power couple has come home. I can’t wait to hear about New York. We will let you have lunch first, but then you are fair game,” she grinned.
They placed their orders and began to answer their son’s questions.
“Your Mom negotiated a great contract for you,” Mika bragged on her wife. “We will perform two shows at Radio City Music Hall, Friday and Saturday, the weekend before Christmas as part of their Christmas Spectacular.”
“You do have to do some talk shows and TV interviews to help them sell out the Hall,” Leah added. “Richie, they offered recording and movie contracts, but I refused to sign them. After you finish high school and college, there will be plenty of time for you to be a rock star.” She didn’t tell him the offer was only extended if Mika was the lead singer.
“But Mom,” Richie whined, “a rock star.”
Mika could tell the boy was about to argue with his mother.
Amber placed her hand on top of Richie’s, “I am certain Richie wants more out of life than the crazed existence of a rock star,” she smiled at the boy sitting beside her. “He tells me he wants to be a doctor. That is impressive.”
Richie blushed slightly, “Yes, that is what I truly want to do. I want to make a difference in whatever world I am in.”
“You’re smart enough to do that,” Amber said quietly.
Leah nodded her agreement and mouthed a silent, “Thank you,” to Amber.
##
Ruth cleared their table and said, “Okay, it is show and tell time. Let’s move this crowd to the Town Hall Meeting Room.”
Everyone inside the diner and a crowd milling around outside followed the mayor to Town Hall and filled the meeting room. Several town members lined the walls wanting to hear about their mayor’s escapades in New York.
The sheriff shoved her way to the stage as Leah stepped up to the podium.
“As you all know, The Choir Boys won the Maine’s Got Talent Contest a few weeks ago. Loud applause filled the meeting room. The contract I signed, on behalf of the city, calls for at least one additional performance by the winners of the contest.” Leah paused to make certain the crowd was following her. “Everything seemed to get out of hand after the video of their performance went viral on YouTube. Talent agents came out of the woodwork seeking to sign the band to be recording contracts. Before going to New York, I visited with the parents of the boys in the band, and the consensus was that we wanted our sons to complete high school and college before even considering a recording career.”
“I didn’t have any input into the decision,” the sheriff yelled. “I understand there is a lot of money at stake here.”
Silence fell over the audience as the mayor turned dark, angry eyes toward the sheriff. “I am Richie’s legal guardian,” Leah growled. “You have no say in the matter.”
Emily’s mouth silently worked as she sought words to contradict the mayor. She finally sat down silently.
“I’m sure you all remember the danger our boys were in after their performance in Augusta,” the mayor continued, regally drawing herself up to her full height. “If we hadn’t taken action our children would have been mauled by that mob.”
A rumbling ran through the crowd as they agreed with their mayor.
“We had a choice of performing one show in Dallas at a 20,000-seat venue or two shows in New York in a 6,000- seat venue.” Leah’s voice was calm and smooth as honey as she informed her constituents of the final decision. Mika marveled at how she always managed to control her audience with the inflections in her incredibly sultry voice. She was one of the most charismatic speakers she had ever heard.
“The promoters and organizers will get the proceeds from the Friday night show and the profits from the Saturday night show will be divided equally among the boys in the band. Any income generated by the boys will be placed in trust accounts that will be administrated by their parents until they graduate from college.
A murmur of approval spread through the crowd as everyone nodded their heads in agreement.
“Is Mika going to sing with the band?” Samson asked. “I would be surprised if they didn’t insist on her being part of the package.”
“She has to,” Asher screamed from the crowd. “I can’t do it. Just can’t do it.”
“Mika has agreed to perform with the boys, the mayor grimaced.
“Does she get a share of the money?” Emily called out.
“No, Mika has declined any monetary compensation for the performance. Her main concern is for our boys’ safety.” Leah frowned, annoyed by the stupidity of the question.
“What about security?” Delilah called out. “Is our sheriff going to be in charge of security?” Delilah desperately wanted the town to know how important her daughter wa
s.
“The sheriff and I will coordinate security for the band,” the mayor said. Emily began running scenarios in her head of how she could be alone with Leah.
“We just want you to know that we loved the video of you and Mika singing at the supper club,” Ruth howled. “It has gone over a billion hits. Both of our videos hold the record for most hits in the history of YouTube.”
A shout of approval went up from the crowd as the mayor blushed slightly. “Does anyone else have any more questions?” Leah surveyed the crowd.
“I have one for the sheriff,” Naomi stood up. “As everyone knows the storm front that stalled over Washington began to move this way this morning. It appears it will reach here sometime in the next forty-eight hours. What is being done to prepare for it? It completely shut down Washington.”
Once again, the sheriff was speechless as all eyes turned to her for answers.
“The sheriff and I will be discussing strategy on how to handle any emergencies that might arise,” the mayor soothed the crowd. “We have standard operating procedures in place for just such emergencies. I’m sure Sheriff Carver has already initiated many of those, as they are normal procedures.”
Richie knew that Emily’s only preparation for the storm had been to stock up on vodka and beer. He silently applauded his mother for giving the appearance that the sheriff might be somewhat competent.
“If anyone else has questions, I will be in my office in the morning. Mika, may I speak with you for a moment?” The mayor smiled and closed the meeting.
Mika stepped up onto the stage and walked to her wife. “What’s wrong?” She asked her.
“Did you stall the storm over Washington?” Leah tilted her head to look up at her.
“I want to kiss you so badly,” Mika whispered. “Yes, I did. I wanted our stay in New York to be as wonderful as it was.”
Leah nodded her head. “We need to discuss this when we get home. Right now, I need to go to my office and pick up the paperwork Odette says I have stacked up there. Just in case the storm hits sooner than expected.”
Mika offered her arm as they descended the small stage. “Yes, Your Majesty,” she grinned. “Richie and I had better make sure the boat is tied down good enough to ride out the storm. We’ll meet you at the house.”
Mika saw the sheriff follow her wife into the elevator. “Son, why don’t you go with your mother? She will probably need help carrying everything.”
“I will make sure everything is okay,” Richie frowned. He had seen Emily follow his mother, too. Ignoring the elevator, Richie took the stairs two at a time and was standing in front of the Mayor’s office when the two women stepped off the elevator.
“Don’t think I can’t take him away from you,” Emily was threatening Leah as the elevator door opened. “I am his birth mother. Birth mothers always trump adopted parents,” she said vehemently.
“Give it a rest,” Emily. “I am so sick of this. Why can’t we just get along for Richie’s sake?”
“We could if you’d be nice to me,” the sheriff said suggestively. “I could come by when the priest is taking confessions. Just you and me.”
“We both know that isn’t going to happen,” Leah hissed.
“Then I am taking Richie,” Emily growled.
“No, you’re not,” Richie spoke loud and clear as his mothers turned the corner to the mayor’s office.
“Yeah, kid, I am,” Emily’s face was dark and malicious.
“I’m thirteen now,” the boy stood up to the sheriff. “I am old enough to choose with whom I live,”
Both women stopped and looked at the boy who was almost a man. Leah’s heart was pounding so hard she could barely breathe. Emily was forcing him to choose.
“Be sure you choose wisely,” the sheriff glared at her son. “Because this is it. You won’t get a chance to change your mind.” Emily was certain that Richie would choose her. After all, he had chosen her in the past.
“I choose my mother,” Richie stepped forward and caught Leah’s hand, pulling her away from the sheriff.
If looks could accomplish anything, both Richie and Leah would have turned to stone from the glare Emily gave them. Hatred consumed the blonde’s face turning it into a grotesque caricature of loathing.
Emily began to shake, and Leah felt a slight tremor beneath her feet. She knew the sheriff had never made any effort to control her magic, and it only materialized when she was in an extremely emotional state.
“Stop her, Mom,” Richie squeezed Leah’s hand. “She will bring this building down on all the people downstairs and us.
With a slight wave of her hand, Leah engulfed the sheriff in a bubble so none of her emotions could manifest themselves in destruction. “Call your grandfather and tell him we need him immediately.”
Samson was there within two minutes of Richie’s phone call. “What happened?” he asked.
He could see Emily in the bubble ranting as if she were completely mad.”
“I can’t reason with her,” the mayor exhaled sharply. “I don’t know what to do with her.”
Samson drug both hands down his face, like a man with no options. “Where’s Mika? Maybe she has an idea.”
“I tried to call her, but her phone is in mom’s purse,” Richie sobbed. “She is at the docks securing the boat. Mom, you’ve got to help Emily!”
Samson looked at Leah. “Can you get Mika?” He held the gaze of the woman that he had once tried to kill because she had magic.
“Yes,” Leah disappeared in a whirl of purple smoke and immediately returned with her wife.
“What…?” Mika evaluated the situation.
Turning to her wife, she spoke in a low voice. “It’s the magic. She has never accepted it. You need to strip her of all magic.”
“No!” Delilah cried out. She needs her magic. She’ll learn how to control it. Don’t …Don’t make her normal.”
“Normal is what she needs,” Samson held his wife in his arms. “She never wanted magic. But, are you that powerful, Leah?”
Leah nodded and immediately Emily began to glow inside the bubble. Blue light surrounded her. It was as if someone had taken a blue marker and outlined the sheriff. The light crackled and hissed, before finally going out. Emily slumped to the floor. Leah removed the bubble as Samson and Delilah ran to their unconscious daughter.
“We better take her to the hospital,” Samson picked Emily up like a baby and headed for the elevator.
“Let me,” Leah laid her hand on Samson’s arm and transported them to the hospital.
“Well, what about me?” huffed Delilah?
“Mika and I will take you,” Richie patted his Grandma on the back. “Emily’s cruiser is parked in front of the building with the keys in it.”
##
When they arrived at the hospital, Leah was talking with Dr. Strand. Samson was sitting at his daughter’s bedside.
“We will be taking her down for an MRI in a few minutes,” Strand informed Delilah. “I think she’s ok, but I want to do this just in case.”
Mika walked with the doctor down the hall. “I know the sheriff has had head injuries before,” the priest commented, “is there any chance you can compare an old MRI against this one?”
“Leah said she stripped Emily of her magic powers,” Strand noted. “I, too, am anxious to see if there is a change in the brain activity. I’ll let you know what I find.”
The priest joined her wife and son in the waiting room. She sat on the arm of the chair in which Leah was sitting and draped her arm across the back of it. Leah looked up at Mika and smiled a faint smile. Mika knew she was tired. They hadn’t slept the night before, preferring to make love all night their last night in New York. They had been awake at least forty-eight hours.
“Richie and I are going to the boat dock and make one more effort to secure the boat,” Mika spoke quietly. “It will help Richie get his mind off everything. We’ll be back by the time you get a report on the MRI.”
“I’ll walk with you to the lobby. Hurry back. I need you.”
Leah linked her arm through Mika’s and hugged it to her body. “Thank you for…everything. Just everything, so much.”
##
“So, Amber?” Mika glanced sideways at her son as she pulled the cruiser away from the curb. “You have a crush on her?
“I think I love her,” Richie blurted.
“Um, well she is a very fine person,” Mika nodded. You do know she is about twenty-five years older than you.”
Richie’s eyes widened. “So, when I get out of medical school, she will be almost fifty.”
“Something like that,” Mika smiled.
“You know Mom is sixty-four?” Richie watched the priest’s face but got no reaction. “This whole flitting around time business has somehow kept her young.”
“Both your mother and Amber are ageless, beautiful women,” Mika smiled. “But you have the rest of your life ahead of you. For right now date girls you own age. Okay?”
“Okay,” Richie grinned. Happy to have the advice of an adult he trusted.
“I have to tell you, Mika, that video of you and Mom on YouTube is so hot. I mean, my Mom is awesome. I hope I find a girl just like her.”
“I hope you do son. I guarantee you’ll be the happiest man in the world.”
They got out of the cruiser and headed for the boat. “Wow, we need jackets,” Richie shivered. “The temperature has dropped in the last thirty minutes. I guess that storm is moving our way.”
They checked to make certain all the boat doors, and windows were locked and everything secure. Mika pushed the button on the electric lift to pull the boat out of the water. “Just in case the bay freezes,” she explained to Richie.
“Let’s run by the house and grab coats for the Cross family,” Mika said as they pulled away from the docks.
They arrived at the hospital just as Dr. Strand was leading the family into a room to view Emily’s MRI. The doctor had a scan from two years ago and put it up beside the new one.