by Jody Sharpe
“GG, it’s only a first date,” I manage to squeak out. King runs around excited too, but ole Cookie keeps on dreaming. I make a turkey meat loaf, put it in the oven, and then take a shower, still not believing this is really happening. He didn’t even say where we’re going. I fumble with the soap and almost slip on the suds. I’m behaving like a teenager. “Stop it.” As I towel dry, I hear my cell ring. Is he canceling? No, he doesn’t even know my cell number. I answer it. It’s Elena.
Elena is crying. “Maggie, today Emma Rose said “Angel,” did you teach her to talk?” She cries again into the phone.
I try to explain, “Elena, Emma Rose said it yesterday, but I thought I was hearing things. She only said it once.” I explain the situation as it happened, my late dog’s appearance, the dead bird, everything. “I’m sorry, I should have told you, but it was all so fantastic, I couldn’t believe it was real. You told me she doesn’t talk.”
“Never before.” Elena cries. “It’s a miracle!” We make a plan. Elena will come over tomorrow with Emma Rose to meet with Gram, GG, and me. She also wants to bring Reverend Carlos Manuel and his wife Sharon, who babysits Emma Rose as well.
As I share the news with Gram and GG, their wise faces tell me they’re not surprised. Gram is wide-eyed looking at GG, “Mother, you said something beautiful was coming, something good. Was this it? ”
GG gazes out the window as if transfixed on a place far away. “Oh yes, Marilyn, dear. This is what I saw in my dreams, something good coming to Mystic Bay. And of course, it was the angels. The angels are calling!”
5
Moon Bathing
It is a tiny bit awkward at first, Noah at the door and Gram and GG sizing him up with psychic vibes. But Noah is charming and polite. After a walk around town, he’s taking me to the Sea Watch Hotel’s new restaurant, The Starfish Grill. It’s Wednesday so it’s the very popular, “Summer Nights On Main.” All the stores have open house till nine p.m. There are inviting sales, and they serve coffee, tea and cold drinks.. It’s a night to meet and greet the townsfolk and tourists. Gram chatters on and on how she loves The Connor Diamond series, and how absolutely charming his dad was when he interviewed the psychics in town for his first novel. “I can’t wait for his new book, Noah. But we heard your father is ill? Can we help somehow?”
“It’s not a known fact, though we are putting a press release out tomorrow. My Dad is suffering from dementia. I finished his novel for him from his notes. You are the first people I’ve told that aren’t working with me.” Noah looks down, a shadow of sadness crossing his handsome face. Gram places her hand on his arm in a motherly way. “We’re so sorry dear,” she utters softly.
“We wish him well,” GG adds and I notice tears in her eyes, for she always spoke so highly of him.
He expresses his appreciation for their kindness and we say our goodbyes. Noah lightens up as we walk over to Main Street, bright with geraniums and sweet alyssum hanging on the red brick and stucco buildings. Some have shutters painted with antique charm. I’ve put on sandals for the walk, leaving my heels in Noah’s car. He’s “dressed to the nines” as GG always says when a man looks like he walked out of a magazine shoot. He wears khakis and a blue plaid button down shirt with a navy jacket. I point out the stores and describe each business owner, introducing him to everyone I can. Walking on the west side of the street, we see sandy-haired Andy Walin and Mary Jo, his pretty wife, at the door of his families’ Wizard Wrench Hardware. Andy’s dad, Willie, is the long time mayor and a Palmist. Andy and his mother Alma have psychic abilities too. Alma does Reiki, and Andy is training with his Palmist father. He and Mary Jo organize The Angel Vibe Association called AVA animal rescues in town. They’re going to dog sit for Noah while he’s away. Andy’s dad, Willie read my palm once and said I’d have three children. Where are they, I wonder? Just stars in my eyes, I guess. We poke our heads into most of the stores and Noah meets as many folks as I know at Mystical Me Bakery, Nita and Art’s Quaint Shop, and Olson’s Books. Then we head toward the Next Door Café. I’m tour guiding, explaining everything I can cram in about the town. Laurjean Whitefeather, the owner of Next Door Café, is just leaving the town’s favorite restaurant with her cute little boy, Stevie. Once a week the town opens late for Summer Nights on Main and Laurjean says they’ve got to be open just like everybody else even though they’re open for breakfast and lunch only. Tonight they serve dessert, their colossal hot fudge sundaes.
“Laurjean and Stevie Whitefeather, this is Noah Greenstreet.” Laurjean and Noah shake hands. With great flair, a single green pen holds her abundance of silvery hair in a twist. She wears an apple green jumper and green flats. Stevie is shy but shakes Noah’s hand. Laurjean and Donnie decided to foster and adopt the little boy after Hannah’s book came out. He’s doing well and loves to help his father in the kitchen and Mom with setting tables.
“Why, sure as I’m standing here, Noah, you’ve been here awhile and you haven’t been over to our restaurant. Come on in, anytime. It’ll be on us. You bring pretty Maggie in and sky’s the limit. Okay?”
“I sure will, Laurjean, thank you. Maggie says you have the best breakfast and lunches in town.” Laurjean admits he’s correct and Stevie says, “My Dad makes the giant BLT.” Noah tells him he definitely is going to order the giant BLT when he comes in. “My hubby is as toasty as his BLT’s now that he’s retired, working with me and Chris, our older son.” Away they go with a goodbye and a wave, off to see Hannah and Josh’s pet deer who’s holding court at Dear Dogs, Etc. tonight. Above The Next Door Café is Katie’s Cottage, a vintage clothing shop owned by Katie, Chris’ girlfriend, and her Mom. Our minister Reverend Carlos walks down Main toward us. After I’ve introduced them and he moves on, I relay that Reverend Carlos’ wife, Sharon, is a medium and babysits Emma Rose too.
Noah says out of earshot, “Wow, it seems there are a lot of psychics here in town. How many would you guess?” I have to think a bit before answering.
“Um…it’s hard to tell. I doubt anyone’s counting. Years ago doing his research, your dad must have heard that Mystic Bay has a reputation as the most largely populated psychic California town around. Maybe it’s in the water, the air.”
“It seems to be.”
We move along past the Old Post Office with its bell tower. It chimes from nine a.m. to six p.m. each day. The soothing sound is one of the many comforting aspects of this seaside haven. Coming out of the police station is big Jim Nero, the new police chief, and his photographer wife Sue. I make the introductions. Big Jim’s taken over since Donnie, Laurjean’s husband, retired. Donnie works full time at the Café now. Sue looks at Noah, “I had the pleasure of meeting your father when he moved here and I was wondering if you two would be interested in collaborating with me on a book I want to publish with photos and stories of the rescue animals in town? You know our psychic town is now known for it’s volunteering ways and I’d love to talk to you both about it. Other than our expenses, the money made could go to our AVA here in town.” Noah graciously imparts the information about his father, but insists he is more than willing to discuss the book.
“ I’d be delighted to work with you. We have five rescue dogs at our house now.” He and Sue make a date to meet at The Next Door Café for lunch.
We walk across the street to the Town Square with its grand bandstand and statue of our Mayor Willie. We move our way back down Main Street to the newly opened Café Nikos. Known for it’s delicious coffees and desserts, it’s becoming more popular than the biggest store chain, Star Coffee, located in Riverton, the next town over. Next we decide to stop in at Tarot & Tea to see Tina Beaujolais, Jason’s mom, who isn’t there. His Grandma Ethel Marie is totally engaged with a tourist reading tarot cards at a little table in the back. Jenny is working tonight for Tina. I introduce Noah to her. I can tell they like each other right away. Jason’s tiny little Grandma Ethel Marie and her daughter Tina own the charming shop of teas and teapots and cups from around the world. She
barely looks up, calling out, “Come in for a free reading.” Ethel Marie is reading for the tourist who’s so enthralled with the cards, she doesn’t look up either. Jenny says Jason and his mother and dad are shopping in San Francisco tonight for shirts and jackets to wear at the beach wedding. As we leave the store, I tell Noah that he’ll like Jason just as much as he likes Jenny.
Noah remarks, “She’s sweet. You know I met Jason and his dad when I bought a Christmas tree at their farm last year. Isn’t his last name Doherty, though?”
“Yes, his mom and dad never married but are still a couple. Jason’s taken over the Christmas Tree Farm and is doing a great job.”
“By the way, I watched The July North Show from home when it was held here Christmas Eve. I was amazed how Hannah and Josh turned the mayhem around with her book. I know July and her sister January who are my new next-door neighbors. July introduced me to Hannah and Josh after the show aired and they told me about the dogs they’d found at the warehouse. Andy and Mary Jo Walin were fostering them…interesting how it all came together for good.”
“You know, it happens all the time here, everyday in fact.” I don’t tell him about Emma Rose. I really witnessed it for sure, but it still feels like a dream.
At the end of Main, we pass Hannah out front of Dear Dogs Etc. Dawn, the dwarfed fawn, is on a leash and some kids have gathered, including Stevie with Laurjean. The pink and green shop with pet gifts galore is a happy meeting place for humans and their furry friends. We chat for a while and Noah seems charmed by everyone’s friendliness and the darling deer that behaves like a dog. The clock tower chimes seven. We walk back to the house and drive up Bluff Road to the hotel. Noah’s barely gone into town the year he’s been staying with his father and finishing his last novel. Now he acts like he has warm impressions in sync with mine. As we drive, I gaze at the pewter tinted ocean, thinking of Jeb and the angel appearing to Emma Rose and how they will undoubtedly change everything now. The angel in my dream said Jeb’s spirit would follow me. Did he know I’d witness the little girl’s vision? I turn to look at Noah and he glances at me, smiling. He turns into the long drive of the hotel.
“Something’s up, am I correct? Something amazing?”
I’m stunned and wait a beat before I answer.
“Something amazing did happen yesterday. Wow, you really are psychic aren’t you? I haven’t told anyone but Gram and GG and I don’t know if I should.”
“You can tell me anything. Mother taught me always to keep secrets.”
Thankfully, the conversation stops as we arrive at the hotel and the valet takes the car. I’d like to tell him but should I? And of course, I’m wondering where I’ve met this man who seems so familiar to me. My psychic abilities are becoming more pronounced here, but Noah says his are too. But is it really so far out to think that in a town with such a psychic and angel connection that angels could appear and dog spirits could really visit the ones they loved?
The Sea Watch Hotel is finished with California breezy and comfortable style. Finally seated in a sea green leather booth in the corner of the solid glass-walled restaurant, we watch a perfect sun set a golden shine on the dark water. I sigh and take a sip of Chardonnay.
“Well, Maggie Joy.” Noah says in a soft voice. “I’d love to hear what happened yesterday. I‘m intrigued. Maybe I can help somehow? I promise I won’t tell a soul.” He looks so sincere; kindness radiates in an aura around him. Momentarily, I’m unable to speak.
“Maggie, please tell me what’s happened, especially since it seems we’ve met before. My gut instinct says it’s wondrous, that I’m supposed to know.”
The aura is gone and my composure returns. My intuition tells me to explain even though we’re newly acquainted.
“These past two days have been extraordinary, really.” As I impart the information about Jeb’s appearance, Noah’s eyes widen. When I tell him little Emma Rose was thought to be mute, yet she blurted out “Angel” he shakes his head in disbelief. Then I include how GG knew something beautiful was coming, that angels were calling us. What I don’t say is, this is déjà vu. We’ve met like this somewhere. I know him. Noah waits a moment or two, processing it all. He takes my hand in his. His amber eyes glisten.
“This is indeed a miracle. I’ve always believed in angels myself. This town, known for its acts of kindness, now has a child seeing angels and speaking her first word! This is awesome! Before I moved here, I never gave much thought to rescuing animals; neither did Dad. I never gave a thought about volunteering in the past and now I’m driven to do good works here, help with the book Sue Nero talked about, and maybe, when the time is right, even write Emma Rose’s story.” Noah looks out at the sun’s last rays dipping away into the ocean. Then he turns to me again, “I want to hear about your dog, Jeb!”
“Noah. Please wait to write anything until we know what we’re going to do after we meet Elena tomorrow.” I normally would be angry with myself for telling him, yet my heart knows he needed to know. The story of Jeb and our bond was easy to tell. Of course I leave Brian’s name out of the story, referring to it as my move to LA with my ex-boyfriend. But I do tell him about the angel in my dream, how he told me to move home, that Jeb’s spirit would follow. As the sun finishes setting, Noah and I look out at the giant spotlights that have turned on, lighting the sea, waves tumbling up the rocky cliffs. He reaches for both my hands.
“An angel in a dream? How beautiful, Maggie. How wonderful you saw Jeb again and then Emma Rose saw an angel and you were there to witness it all. It’s a miracle! I believe our animal companions are earth’s angels. I can’t believe I never saw it before. That’s what I want to write about someday. And now you have King and Cookie and your cat…there are always animals to find and love.”
My worry seems to calm and I feel comforted by his words. We order dinner, but I’d really rather just stare at him. Noah is vegetarian and the Star Fish Grill’s vegetarian ravioli doesn’t disappoint us. We discuss the novel, claiming that Hannah and her Dad are angels; thus the pathetic confession of the author on The July North Show. Noah’s savvy and kind, famous neighbor, July told him that the blessings coming out of Hannah’s publishing of her own book, The Town With the Angel Vibe, are one thousand fold. People are doing good works every day.
Noah tells me January, July’s sister, takes care of Heather, the baby, while July is away. “I’d love for you to meet them soon. You’ll see July’s not like other celebrities. She’s down to earth, does only shows with inspiring stories now.” I admit it would be lovely to meet them. I’ve heard so much about July, who championed the end of angel fever sweeping the town with media and looky-loos.
Thinking Noah’s worldly mind might have some suggestions, “What do you think we should do about Emma Rose? Should we tell others now or wait till you write an article? We can’t cause more problems for the town.”
“Your great grandmother feels angels are calling. Somehow, the word has to get out. It could challenge folks thinking about life, death, our world!”
As we drive down the foggy roads to my house, Noah asks, “Is there somewhere we can sit and talk awhile so we don’t disturb Madam Norma and Miss Marilyn? Maybe we can sit outside on your porch?”
“Sure,” I tell him. “I’ll show you how we say goodnight to the moon.” I laugh as he looks at me with curiosity.
“Sounds wonderful. That’s what Dad and Mother and I call moon bathing.”
“Why I love that name! That’s what we’ve done for years but never thought of naming it. moon bathing!”
“Yeah, it’s pretty serendipitous; we both love to stare at the night sky and stars. Nothing like it here in Mystic Bay. When the night’s are clear, you can see way into our galaxy, I think…way beyond light years away.” We cruise down Beach Road and park in front of our house with the yellow porch light glowing its’ welcome home. We tip toe into the living room greeted by gentle King in the foyer and Blue on the stairs. Without a word, I lead him to the kitchen an
d out the back door with King and Blue following. We lie on the porch chaises looking at the fog-ridden sky. With only the dim light from the kitchen, we can see the salty mist envelope the back yard. There are a few stars, and the moon wrapped up in grey blankets of clouds shows only dim light. King puts his head on my lap and Blue surprises us both by jumping next to Noah. Fortunately, Noah says he’s not allergic. I button my jacket, and pull up the throw; it’s pretty cool now.
“This is great. Wow, moon bathing, even though the moon is hiding.”
I explain, “Each night we say goodnight to God, the stars, the moon, and sacred night.”
“You have a special family, Maggie. Tell me about them.”
“You go first. Tell me about your life, living in New York with your parents. I want to hear everything about you.”
“My life’s been good. Actually, I was adopted by Mom and Dad, raised in Manhattan, spent part of the summers on Fire Island where we have a little beach cottage. I’d love to take you there sometime this summer if I could. No cars allowed except city vehicles. And deer roam free. The stars there are amazing. Oh, you can see them on our New York apartment balcony too, but Fire Island is special.” Noah looks from the sky to me and I take a breath in. It sounds so romantic, a cottage on an island with him. I stop myself from thinking about it, hoping he can’t read minds like GG. He continues, “ I went to school at Columbia, got my Masters in Creative Writing. I’ve worked for the Randall Publishing firm since I took a leave to be with Dad, That’s it…nothing earth shattering, just lucky to have nice parents and upbringing. Please tell me about you.”
“No, keep going, please. Have you published yourself?” He’s not telling me something important. I can feel it.
“One published article called, A Boy’s Psychic Journey. I wanted to challenge myself and write an autobiography, but it’s taken a back seat to Dad and finishing his detective series. He’s inspired me. As I wrote about my childhood and my psychic tendencies, I realized how I’d suppressed it, blowing it off. I knew I could read people, what they were like, whether to trust them or not. I don’t know where my abilities came from, obviously somewhere down the line. My parents were great. Nostalgia kicked in when Mom became ill. She wanted to move here where Dad did research for his first Connor Diamond novel. She became enthralled with the Samuel Blakley novel, My California Angel. Till the end of her life, she thought Hannah and her Dad might actually be angels. She was convinced. She said she thought she was becoming psychic herself living here. What do you think about that?”