by SUE FINEMAN
Alex glanced behind her and didn’t see anyone.
Charlie asked, “Older guy, kinda skinny?”
“Yeah. He’s gone now.”
“That’s Otis Bedford,” said Andy. “I bought the farm from him. He died a few weeks later.”
Alex groaned. “Not another ghost.”
“He’s harmless,” said Charlie. “Otis was a nice old man who taught me how to farm, and he gave Andy a real good deal on the farm.”
Alex rubbed the goose bumps from her arms. She didn’t want her little girl seeing ghosts, yet Taylor didn’t seem the least bit frightened by them.
Julie looked over at Alex. “Taylor needs to spend some time with Kayla. She’s been seeing ghosts for most of her life.”
“Good idea. I don’t know how to handle it. Taylor has been seeing them all along, but my mother doesn’t believe in ghosts. She told Taylor it was her imagination.”
“She has a gift most of us don’t have. Kayla sees things, too, and sometimes she knows things. But she had a bad experience at school when she was a little girl. One of her teachers called her a witch. I’d hate for Taylor to go through that.”
“So would I.” Andy and Charlie shrugged it off as if seeing ghosts was nothing, but thinking about them gave Alex goose bumps. She’d never seen ghosts, never had a vision, never had any kind of experience she could classify as paranormal. And she didn’t want to.
<>
At dinner that evening, Donovan told everyone about Vinnie’s gift to the children of the city. “He’s giving the city that block of land at Maple and Eleventh, for the kids to play baseball. His only stipulation is that we name it Porcini Park, after his father.”
Hannah looked stunned, and all the color had drained from Alexandra’s face. She turned to Taylor. “Taylor, tell me what you saw today.”
“Papa was in the hospital and the machines beeped.”
Confused, Donovan asked, “What are you talking about?”
“For years, my father has been talking about how to honor his father’s memory, but I didn’t think he’d do it this way.”
“Why would Taylor—”
“Taylor has visions, although she doesn’t always understand what they mean. Papa has been popping a lot of nitro pills lately, and he’s been meeting with his attorney. I know part of their discussions have to do with him divorcing my mother, but I think he’s putting his affairs in order. That’s why he’s so concerned about the business. He worked hard to build that business, and he doesn’t want to leave it in this condition.”
Donovan nodded. So the old man was dying, and he wanted to honor his father’s memory. Didn’t he know the press would dredge up the details of Tony Porcini’s corrupt administration? No, probably not. He just wanted to leave something in his father’s name, something that would live on after Vinnie was gone.
“We’re having a press conference in front of City Hall tomorrow at noon to announce the gift. I’m sure Vinnie would like you to be there, Alex.”
“I wouldn’t miss it.”
While Alex bathed Taylor, Charlie and his father helped his mother clean up the kitchen.
Dad said, “I have to find something good to say about Tony Porcini tomorrow. The man was the most corrupt mayor in the city’s history, but I have to find something good to say about him at the press conference.”
“He dedicated a lot of years to the city,” said Charlie. “He could have made more money doing something else besides serving as mayor.”
“He made plenty of money as mayor. He used insider information to buy property cheap and sell it at several times more than he paid, and he gave jobs to relatives and then protected them. Like the police chief and Cordelli. No matter what they did wrong, they couldn’t get fired while Tony Porcini was mayor. Even the parks commissioner was a relative.”
“You got me a job with the parks department in the summers.”
“It was a volunteer job at first, and I didn’t make you parks commissioner.”
“Well, hey, if I was parks commissioner, I could afford to quit farming.”
“Wise ass kid,” Dad said.
“Is this a good time to ask for a raise?”
Dad slowly shook his head, then retreated to the study to work on his announcement to the press.
Charlie wiped off the table. “Mom, Alex and Taylor and I are going to move out to the farm on Saturday. We’re going to house-sit for a week while Andy and Julie go to Florida. I appreciate you letting us stay here, but—”
“But you need privacy to work things out between you.”
They needed more than privacy. With the ongoing tension between their fathers, they needed a miracle.
<>
Alex bathed Taylor and got her ready for bed. “Taylor, do we need to move home to take care of Papa?”
“Yeah, but we’re gonna live at the farm first.”
No one had told Taylor about them living at the farm for a week, but she knew.
“Someday we’re gonna live at Daddy’s house, with Bobby.”
Alex smiled. In spite of being separated for six years, Taylor had bonded with her daddy. She loved him as if she’d known him from the day she was born. As if they’d always been a family. They should have been a family.
Maybe someday they would be.
<>
Friday at noon, Donovan Kane stood on the steps of City Hall beside Vinnie Porcini. In front of the crowd of reporters, he said, “I’d like to introduce Vinnie Porcini, son of former Mayor Tony Porcini. As you know, Tony Porcini served as mayor of River Valley for many years.”
Donovan stepped back and Vinnie stepped forward. “I heard the kids of the city lost their baseball field, so I’d like to donate another piece of land for them to use. The parcel at Maple and Eleventh has been in my family for several years, but I can’t think of a better purpose for the land than for a park for the kids to play baseball. I’m also donating a half million dollars for equipment and upkeep. I’d like the park to be called Porcini Park, in my father’s memory.”
Donovan stepped up beside Vinnie. “On behalf of the children of River Valley, I want to thank you for your generous gift.” He stuck out his hand, and Vinnie took it, then Donovan turned to the reporters. “As most of you know, the land the Little League had been using belonged to the school district. They’re using that land to replace Riverside Elementary, which is in sad condition. Building is expected to begin on the new school this summer.
“With the current economic conditions, we couldn’t find enough money in the city’s budget to replace that land. Thanks to Mr. Porcini, that’s no longer a problem. The new park won’t be ready for use by this year’s baseball season, but the parks commissioner tells me they can have it ready by next season.”
Reporters had a few questions about the park, then someone asked, “Mr. Porcini, we know your daughter was the victim of a brutal attack a few weeks ago. How is she doing?”
Vinnie motioned to his daughter, who stood near the steps. “She’s doing fine. See for yourself.”
Alex was swamped by reporters asking for interviews. “This isn’t the time or the place for an interview about me,” she said. “I’m here today to support my father and honor my grandfather, Mayor Tony Porcini. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to take my father home.”
Alex walked over and shook Donovan’s hand. “Thank you for being so gracious.”
He smiled. “It’s in my job description.”
“You could have sent Papa a letter. Instead, you held a press conference.”
“It was a big gift, Alex. Your father deserved to be thanked in public.”
Alex walked over to her father, where Charlie stood talking with Papa.
“Thanks, Vinnie,” said Charlie. “I’ve been working as a baseball coach in the summer recreation program. Keeping the kids busy with sports helps keep them out of trouble.”
“You mean I gave you job security?”
Charlie grinned. “Something like that.”<
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“Aw, shit,” he said under his breath. “I might have known your father would give you a city job. How much is he paying you?”
“I worked for nothing the first two summers, then they paid me minimum wage. I still don’t make much more than that, but I love working with the kids. If we had a gym, we could go year-round.”
“Maybe someday you’ll have one,” said Alex.
“Maybe.”
“Come on, Papa, I’ll take you home.”
As they walked toward her car, Papa asked, “Are you moving home now?”
“In another week or so. I promised Charlie’s brother we’d house-sit while they’re out of town next week, then we’ll be home.”
Papa slid into the front seat of her car and sighed deeply. He seemed worn out. As she started the car, he said, “I think I may have found a buyer for the food distribution division.”
“Fantastic. Anyone I know?”
“Your uncle Dominic. He wants it for his sons and grandsons.”
“Good for him. I hope you gave him a good price.”
“A damn good price.”
Uncle Dominic was Aunt Angelina’s husband. She passed away years ago, leaving her grieving husband, three daughters, and two sons behind. Uncle Dominic owned several successful businesses. He could afford to buy Papa’s whole business. It was the perfect solution.
“What about the cannery?”
“Dominic says he knows people who might be interested. We’ll see what he comes up with. Maybe he’ll end up buying it himself. It’s a damn good business. No matter how bad the economy gets, people have to eat.”
“Yes, they do. I’m so proud of you for giving the city the land for the park.”
“It cuts into your inheritance.”
“I don’t care. It was a nice thing to do.”
“Alexandra, about my will…”
“You didn’t leave out Mario and Antonio, did you?”
“No, they’re getting the same amount of money you are, except for the house. Gina’s going to stay in the house.”
“You mean you aren’t giving Antonio the house?”
“No, I already gave him a house. Mario, too. I told Gina she could live there. There’s enough room for you there, too.”
Surprised, Alex didn’t know what to say. What other changes had he made in his will?
<>
Saturday morning, Alex packed and said goodbye to Hannah. “Thank you for making my stay here so pleasant.”
Hannah hugged her. “I’ll miss you.”
Donovan came in, and in spite of the tension between them, she hugged him and thanked him, too.
Alex packed her things and Taylor’s things and Charlie helped her load them in her car. Taylor’s toys wouldn’t fit, so he put the box in his car with his suitcase. And then they drove out to the farm with Wilma.
Andy and Julie were driving to Florida, sightseeing on the way. Alex envied them their vacation. She’d hadn’t been on a vacation since Taylor was born. She’d love to take her little girl to Disneyworld someday.
As soon as Charlie carried in all their things, he said, “I need to go back to town and work on the house. Do you want to come along and pick out tile for the bathrooms?”
“Sure.” Charlie seemed preoccupied, but she’d take care of that little problem tonight. She intended to seduce him.
And this time, Donovan wouldn’t be around to interrupt them.
<>
Three hours later, Charlie and Alex had picked out tile, fixtures, countertops, and cabinets for the bathrooms, paint colors for the entire upstairs, and kitchen countertops and cabinets. As Charlie pulled out of the parking lot, he said, “I can’t believe we wasted a whole morning shopping.”
“We accomplished a lot, though,” said Alex.
“Yeah, we did. Without you, I probably would have taken whatever the salesmen wanted to get rid of.”
“You’ll have to look at what we chose today for a long time. Can you imagine going into your shower in the morning and staring at that bright pink tile?”
“No.” He gave an exaggerated shiver. “I don’t want a pink bathroom.”
“I like pink,” said Taylor.
“I know you do, Punkin. Are you hungry?”
“Yeah. Can I have a Happy Meal?”
“Sure.”
Charlie found a McDonald’s and drove through to get lunch, then they headed for his brick bungalow on Wilson Street. Taylor had behaved herself all morning, but she needed room to run off some energy.
At the house, Charlie finished his lunch and tucked the trash inside the takeout bag. He motioned with his head toward the living room, where Taylor sat on the floor with the big ball he’d bought her that morning. “Alex, what’s she doing?” he asked quietly.
The ball rolled toward Taylor and she gently rolled it back across the room. Then the ball rolled toward her again.
“Oh, God!” Alex said under her breath. “She’s playing with a ghost.”
Stunned, all Charlie could do was stare. Taylor giggled, then a baby’s hollow-sounding giggles filled the house. She was playing with Bobby.
Alex rubbed her arms. “She’s never done this before.”
“Maybe she’s never seen a baby ghost before.”
“The other night, she told me we’d live at the farm, then we’d live with Papa, but someday we’d all live here with Bobby.”
His head whipped around. “You’re moving back to Vinnie’s house?”
“Papa said you and Wilma could come, too, Charlie.”
“You talked him into it.”
She shrugged. “I said Taylor wouldn’t come home without you and Wilma.”
Taylor and Bobby giggled together and the ball rolled into the dining room, where Charlie sat with Alex. Charlie rolled the ball back to the corner where he assumed the baby ghost sat, then the ball rolled back to Taylor.
Alex groaned. “Now you’re playing with a ghost.”
“I wonder why the baby didn’t move on. Adults I can see hanging around if they have unresolved issues, but not babies. Seems like they’d go straight to heaven.”
“Do you believe in reincarnation?”
“I didn’t until a couple years ago, when Andy had some experiences with a past life.”
Alex groaned again. “Is your entire family crazy? Is that where Taylor gets it? Because she sure didn’t get this… whatever it is from me.”
Taylor carried her ball into the dining room. She looked like a normal kid – shirttail hanging out, hair a mess, catsup dripped on her shirt – but this was an extraordinary kid, one with psychic powers beyond anything Charlie knew was possible. She actually played ball with a ghost. “Is Bobby gone?”
“Yeah. His daddy wants to know if it’s okay if Bobby comes back.”
“Okay with me,” said Charlie.
Taylor stared at her mother. Alex sighed. “Yes, okay, he can come back.”
Taylor grinned.
A chill ran through Charlie. Why did he get the feeling they’d just agreed to more than having a baby ghost come back to play with his daughter?
Chapter Fourteen
That evening, Charlie tucked Taylor into bed at the farm and kissed her goodnight. She looked especially happy today. He wondered what his daughter knew that he didn’t. Had she seen something in a vision? Did she see ghosts and have visions every day? For most people, that would be strange. For Taylor, it must seem normal. Sitting on the side of her bed, gazing into eyes much like his own, he knew there was nothing normal about this sweet little girl.
Alex came in and kissed Taylor goodnight, then Wilma jumped up on the foot of the bed, thumped her tail a couple times, and settled in for the night. Sadie Belle lay on the rug beside the bed. “Sweet dreams, Punkin.”
Walking down the hallway, Alex said, “Two dogs. She’s in heaven.”
Charlie smiled. “I wonder what kind of dreams a psychic kid has.”
Alex rubbed her arms. “When we moved to the motel, she
tried to talk me into staying home, but I was so angry with Papa—”
He draped his arm around her shoulders. “No what ifs, Alex. What’s done is done. You can’t go back and undo what happened.”
She wrapped her arm around his waist in a gentle hug. “I know.”
He dipped his head and kissed her. “You get more beautiful every day.”
“I’ll never look the same as I did before.”
He turned her to face him and held her shoulders. “Honey, when I see you with Taylor, all I see is love. You’re my daughter’s mother, a woman who’s not comfortable with the psychic part of Taylor’s life, but who shows her love and patience in spite of it. You’re a beautiful, vibrant woman. The scars will fade, your hair will grow, and you’ll always be beautiful to me.”
She gazed deeply into his eyes. “You’re not the same man you were seven years ago. You’re more mature, more self-confident. More of a man.”
“I hope that’s a good thing.”
“A very good thing,” she whispered.
He brushed his lips over hers and then settled into a long, passionate kiss that snaked through his body and settled in the predictable spot. The way she kissed him back, she was as aroused as he was.
She rubbed his chest. “I thought I’d take a nice hot bubble bath in that big tub in your bathroom.”
“Uh…” He felt his mouth tug into a smile. “That’s a double tub.”
Her brown eyes sparkled. “That’s good. I didn’t especially want to be in there alone.”
He leaned down and put his cheek against hers. “Do you always bathe with a friend?”
“Actually… this is a first.” She played with a button on his shirt, opening it slowly, then another button. “Why don’t you make sure Taylor’s asleep while I start the tub running?”
Charlie wanted to make love to Alex, yet he felt hesitant to change the dynamics of their relationship. Once they made love, there’d be no going back to the casual friendship they’d built since her attack.
Taylor was sound asleep in the big bed in Andy’s guest room. Sadie Belle was on the bed, snuggled up to Taylor’s side. The kid was sound asleep, probably dreaming of puppies, or ice skating, or playing ball with a baby ghost.
In the bedroom, Charlie pulled off his shirt and toed off his shoes, looking forward to a bubble bath with Alex. She wouldn’t be the first woman he’d been in the bathroom with. He and Caitlin used to shower together. From a delicate blonde in the shower to a sexy brown-eyed beauty in a bubble bath.