Spirit Guide (Myth-Series Book 2)

by Angela K. Crandall

  Tri chuckled, “Do you think you’re one of the kids, using that term, down low?”

  “Hey, it’s cool slang,” I answered.

  “I can tell you’ve been hanging out with the clan. Have you been training the new kits?”

  “Kaya has a bit. Lance was chiding Starla about it during the training for the investigation. She didn’t like it much.” I got up from the table and pushed in my chair. Then started to pick up the dishes. I slightly brushed Tri’s shoulders while I passed her. Standing at the sink, I started the water, letting it fill. Unexpectedly, Tri wrapped her arms around my midsection pulling me close.

  “I miss you,” she murmured into my back.

  “Me too,” I responded, turning around to hold her. I rubbed her back and let her nuzzle my chest. I felt her begin to pull away. She gazed up at me.

  “I just sense, it’s too soon for you to move back in,” she sighed, her hand resting on my chest.

  I nodded, “I understand. I’ll just finish up the dishes,” I said, pulling away. “Did you want me to leave after, or?”

  “Could you stay? Maybe we could watch some TV, or play dominoes with Megan. She’s up in her room studying.”

  “Why not, if they need me at the station they’ll call me.” I picked the towel up, off the counter.

  Tri leaned into where I stood, turning off the water. Then took her hand and pushed her long strawberry blonde hair behind here ears.

  “I’m glad you never got it cut,” I added.

  “Oh, my hair? I prefer it long. It doesn’t mean, I hadn’t considered it,” she reminded me.

  Megan peeked around the doorway into the kitchen. Tri and I were hip to hip almost touching. She skipped into the room and put her arms around us.

  “When are you, coming home dad?” she asked. Tri went to hand me the plate she’d just washed, but it fell from her hands, shattering on the floor. We jumped back unharmed. I looked at Tri and thought maybe too soon isn’t soon at all.

  Chapter 9

  (Starla)

  When we arrived at Molly’s the blue Victorian home seemed empty. Maybe Maine’s folks parked in the back alley. I’d hoped Mr. Fretner hadn’t scared them away.

  “It’s OK, I’m sure everything is all right,” Jenson reassured me.

  We made our way up to the spacious porch. A wooden oak door with a brass knocker stood before us. I noted to the left a warm, soft glow coming from the window of the living area. Then the swing that hung beyond that for warms days with iced tea.

  “Haven’t you ever been here?” asked Jenson.

  “Yes, but that swing wasn’t here.” I lifted the knocker and knocked three times. Jenson held my hand while we waited.

  “What do you suppose they’re doing in there, a prayer session maybe?”

  “What makes you say that?” asked Jensen.

  “You never know Molly’s parents, especially Mr. Fretner...”

  “What do you know about Maine? Her folks might--”

  The door to the house swung open. “Hey, we’re just out back, taking a few photos,” Molly sniffed.

  “Are you crying?” I asked.

  “No, it’s just allergies,” she answered, letting Jenson and I enter.

  Molly led us into the kitchen.

  “Why aren’t we just, walking out back?” I inquired, standing aside. Molly opened the refrigerator. She grabbed three orange sodas out of it. Then slammed it shut using her foot.

  “Maine’s out back with my folks. After a few snapshots they began a heated discussion,” she informed us.

  “About?” I asked, taking my soda from her, and handing Jenson, his.

  “Maine and I, of course, what else,” she complained pushing open the back door.

  A girl with long blonde hair stood off to the side with her arms crossed. Molly strolled over to her handing her the soda.

  “Maine, this is Starla, and Jenson,” she said introducing us.

  “Hey, so what’s going on?” I asked.

  Maine pointed to the other side of the deck.

  “The girls need ground rules,” shouted Mr. Fretner. He sat in a lounge chair in an impassioned debate.

  “No, these girls are adults,” stated a woman a bit taller, blonder, and thinner than Maine.

  I observed Tabitha off to the side while Mr. Fretner and who I perceived was Maine’s mother ranted at him; her husband stood farther away near the back fence.

  “Enough,” snapped Tabitha. “This is supposed to be a happy time. If Maine and Molly want to stay the night together, it’s their call. Yes. I may be a radical liberated christen, but if this makes our daughters happy. Then we should support their relationship,” she demanded.

  “Wow, way to go, Tabitha!” I muttered under my breath. Maine and Molly looked horrified at her outburst. I took my camera out of my messenger bag. Mrs. Fretner saw it.

  “Starla, Jenson,” she cooed waltzing over to us. “Sorry, you had to witness that. Why don’t we take some pictures? I see you’ve brought your camera.”

  I wanted to roll my eyes at her. Tabitha while strong when it came to standing up for her daughter, still treated us as if we were in high school. Let’s just get this over with, I thought. Molly, Maine, and Jenson looked as if they were thinking the same thing.

  “Here,” I said, handing it to her.

  “Now, why don’t you all gather around and get close. There you go, a few serious photos, and then fun ones, OK?”

  We gathered near and posed for the camera. Molly seemed to cheer up a tad. I sensed Mr. Fretner wouldn’t be around much longer if he didn’t watch his step. Was I psychic too? After several photos, Mrs. Fretner handed me my camera back.

  “Molly, whatever you choose to do is your choice,” she said, patting her on the back. “Maine, take care of her and keep her safe,” ordered Mrs. Fretner. Then she looked back at her daughter. “Don’t worry about your dad. He’s struggling with you growing up and, this. He loves you.”

  “Mom, we need to go,” Molly said, taking Maine’s hand. “I’m not going to say goodbye to him,” she pointed to her dad still jawing away.

  “OK,” said Mrs. Fretner shrugging it off.

  “I’ll be right back,” Maine told Molly. She left wandering over to the side of the fence where her mother stood.

  “So you guys are going to stay the night where?” asked Jensen.

  Molly laughed, “Just over at the lodge. It’s not what they imagine. We’re not rushing anything. I... We... just want to be together,” Molly stammered blushing.

  “I understand,” I said, hugging Jenson’s arm.

  “We should get going,” Jenson fretted glancing at his watch.

  I finished my orange drink and handed it to Molly, who set it on a table nearby.

  “We’ll go. See, Maine’s on her way back. Then you and Starla can get all cozy. If you want, I’ll drive. If it’s ok with Jenson,” Molly smirked.

  “Fine by me,” he said.

  Loud dance music erupted out of the gymnasium doors. Jenson and I skipped arm in arm along the hallway. I leaned into him a bit, enjoying his touch.

  “Look at those two,” he said, pointing to Molly and Maine ahead of us, walking hand in hand. They were glowing.

  “It makes me smile Jenson, aren’t you happy for them?” I tugged on his hand a bit pulling him near.

  “I am,” he replied, kissing my cheek softly. “What about us? Are we still on that trial basis?” he whispered in my ear.

  “Hmmm,” I sighed.

  “Too soon?”

  I pulled him off to the side while Maine and Molly approached the gym doors.

  “Are you guys coming?” she asked.

  “We’ll meet you in there, give us a minute,” I answered.

  Molly nodded in response. She and Maine disappeared into the gymnasium.

  “It hasn’t been, that long since you sat down in the diner to talk to me about your feelings. I’d been denying mine for you for too long,” I said, gazing into his eyes. “A
t the same instant, it isn’t easy to just let myself fall without fear.” My heart pounded in my ears and goosebumps crawled up my back.

  “I’m anxious about the trial, and my training. I’ve felt the connection with my clan, growing stronger. If I let you in; I have to know you’ll stay. So far it’s been wonderful, scary, and exhilarating.” I felt his arms envelope around me.

  “Hey, we’ll take it slow, I don’t plan on going anywhere,” he said, moving back a bit to admire me. “Besides, you would kick my butt if I broke your heart,” he teased.

  I slapped his shoulder playfully. “I’m not sure about me, but Nayla or Owl might,” I added.

  “We’d better get in there. You do want to dance, right?”

  “Of course, I do,” I admitted pulling him towards the gym doors as they opened.

  “Get in here, Molly and Maine are heating up the dance floor!” hollered Owl.

  “What? I didn’t know Molly could dance?” I blurted dragging Jenson into the gym.

  It wasn’t Molly that knew how to dance. It was Maine. She was guiding Molly step by step. It looked like a mixture of hip-hop and salsa. Oh, what now? Were they, voguing? Or break dancing?

  “Come on you two! Join us,” she shouted over the loud classic rock. Molly, who is usually hesitant in social situations, was letting loose. Why not? It is my night. After this who knows what might happen.

  “Now you two stand apart,” directed Maine. “Here’s how you do the 1, 2, step. You’ve heard the song right?”

  I shook my head no.

  “You’ve got to get out more,” suggested Maine. “Now, drop it like it’s hot,” she ordered.

  “Huh?” I asked.

  “Starla only knows how to stand and sway,” Owl teased, as he strutted up to me.

  I glowered at him. “Really Owl, I do know a bit more than that,” I replied. Then attempted voguing. I imitated what I’d seen on a late night show once. Jenson joined in, and then everyone else, including Maine, and Molly. By the time we had finished, I was out of breath.

  I’d fiercely vogue’d my heart out! I took Jenson by the hand, leading him away from the group so we could be alone.

  We stood in the middle of the gym, and he placed his hands on my waist. I let mine, linger around his shoulders. We started to dance.

  “Is vogue your only dance move?” he asked.

  “I can tango a tad,” I chuckled.

  “Tango, I like that,” he said, giving me a suggestive look.

  “Slow Down Mister,” I reminded him.

  “Only teasing,” he responded. A slow song had just started up. I saw Molly and Maine close, but still reluctant to hold each other to near.

  “She’ll get there, comfortable with herself,” Jenson whispered in my ear. I rested my chin on his shoulder.

  “I just--”

  “Care too much, I know, me too,” he said staring into my eyes. I moved my chin from his shoulder to lean my forehead against his. Gradually the space between us disappeared. Our lips met resulting in a warm kiss. I pulled back and nuzzled into his chest. I could slow dance like this forever, I reflected.

  Abruptly Jenson jolted back removing his hand from my arm. “Starla, your birthmark is vibrating!” He held me at arm’s length astonished.

  “No, not now,” I groaned, turning to the side to see Molly snuggled in Maine’s arms. They continued to slow dance.

  “Do you envy them?” he asked.

  “Right now, I do. This was, supposed to be my last hurrah until training began. Why can’t they call my cell like regular people?” I whined. Jenson’s hand traveled from my shoulders into my palms. He squeezed them in his.

  “I’ll go tell Molly we have to take off. Maybe Maine’s folks can pick her up or we could come back,” he suggested.

  I gently pulled my hands out of his. Then turned towards the gym doors. “No, I’ll go. If I’m not back in an hour or so call me.”

  “Your cell, isn’t it in my car?”

  “Nope, I’ve got it right here,” I said, pulling it out of the pocket hidden in the seam of my dress.

  “What do I tell them? I can’t cover for you for over an hour,” he insisted.

  “You have too. Maine can’t know what’s going on! My dad already told us this,” I insisted. Vibrations from my tattoo grew stronger. I feared I’d transform right there if I didn’t take off. “I have to go,” I pressed trying not to make a scene. The music changed to a fast dance beat. The crowd around us started dancing to a Dj version of YMCA. I pushed past Jenson and rushed out of the gym.

  “Starla, wait,” he called after me. I just kept running.

  Once outside I stopped in the courtyard to catch my breath. The snow reached my ankles. I shivered, I’d left my coat behind in Jenson’s car. So much for planning, I reflected. OK, maybe I should call Nayla, duh! Man, I was so wrapped up in the excitement of the night.

  “Nayla, can you hear me? What’s going on? Is this urgent? Is Cal hurt, Eva, What is it?” I waited for a response. In the distance, a figure shuffled towards me carrying something. I turned ready to bolt again when I heard a familiar voice.

  “Starla, Jenson wanted you to have your coat!” Owl raced up to me out of breath. “Dang, you’re fast! Just like a fox,” he commented. Then started to laugh, “Pun intended too!”

  I grabbed the coat from him. Then put it on. I had no time for games or shenanigans.

  “Why do you look so angry?” he asked.

  “I have to get to Hunters Park. I don’t know what’s happening. My birthmark went wacko giving off vibrations. I tried calling Nayla, but she hasn’t answered me.”

  “I’ll come with you,” he suggested.

  I shot him an angry look.

  “If it’s about the bandits, I need to be there. I want justice for Du-Vance. And if this is escalating I prefer to know the status of our defense,” he shouted.

  “Shhh,” said Nayla, poking her head out of a nearby bush. “Come on you two. We need to get to the station it’s urgent! Sika attacked Minder. She’s pretty banged up, but she’ll live. Cavin is an emotional wreck. It could have been Kaya; she’s been bringing them their meals. Minder’s too stubborn for her own good. Come on. I’ll tell you more when we get there,” she snapped.

  Chapter 10

  (Dan)

  “Tri, maybe you should sit down. I’ll clean up this mess and finish the dishes.”

  Megan sat on the kitchen counter with a smirk on her face. “Mom, I don’t know why you’re so shocked. I’ve noticed you both ogling each other. A cuddle here and there. Starla and I know you love each other,” she blurted. Then started picking up the clean dishes on the counter, putting them away.

  Tri handed me the broom and dust pan. Megan stood off to the side while I swept up the mess. “Your mom still thinks it’s too soon for us to rush into anything. We’ve been trying to play it cool around you girls. When I come home, we want to make sure it’s for good. We feel we still have issues to work out,” I responded.

  “What is there to work out if you care for one another? You’re still married. It’s not like you two ever got a divorce,” she lectured.

  Tri sighed, “Maybe she’s right? We’ve been acting like lovesick teenagers,” she pointed out.

  I dumped the broken pieces of the plate into the trash. Was she caving? After all, the talk about being unsure? Then again women change their minds all the time. I didn’t dare tell her that. I thought for a moment before reacting. Then answered her, “Perhaps, but you have to work out the personal issues and problems you have with your family. I can’t move back in not knowing where you stand. I’m their allie. I need you by my side one hundred percent. “

  I could tell my wife was trying to keep her cool in front of Megan. She’d crossed her arms, glaring at me for a few moments. Then pulled out a chair from the kitchen table. She sat down, pulling her legs onto the chair then crossed them, laying her hands in her lap.

  “No pressure there, this is why he can’t move back right
now,” she stressed, staring at Megan. “I'm not sure how to gradually assimilate back into that world. Nor how much a part of it, I want to be. Nevertheless, Starla has made her own decision. I respect that, your sister is an adult. It's been difficult for me to acknowledge. After your dad asked her to help with the Du-Vance case. I decided I had to face this.”

  “I thought after Thunderhead Bay it’d be over,” she commented, stretching out from her former position in the chair. “Then there she was joining the clan,” she said, throwing up her hands. “I accept that. I’ll see Eva my best friend tomorrow for the first time in years. It’s going to take time, patience, and a lot of understanding.”

  Tri stood up and pushed the chair against the table. “I’ll find my way back, but it’s not going to be my entire life. I’ve worked too hard to make my own outside this confusion.”

  I only nodded. What else could I say?

  “I’m going to go do my homework,” Megan offered, backing up out of the kitchen. She grabbed her backpack and headed upstairs.

  “I’m I-- didn’t’ mean to upset her,” I stammered.

  Tri put her hand on her forehead.

  “She just wants us back together, wants you to be happy,” I added.

  “I’m aware of that. We need to make sure we’re all on the same page. If I choose not to be involved in all the investigations, drama, and affairs of the clan.” Tri stopped.

  “What is it?”

  She lifted up her sleeve, “Oh, no! They can’t be calling me!” Tri slammed her fists on the table. “Dan, did you put them up to this,” she hollered.

  “I swear, I had nothing to do with it!” I retaliated. She got up, and I followed her out into the hall. She snatched her keys off the side table clipping them to her jeans. Then grabbed her coat quickly putting it on.

  “I’d ask you to come, but someone has to stay here with Megan,” she sputtered.

  “Why don’t you stay. I’ll go instead.”

  She rolled her eyes at me, “If this is it, then I have to be there.”