Annamarie and Magdalena (Gypsy Spirits Book 2)

by Marianne Spitzer

  “I would also like to tell them about our new house. You said they were beginning the foundation next week. If she knows we’re building the house, she won’t be afraid that we’ll try to take the Logan house. I still don’t understand why I was so cruel to her. All she ever did was love Daniel for the short time he was here.”

  Maureen was fluttering around cleaning like a woman half her age.

  “Maybe she’ll forgive us.”

  “You were afraid. All of us were when Ben was killed and Daniel decided the spirits did it. After losing Father, your stress level was too high. I think you might have been close to a breakdown.”

  “I think you’re right. I still don’t understand why I took the birds. I thought they should be mine and that I was more important. Then I displayed them for the world to see. I was having some sort of mental crisis. I owe Annamarie a lot of apologies. I might still be feeling so horrid if not for the migraine. I swear, George, it was as if the pine scent was organic and changed my brain processes.” Maureen spoke as if she believed it completely.

  George hugged her and told her, “I doubt it, dear, but I think your fear of dying might have made you see life differently.”

  “Maybe, but it was the strangest thing I have ever experienced. I hope Annamarie accepts us back into her life.”

  “We have time. She has a good heart and we’ll all be a big, happy family soon.”

  * * *

  Annamarie looked over the appliances and said there were too many from which to choose. After a short discussion with the salesman, he suggested that she keep in mind the ones she liked, and after discussing it with her contractor, she could return and make her purchases. He gave her the name of a good contractor and offered to let her use his phone to call him. He also handed her several pamphlets on the appliances she liked most.

  She called the contractor and made an appointment for Monday at ten o’clock. She thanked the salesman and told her mom she was hungry.

  The department store had a lovely garden dining room on the second floor balcony and they headed there for lunch.

  Paula said, “I can’t eat lunch without knowing what the guys are doing. I have to call home.”

  Carl answered the phone and told his mom everything was going along smoothly. Then he told her, “The dragon lady called to ask Annamarie to lunch tomorrow and Dad said she can’t go alone.” Paula agreed and hung up.

  “What’s up, Mom? I can tell by the look on your face something went wrong. What did the guys do now?”

  “Nothing. The job is progressing nicely according to Carl, but he also said Maureen called to invite you to lunch tomorrow.”

  “Oh no, this is too soon. First flowers and now lunch. I have to call her right now or I won’t be able to enjoy today’s lunch.” She put a coin in the pay phone and dialed Maureen’s number.

  “Hello.” Maureen sounded almost sweet.

  “Hi, it’s Annamarie, my brother said you called.”

  “Yes, I did, dear. I wanted to invite you and your family to lunch tomorrow. I’m truly sorry for the way things have been and I want us to be a family. I thought you would enjoy lunch more if your family is with you and, please, also invite Carl. We’d love to see him. How about one o’clock?”

  Annamarie was speechless and handed the phone to her mom, whispering, “Get me out of this.”

  Paula took the phone and said, “Hi, Maureen, it’s Paula. Yes, she told me about lunch. All of us? Well. Umm, one o’clock would be fine. I’ll bake one of my tortes. Lovely, see you then.”

  Annamarie stood with her hands on her hips and tears in her eyes. “Mom, I asked you to get me out of this.”

  “Let’s sit down, dear.”

  Once seated at their table, Paula explained Maureen was so apologetic and wanted all of them to be a family. She didn’t know how to say “no.”

  “If you’re all with me, I think I can get through it. Dad won’t be happy. He spent today working on the washer and dryer and tomorrow with Maureen.”

  “He’ll be okay.”

  Their waitress’ arrival changed the subject. They placed their order and enjoyed a quiet lunch.

  * * *

  “Well, Dad, that takes care of the washer. It’s time to try it out. Push the start button.”

  “This was your idea; you push it.”

  “It’s your house; your disaster if it doesn’t work.”

  “You’re younger and can run faster than your mom. You’re also a brave military man. Have courage son; push the button.”

  “Coward.” Carl laughed as he pushed the start button.

  Both men stood silent while they listened to the washer fill with water. Carl looked behind the machine. “No leaks.” They waited until it filled completely and began the wash cycle. Deciding to take a break, they sat and watched the machine go through the rinse cycle, too. No massive vibrations and no leaks.

  “We did it.”

  “Yes,” said Theo. “Now it’s time for the dryer. Let’s get the dolly and go back down and bring it up here.”

  “Running the electric line will be easier than the water lines, Dad.”

  “Let’s hope so.”

  Daniel couldn’t see them from the dining room mirror, but he could hear them. He thought he could short out the power or burst a water line. Deciding against it, he let them enjoy their happiness. It served his purpose. It would be all the more devastating when he enacted his revenge on Annamarie.

  * * *

  After lunch, Paula enjoyed another cup of coffee. Annamarie tried to reassure her mom that her dad and Carl hadn’t blown up the house.

  “They said it was going well.”

  Paula shook her head and smiled. “We should go soon.”

  “Okay, mom, but let’s go through the other side of the store, away from all the cool clothes that won’t fit me.”

  They paid the lunch check and headed back down toward women’s clothing, but did their best to avoid it. They ended up walking through the children’s department.

  “Mom, look.” Annamarie’s green eyes sparkled with absolute joy, “It says, ‘Infant Clothing and Furniture.’”

  Annamarie was halfway to the Infants’ Department by the time her mom caught up.

  “Isn’t it a bit early, dear?”

  “Not to window shop. Look, they have the same type of furniture I picked out for the bedroom.”

  There, in front of them, was the most adorable white, colonial crib and dresser.

  “Remember, you could be decorating for a boy. I have a wonderful idea. For the first few weeks, your baby can sleep in a bassinet and then you can decide if you want to buy white or walnut furniture. If you’re not up to it, I can do it for you.” The sales clerk wrote down the information for them.

  Annamarie said, “I need to paint the room first and I have decided on sunshine yellow whether I have a boy or a girl.” Stuffed animals caught her eye and she was off in a different direction. She found the cutest elephant with blue, pink, yellow, and green spots. “Great for a boy or girl,” she said as she paid for the elephant.

  Paula said, “It’s time we head home. I have to stop at the grocer’s to buy some of the ingredients for the torte I promised to make for tomorrow’s lunch, and I have to see how the guys are doing.”

  As they walked to the car, Annamarie noticed a soft scent of pine. She knew she was still safe, even though she had to go to Maureen’s. Her mom noticed the pine too and said it must be coming from the river. Annamarie smiled, knowing Magdalena was watching over her family too.

  * * *

  “Okay, Dad, your turn. Start the dryer.” Theo set the dial for a short cycle and pushed the start button. The green light lit up and they could hear the drum turn. They waited for a few minutes, then opened the door, and felt the heat.

  “We did it again.”

  “Yes. To completely surprise your mom, I’m going to wash my work clothes.”

  “You do laundry?”

  “I had to learn
when your mom sprained her ankle badly last fall.”

  “I forgot. I wasn’t here. Did Annamarie help?”

  “She was great, but your mom worried about the old wringer washer and your sister’s clumsiness, especially after she got her hand caught in the ringer. She had me buy this new automatic washer.” His dad filled the washer with his work clothing and started the cycle.

  “I remember. For weeks, Annamarie wrote letters about the new washer. I told her she was driving me crazy. Don’t ever tell her, Dad, but I get a kick out of the floral stationery and the perfume she adds to each letter. I can barely smell it by the time it arrives, but it reminds me of her.”

  “My kid sister did that to me during WWII, too. Girls are strange.”

  “But what would we do without them?” Carl said with a big grin.

  * * *

  They heard the front door open and Paula call out, “Is it safe?”

  “Yup, come on back.”

  Annamarie and Paula stood in shock, seeing both the washer and dryer in the breezeway. More surprising was that the washer was running.

  “Doing my work clothes,” said Theo, smiling.

  Paula hugged Theo and kissed him so hard and long Carl grabbed Annamarie’s arm and said, “Let’s go before we see something that scars us for life.”

  Annamarie giggled and followed him out of the room. He went up to bathe and she went to her room to look at the cute elephant and all the pamphlets she brought home. Her mind was reeling with happy thoughts of her new home.

  With her back to the mirror, she didn’t see the black fog swirl or Daniel’s eyes watching. The fog formed into a claw-like hand and reached toward Annamarie. She heard her mom call her name, and she popped off the bed away from the fog and left the room. The fog slowly retreated back into the mirror and Daniel whispered, “I’ll get you next time.”

  Carl had a date with Bonnie. Paula was grilling Theo a steak in payment for making her dream a reality. She was also busy making the torte for Sunday’s lunch. Annamarie sat in the kitchen with her mom, watching how easily and quickly she moved around the room.

  “Mom, will I ever be comfortable in the kitchen cooking and baking? When I cook, it takes much longer, and I make a big mess.” She leaned her head in her hands.

  Paula ruffled her hair, saying, “The more you do, the better you’ll become. It’s like all things in life. Practice is important.”

  “I know; I’ll cook a meal for all of us this week. It’ll be my surprise.”

  “Okay, if you say so, dear,” Paula said.

  “Hey, I never killed Daniel.” She burst into tears.

  “Cry it out dear. It’ll help. You’ll say things without thinking for quite a while. Soon you’ll be used to it.”

  “I want to sit outside and think for a while.” Annamarie walked out onto the patio and sat in a lawn chair. A soft, pine scent surrounded her. She closed her eyes, but didn’t nap. However, she felt Magdalena around her, telling her to relax and not worry. Her life was going to be happy.

  * * *

  Carl called out the door to Annamarie, telling her he was leaving for the evening.

  “Have fun with Bonnie. See you tomorrow morning for church.”

  Paula asked Annamarie if she was coming in for supper. Annamarie wasn’t overly hungry, but she ate a little with her parents and then went to bed. It had been a long day.

  Annamarie slept deeply until her alarm woke her. It was time for a bath, breakfast, and church. She slowly got out of bed. The house was quiet so she walked to the bathroom. It was empty. She was elated and began to run a bath. Not a bath person, she was in and out in ten minutes. She disappeared into her room to dress for church. She smelled coffee. Her mom was awake. She heard the buzz of her dad’s razor. She wondered where Carl was. It was a typical Sunday morning.

  She found Carl in the kitchen with her mom. They were enjoying their coffee.

  Paula said, “After church, we can come back home for a while before going to Maureen’s.”

  “Ugh,’” replied Annamarie.

  Theo walked in and poured a cup of coffee. Annamarie poured a glass of milk. Carl had gone out early and bought donuts. The four enjoyed breakfast and headed for church.

  Theo refused to drive until everyone was settled in the “boy, boy, girl, girl” positions. Carl laughed when Theo told the story about how Annamarie wouldn’t sit behind him. They were a happy family.

  * * *

  “I don’t want to go,” an obstinate Annamarie said, walking around the living room with a scowl on her face.

  “I know, dear. Maureen has hurt you deeply. I think she is trying to make amends. Your dad will be sure they do nothing to upset you, I promise.”

  “Okay,” she reluctantly replied.

  Chapter Nine – Bigger Family

  Shortly before one o’clock, Paula told everyone it was time to leave.

  “Don’t worry, squirt, I won’t let the dragon lady eat you.” Carl laughed.

  “Stop it,” Paula said. “If you call her ‘dragon lady’ here, you might make a mistake and say it at her home.”

  “It would end Annamarie’s problems, Mom. They would never have us over again.”

  Carl and Annamarie laughed aloud. Theo was stifling a laugh. Paula glared at her family and then broke into a small smile saying, “Let’s go before we’re late. Don’t bump me. I don’t want to drop the torte.”

  “If you drop it, I’m not going,” Carl said. “It’s the only good thing we’ll have to eat, I’m sure.

  He was wrong.

  Arriving at Maureen and George’s house, Annamarie knew something was up. She whispered to her mom, “I smell Maureen’s glazed pork chops. She knows they’re my favorite. She’s up to something.”

  Carl smirked at his sister and said, “She’s going to poison us all and bury us in the backyard.”

  “Mom, make him stop.”

  “Carl!” He knew to stop when his mom used that tone.

  Theo rang the bell and Maureen answered. “Let me take that from you, Paula. Please come in.”

  Annamarie looked at her mom, wondering if this truly was Maureen.

  George greeted them and ushered them into the living room. He and Maureen sat with them. Maureen said luncheon would be ready soon and she had made Annamarie’s favorites. “Minestrone soup, pork chops with cranberry glaze, buttered parsley potatoes, baby carrots, and spiced apple rings, I hope you’re hungry, dear.”

  “I am now.”

  “Great,” said George, sitting back in his chair. “We should do this more often. After Maureen was in the hospital, we both decided that we need to be closer to all of you. You’re the only family we have left Annamarie--you and the baby.”

  Paula, sounding completely shocked, said, “Maureen, why didn’t you tell me you were in the hospital? Are you all right?”

  “Yes, George thought I was having a stroke, but Dr. Norse said it was a severe migraine. They gave me an IV full of medicine and I don’t remember much except for the odor.”

  “Odor?” asked Paula.

  “It was the oddest thing. We came home after a difficult day and I thought a storm was coming, even though the sky was blue. There wasn’t any breeze, but I could smell the pine trees.”

  Oh, my Lord, thought Annamarie, was this possible? Could it be Magdalena?

  Maureen continued, “The scent grew stronger and I felt sicker and could barely walk. George took me to the hospital and they started the IV. I’m not sure what they gave me because the pine scent was almost overbearing, but no one else could smell it. Dr. Norse said it could have been sensitivity to something because of the migraine. I thought I was going to die. I was telling George how awful I felt about everything going on. I miss Daniel and I want to be a grandmother. I need to apologize to Annamarie and be the best mother-in-law. I do care about you, dear. I was crying a lot, they tell me, and saying how sorry I was. I also needed to tell you we don’t want Father’s house because we’re building a new one.
You have no more worries about us, Annamarie. I don’t remember much except that I fell asleep. The next morning, the pine scent and pain were gone and I have been fine since. Strange, isn’t it, what can happen to a person?”

  Tears flowed down Annamarie’s cheeks. Maureen’s words had touched her, but she now knew Magdalena would always be there caring for her welfare. She didn’t think she would attack someone. Maureen must have been a real threat or maybe a threat to the baby. Suddenly, Annamarie knew for sure her baby would always be safe.

  Maureen saw her tears and rose to hug her. “You’re a dear girl. Let’s eat.”

  George said grace and they all enjoyed their meal. Carl told them about his time on the ship and Paula was excited about her washer and dryer now being upstairs. Annamarie brought up the antique crib and dresser.

  “I’m redoing the master bedroom and nursery and I found furniture I adore. I know you love antiques. Would you like the crib, table, and dresser from the nursery? You could use them when the baby comes to visit.”

  It was Maureen’s turn to cry. “How thoughtful of you! I have seen those pieces and they are lovely. I was hoping you would let us see the baby. I took the liberty of having the architect add a nursery with a lovely east view to catch the morning sun.”

  “It does sound perfect,” Annamarie added. “I’m glad we came to lunch.”

  The afternoon passed quickly and Annamarie said she was tired. They left, promising to get together again soon.

  * * *

  The drive home was pleasant and Annamarie said again that she was happy they went to lunch.

  “Something has changed Maureen,” said Paula.

  Theo added, “She thought she was going to die. It can change people.”

  Annamarie knew exactly what it was. Magdalena had done something to Maureen. She was glad Maureen was alive, but equally glad she had changed. When she was getting out of the car she stated, “I hope all the tension is over.”

  Carl chimed in with, “Amen!” They all laughed and hoped she was right.

  Everyone went to bed early. Carl was going to spend the next day with Bonnie, since she only had a week before school started. Theo had to work early and was proud to wear his personally washed clothes. Annamarie and Paula had a ten o’clock appointment with the contractor at the Logan house.