by Alexie Aaron
Ted was winding up the lecture with, “Amanda thinks so too…”
Mia stuck her head out the door. “Amanda thinks what?”
“That you take too much on. You should delegate some of the ghost hunting chores.”
Mia knew she had drifted off during the Ted tirade, but what had she missed?
“I don’t know if I’m more shocked that Amanda has any interest in what I do and do not do or that you’ve become chums,” Mia said, getting back into Ted’s bed.
“She’s, well, you’ll see. They’ll want to visit now that you’re conscious. Ralph’s on his way. I called him as soon as Mike tapped his ear com.”
“I’d be lying if I said I didn’t like all this attention. But can we have a few moments alone?” Mia sat, patting the bed.
“You temptress,” Ted said sitting down. “Kisses only. There’s a line of well-wishers forming on the steps.”
Mia pouted but accepted Ted’s kisses with good grace and enjoyment.
There was a light tap on the door. The two broke apart like guilty teenagers. Ted got up and opened the door. Audrey came in and rushed over to her bedside. “We’ve been so worried.”
Ted mentioned he was going to bring Mia some coffee and a surprise before he left the room.
“Burt, Cid, Murphy and I went back to the burlesque house, and Murphy retrieved the cage full of dogs.”
“Whoa, really?”
“I was thinking, how about the island Judy and Ed live on?” Audrey asked.
Mia thought about the lonely, restless spirit of Kamol who would no doubt enjoy the smart little dogs and smiled. “Yes, that’s a wonderful idea. I promised to visit Judy. We could take them over then.”
“Good, I thought you’d agree. I’m going to go and give the others some time with you before Ralph arrives.”
Mia rolled her eyes. “He is a bit, well, Ralph at times but he means well.”
“I love him, Mia, but the guys…”
“It’s like having their mothers around on steroids.”
Burt walked in, and Mia didn’t miss the brush of his and Audrey’s hands as they passed. “It’s about time you woke up. We’ve got things to do, Cooper. We are weeks behind on our film editing and…”
Mia looked over at him with irritation. “Liar.”
“Actually, you being laid up has been a boon. Ted hasn’t slept. He’s knocked off all the techy-do lists and is working on some kind of temporal lobe monitor with Dr. Walters.”
“Great. Dr. Walters and Dr. Frankenstein working together.”
“You’ve only got yourself to blame, Mia. If you would stick to ghost hunting and away from museum looting, then you wouldn’t have these problems.”
“I see your point. How’s things going with your new girlfriend?” Mia asked to change the conversation.
Burt blushed. “Slowly.”
“Don’t be too slow. Dr. Walters has had a yen for Audrey for awhile now,” Mia warned.
“Advice noted,” Burt said, getting up from the chair. “I think I smell coffee.”
“Ted promised me coffee and a surprise. Do you have any idea what the surprise is?”
“I’ve been sworn to secrecy. You’re going to need the coffee though, just saying.”
Mia reached out a hand. “Before you go, Burt… All Angelo took from me, Roumain somehow replaced when I forgave him. I want you to know that being with you was one of the most wonderful times of my life. Audrey, who I love like a sister, is a very lucky lady.”
Burt sat at the edge of the bed. “We had fun while it lasted, didn’t we?”
“Yes, we did.”
“Thank you, Mia, thank you for telling me. I don’t know, I guess I envy the bond you have with Ted. I didn’t understand why it had to be him in the beginning, but the more I watch the two of you, it was destined to happen.”
“I think you’re right. The more we explore this paranormal world, the more I’m certain that there is so much more out there and that fate and destiny have their place. But remember we’ve been given free will. This is the gift we should treasure above all else. The freedom to make mistakes, explore new paths and become who we want to be.”
“What was purgatory like?”
“It wasn’t much different than the island we were on. I think it was purgatory for Guillaume, what he had envisioned in his mind. I’m not convinced it was a mandatory place for all of mankind. I only saw a couple of dozen people there. I think if you believe you’re going to have to spend some time pondering your life’s mistakes, then the universe acquiesces.”
“My my, isn’t she sounding like an old married lady already,” Cid said from the doorway. “If you were going to spend all day in here debating heaven and hell and the places in between, you could have let some of us know. We have a surprise, and it’s not happy at the moment, wink wink.”
Realization flooded Burt’s face, and he jumped up and stepped aside.
Murphy sailed past Cid and stood grinning at the end of Mia’s bed. Cid picked up something from the hall floor before coming in.
Mia’s eyes widened as she saw what he was carrying. A mixed breed, brown puppy with the most soulful eyes Mia had ever seen. Cid handed her the mutt and boldly sat next to her in bed.
The puppy licked Mia’s face and wiggled its behind happily.
“Murphy and I found her at a shelter. She’s part lab, hound, some other big dog, and I think there is a bit of standard poodle in her, but don’t hold that against her.”
“Whose is she?”
“Ours. PEEPs and Murphy’s. Officially I’m her daddy, aren’t I?” Cid said, picking up the dog and nuzzling her. She started to wash his face.
“You took Murphy to an animal shelter?” Mia asked flabbergasted.
“We had to find the dog that would accept Murphy and not pee itself when he’s around. This little one ran right over to him. We were looking for a male, but Murphy insisted that she would make a good birddog.”
Mia lifted an eyebrow. “Birddog huh? I heard you and Angelo made up.”
Murphy nodded but gave her the shifty eye.
“Yeah, I don’t trust him either, but he’s come a long way though.”
The puppy crawled over and began to attack the pillows on the bed. A feather escaped, and the puppy chased it around the bed.
“She’s a birddog alright,” Mia said impressed. “What’s her name?”
“You said on the plane that…”
Mia looked at the mess the dog made of the bed and said, “Maggie Mae, Maggie for short.”
“Excellent! “Here Maggie!” Cid called.
The puppy came right away.
Murphy looked down at Mia and grinned. She didn’t have to tell him that the emotional memories they shared had come back too; he could see it on her face. Her eyes softened, and there was a bit of sorrow for things that couldn’t be, but this left quickly as she thought about how great things were considering.
Ted arrived with the coffee and handed her a cup.
“We’ve named her Maggie Mae.”
“Good choice. Maggie, she looks like a Maggie. Now give the dog a kiss and drink your coffee. Ralph is twenty minutes out, and he’s not going to be pleased to find a dog in your bed.”
“Dude, I know you’re homely, but I wouldn’t call you a dog,” Cid said.
Ted opened his mouth to speak but thought better of it.
Mia sipped her coffee and watched the two friends. Murphy encouraged the dog off the bed and watched her as she bounced out of the room.
“Papa Murphy is on watch. Cid, get out of my fiancée’s bed and back on potty duty. Maggie’s bladder is pea sized.”
“No pun intended?” Mia asked innocently as she watched Cid bound out of bed and pick up Maggie, holding her away from him as he ran for the steps.
Ted laughed. “He’ll learn. It will be good practice because the Martin babies have active bladders.”
“We’re talking babies, and I’ve not even had a honeymoon
yet,” Mia complained half-heartedly.
“Wait until Ralph gets here. He’s the one talking babies. He’s estimated your biological clock, and judging by how many little Martins he expects, we should already be making one as I speak.”
Mia raised an eyebrow. “Well, if that’s the case.” She set her cup down and patted the bed. “Let’s get started.”
Ted kicked the door shut and locked it.
Downstairs they heard the door slam. Audrey, Burt and Mike meandered outside to the porch to give the young couple privacy. Cid was chasing a runaway Maggie as she became interested in trying to eat a butterfly.
Murphy sat on the picnic table and gazed up at the hillside. He could just see the tops of his new maples from where he was sitting.
Burt looked at his watch and waved the others over. “It’s four-o-clock, time for One Feather to ride.”
Cid picked up the dog and joined the group at the picnic table. They gazed up to the hillside and waited to hear the galloping horse.
Stephen Murphy looked around him. Even though Mia and Ted were absent, the other members of his family were around him. He had never been happier. As he watched the brave ride across the hillside, he closed his eyes. He wanted to experience it as the other PEEPs did. He heard the sound of One Feather’s steed, the sound of Audrey’s excited breathing, and the dog’s barking, urging the duo on.
He felt heat on his face and opened his eyes. He saw the light through the trees, calling him home. He shut his eyes to the brilliance and turned a deaf ear to the calls of his mother to come home. “Mother, I am home,” he insisted.
The light faded, and he imagined with it he felt a cool breeze. He had made his choice. He would stay.
***
Alexie Aaron
After traveling the world, Alexie Aaron, a Midwestern native, returned to her roots where she’s been haunting for years. She now lives in a village outside of Chicago with her husband and family.
Her popular Haunted Series was born from her memories of fleeting shapes rushing around doorways, an heirloom chair that rocked itself, cold feelings of mysterious dread, and warm feelings from the traces of loved ones long gone.
Alexie also writes the Cin Fin-Lathen Mysteries. These cozies set in England and south Florida combine action and intrigue with a liberal dose of humor.