Friends in High Places

by Toni DeMaio

  the other night after he’d seen Brian Jr. hug me. I was surprised this didn’t seem to bother Tori, but she most likely didn’t see Isabella as a threat since they were practically in the same family. Isabella was the closest thing she’d ever had to a big sister.

  As sad as this situation should have made me feel, I actually felt so insanely happy since finding out about Tori’s adoption that nothing could have dampened my joy. Tori and Gia both came over next and we all hugged, and then I was surprised when Anthony shot over to us and nearly jumped into my arms. All four of us were laughing and when I looked up again I found I was looking right into Gino’s dark and troubled eyes.

  “Well, Brian sure delivered an important win. He’s quite a guy.” He watched me as if waiting to see what I’d say.

  “He’s a great teacher, Gino, and a gifted coach. Your kids love him and…”

  My words were cut short when Brian barreled into me like a freight train lifting me off my feet and in one effortless movement I was thrust into the air! He spun me in a circle, yelling, “We did it,” and by the time he put me down, Gino was already escorting Isabella, along with the kids, down the steps and out of the arena.

  I was devastated. Now Gino would never hear what I’d been about to say. He would never know I already thought of Brian as a brother and that it was pretty much a done deal that our parents would be engaged within the next few weeks. It appeared our time had passed and I saw no hope of correcting his mistaken ideas about me and who really had ownership of my heart. I could only imagine how he’d react when I finally had proof and could tell him the truth about Tori and me.

  ***

  The party was in full swing when Mom and the Brian’s and I got there. Lilly made a beeline for me with two glasses of Chardonnay and we faded back into a corner to talk. “What’s with Gino?” she whispered, “I’ve never seen him like this. He looks like he’s actually pouting. Are you responsible for this?”

  I shrugged. “Maybe, but if I can’t get him to listen to me I can’t correct his misconceptions.”

  “What did I miss?”

  “As we were all getting ready to leave the stadium to come here Gino made a crack about Brian being such a great guy as if challenging me to tell him I was interested in him, but before I could explain my true feelings all I got out was that I agreed Brian is a great guy, but I wanted to add how I think of him more as my brother from another mother. And before I could say that part Brian came barreling toward us, lifted me up in the air; then spun me around like a rodeo cowboy who’d just won the heifer roping contest or something.”

  Lilly snorted. “That sucks.”

  “Yeah, it does and now I don’t know what to do about it because when Brian finally put me down Gino and Isabella and the kids were halfway down the stairs and headed outside.”

  “Just stay calm and cool and watch for another opportunity to set him straight.” Lilly said, before taking off after Daisy who had snatched a small crystal bowl from an end table and was waving it around dangerously. “Give that to Mommy, Daisy,” Lilly called, racing to avert an expensive disaster. “Tom! Aren’t you watching Daisy?”

  Tom, who had been talking and laughing with Lisa and Brian Jr. looked confused for a moment before he caught onto what was happening and sprang into action, snatching both Daisy and the bowl. “You’re getting me in trouble again, Kid,” he muttered, kissing the end of her nose.

  I took another sip of my wine and then Isabella appeared. She looked incredible in red and in that moment I wished our school color could have been green. I looked my best in green. “It was a fabulous game, wasn’t it, Kat? And your admirer, Brian Jr. was amazing! You must be very proud!”

  I sighed. It looked as if everyone had the wrong idea about Brian and me. “He isn’t my admirer, Isabella,” I said as kindly as I could, “Our parents are dating and that’s why we spend time together. Soon I’m sure we’ll be brother and sister since it looks as if our parents are getting engaged.”

  Isabella looked shocked, and then confused. “But Gino said you were boyfriend and girlfriend…and…”

  “Well Gino is wrong. We’re just friends who are about to become family and that’s the real story.”

  Her cheeks grew pink and she stepped back from me. “I didn’t know, Kat. I’m sorry. I hope I didn’t offend you.”

  I realized she was just trying to make conversation so I quickly reassured her, “No offense taken. I just wish everyone in town would stop jumping to the wrong conclusion.”

  Gino came up beside Isabella and handed her a cup of mulled cider. She beamed at him and took a sip. Then Gino turned his attention to me. “Where’s Brian? Still soaking up the praise?”

  “Probably,” I said, wishing he wasn’t so determined to link us together. “It was nice of Lisa and Mario to open their home to all of us. But it’s a shame Lisa and your Mama have to work so hard today.”

  Gino’s smile was genuine. “Are you kidding, they live for this.”

  “There you are Kat!” Brian said coming up behind me and putting his hands on my shoulders.

  “There’s our hero now,” Gino said, extending his hand to Brian. “Great game, Buddy; you’re a fantastic coach and we’re lucky to have you teaching here. Tori and Gia can’t say enough good things about you!”

  “Thanks, Gino,” Brian said, clasping his hand warmly in both of his. “That’s the best praise a teacher can get. I love those kids, you know.”

  Gino nodded. “I can tell you do. Well, Isabella and I are going to hunt my sister up and see if we can help with getting the food out here.”

  “Let me know if there’s anything I can do,” I said, hopefully, disappointed Brian had appeared before I could set Gino straight about us…again.

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  ANGEL

  “You’re doing a great job, Angel,” Gram said, beaming at me from under her 1920’s style cloche hat. She wore a flowing yellow chiffon dress and matching hat decorated with tiny satin daisies along one side. Dad, who sat to her right, was casual today in contrast, just kicking back on the beach in his Coor’s Light T-shirt, exactly like the one I’d given him for Father’s Day back in ‘89. They were playing poker while Uncle John, dressed in his usual colorful track suit, circa the late nineties, strummed his guitar, practicing for the next concert.

  The eternal sunshine on Uncle John’s beach always helped me to recharge and I was taking this opportunity to do just that. Getting advice from my older and wiser family was a welcome bonus.

  “Thanks for the support Gram,” I said, “It’s frustrating sometimes, though, because it’s hard to get directly through to Kat and I would love to have her help on Saturday night. It’s good to have some people on the ground when you’re bringing down a human monster.”

  “I agree,” Gram said, taking a sip of her Southern Comfort.

  I sighed. “At least I’m making progress with her and sometimes she’s aware I’m nearby, even if she doesn’t yet realize she can call on me for help whenever she needs me.”

  Dad spread his winning hand out on the little beach table between them and Gram sighed dramatically; then gave him a twinkling smile, “I taught you well, Grasshopper.”

  “Kat has always been stubborn,” Dad said, “but I’m glad she has Lilly to talk things over with. Lilly has a good strong head.”

  “So when does that asshole Mario plan to make his move on the girl's?” Uncle John asked, placing his guitar back in the case. “I wish I could come down there with you because I’d take care of that problem really fast.”

  “It’s going down this coming Saturday night, and I’d love to see you teach Mario a lesson,” I said, “But that’s not the way it’s meant to happen. Tori is supposed to discover her own personal power because she’s going to need it in the years ahead. It turns out this is an important lifetime for her soul development.”

  “Aren’t they all?” Gram asked, with a knowing smile.

  “Yes, of course,” I said, “But th
is life holds opportunities for accelerated growth by meeting many challenges. You’d be impressed with how resourceful and brave she’s becoming. She’s even thought of a great plan to stop Mario and expose him as a child molester. I’m proud to be her Aunt because she’s going to be a kick-ass young woman.”

  Dad shook his head and leaned back in his chair and watched as Gram shuffled the cards like a dealer in Vegas. “My prayers are with Kat when she gets her DNA proof

  and gathers up the courage to break the news to Gino and the kid,” he said, “You can’t predict how they’ll choose to handle that one.”

  Then we all grew quiet because Dad was right. It was free choice that would determine how Gino and Tori reacted to the shocking news that my sister was her mother.

  “I’m going in for a swim before I go back down there. Big after-football- celebration-party today,” I said; then walked down toward the turquoise water, thinking it looked exactly as Gram had always told us the sea would look in her favorite place on earth, Bermuda. The water was cool and refreshing and so crystal clear you could see the tropical fish swimming below.

  I flipped over on my back and floated with the gentle currents, caught up in my thoughts, grateful this beautiful plane of peace, harmony and continued learning had been my destination at the end of my last lifetime. But I was also eager to get back to guiding my family on earth and I hoped most of all I’d be able to help them to discover that no matter how bad things got in any lifetime it would all work out in the end.

  ***

  I slipped into the party at Lisa and Mario’s dressed for the occasion in case any of the guests possessed the ability to see spirits. I wore white jeans and my old red and white high school sweater. I had pulled my hair back in a ponytail, and then I’d added a pair of trendy eyeglasses, so I wouldn’t be recognized even if someone I knew caught a quick glimpse of me.

  Music was rocking the house and most of the younger guests were dancing to Taylor Swift in the middle of the large family room while the adults formed small friendly groups and chatted together drinking mulled cider, or various wines.

  Mom and Brian Sr. were snuggled up on a loveseat in the corner of the living room talking to Liz and Franny and their husbands. It was good to see how Franny has helped and supported Mom since my death. Of course I would have expected nothing less from her. There was a glow around their little group, a rosy glow signifying the energy of love. Several babies, drawn to the love vibration, were playing happily on the rug next to them.

  But now it was time for me to find Mario and see what was going on with him. I needed to take his energetic temperature, so to speak, and see if he was close to erupting again in hatred and violence.

  I ducked into the kitchen and nearly passed through Lisa Rossi, who was balancing a huge tray on her shoulder as if it were nothing and rushing toward the dining room. She was petite, but strong, and I wondered what she’d do to Mario after the truth was out. Lisa was full of energy and passion and I wouldn’t want to be the one to bring harm on her children. I bet she’d pack a mean and well-deserved punch, or worse.

  The kitchen had recently been re-modeled and all appliances were state of the art. The room was decorated in shades of trendy gray and stainless steel with splashes of turquoise in just the right places. Over the sink, there was a large window facing out onto the yard, and at the moment a huge mist of dark energy was rolling through the closed window and into the room. I shooed it back outside, following it to find the source.

  I knew it had to be Mario and it was. He sat on a dusty wrought iron porch chair just below the window, drinking beer again and kicking at the dead leaves pooled around his feet. He was brooding and seething and staring daggers at the Rossi children who laughed and jumped together on a covered trampoline, each in thick woolen socks.

  “Look at me!” Anthony yelled, bouncing as high as the mesh ceiling would allow despite his bulky winter coat, then tumbling back down to grab and wrestle Sal. Tori and Gia sat in the far corner with their heads together, talking intensely, their long hair hiding the expressions on their faces.

  “Little bitches need to be taught a lesson,” Mario muttered, then crushed his empty beer can in his bare hands and threw it hard against the side of the industrial sized garbage can that sat a few feet away from where he was sitting. It bounced off with a clank and fell to join the half dozen others scattered below.

  It was obvious Mario was enraged to see the girls lost in serious conversation, especially considering how they’d been successfully avoiding him. He viewed their united front as a threat, and I was glad he had no idea just how big a threat they would prove to become.

  “Sal! Anthony!” Mario bellowed.

  Both boys startled and then stared at him anxiously, frozen in a wrestling move. “Yes, Uncle Mario?” Sal asked in a squeaky voice.

  “Get over here, both of you.”

  As the boys scrambled off the trampoline and jammed their feet back into their boots, both girls stood and walked to the front of the trampoline, watching Mario’s every move.

  As the boys ran toward him, Mario gestured to the fallen beer cans. “Clean that mess up!” he snarled, “You little ingrates don’t do shit around here and I’m sick of it.”

  Then as both boys bent to retrieve the trash, Mario’s foot shot forward and both little boys, one after the other were cruelly projected head-first into the side of the heavy metal can.

  Two sickening thuds pierced the air followed by screams of pain. In an instant, Tori and Gia were off the trampoline and running across the yard in their socks.

  “Get away from them!” Tori shrieked, and for a second I saw fear flash in Mario’s eyes.

  And then the screen door opened and Kat came out to help gather the boys up from the patio and soothe their tears. “What happened here?” Kat asked concern all over her face. She glared at Mario suspiciously.

  Mario shrugged. “What can I say, they’re little boys. They just fell, they’re clumsy.”

  “You kicked them so they’d fall and hit their heads on that can; I saw you!” Tori accused boldly.

  “What?” Kat asked, staring fiercely into Mario’s mean, dark eyes. “Why would you do such a thing Mario?”

  And then the screen door shot open and Lisa flew toward both boys. “What happened? We could hear you screaming and crying all the over the house?”

  She pulled Sal off of Kat’s lap and checked the huge bump on his head, “We need to put ice on this right away. Does Anthony have a lump on his head, too, Kat?”

  “Yes,” Kat said in a shaky voice. She was beginning to realize just how much of a jerk Mario had become.

  “What happened here, Mario,” Lisa challenged, her eyes bore through him as she stood to face him. “Did you have anything to do with this?”

  “It was an accident,” Mario said, trying to charm her with his smile, but his voice shook a little. He hadn’t counted on adult witnesses and the last thing he needed was to have Lisa questioning his motives where the kids were concerned. “I got up too fast and I bumped into them, Lisa,” he said in a silky voice, his arms spread out to the sides. “I asked them to pick up the trash and they were messing around like they always do and they bumped into each other. That’s all.”

  “Yeah, right,” Tori muttered under her breath and I watched as Kat, and Lisa studied both girls who looked strangely nervous, and even more telling was the fact that Gia’s hands trembled slightly.

  “Sometimes you’re an asshole, Mario,” Lisa said as she carried Sal, and led Anthony by the hand, back toward the kitchen and two ice packs, “They’re just kids and you should cut them a break.”

  Mario trailed after Lisa, trying to get back into her good graces, but Kat stayed behind and I watched her observe Gia and Tori and make note of the fear passing between them. And I knew right then Kat was on our side even if she had no idea just how dangerous Mario would prove to be in the coming days.

  “I’ve been thinking Girls,” Kat began, “that sin
ce we had so much fun the other night at my moms we should do it again really soon.”

  Tori grinned at her. “We’d love that! Right Gia?”

  Gia’s face broke into a matching grin, “Yes! That would be amazing.”

  “How about my place this Saturday night, and you can bring the boys. This way Uncle Mario can have another break and maybe relax a little. He seems pretty keyed up.”

  The girls hugged each other, then Tori said, “That would be great, Kat. You don’t know how great that would be! Let’s go ask Aunt Lisa and Daddy and see if they say yes.”

  As both girls ran off excited at the prospect of avoiding Uncle Mario’s party again, I could see how their eagerness only confirmed Kat’s suspicions about Mario, and if he was able to find a way to stop the overnight from taking place, I was certain Kat would be on alert to help me if I needed her.

  CHAPTER NINETEEN

  MERI

  We were all at Lisa’s Victory Party and I was thinking how wonderful it was to be spending this day with all of the people I love most in the world and thinking it couldn’t get any better than this when Brian leaned in close to my ear and proved me wrong, whispering, “I love you, Meri. I hope you realize that.”

  Caught up in that magic moment, with candle glow all around us, my heart took over and spoke up for me, “I love you too, Brian, I said.” And then we both just stood there grinning at each other and holding hands like the two old fools we’ve become.

  Since this was also the day our team won an important football game it would have been fitting to add, ‘game over.’ We were clearly meant for each other and now we’d made it official and could get off the dating sites. Yippee!

  If any of the young people dancing around the family room had over-heard our geriatric exchange they would have declared us both to ‘have no game.’ And they would have been right because at our stage in life, who has time for games?

  Brian and I had only been dating a few weeks, but on our first date we had agreed, considering how we’d met, to put all of our cards on the table and keep them all turned face-up. I think that’s one of the reasons we’ve turned out to be so compatible. Dating more than one person at a time has never appealed to me and I was relieved to find out Brian felt the same way.