Clear Expectations - A Mary O'Reilly Paranormal Mystery (Book 20) (Mary O'Reilly Paranormal Mysteries)

by Terri Reid

  “Food,” Mary sighed. “I’ve never been so happy to see food in my whole life!”

  “Don’t they feed you in the hospital?” Clarissa asked.

  Mary laughed and nodded. “Yes, they do,” she said. “But the next meal on the schedule is breakfast. And although they offered me some snacks, I could really use some real food right now.”

  Bradley rolled the hospital’s food tray over next to the bed and unwrapped Mary’s food. The smell of french fries and a grilled cheeseburger filled the room. “This is heavenly,” Mary said, immediately biting into a french fry. “Thank you.”

  She scooted over on her bed. “Clarissa, do you want to climb up here and hold Mikey, while I eat?” she asked.

  “Can I?” Clarissa asked, her eyes wide with wonder.

  “Of course. You’re the big sister,” she said.

  With Bradley’s help, Clarissa climbed up on the bed and sat next to Mary. With her arm around her daughter, she gently placed the sleeping baby in Clarissa’s arms. Clarissa bent over and kissed Mikey’s head. “He’s so beautiful,” she whispered.

  Mary nodded, overwhelmed by the sight of her two children together. “Yes, it really is,” she said.

  A moment later, she reached over and took a bite of the hamburger. “This is so good,” she sighed. “Thank you so much, Ma.”

  “You’re more than welcome,” Margaret replied. “And I just spoke with your Da. As soon as the roads are clear enough, they are coming up to see you and this new wee one.”

  “They?” Bradley asked.

  Margaret grinned. “Aye, they,” she said. “Da, Sean, Tom, Art and Ian. As well as Gillian and two ladies I haven’t met yet— Brooke and Em.”

  “We’re going to have a roomful,” Mary said, and then she yawned.

  Margaret walked over to the bed and looked down at Mikey, who was now sleeping soundly in Mary’s arms. “He’s an angel,” she whispered. “I am so proud of you.”

  “Thank you, Ma,” Mary replied. “I can’t believe how much I love him already.”

  She kissed Mary’s forehead. “Well, it only gets stronger,” she said. “Now, you eat and then get some sleep. We’ll be back mid-morning to see you. And, I’ll call your Da back and tell him that a noon visit would be best.”

  Mary smiled tiredly. “That would be great,” she said.

  Margaret hugged Bradley. “Thank you for taking care of my little girl,” she said.

  “She’s my life,” he replied simply.

  Margaret smiled at him. “Aye, I know,” she said. “And now, can you arrange another ride back home?”

  “There’s someone already downstairs waiting for you,” he said. “He’ll get you safely home.”

  “Thank you again,” she said.

  Clarissa reached up on the bed and hugged Mary. “I love you,” she said.

  “I love you too, sweetheart,” Mary replied. “We’ll see you in the morning.”

  After they left, there was a knock on the door and a nurse came in. “If you’re done nursing Mikey,” she said, “we can watch him in the nursery for a few hours while you sleep.”

  “Oh, that would be wonderful,” Mary said.

  “We’ll wake you when he’s hungry,” the nurse replied. Then she turned to Bradley. “Do you need us to bring in a cot?”

  Mary shook her head. “No,” she interrupted, sliding over on the bed she was on. “I think there’s room enough for two here.”

  Bradley smiled. “I’m not going to argue with that,” he said.

  The nurse turned the lights down low, and Bradley slipped off his shoes and climbed in next to Mary, holding her in his arms. “I love you, Mary,” he said softly as sleep started to immediately overcome him.

  She yawned back and then laughed. “I love you too.”

  Chapter Seventy-nine

  “Darling, you look amazing,” Ian said, brushing a kiss on her cheek. “And the wee bairn is like an angel. You never fail to impress me.”

  Mary smiled at Ian. “Well, now that you see how it’s done, you and Gillian need to work on getting Mikey a cousin he can play with,” she whispered to him.

  He grinned at her. “Aye, and seeing her reaction to the babe,” he said, “I might not have too much persuading to do.”

  “Hey, stop hogging all the time with my sister,” Sean said, coming up alongside Ian. He smiled tenderly down at Mary. “You did good, kid.”

  She smiled up at her oldest brother. “Thanks,” she said. “And your Em, she’s lovely.”

  He nodded. “Yeah, she is,” he said. “I’m amazed she agreed to come along. She’s not really a people-person.”

  Mary studied him for a long moment. “She’s not really an average person-person, is she?”

  Shaking his head, he grinned at his sister. “No, she definitely is not,” he agreed.

  “I like her,” Mary said. “So, I vote yes.”

  He leaned over and kissed her cheek. “That means a lot,” he admitted. “Thank you. Now, I’m going to try and get a chance to hold the baby. Da hasn’t let him go for ten minutes.”

  Ian looked around the room and then back at Mary, who was smiling at Tom’s antics with Clarissa. “After things have settled down, can we talk?” he asked quietly.

  She turned back to him. “Sure,” she agreed.

  As soon as he walked away, Art approached her bed. “You’re kind of like a queen sitting on a throne as your royal subjects approach you,” he teased.

  She grinned and extended her hand. “You may kiss my ring,” she replied in her best English royalty accent.

  He bent down and hugged her. “You are amazing,” he whispered.

  She hugged him back. “I was scared to death,” she whispered back.

  “I bet you Bradley was even more scared,” he said, remembering his feelings when he learned Brooke was alone with a killer.

  “Well, if he was, he didn’t show it,” Mary replied.

  “Didn’t show what?” Bradley asked.

  “Didn’t show that you were more frightened than I was last night,” Mary said.

  “Well, yeah, I was much better once I was down in the elevator with you,” he replied. “Discovering that you were missing was the most terrifying experience of my life.”

  Art nodded. “I totally understand,” he said.

  “I really like Brooke,” Mary said. “She’s really smart. How did she ever fall for you?”

  Art chuckled. “Funny, funny,” he replied. “I think it’s my charm and wit.”

  “So, she’s not as smart as she looks?” Mary asked with a grin.

  “You are such a brat,” Art replied.

  Mary reached over and took her brother’s hand. “Seriously, I think she’s perfect for you,” she said.

  Art looked over his shoulder to make sure Brooke was distracted with something else and then leaned down and whispered, “Yeah, I think so too,” he said. “Now all I have to do is convince her.”

  “Oh, when an O’Reilly sets his mind on something, there is no stopping him,” Mary said.

  “Amen to that,” Bradley agreed.

  “Well, what’s a father have to do to get to see his little girl?” Timothy blustered.

  Art winked at Mary and then stepped away from the bed. “Well, perhaps he needs to put his new grandson down for a moment,” he replied.

  “Ah, well, little Timmy is hard to put down,” he confessed.

  “Da, his name is Mikey,” Mary reminded him.

  “Ah, well, Michael Timothy,” he said. “At least for now.”

  “What do you mean?” Mary asked.

  “I’m bartering with your nurse to switch the names on the birth certificate,” he announced. “I might have to mortgage the house, because she hasn’t given in yet. But, I’m sure I’ll convince her.”

  “When an O’Reilly sets his mind on something,” Bradley reminded her.

  She turned to Bradley, “Shhhhhh,” she admonished. “Don’t encourage him.”

  Timothy laughe
d and then bent over and enfolded Mary in a warm hug. “You are amazing, Mary-Mary,” he whispered. “And little Mikey, he’s a miracle, that’s what he is. My heart is overflowing with joy.”

  “Thank you, Da,” she whispered back, her voice thick with tears. “Thank you so much.”

  He kissed her head. “No, thank you, darling,” he said. “You’ve made me the happiest father today. First, you gave me Clarissa and now Mikey. I’ll tell you, there is nothing like holding your first grandson in your arms. It’s a miracle, that’s what it is, a miracle.”

  She nodded. “Thank you for coming,” she said.

  He stood up and looked amazed. “And you think we wouldn’t come?” he asked. “I can tell you that we cleared the way for the snow plows, that’s what we did. No snowstorm was going to stand in the way of me meeting my grandson for the first time.

  Tom looked over his father’s shoulder. “We really did, Mary,” he agreed. “Da was driving like a maniac. We would have been pulled over, but no one could catch him.”

  Mary laughed. “Well, then, I’m glad you got here safely,” she said.

  Tom smiled down at his sister. “The risk was worth it,” he said.

  Timothy shook his head and stepped away from the bed. “Well, don’t just stand there, you dolt,” he grumbled. “Give your sister a hug while I go find my granddaughter and count my blessings.”

  Tom bent over and hugged Mary. “I love you, brat,” he said.

  “I love you too,” she replied.

  “May I have your attention?” Margaret’s voice rose over the noise in the room, and everyone was suddenly quiet. “It’s time for Mikey to be fed and for our Mary to take another nap. So, let’s all retire to Mary and Bradley’s house for lunch. Then, we can come back and visit this afternoon.”

  Like troops obeying their sergeant, the group said their quick goodbyes and left the room. Margaret came over to Mary’s bed and laid Mikey in her arms. “Your father tried to take him with,” she teased, and Mary laughed.

  “You are glowing, but you still look worn out,” Margaret continued. “So be sure to rest before we all descend upon you again.”

  Mary nodded, “I will, Ma,” she said. “And thank you.”

  “I love you, darling,” her mother said, placing a kiss on her daughter’s cheek. “Now rest.”

  Chapter Eighty

  A few minutes after they left, Ian came back in. “I sent Gillian ahead with Sean and Em,” he said. “Because I need to talk to you.”

  “Sure,” Mary said. “What’s up?”

  Ian gazed around the room. “Is Mike around?” he asked.

  Mike appeared next to him. “Now he is,” Mike said.

  Ian met his eyes, and Mike nodded slowly. “You knew?” Ian asked.

  “Yeah, I did,” Mike said. “But I haven’t said anything.”

  “What are you talking about?” Mary asked.

  Ian turned back to her. “Okay, well, something odd happened in this room,” Ian said. “And I wanted to talk to you about it.”

  “What happened?” Mary asked, confused.

  “There were other…” he paused to find the right word. “People. Ghosts. Spirits… in your room.”

  “What?” Mary asked, surprised. “Where?”

  “All around you,” Ian said. “One woman told me she was your grandmother.”

  “Grandma was here?” Mary asked.

  “And Jeannine was here, wishing you both well,” Ian said.

  “Jeannine was here?” Bradley asked.

  “There were as many—” then he shook his head, “no, more people from the other side in this room, looking at Mikey, celebrating his birth, and wishing you well, than there were real people.” He shook his head. “I mean, still living people.”

  “Wait. Why didn’t I see them too?” she asked, and then she turned to Mike. “Why?”

  “Because, Mary, you’ve been released from that responsibility,” Mike explained.

  “Released? I don’t understand,” she said, shaking her head.

  “Mary, you have changed lives. You have unselfishly sacrificed your time and, often, your safety to help spirits move on,” he explained. “And now, with Mikey here, your gift has been removed.”

  “Removed?” she gasped, tears forming in her eyes. “Did I do something wrong?”

  “You aren’t listening to me, Mary,” Mike said. “You did everything right. But do you think, with both Mikey and Clarissa depending on you, that you could continue to do what you’ve been doing for these past few years?”

  “I don’t know,” she said. “I could try.”

  “But God doesn’t want you to try,” Mike said. “He wants you to concentrate on your family. He wants you to be able to be a mom and a wife, without the extra responsibilities that have been yours lately.”

  “Just a mom?” she asked.

  He glided towards her and stopped at the edge of her bed. “Just a mom?” he exclaimed. “Come on, Mary. You’ve been a mom for less than a year, but I know it’s changed your life. Do you think there is any finer calling than being a mother? God has entrusted these little people into your care. You will be the person to guide them and help them learn right from wrong. You will be the first person they call out to when they’re frightened. The first person they’ll want to call when they have good news. The first person they’ll need when their hearts are broken.”

  He smiled at her. “Being a mom is a full-time, twenty-four-seven job,” he said. “Your other job was important, but not nearly as important as this one. You are not being punished. You’re being promoted.”

  “But I loved what I did,” she said. “I loved helping others.”

  “This is not a situation that will last forever,” Mike said. “It’s only for a season.”

  Mary studied him skeptically. “What does ‘a season’ mean?”

  He smiled. “It’s like a Mommy minute. The meaning matches the situation.”

  “A Mommy minute?” Bradley asked.

  Mike’s smile widened. “Remember when your mom was doing something, and you would call her name over and over again?” Mike asked. “And she would call back, I’ll be there in a minute.”

  Bradley smiled and nodded. “Sometimes those minutes took a long time.”

  “Exactly,” Mike said. “And Mary, you can be sure when God feels that it’s the right time and the right place, your special sight will be opened up to you again. But, for now, you can just enjoy being a mom.”

  She looked down at the baby in her arms, who was starting to make a fuss because he was hungry, and then back at Mike. “I’m a little torn,” she said. “Part of me feels this great sense of relief, like a burden has been taken off of my shoulders. But, another part of me feels like I’m going to be lost without doing what I do.”

  “Well, give it some time, Mary,” Mike said. “I’ll still be around. And when you feel ready to do this again, I’ll petition on your behalf. Deal?”

  “Deal,” she said. Then she turned to Ian. “Thank you for telling me.”

  He smiled. “There was so much love in this room,” he said softly. “I wanted to make sure you knew. You don’t realize how many lives you’ve saved by your influence, including mine. I love the idea that you’ve been given a bit of a reprieve. Enjoy it while you can.”

  He leaned forward and kissed her forehead. “Now, feed that wee bairn and get some sleep,” he said. “I’ll see you this afternoon.”

  Ian left the room, and when he closed the door, Mike looked back at Mary. “Are we good?” he asked.

  Mary nodded slowly. “Yes,” she said. “I think we are.”

  “Love you,” he said as he faded away.

  “Love you too,” she called after him.

  She adjusted her hospital gown so Mikey could nurse and then looked over to Bradley. “What do you think?” she asked.

  “Your gift brought us together,” he said. “Your gift has saved my life. Your gift brought me my daughter and ended my search for Jea
nnine. I can never be anything but grateful for it.”

  He took a deep breath. “But, your gift has also put you in danger so many times,” he said. “You risked your life for others, and you were always willing to do it. But, I have to admit I am grateful you don’t have to do this for a while. I’m grateful that you can be a mother and whatever else you want to be. I’m grateful that you’ll be safe. It’s totally selfish, and I’ll admit that. But you are our world, Mary, mine, Clarissa’s and now Mikey’s. You are everything to us.”

  “But you never said anything before,” she said.

  “How could I?” he asked. “I go out and risk my life every day. It’s my job. It’s what I do. How could I ask you to give it up?”

  She sat back against the pillows, thinking silently for a moment, taking it all in. Could she still be Mary O’Reilly Alden and not do what she’d been doing? Could she be content with her life, without the magic of seeing the other side of the veil?

  She looked down at Mikey and then over at Bradley, and her heart was filled with peace.

  Yes, she thought. For now, she could be totally content.

  The End

  For Now

  About the author: Terri Reid lives near Freeport, the home of the Mary O’Reilly Mystery Series, and loves a good ghost story. An independent author, Reid uploaded her first book “Loose Ends – A Mary O’Reilly Paranormal Mystery” in August 2010. By the end of 2013, “Loose Ends” had sold over 200,000 copies. She has sixteen other books in the Mary O’Reilly Series, the first books in the following series - “The Blackwood Files,” “The Order of Brigid’s Cross,” and “The Legend of the Horsemen.” She also has a stand-alone romance, “Bearly in Love.” Reid has enjoyed Top Rated and Hot New Release status in the Women Sleuths and Paranormal Romance category through Amazon US. Her books have been translated into Spanish, Portuguese and German and are also now also available in print and audio versions. Reid has been quoted in several books about the self-publishing industry including “Let’s Get Digital” by David Gaughran and “Interviews with Indie Authors: Top Tips from Successful Self-Published Authors” by Claire and Tim Ridgway. She was also honored to have some of her works included in A. J. Abbiati’s book “The NORTAV Method for Writers – The Secrets to Constructing Prose Like the Pros.”