by Sharon Sala
Rutherford handed her the bear. “We named him Spooky, seeing as how you’re always surrounded by them.”
“Hospital food usually sucks,” Allen said, and handed her the chocolates.
“Thank both of you so much. Thank you for always believing my crazy phone calls, and thank you for coming to my rescue.”
They seemed embarrassed as Pat added his thanks.
“There are no words to express my gratitude,” Pat said.
“You’ll be happy to know that the three kidnappers have pled guilty and are safely in jail. They’ll do their time in the States and be old men if and when they ever get out.”
“Thank God,” Pat said.
At that moment, both detectives’ cell phones went off.
“Duty calls,” they said. “Get well soon.”
“Thank you again, and thank you for my presents,” Tara said, as the door closed behind them. She handed the candy to her uncle. “Open this for me, and we’ll both eat a piece.”
He began peeling the cellophane wrapping off the box.
“You know that the only thing you’ve eaten today was a chocolate malt, and now you’re going for chocolate candy.”
“Sounds like the perfect menu to me,” she said, and then stifled a giggle when Henry popped up at the foot of her bed and looked longingly at the box. Henry did love candy.
When she felt the rush of Millicent’s presence around her shoulders, she knew she was getting a hug.
Love you guys.
We love you, too.
She heard a pop, saw a faint puff of pink smoke, and sighed. Life was almost back to normal.
She’d missed the first day of the last semester of her senior year, and by the end of the day, everyone at Stillwater High School knew why.
After that, flowers and balloons began arriving at the hospital, and then her BFFs Nikki, Mac, and Penny came by, filling her in on all the latest while Uncle Pat made himself absent so they could talk freely.
She leaned back in the bed with a smile on her face, listening absently to their chatter with a sense of awe. So this was what it felt like to really belong in a place. It was a good thing.
WHEN SHE WENT home the next day, Mona and Flynn were waiting for her at the house, and every evening throughout the rest of the week, Mona and Flynn came over, helping out with chores that had been hers. It was beginning to feel like a routine, and it was turning them into a family. Even with the thing between her and Flynn, it felt right.
Tara could see how much Mona meant to her uncle and guessed that, if nothing happened to change the situation, after she and Flynn graduated and started college, married or not, Pat and Mona would be living under one roof.
It was the following Saturday before the DEA showed up at their place looking for Mona. One agent was very familiar. It was the undercover agent with the crazy scar on his face who’d saved Tara and Flynn from drowning after their wreck.
FLYNN WAS CARRYING in groceries while Pat and Mona were putting them up. Tara was stretched out on the sofa, snug and warm under her OSU afghan and still relegated to patient status. She was watching Flynn as he came and went, checking out the way his arms and shoulders were filling out and thinking what a big guy her guy was turning out to be. He’d just gone back into the kitchen when she saw a dark SUV pull up in the driveway.
“Someone’s here!” she yelled.
Pat came back to answer the knock and opened it to a duo of DEA agents flashing their badges.
“We need to speak to Mona O’Mara. She said to meet her here.”
“Yes. Come in,” Pat said. “Have a seat. I’ll go get her.”
They both eyed Tara, but one more curious than the other.
Tara recognized him on sight. “Hey. I know you,” she said.
French Langdon grinned, which made the scar on his cheek pull slightly at one corner of his mouth. “Looks like you’re still getting in trouble,” he said. “We heard what happened. How are you doing?”
“I’m fine. Did you go on that fishing trip?”
He shook his head. “No farther than my father’s farm pond. I know a good tip when I hear it.”
Flynn walked into the room, took one look at the agents, and frowned. Tara saw the look and sent him a message.
What’s the matter with you?
He thinks you’re hot.
He saved your life, remember?
That doesn’t mean I ignore the fact he lusts for you.
So. He really thinks I’m hot?
It was the sexy drawl in her voice that shocked Flynn. He turned to face her, saw the glitter in her eyes, and realized she was teasing him.
He glared. You are so going to pay for that.
Tara arched an eyebrow. Promises, promises.
“I’ve got one more sack of groceries to bring in,” he muttered, and gave her a look as he walked past.
She grinned. That would teach him to head hop on thoughts, then she saw Mona walk in. Tara could tell she was nervous.
The agents stood up, suddenly all business.
“Mrs. O’Mara?”
“Yes.”
“Might we have a few words with you?”
“Come with me,” she said, and took them back into the kitchen.
The moment Flynn came back and found them gone, he leaned over the sofa and kissed her.
“Thank you, but what was that for?” she asked.
“A reminder that I was the first one who noticed you were hot. I don’t want you to forget.”
Before she could answer, something happened. Something she’d never felt before—an overwhelming shift of consciousness. For a few moments, she weighed nothing, saw nothing but a bright white light, and felt nothing but an overwhelming sense of being safe and loved.
That’s it, Tara. That’s the gift.
Millicent?
Yes. You just felt Flynn’s intent. That’s when you know this is someone you can trust.
OMG.
Flynn frowned. “Who are you talking to?” he asked.
“Millicent.”
“Oh.” He shrugged. “Tell her I said hello.”
“You tell her yourself. I’m going to the kitchen. I want to find out where that dang money is that nearly got the both of us killed.”
They walked in just as Mona was getting into the details.
“I can’t tell you exactly, but I know what it means. He said it’s with Aunt Tillie,” Mona said.
“So, where does his Aunt Tillie live?” Langdon asked.
“Technically, she’s no kin to him at all. She was just a nice old woman who lived in the house behind us when we were newlyweds. And if he left it with her, then that means it’s in the Fairlawn Cemetery here in Stillwater, because Tillie Walters is long since dead. Her plot is in the oldest part of the cemetery. She was buried next to her husband, but I don’t remember his name.”
“Man! After all this drama, the answer is almost too easy. This is great!” Langdon said. “I think we have all we need. We’ll let you know if it’s there.”
“It will be there,” Tara said. “The dead don’t lie.”
French eyed her curiously, wondering what it would be like to be her, then saw the look on Flynn’s face and got the message loud and clear. She was definitely hands off.
“If there’s nothing else, I’ll see you to the door,” Flynn said.
Tara grinned. Flynn was ready to get rid of them.
The agents stood up.
“Thank you for your help. We’ll be in touch,” Langdon said.
Flynn followed them to the door, opened it, and politely stepped back. “Happy digging,” he said.
Langdon grinned. “You got yourself a handful, kid, but you are one lucky dude.”
“I know that,” Flynn said, then waited until they were both clear of the threshold before he added, “No, I couldn’t take you in a fair fight . . . yet.”
Langdon spun. The stunned look on his face only added to the moment. “How did you—”
“You don’t want to know,” Flynn said, and closed the door in their faces.
He was grinning when he turned around, then realized Tara was standing there with her hands on her hips.
“Uh—”
“I was not spying on you. Your mom and Uncle Pat are in the kitchen kissing. I have nowhere else to be.”
He rolled his eyes. “Thanks for the visual.”
“So, what are you waiting for?” she asked.
He opened his arms as she stepped into the embrace.
As always, for Tara, it felt like a homecoming.
“You make me crazy,” Flynn said.
“Then kiss me before you lose what’s left of your mind,” Tara whispered.
So he did.
IT WAS THE next day before they got the news, and it put an end to all their worries.
Mona had just taken the last piece of fried chicken from the skillet. Tara was setting the table, and Flynn was putting ice in the glasses.
“Supper is ready,” Mona said.
Tara smiled. “This is a treat. Usually I’m the one cooking. Uncle Pat will think he’s in heaven.”
Pat walked in on that comment. “I’m already in heaven. I have the people I care most about within my sight, and something smells good.”
Before Mona could comment, her cell phone, which was on the counter near where Flynn was working, began to ring.
Flynn glanced down. “Hey, Mom. You might want to take this. It’s the DEA.”
Mona glanced at Pat and then wiped her hands and picked up the phone. “Hello.”
“Mrs. O’Mara, this is Agent Langdon. I would like to speak to you one more time. Are you available?”
“I guess, but I’m not at home. I’m at Tara’s house.”
“Do you mind if I stop by? It won’t take but a few minutes.”
“Do you mean now? We’re just about to sit down to supper.”
“I’m just a block from the house. I promise this won’t take more than a couple of minutes. I have something to tell you and something to give you.”
“Yes, I guess,” she said, and disconnected.
“Sorry, everyone, but that was Agent Langdon. He said he had something to tell me and something to give me, and he’s a couple of minutes away.”
“Hey. No problem,” Pat said. “If it has to do with putting all of this money stuff behind us, then so much the better.”
Tara put the chicken back to stay warm and put the lids back on the vegetables she’d been ready to take up, and while she was working, there was a knock at the door.
“He’s already here,” Mona said. “All of you. Come with me. Whatever it is, it’s news for us all.”
Pat opened the door. “Come in.”
“I apologize for the abrupt visit, but I’m on my way out of town and wanted to let you know that we found the money.”
“Thank goodness,” Mona said. “Now this can be over.”
“There’s just one other thing,” Langdon said, and took an envelope out of his pocket and handed it to Mona. “This was on top of the money. It’s addressed to you. Of course we did not open it because whatever it says, has nothing to do with us. I’m sorry we met under such dire circumstances, but it has truly been a pleasure meeting you all.” He glanced at Flynn and smiled. “Even if our first meeting was rather wet.”
Flynn nodded. “And for that I am forever grateful.”
“Have a nice evening . . . and for that matter, have a nice rest of your lives.”
Mona sat down and tore into the envelope as Langdon drove away.
“I can’t imagine what—”
A key fell out of the envelope onto the hardwood floor. Flynn bent down and picked it up. “This is a weird-looking key.”
“It looks like a safety deposit box key,” Mona said, and opened the letter that was inside.
She scanned it briefly, then gasped. “Dear Lord!” she cried, and started to cry.
Pat sat down beside her. “What’s wrong, honey? If it’s something bad we will—”
“It’s not bad. It’s good. It’s better than good. Just listen,” she said, as she read aloud.
Dear Mona,
If you’re reading this, then you know the worst. I never intended for things to get so messed up. You and Flynn were my world until the drugs. All I can say is how sorry I am for screwing everything up. The key goes to a safety deposit box at the bank downtown. It’s the one we used together. Your name is still on the account, so you won’t have any trouble getting access. There’s a little over $40,000 in the box that I saved for Flynn’s college. It’s not drug money. I swear to God. I won it at the Cherokee Casino about two months after you moved out. I can’t do anything else for Flynn, but I can pay for his education. Tell him I’m sorry and that he’s the best thing we ever did together.
Michael.
Flynn was in shock, and at the same time, feeling guilty. The last thing he’d said to his dad had been in anger.
Tara slipped her hand in his and gave it a squeeze. “He knows you didn’t mean it,” she said softly.
“But that’s just it, Tara. At the time, I meant every bit of it. He destroyed our family.”
“But at his worst, he was still thinking of you,” Pat said. “You gotta give him that. Trust me, I know about letting people down. I’ve done it to Tara over and over for years, and she kept forgiving me and trusting me to get better. I just happened to live along enough for that to happen. Your dad didn’t get that break. Understand?”
Flynn’s shoulders slumped. “Yeah, I do.”
“This is quite a gift,” Pat added.
Flynn looked up at his mom. She was in tears, but they were happy tears.
“This is a gift from God, Flynn. I didn’t know how we were going to pay for college, and now it’s a done deal. Regardless of every other bad thing he did, I bless him for this.”
“If the money is still in the box,” Flynn said.
Tell him it’s there.
Tara jumped. “Millicent says it’s there.”
“Oh, wow.” He started smiling. “This is amazing.”
“And supper is getting cold!” Tara said. “Let’s go heat the stuff up and celebrate this good news with some of your mom’s fried chicken.”
Chapter Eleven
TARA WAS STILL awake long after she’d gone to bed, thinking about all that had happened in the short time they’d been here. All the things she had experienced in her seventeen years had been preparing her for this time and for what was to come. For a couple of Gypsies who had always been on the move, she and Pat had put down very strong roots in a very short time.
But it was the realization that she’d never really lost her parents that was the most overwhelming. She kept remembering Connie who died from carbon monoxide poisoning, seeing the little spirit’s panic when she feared her family would not be saved, feeling the love she had for them. It was proof to Tara that love survived everything—even death and separation.
Tara heard a pop and then felt the air in the room shift as her two ghosts entered this dimension.
You can’t sleep. Are you sick? Do you hurt? Should I wake Pat up?
“I’m fine, and OMG, no, don’t wake up Uncle Pat unless you want to give him a heart attack. I was just thinking.”
There was a long moment of silence, and then Henry popped up at the foot of her bed wearing a long nightgown and an old-fashioned sleeping cap. It was a far cry from the coonskin cap and the suit of armor.
She pointed. “What’s with Henry and the old-fashioned nightgown?”
He thinks it will help make you sleepy.
Tara smiled. “I so love you guys.”
Henry put his hands over his heart and then pointed at her, while Millicent did her little swirl around Tara’s shoulders, which was as close to a ghostly hug as she could get.
Have you thought about what you’re going to do with your gift?
Tara leaned back against the pillows. “It’s all I have thought about these days.
I don’t want to waste it.”
You won’t. When it comes to you, you will know that it’s right. You should sleep now.
Tara glanced at the clock. It was almost one a.m.
“Yes, you’re right about that. Good night, you guys, and thanks for stopping by.”
Tara rolled over on her side, pulled the covers up close around her ears, and closed her eyes. She felt the slight give on the mattress that told her Millicent wasn’t leaving until she slept. It felt good to be loved.
A BIG YELLOW moon cast an eerie glow on a house at the far edge of town. The house was on its last legs. No screens or curtains on the windows, and there was a hole in the front porch just to the left of the front door. It wasn’t a place Tara had ever seen before and didn’t know why she was there. Inside, she heard the sound of violence, then a woman screaming obscenities and children crying.
She knocked on the door, but no one answered. When she looked in the window, she saw a man and woman fighting and three little children huddled together in a corner of the room. The oldest one, a child of no more than ten, was sheltering his younger siblings within his bruised and too-skinny arms. While the younger children’s faces were swollen from crying and their cheeks streaked with tears, his expression was blank. The light in his eyes was long dimmed from witnessing too many nights such as this.
Tara felt the woman’s hopelessness as she fought to protect herself and her children, but it was the man who impacted her most of all.
She’d already experienced part of her new gift, learning how to recognize the good in people, but this was the first time she was experiencing the physical impact of being in the presence of evil.
The night’s darkness seeped into her soul, turning off every emotion except fear. She could hear whispers and cackles of evil laughter and screams from another realm of existence she never wanted to see. She couldn’t move. She couldn’t breathe. It wasn’t until the man turned away that the spell was broken, and when it lifted, she turned to run, then remembered the children and looked back. They couldn’t run. They had nowhere to go.
All of a sudden she heard Millicent’s voice.