The Old House

by Alexie Aaron

  “Fine.”

  “Burt may want in on the old house.”

  “I suppose.”

  “Mike…”

  “I can see that this vacation is over. Before we do all this, let’s take our sleeping son to the cottage for his nap and enjoy ourselves before we have a cottage full of PEEPs.”

  “Yes, ma’am!” Ted said with enthusiasm.

  ~

  Mark was waiting for the Martins at the end of the drive. He smiled as they slowed. Mia insisted he get in the front. He protested, but she insisted.

  “We’re counting on you to show us around,” Ted said.

  “I’ll do my best. I’m not from around here, but Grandpa Sam takes me with him on errands and stuff.”

  “It must be great to be able to spend the summer with them,” Mia said.

  “It took a little getting used to.”

  A series of pings and pops came from the Martins’ devices.

  “You have reached civilization,” Mark said. “This is where the village’s cell tower range ends. Sometimes, I sit out here and talk to my friends.”

  “It’s quite a walk,” Mia said.

  “I have Gran’s old bike to use. If my friends saw me on a girl’s bike…”

  “We’ll keep it our secret,” Ted said. “Mark, would it be a problem if we invited a few friends here to help you explore the old house properly?”

  “Would I still get to go in?”

  “As long as your grandparents give us their permission. You can even get on television if you want, or not. We will respect your privacy,” Ted said.

  “And you can say no. You found the house. It’s your call,” Mia pressed.

  “I think the house needs all the help it can get,” Mark said. “Invite them. Who are they?”

  “Have you ever heard of PEEPs?”

  “Yes! You’re not them?”

  “We are a part of them. We’re normally not on camera,” Ted explained. “I run the command center, and Mia’s too ugly.”

  “You heard the man,” Mia said, kicking the back of Ted’s seat.

  “You’re nuts. She’s… Ah, you’re just teasing,” Mark realized. “I saw it a few times. My mother only allows so much television time, so I have to budget.”

  “Smart woman. I’ve been thinking of cutting Murphy’s time,” Mia said. “He’s developed a John Wayne fetish. If I get called ‘Little Lady’ one more time, I’m going to salt his remote.”

  Mark realized that there was a lot more to the Martins than he suspected. They seemed to have an extended family that they had difficulty explaining. He commiserated, as questions about his father had him pinned against the wall at times.

  “I sent the information to Cid regarding the EEG technology,” Ted said. “He’s gathering up some equipment and will bring it along. We may be able to fashion something you will be able to use.”

  “But how will you do all this?”

  “Mark, I’m pretty smart.”

  “No, he means how will you do all of this and still be a dad,” Mia interpreted.

  “Mia and I step in when the other needs time for special projects. Sometimes we need help. Parents have to depend on others sometimes, Mark. For example, your mother needs the training course to further her career so she can provide for you and your father. She wants to be with you. She just can’t,” Ted explained.

  Mark listened. “Oh, take the next left. This is a shortcut to the Dairy Freeze.”

  Brian clapped his hands as the inertia of the quick left turn pulled him to the side of his car seat.

  “Hey, Andretti, do you mind warning a girl?” Mia said, twisting herself upright.

  Ted laughed and received another kick to the back of his seat.

  Chapter Twenty

  Sam White waved the second of the two posh RVs into the drive. Once it had parked, the PEEPs truck would be backed in. He was quite excited by all the young people who had come to help Mark out. Mia had okayed things with Mary. As long as the vehicles kept to the long drive, and the extra electricity used could be taken out of the deposit, it wouldn’t be a problem.

  Ted looked at Mia. “I thought the favor was for one RV.”

  “It was. I don’t know who’s in the white whale.”

  Mike hopped out of the RV. “Mom was at loose ends,” he explained just before Glenda Dupree made her entrance, clothed in the loudest shorts Mia had ever seen. Mike’s mother moved with the saucy grace of a burlesque dancer.

  “Hello, PEEPs!” she shouted.

  Mike winced. He rushed over to Mia and took her hands. “She was with me when Burt called. I hope you don’t mind.”

  “It’s fine, Mike. Glenda is always welcome. How many sheets to the wind is she?”

  “One Bloody Mary, thermos size.”

  “Oh dear. Come here, you need a hug.” Mia pulled him into her arms.

  “Darling, it’s poor form to make out with husband number two when husband number one is standing beside you,” Ted said.

  “Sorry, Ted,” Mike said, blushing. “But you have no idea how my mother pushes my buttons.”

  “Beer’s in the cooler on the back deck,” Mia said, opening the door for Mike. “Glenda, it’s great to see you.”

  “No, it’s not. You didn’t know Mike or I was going to be here, did you?”

  “Burt failed to mention it,” Mia said honestly. “I hope I can feed all of you.”

  “Don’t worry, I can,” Cid said, rushing up and scooping Mia up in his arms. “This is so great. Murphy was pissing and moaning. I’m you’re kitchen bitch if you need me. Anything has to be better than babysitting a depressed ghost.”

  “Where is he?”

  “He took Maggie for walkies in the woods. Am I the last to arrive?”

  “Yup. Burt and Audrey are inside,” Ted said. “Put my wife down. She isn’t a prize you won at the fair.”

  “Oh, sorry, Mia,” Cid said, embarrassed. “Come on, old man, I have two coolers of food to get into the house.”

  “Old man? I’m not much older than you,” Ted argued.

  Mia watched the two argue their way to the truck. “It’s just their way of saying that they missed each other,” she said to Glenda, who was looking out from the other side of the screen door.

  “Bromances are hard to understand but necessary,” Glenda said.

  “I think you’re right,” Mia said. “I’m overwhelmed by everyone responding so quickly.”

  “Mia, you and Ted have been there for everyone. It’s time they stepped up.”

  “They have, that’s the point. If it weren’t for each one of them, there would be no Ted and me,” Mia said, trying unsuccessfully to stop her eyes from tearing up.

  Glenda opened the door and pulled Mia inside for a good cry. “You go in, and get it all out. I’ll open the door for Tweedledum and Tweedledee,” she ordered.

  Mia, embarrassed by the emotional blip, walked into the bedroom and let the tears fall.

  After a while, there was a light tapping on the door.

  “Come in.”

  “Glenda said that if I didn’t get my butt in here, she was going to have my liver for breakfast,” Ted said. “What’s wrong?” He sat down and picked her up and put her in his lap.

  “I’m not sure anything is,” Mia sniffed. “I just look at all of them, and how they came when we needed them. They’re…”

  “Our family. For better or worse, we have PEEPs with us forever,” Ted said, gently rocking Mia. “I know this isn’t how you wanted to spend your time here,” Ted said.

  “No, it’s fine. We need them.”

  “They need us,” Ted said. “Glenda especially. She must be getting tired of picking on Mike.”

  “About Mike…”

  “I’ll be good, but he can’t bunk with us,” Ted said.

  “Yes, sir,” Mia said. She got up and jumped up and down, trying to look in the wall mirror.

  Ted lifted her up.

  “God, I look a mess.”

  “
Naw, you look lived in,” Ted teased.

  Mia wiggled out of his grasp. “Lived in? You have to work on your compliments, Teddy Bear.”

  “I’ll do that right after the hundred other things I’d rather do,” he said and walked smartly out the door.

  Mia laughed. She pulled a brush through her hair. She stopped to check on Brian but found him gone. Someone had spirited him away. She suspected Glenda or Audrey but was surprised by Burt holding Brian in the kitchen.

  “Mia, what does this boy eat? I was making myself a sandwich, and I heard him babbling.”

  “Ted and I feed him franks and beans and beer,” Mia said, opening the refrigerator, hunting for the prepared bottles. She found them behind a half dozen white wine bottles. “Does wine procreate? I swear there were only two in there this morning.”

  “Cottage warming gifts. Audrey insisted. Come to think of it, only Audrey drinks white wine. Should we be concerned?”

  Mia laughed and raised her hands.

  “Ooh ooh,” Brian said, reaching out his hands.

  Mia turned to see Murphy standing there, hat in hand.

  “It’s about time you turned up,” Mia said, handing Murphy the bottle. Murphy picked up Brian and walked over to a rocking chair and proceeded to supervise Brian with the bottle.

  “Now that’s something you don’t see every day,” Burt said. “A floating baby and a bottle.”

  “Stick with me, you may even see a flying woman,” Mia said.

  “You’ve come so far, baby.”

  “You too. How’s the comic book?”

  Burt was about to correct Mia and remind her that it was a graphic novel, but what was the point? She knew what it was; she chose to call it a comic book. “Fine, it will be released the same week as PEEPs returns to the airways!”

  “And we can get paid!” Mia said, knocking fists with Burt.

  There was a light tapping on the back door before it opened and Sam White came in with Mark. Mia turned to introduce Burt but found him gone. He had dropped his sandwich to run over and scoop Brian up from Murphy.

  Mark looked at the man in the chair and nodded.

  “Burt, Mark can see Murphy, and Sam’s cool,” Mia explained.

  “Why didn’t you tell me sooner?” Burt said, handing the baby back to the ghost. He walked over and shook hands with each. “Burt Hicks, founding partner of Paranormal Entity Exposure Partners.”

  “Mark Leighton.”

  “Sam White.”

  “I hear we have a haunted house that is calling to you, Mark?” Burt asked.

  “Yes, sir.”

  “Burt, call me Burt. If you start calling all us old farts sir, we’re going to get confused.”

  Mia laughed. Burt was great with kids. When he heard that a child was in trouble, it was Burt who insisted PEEPs come right away. Mia hadn’t even been to the house to check it out. Burt thought that doing a totally raw investigation was the ultimate test for the PEEPs personnel.

  “We’d like to have a meeting, but first, why don’t I introduce you to the others,” Burt said, leading the two out the door to the back deck.

  Mia took advantage of being alone with Murphy. She sat down on the footstool in front of the ghost. “Thank you for coming. I really need your advice on a separate matter.”

  “I’m listening,” he said, trying not to show how touched he was.

  “There’s a brave from a long lost tribe. He needs us to find him and release his remains to the sky. I get the feeling that there’s more to it than just finding his bones…”

  “Could be a trap.”

  “That’s what I was thinking. I hate to be this way, but Roumain’s not through with me yet, I’m sure. This Native American arriving practically on my porch is a bit too much of a coincidence.”

  “He knows your weaknesses. You have a soft heart for the lost,” Murphy said. “Speaking of soft touches, have you spoken to Angelo yet?”

  “Done and done. I talked to him in person and told him what happened.”

  “Good. He’s not your enemy, Mia. He’s just smitten.”

  “Oh, now don’t you start with that nonsense.” She smiled and borrowed Ted’s words, “I’m not a carnival prize.”

  Murphy laughed. Brian pulled the bottle away and burped, which caused Murphy to laugh harder.

  Audrey came in and saw what looked like Brian rocking himself backwards. “Mia, he could… Oh, Murphy’s there. Sorry, didn’t see you,” Audrey said pointedly. “I’m just going to use the little girl’s room before the meeting starts.”

  Mia watched her leave and reached out with her mind. “Audrey’s sad. She and Matt have had a fight. Let’s be kind to her.”

  “I’ll pick on Mike harder.”

  “That’ll do it,” Mia said mischievously.

  As if on cue, Mike walked in the door. He looked over at Mia, the odd arrangement on the rocker, and back to Mia’s face, and pointed his finger. “I’m watching you two.”

  Murphy laughed again. Mia hadn’t seen him this at ease in a long time. All of them had been affected by her and Ted’s situation, she realized. She vowed to make it up to them all. She got up and opened a few tins of cookies and placed them around the great room. She next started a fresh pot of coffee. Audrey came into the kitchen, and Mia hugged her.

  “Lesbian action, cool,” Mike said, from the corner.

  “Asshole,” Audrey retorted. “Thanks, Mia. I need to talk to you later.”

  “I’ll be here.”

  The others started coming in, so Mia and she broke off and got ready for the meeting. Glenda walked over to Brian. “Come on, babbler, let’s leave the stiffs to their meeting.” She lifted Brian into her arms. “I saw a dandy stroller outside. Let’s make tracks.”

  “Thank you, Glenda,” Mia said, handing her the straw sunhat for Brian.

  “A fedora? My mother warned me off men who wore fedoras,” Glenda said to Brian. He babbled his reply, and the two left the house.

  Burt waited until everyone had settled. “Welcome to the emergency meeting of the Paranormal Entity Exposure Partners. We’ve been alerted to a situation here by this young man, Mark Leighton.” Burt went on to fill them in on the activities of the house and the incursion of the house into Mark’s dreams. “As you know, it’s the policy of PEEPs to drop everything when a child is in danger. Thank you all for showing up. Audrey, what have you found out about the place?”

  “It’s presently owned by the county for nonpayment of back taxes. Alan has secured us permission to investigate as long as we signed a waiver. Alan acted with our power of attorney. Officially, if we get hurt, we can’t sue them,” she cautioned. “The house has been sitting on the same ground since it was erected. There haven’t been any improvements to the property, so there was little to be found on the house, besides these.” She passed out a glossy sheet of the copied photographs. “This is the last photograph of the family at the house. Mr. and Mrs. William Wayne and their sons Timothy and James. If you look to the left of the house, you will see what looks to be a specter, but in actuality, it’s William’s brother Wyatt lurking.”

  “Nasty looking guy,” Cid commented.

  Mark looked at the picture and closed his eyes. “They weren’t much older than this when they died.”

  “You’re right,” Audrey said, checking on the dates. “I believe this is the picture that the newspaper used.”

  Mark beamed. Mia caught Sam’s eye and nodded.

  “Mia mentioned that you could hear movement in the house?” Cid prompted.

  “Yes, I could hear the lady doing dishes and the boys playing jacks upstairs. The man, he was just sitting on the back porch smoking.”

  “When you say back porch,” Mike started, “I see the original house had four porches. Which one are you speaking about?”

  “The one on…” Mark closed his eyes a moment and answered, “on the west side of the house.”

  “This house holds so much interest for you. Do you care to explain it?” M
ia asked.

  “This house wasn’t a beautiful house or anything special, but it was loved. And I hate to see something so loved be destroyed. I thought, if I could help the ghosts inside, then maybe I could get someone to fix it up so it could be whole again.”

  “So you’re not in it for the hidden gold?” Mia asked.

  Mike raised his eyebrows.

  “No. If there was gold and I could use it, I would fix the house up with it.”

  Sam cleared his voice, and Burt nodded for him to speak. “I’ve been over to the house, and even if there was gold found, it would take twice its worth for the house to be livable.”

  “It all depends on its bones,” Cid said. “I’ll look at it for you and give you an honest estimate of what you’d be in for, Mark.”

  “Thank you, I would like that,” he said in his most adult voice. “It might take me awhile, but I really want to save the house.”

  Sam started to open his mouth, but Mia lifted an eyebrow. She looked over at Cid who was jotting down some information.

  “Mark, there are no promises,” Cid began. “The first thing we need to do is to assess the house and the situation inside and whether the house wants to and can be moved. Sometimes, Mark, a house dies, but parts of it can be introduced into another house or many houses. This way the house can find other families to nurture. Do you want us to honestly look into this house or leave it be?”

  Mark frowned but nodded. “I think it’s time.”

  “Would you like to be lead on this?” Burt asked. “You found the haunt. You get to call the shots.”

  Mark opened his eyes real wide. “Ah, no. Could you do it, Burt?”

  “Okay, I’ll be lead on this investigation. I’d like to get set up for an afternoon run tomorrow. I want, you Mark, Sam, if you want to be part of this, Mike and Mia to be first to enter the building. Murphy, I want you to stand by just in case we face an unfriendly crowd. I’ll film the initial walkthrough. After, I’d like Mike and Audrey to do interviews. Audrey, I’ll want you and Cid to do a perimeter walk on film. Point out the architectural details. Smart talk about old buildings. You two are our experts. Ted, of course, you’ll keep us communicating. Set up a few trap cameras in addition to the others. I have it on good authority that there is a defunct ley line west of the house. Mark, you may have walked through it on your way to the pond.”