by Alexie Aaron
Mia felt a hand on her shoulder and turned to see the young priest standing there.
“Is what I see actually there, or is it to come?” she asked.
“It’s a possibility,” the priest said.
“Rose gave me a warning. How credible is she?”
“I don’t know Rose. This is the first time her spirit has connected with her remains.”
“Thank you, Father.”
“Mia, do not take the sorrow of this spot with you. Here are the fortunate ones. The ones that people like you and your group have found and given a chance to eventually see the light. Chastity Murphy was one. Even one soul saved is priceless.”
Mia’s nose burned, and she allowed her tears to fall. “It’s all so overwhelming. There are times I wish to not know all I do know.”
“I think even the gentle one asked to be relieved of a burden,” he said softly.
Mia took in his words and silently followed him back to where Father Santos was waiting for her. Father Santos put an arm around Mia and guided her to his sedan. They pulled away and drove in silence for a while. Mia looked out the window, not really seeing anything.
“You’re grieving,” he said. “Good.”
Mia looked over at him. “How do you do it?”
“It’s my chosen vocation. I wasn’t called as Father Alessandro was. It was assumed that I would go into the priesthood while my brother Constantino would look after the olive groves. All during my education, I waited for the call. It never happened. It was the dead who finally called to me, and it is they who are my flock.”
“You take care of the living too,” Mia reminded him.
“Mia, tell me about Saint Michael.”
“I don’t think I know that much about him. I’ll tell you what I observed. He is a mighty person. He would be charismatic if it weren’t for the sorrow and the weight he is carrying on his shoulders. He saved my life, Father. He helped me to expel the demon that had broken off from me and had taken hold. He slayed the demon and then saved me from the lights.”
“You said lights plural.”
“The sun from which I gain energy and the light that you and I call to take the souls on. Father Alessandro saved me the second time. I fear, my next time, there will be no saving me.”
“What does he look like? Michael?”
“He has a crescent shaped scar on his cheekbone. He’s tall with dark long hair and very muscular. His wings are amazing. I can hardly look at him as they exude such a large amount of energy. He is demanding and has a military bearing at times. I think I frustrate him, so he has put Sariel in charge of me.”
“You are a handful.”
“You’re not the first to tell me that, and you won’t be the last.”
Father Santos laughed.
“I met him once. He came to me when I was ready to quit. He stared at me and words of challenge filled my head. I had expected comfort, but he said he wasn’t a nursery nurse.”
“Sounds like him.”
“Still, he bolstered me up with his challenges.”
“I’m glad he did. Now let’s talk of happier things,” Mia said. “Share some Alessandro stories with me?”
Father Santos smiled and started, “Did he ever tell you…”
~
Audrey waited for Murphy in the park. Orion stood nearby watching the humans, guarding his fiancée.
Murphy appeared and walked over with a pleasant-faced Irish maid. She was carrying a bag that had seen better days.
“Rori, this is Audrey. She has some information for you.”
Rori curtseyed which Audrey was taken aback by. It took her a moment to gather her thoughts. “Rori, I looked through a lot of information trying to find your sister Karen. It wasn’t until I happened upon some parish records from a south side church. Karen survived the fire and left the employ of the folks you cared for. Karen married a Sean O’Callaghan and lived to a ripe old age of sixty-six. They had three children, and those children had children, and so on. One of their daughters they named after you, and your name was given to her daughter and then again to the daughter’s daughter. Long story short, there is a Rori Kelly living not far from here. Would you like to meet her?”
Rori turned to Murphy. “What do you think? Will I scare her?”
“Excuse me, but I forgot to mention that I’ve already spoken to her,” Audrey called out.
“Yes. Can she come here?”
“She would like to invite you into her home,” Audrey stressed.
“I’m not sure if I can leave?”
“I’ll carry your bag. Maybe that will free you,” Murphy suggested.
“Yes, then I’d like to meet her.”
They were joined by Orion, and the four walked three blocks to where Rori Kelly had a duplex home. Audrey knocked on the door. It was opened by a woman in her late forties.
“She is older, but she looks like Karen,” Rori told Murphy.
“I’ve brought Rori,” Audrey explained. “I’m not sure if you will be able to see or hear her.”
“Come in!” the woman said happily. “Come in, Great Aunt Rori.”
Audrey stepped back and watched the ghost move into the house. Murphy put her bag just inside the door. Audrey waited for him to enter.
“She needs time with her family. I’ll come back another time,” he explained.
Orion walked down the street a ways with the ghost. “You’ve done a good thing.”
“I was very fortunate to have a home. It seemed to me that Rori deserved one too.”
Rori moved about the house.
Mrs. Kelly saw family photos twitch and put her hand on her chest. “She’s actually here.”
“Yes, she’s allowing me to see her. It takes a lot of energy. I think as soon as she gains strength, she may manifest for you.”
“Oh, I’d like that.”
“Tell her I brought Karen’s things,” Rori said.
“Rori has brought Karen’s things. She has been carrying them since the fire.”
“Oh my!”
Rori opened the bag and draped a clean dress over the chair.
Audrey described what the ghost was showing her.
She placed a well-worn family bible on the shelf and a few ornaments that Karen had in her room.
The bag was empty, and before Rori could touch it again, it dissolved.
“I guess your wandering days are over,” Audrey said. “I’ll leave you to make this Rori’s acquaintance. Mrs. Kelly, call me when and if your ghost is ready to move on.”
“Yes. But I do hope she will stay awhile,” Mrs. Kelly said, showing Audrey out.
Audrey walked over to Orion and Murphy. “She’s settling in. I would wait a while and then visit her here,” she suggested.
Murphy looked uncomfortable. “Thank you,” he said and disappeared.
Orion waited until he felt the ghost had moved on before speaking. “He was a bit embarrassed. I think he likes this Rori O’Neill.”
“I do too. How could I see her?” Audrey asked.
“Murphy. He’s become a very powerful ghost. Thank goodness he’s on our side.”
“Do there have to be sides?” Audrey asked, taking her fiancé’s hand.
“You’re beginning to sound like Mia,” he warned. “I’m going to have to separate you two before you take on her fence-sitting.”
“I hope you’re teasing.”
Orion laughed. “Let’s go and celebrate. I’m thinking, hot meatloaf…”
~
Ralph arrived in time to help Mia make the beds in the guest house. He had arranged for the construction of the extra-long and large sheets that were needed for the upstairs beds.
“I love the wings!” Mia said, opening the bags to see the linens inside. She hugged her godfather.
Ralph beamed. “I saw this material and snagged it all up months ago. I had enough left over to make a layette set for Audrey.”
“Remember that’s a secret. Audrey’s folks are comin
g to the party, and they have to believe the marriage came first.”
“I know, I know. First comes love, then comes marriage, then comes a baby in the baby carriage,” Ralph sang.
“I’m so glad you came a day early. Even with Cid arranging the potluck and cooking the meats, I’m overwhelmed.”
“Having a one-year-old is a full-time job.”
“I can’t even use him as an excuse. Dieter has taken him in hand.”
“I like that Dieter,” Ralph said, getting the door of the aerie for Mia. “How is Ted taking the ever-expanding family?”
“Like a Martin. The more the merrier.”
“I’m surprised his parents are driving all the way here.”
“I’m not. They said that by us celebrating Brian and Christmas early, they won’t have to disappoint one of the girls by not spending Christmas Day with them. They take grandparenting very seriously.”
“Your parents are making an effort too,” Ralph reminded her.
“Yes. They are going to be here too. They’re staying in the B&B. Amanda is easing into being around children. Sabine is bringing her girls, and they can be quite noisy. She’s taking our room. Ted and I will camp out in the sitting room. Dieter is in with Brian, and of the two guestrooms in the house, one is for you and Bernard, the other for the McCarthys.”
“Is Beverly coming?”
“Don’t know, she didn’t RSVP. Her nose is out of joint because I ruined her party last year by giving birth.”
Ralph shook his head. They walked up the steps, and Ralph admired the high ceilings of the second floor. “How many winged marvels?”
“Angelo, Orion, Judy, and Altair.” I haven’t seen Angelo or Altair in a while. Sariel may stop by, but I really don’t expect him.
“He’s the good dancer,” Ralph said remembering him. He and Mia shook out the bedding and started making the beds.
~
Cid walked into the Barnes & Noble, mentally rehearsing what he wanted to say. Patty Goodwin nodded to him. The tall ash blonde was reading to a group of pre-K children. She was dressed in holiday clothing. Her Christmas sweater had the Grinch dancing around the Christmas tree with the Whos on it.
Cid browsed the age-appropriate books for Brian and noticed that he had purchased most of them. It was time to move up into the next classification anyway.
“Can I help you?” Patty asked.
“I could lie and tell you Brian needs more books, or I could come clean and ask you out now,” he said.
Patty blushed. Her green eyes sparkled. “Why, Mr. Garrett, I would love to go out with you…” She looked at him expectantly.
Cid was lost for words. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath and explained, “I know this is the Christmas season, and it’s a busy one for you. I was wondering if you would be my plus one for a wedding the first Saturday after Christmas.”
Patty pulled out her phone. “I’m not working. Is it a formal affair?”
“I thought we’d start with a date first.”
Patty laughed and shook her head. “Is the wedding a formal affair?”
“Oh!” Cid dug in his pocket and drew out the three by five card Mia had penned information on. “It is a day wedding at a church. There will be a reception at a downtown apartment later.”
“Okay, who wrote the card?”
“Brian’s mother.”
“Is she your ex-wife?”
“Oh no!” It was Cid’s turn to turn red. “Brian is my godson.”
Patty laughed again. She was so good-natured. “Sorry, that was my assumption. Would you mind if I called her to ask about clothes and such?”
“No, not at all.” Cid penned the home number on the card and handed it to her.
Patty looked at the card and ripped the lower half off. “It says you need to stop at the distributor and bring back two kegs. Unless you want me to?”
Cid turned around. He couldn’t face her.
“I like beer. Draft beer is the best,” she said, walking around him. “Cid, I get the idea you’re not enjoying this part of small talk.”
“Not when I’m a dork,” Cid said.
“I like that I can tease you. I have four older brothers, and it’s usually me that ends up tongue-tied.”
“Four brothers!”
“Yes. All of them are in the Marine Corps, so watch your back.”
Cid looked over at her and angled his head. “I imagine that stops a lot of fellows.”
“But not you. I can tell that you’re a strong individual. A Superman of sorts.”
“Superman, why would you say that?” Cid asked, horrified.
“It says on top of this card. ‘Superman, don’t forget…’”
Cid snatched the card back. He ripped off the phone number and gave her the tiny piece. The rest he jammed into his pocket.
Patty looked at the scrap and couldn’t refrain from commenting on the small size of his business card.
Cid looked up a moment, took a deep breath, and looked at Patty. “I was going to buy you a coffee, but now I’m going to have to find a therapist.”
Patty stopped laughing and hooked her arm in his. “I like coffee as much as I like beer.”
Chapter Thirty-seven
The party was in full swing. The guests were enjoying the food and drinks. Brian was playing with his cousins, and Dieter and Mark Leighton were keeping an eye on them, while discussing the merits of multiplayer role playing games versus one player games. Mia had excused herself and went in search of Murphy. She found him on the hillside.
“Hey, you. Mike’s feeling rather secure. Come to the party and play a prank?” she encouraged.
Murphy shrugged.
“Brian has noticed that you’re gone. With all those people there, he’s still looking for you.” Mia took in her friend’s silence and ordered, “Out with it.”
Murphy took off his hat and set his axe down. “How long should I wait before visiting Rori?”
“Um. I don’t know. You could go tonight.”
“No, I want to be here. Would you go with me tomorrow?”
“Afraid you’ll get lost on the ley lines?”
“No.”
“You’re going to have to explain why you want me to come,” Mia demanded.
“I thought I wouldn’t look so needy. You could say that you wanted to meet Mrs. Kelly and see if she has any questions on what it’s like having a ghost in the house.”
“Sounds like a lame but plausible excuse. Are you afraid that now that Rori has a family she doesn’t want you to come calling?”
“Yes.”
“Hogwash. I know you ghosts don’t really have a good concept of time, but I’m betting she’s looking out of Mrs. Kelly’s window right now wondering where you are.”
Murphy put his hat back on and kicked at the ground.
“Tell you what. I’ll OOB over there with you tomorrow if you come to the party now,” Mia bargained. “This way, I don’t have to have to do any uncomfortable small talk with Mrs. Kelly and can come right back once you meet up with Rori.”
“So you’re going to be my wing man?”
“Wing person,” she corrected. “I could fly, but I’ve been itching to OOB. Now come on, we’re going to cut the cake soon.”
“Mia, are you happy?”
“Yes, Murph, I’m happy.”
“I sense an unease within our PEEPs family.”
“This past investigation has left us all a bit battered and bruised. I expect we’re all looking inward, examining our feelings. Good things have come from bad. A house has been transformed from an interdimensional horrorfest to a place to congregate with friends. Audrey and Orion are settling down together. We got to save some lost souls, and you found a new friend. Who would ever peg you for courting a city girl?” Mia teased.
“We’re okay?” Murph asked and elaborated, “I feel horrible about trying to kill you and Burt.”
“I expect someone at one time or another wanted to be in your sho
es. Burt and I are fine, and you’ve connected with the earth.”
“Yes, I’m one-to-one with Mother Nature, yet I can’t stop those deer from eating my seedlings.”
“What about planting extra next year? Some for the deer, some for you,” Mia suggested.
“With my luck, I’ll just get more deer.”
Ted walked out onto the porch to see Mia and Murphy coming down the hill. They were talking. Burt followed him out and put his hand on Ted’s shoulder.
“I see Mia has found Murphy,” Burt said. “I’m not used to seeing him. It makes it hard to ignore that we live elbow-to-elbow with the spirit world.”
“Or that there are worlds within worlds. How arrogant the human race is to think that they alone have dominion over all. We are just guests at a party that will go on without us if we’re not careful.”
“That sounds profound. Nietzsche?”
“Martin, Ted Martin,” Ted said with a smile.
“So you’ve ventured beyond science and math into philosophy?”
“Everything is connected, Burt.”
Mia and Murphy arrived. Burt followed Murphy into the house.
Mia walked over and received a warm hug from her husband. They took a moment to count their blessings before going inside to sort out how Mike ended up face first in the punchbowl.
***
Glossary
PEEPS: Paranormal Entity Exposure Partners.
Dupree, Mike: Founding partner of PEEPs and on-camera personality.
Garrett, Cid: Contractor, investigator, cameraman, and technician.
Hicks, Burt: Founding partner of PEEPs, lead investigator, and cameraman.
Jake: Ghost, research and computers.
Martin, Mia Cooper: Sensitive, lead investigator, and security. Ted’s wife and Brian Martin’s mother.
Martin, Ted: Lead technician, computers, and communications. Mia’s husband and Brian Martin’s father.