by Eve Paludan
“It’s more complicated than that in my head. I know that my work here with you isn’t done and that I am not ready to cross and do even more important work in the hereafter. My own medium work with you—it defines my existence here in this time and in this place.”
“Your medium work?” I echoed.
“Now you’re getting it.”
Chapter Twenty-seven
Mack flashed me a self-assured smile. “Because of how narrowly you escaped dying in Amanda’s body, I know now, more than ever, that I am meant to be here. I am meant to be your medium, as you are a medium for other mortals. Together, we provide a link between worlds to people in need. Far beyond Tarot readings and psychic phone calls, we, together, are psychic activists for the good of humanity. One person at a time. They’ll come to us when they’re meant to come to us.”
I nodded in awe. “You’re so far in your spiritual journey. Further than me.”
“Don’t compare us, Pauline. We are not even in the same state of being, so comparisons are moot. We are each beautifully unique as individuals, but it’s what we are together that is what’s truly powerful.”
My eyes pleaded for him to continue. “You make it sound almost noble.”
“I don’t want to say that my work here is noble—I hate that word. It’s so self-congratulatory. However, it’s my belief that my medium work is my purpose for being in this plane of existence with you. To be your helper and companion who can go between worlds and do whatever needs doing to help people go into the light, to go Home. Even as I stay by your side.”
“Wow. It was never an accident that you came here to me, was it?”
“No. It’s my purpose to facilitate what you do and also, to hopefully do it with humility. If I may say so with some grace, everything I believe about spirit communication tells me that I am here as your medium. I am your intimate link to the spirit world as I round up spirits and convince them to help you. To help us. And to help others, as we have in the past. Together. Before, it was almost as if I was doing this sort of helping by accident, but now, maybe we can visualize something more partnered, and not this haphazard thing we’ve done in the past.”
I was stunned. It was all true. “Mack, you have helped me so much in my lifework. Thank you for all you have done those other times besides just doing things for me. Thank you for helping to save my life, when you could have crossed into the light with me if you’d let me die in Amanda’s body. I was just one breath from death and you came up with the karmic rule that let me know I had to switch back with her.”
“It was absolutely the right thing to do, Pauline, to tell you that. We have things to accomplish together. Here. And, putting aside my pride and ego, all of that, I will always try to do the right thing. For you, and for the benefit of others.” He let out a deep breath.
I smiled. “Mack, you’re different now.”
“So are you. There were a lot of things contributing to my, enlightenment, shall we say? From my jealous outburst, I have learned the only way to get through our human failings is to let go of Self and concentrate on serving…goodness.”
“I wish I would have met you years ago, when you lived.”
“Don’t wish that, Pauline. There’s no time constraint now. Not on my end.”
“But there is on mine.”
He nodded, his dark eyes serious.
“Do you know the day, the hour, of my…death?” I had to know.
“Please don’t ask me for it. You’re not to know.”
“Oh, so you do know.” I was shocked. “I guess I better hurry up then, with our work.”
“Take it as it comes,” Mack suggested. “But now, in this part of your life, turn no one away who asks for our help. That’s all I am allowed to tell you about the future.”
“All right.” I thought for a moment, of all the things I could have done, all this time that Mack had been in my life. “I’ve been so blind to your purpose here because I was looking at mine and not thinking of us as…a combined power. A symbiotic power.” I’d used the word that Allison Lopez had told Julie.
“That’s the way the human mind works. In life, we are all about Self. Perhaps my death was the only way I could depart from it. But you have let go of Self. I’ve seen you do it.”
“How so?” I asked.
“That was a hard thing for you to do, to switch bodies with Amanda.”
“It was necessary and I did have to let go of the Self’s ego to do it.” I finally realized what had driven me to do that.
“I was very scared for you. You almost died, Pauline. One moment more and—”
“But you and Allison Lopez saved me. Without you two, I would be history. But you knew I wasn’t supposed to die yet.”
He smiled. “I see that you understand more of the big picture.”
“It’s becoming clearer. I guess we’re official partners in this now. You are not just a ghost, a spirit. You’re my conduit to the other side.”
“That’s right. And you’re my conduit to this plane. Without you, I couldn’t exist here. Not like this, not so powerful. I celebrate your God-given power to connect with me at this level. I’m grateful for your spiritual permission for me to be present in your life and to share it so intimately. You’ve nurtured me and allowed me to become entwined with your very psyche.”
I nodded with a humble smile.
“Because you believe in me, I can sometimes manifest as flesh and blood—it’s almost a miracle that I can.”
“We’re truly symbiotic.”
“Yes. We’re entwined, a part of each other now, but you aren’t just a pipeline. You’re my love, Pauline. You’re my love.”
My eternal love, I heard him say in my head.
“Mack, I love you with all of my heart.” It was perhaps the greatest truth I had ever spoken. I didn’t say aloud that he was my eternal love, because I had yet to get my feet wet in eternity. So, how could I say that lovely word he’d sent to my brain? And mean it with all my heart?
I felt new and different. Changed. And yet, at my core, I was more of what I was supposed to be than I ever had been.
He leaned in closer and spoke in a soft voice. “Happy birthday, Pauline.”
I had totally forgotten that it was my birthday today! I felt a rush of happiness on top of my happiness. “Thank you, Mack!”
“I hope this is your best year ever, sweetheart.”
I melted at that last word.
At a huge thunderclap, a lightning bolt struck my wet patio outside with a sizzle and a crack that rang my eardrums and made me tremble.
“The storm,” Mack raised his arms to the ceiling and closed his eyes, “seems like a divine gift.”
His towel fell off and he seemed not to notice. But I did. He was magnificent. I couldn’t turn my eyes away in modesty. Nor did I want to deprive my eyes of the figure of a man who could have been painted on a ceiling in some ancient church. He was that…lovely. His age fell away. He was radiant, and young and strong.
I saw branches of blue light splay into a web of power between his fingertips and now, Mack seemed to be more tangible than ever. As the rain let loose, pounding the windows, Mack became solider, warmer flesh, until he became every bit as real to me as any man alive had ever been.
I gasped at his radiant, tangible form.
When he finally undressed me completely and carried me to my bed—yes, carried me as if I were weightless—he gently put me down, lightly covered my body with his, whispered my name into my neck and wet my flesh with one hot manly tear that dripped on my heart.
We shared our thoughts, aloud and telepathically, kissing over and over, as if there was oxygen in those kisses.
And, after discovering each other’s bodies with our hands and lips, we shared our physical pleasure, until I saw bursts of colored light behind my closed eyelids and heard a rush of ocean in my ears.
My heart soared as if, by making love with Mack, all of the missing pieces of my life were coming together. In all my life, I
had never felt so whole.
***
When we were exhausted, we nestled in each other’s arms, looking out the window at the pouring rain. The batteries in the TV remotes were fading, but the thunder and lightning crashed and flashed outside in a powerful electrical storm that knocked out a small transformer on the utility pole with a violent explosion.
Electrical charges seemed to arc through the air from the spark-spitting transformer like a thousand snakes and now, visible tendrils of blue light snapped and popped in the very air in my bedroom—it was a serendipitous energy boost that crackled through my hair and allowed Mack to remain tangible in my arms for what felt like an eternity.
Until morning came…
The End
***
If you enjoyed reading HOLLYWOOD HILLS, please post a book review on Amazon and tell others about it on Goodreads, Facebook, and Twitter, etc. Your support is appreciated. Thank you from the bottom of my heart!—Eve Paludan, Author
Did you miss reading books 1 and 2 of The Medium Mysteries by the amazing author, Elizabeth Basque? Please check them out:
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SILVER LAKE (Medium Mysteries #2) by Elizabeth Basque Amazon Kindle * Paperback
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HOLLYWOOD HILLS
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Eve Paludan is a bestselling author of more than thirty books. She lives in Mesa, Arizona, where she writes fiction and enjoys reading paranormal fiction, urban fantasy, romance and mysteries. She also enjoys taking scenic photos and swimming. Her books are available online on Amazon at: http://www.amazon.com/Eve-Paludan/e/B004VXHP6O/
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