Crossroads

by Alexie Aaron [Aaron, Alexie]

  “You can see why he didn’t bring it up.”

  “I can now.”

  “You’d be playing a heroine, maybe a role model for young women.”

  “Not dressed like that. Abigor puts more clothes on his concubines.”

  “Tell you what, let Burt talk about how the studio envisions your character. Maybe they don’t want you exposed like that.”

  “Alright, tell Burt to go ahead and explore this. I’ll inform Alan they’re sniffing around so he’s not surprised. And since he’s Burt’s lawyer, have him insist on a non-refundable fee to option the work. This way, maybe I can get some rent out of the cheapskate.”

  Ted put his hand under her chin and lifted her face. “Tell me why you’re really opposed to this?”

  “Are you okay with this? I’m your wife. And the last time I got all of this attention…”

  “That wasn’t me. I’m proud of who you are. You don’t have to worry about me because I know you love me, want to be with me, and have turned down ruling the underworld just to be Mrs. Ted Martin. Let’s make some money while we can, and then we can retire and get fat on Cid cuisine.”

  “I’m really too old for this part,” Mia said.

  “You don’t really look in the mirror much, do you?” Ted accused.

  “Have you read these novels?” Mia asked.

  “Maybe.”

  “Yes or no?”

  “Yes.”

  “So, do I have to worry about anything else?”

  “You have a lot of sex with a guy who looks a lot like me,” Ted lied.

  Mia lifted an eyebrow. “As soon as I get the okay, I intend on doing just that.”

  Ted grinned.

  “I wonder where I would find such a guy?” Mia asked, walking away.

  “Hello,” Ted said. “I’d like to audition for the part.”

  Chapter Twenty-eight

  Old Man Taylor looked at Mia as she entered the Historical Society room. She put the stack of books Cid had asked her to pick up down on the table before she walked up to him and asked, “Do you still have the campers’ account of the incident at Eagle’s Nest Preserve?”

  The ghost nodded and pointed to the bottom shelf where the memoirs had been shelved. Mia sat on the ground and went through them. It took her a while. She got interested in a few gossipy journals that didn’t have anything to do with the subject at hand.

  She had just extracted the volume she was interested in when a man walked in. He didn’t see her on the floor right away.

  “Oh hello,” he said. “Another local history buff?”

  “Maybe,” Mia said, getting off the floor.

  “I’m Scott Hogan. My grandparents are renting me their brownstone for the coming school year. I’m going to be teaching history at the high school.”

  “Teaching is an admirable profession,” Mia said. “I’m Mia Martin. My husband and I live outside of town.”

  “You look familiar.”

  “Must just have one of those faces. My son Dieter is going to be a junior this year.”

  “I may have him in my class. History is required in the junior year.”

  “I’m hoping he doesn’t enroll in an honors class.”

  “That’s an odd thing to say. Don’t you want your child to succeed?” Scott questioned.

  “It’s not that. You see, his best friend takes all the honors classes, and English isn’t Dieter’s first language, so he has to work harder to understand tests, and projects are tougher for him.”

  “Dieter is the young man from Nigeria,” Scott realized. “I’ve heard about him.”

  “He speaks several languages, but there still is a learning curve,” Mia said.

  “I thought you looked too young to have a high-schooler. Is this your stepson?”

  “Adopted son. And I could have had a kid his age, just saying…” Mia mumbled.

  “I’m sorry, I’m being way too forward. I forgot just how touchy you midwestern people are.”

  Mia looked at the forty-something man and narrowed her eyes. “I’m not touchy.” Mia picked up her books and walked out. She had to wait in line to check out and knew before he said anything who was standing behind her.

  “I didn’t mean to offend you,” Scott apologized.

  Mia didn’t like to make a scene in front of the librarian. “No problem.”

  Mia left and stood on the porch a moment, trying to remember where she parked the SUV.

  “Can I give you a lift home?” Scott asked.

  “I drove. Please don’t misunderstand me, Mr. Hogan. I’m not used to people being friendly to me without wanting something. You’ll soon find out that I’m the town freak. I grew up here and was put on the persona non grata list. If you want to succeed here, you may want to steer clear of me.”

  “Oh, I see,” Scott said. “I don’t need you to protect me, Mrs. Martin. I’m here to teach history, nothing more. May I ask why you ended up the town’s whipping girl?”

  Mia looked at Scott. “I’m a sensitive. I can see ghosts. I didn’t know other people couldn’t, so I didn’t know to hide my abilities when I was young. That graveyard over there is teeming with spirits because the ground was never consecrated. When I was a young girl, I found myself pursued by ghosts and it broke me, and I screamed until someone came and got me. I’m the girl who screamed in the graveyard. I’m Crazy Cooper. I’m sure there are worse names. There are people here who never forgot. They love to remind me and, unfortunately, my children.”

  “Why don’t you move?”

  “I did. But this is my home, and I’ll be damned if anyone is going to force me out. There still are a lot of good things about Big Bear Lake, Mr. Hogan. I’m just trying to save you from experiencing the bad.”

  “There’s a ghost in my neighborhood.”

  “Edwin Gifford. He’s not a bad sort, just stay off Bea White’s lawn. I lived in the house that burned down across the street. My dad still owns the lot.”

  Scott smiled. “Thank you for the information. Saves me sifting through all those gossipy pamphlets. I’m sorry, I came on a little strong. What were you doing in the local history room?”

  “There is some dangerous nonsense going on in the Eagle’s Nest Preserve. I’m just getting some information to see if it warrants PEEPs going in and investigating.”

  “That’s where I recognize you from. You have a guy on there named Burt Hicks.”

  “Yes.”

  “He and I have a little history. I’ve followed his ghost-hunting career ever since he helped me out of a jam in college. Ask him if he remembers Scott Hogan when you get a chance.” Scott opened his notebook and extracted a piece of paper. He wrote his phone number on it. “Tell him to give me a call. I’d love to catch up.”

  “Will do.”

  “God, she’s collecting another man. Freaking whore,” Lisa Lane-Cordoba said to her companion as she walked up the steps.

  Mia looked at Scott. “Remember, I tried to save you.”

  ~

  Burt looked at the name and smiled. “How the hell did you run into him?”

  “Library,” Mia said and handed him the pamphlet. “Says he’s the new history teacher.”

  “Did he hit on you?” Burt asked.

  “Nah. But he was pretty friendly.”

  “He was the golden boy of our university. I think he could show Whit a few things with the football.”

  “I didn’t know you went to college. How do I not know this stuff?” Mia asked.

  “We weren’t exactly talking a lot when we were together.”

  Mia blushed.

  “His frat house had a little poltergeist problem. Nothing that I could do much about but caution them on where not to put their breakables. I wonder if the place is still haunted?”

  “Maybe it would be a good investigation,” Mia said. “Hicks goes back to school.”

  “No thanks. I still think I owe housing for the bed
I broke.”

  “Stop!” Mia said. “I have a feeling I know how you broke it. I’m going to go and take a cold shower and then read a dirty book.”

  Burt laughed. Mia could be so entertaining when she wasn’t grumpy.

  Mia walked out of the office right into a wall of muscle. She looked up. “Sorry, Ed.”

  Ed looked at Mia and shook his head. “You have to look up. Remember, nothing is going to attack you from the ground.”

  “Snakes. Di inferi. Demons. Do I need to go on?” Mia asked.

  “Judy isn’t feeling well.”

  “Where is she?”

  “Aerie. Altair said it’s a pregnancy thing.”

  “You let Altair play doctor with your wife?” Mia asked. “You know he wasn’t always an angel.”

  “Are you trying to make me feel insecure?” Ed asked, picking Mia up and tossing her over his shoulder.

  “Put me down or I’ll castrate you,” Mia warned.

  “Nope. I can tell you’re not carrying a weapon. How come you’re going around unarmed?”

  “I’m retired. Ed, put me down,” Mia insisted.

  “Nope.”

  Mia bounced along over his shoulder until they got to the aerie. “After I finish with Judy, I’m going to make you eat mud,” Mia threatened.

  “You’re out of shape, and you don’t frighten me.”

  Mia stormed into the building. She softened her expression when she saw Judy’s face. “What’s going on?”

  “I think the baby may be in trouble,” she said.

  Mia walked over to the couch and took off her gloves. She placed her hands on Judy. “I feel a strong heartbeat.”

  “He’s not moving like he did.”

  “He’s a big boy, there’s not much room. Adam was a big kid, remember?”

  “Yes.”

  “Let me have Nanny Berta come and examine you. If she thinks there is a problem, I’ll see if Idra can come and visit.”

  “No.”

  “Why?”

  “She makes me uncomfortable.”

  “Who’s your obstetrician?”

  “I don’t have one.”

  “Hoo boy.”

  “I didn’t need one with Adam.”

  “What about Dr. Walters? I know he’s a GP, but I’d trust him with my life.”

  Nanny Berta walked in. “Ed’s watching the girls.”

  “I didn’t even see him leave,” Mia said.

  Nanny Berta examined Judy and smiled. “The baby isn’t in distress, but you’re very close to delivering.”

  “Oh dear,” Judy said. “The house is not going to be ready.”

  “What if we bring in more help?” Mia asked. “I’ll go over and ask Cid.”

  “We could squeeze another baby into the nursery,” Nanny said.

  “Paula should be leaving as soon as they fix the damage in her house. It may be a little close in the guestroom for Ed.”

  “Oh, Mia, you have so much on your plate as it is. I feel so embarrassed. We weren’t thinking beyond the New Mexico dig.”

  “My dad can be a bit obsessive.”

  “Where’s Adam?”

  “With your father and Varden. They are digging worms, and then they are going fishing.”

  “Oh joy, fish again,” Mia said. “Maybe we can encourage them to catch and release.”

  “Mia, we left our baby things on the island.”

  “Baby things as in…”

  “Furniture, clothes, and diapers,” Judy said.

  “Can we bring them through a portal?” Mia asked.

  “I don’t know. That’s Ed’s department,” Judy confessed. She smiled. “Little Charles is moving.”

  “Charles?”

  “Ed wanted to name him after your dad.”

  “I imagine he likes that,” Mia said. “I’m going to go and check out the situation. Maybe put the girls in the stroller so Ed and I can have a little talk about responsibility.”

  Nanny held her tongue until Mia left. “I’ve not figured out the connection between your husband and Mia.”

  “My husband is He-who-walks-through-time, a superhuman from the time when Cahokia flourished. He donated blood to Mia when she was in need. He then performed the blood rite, and they are now siblings. Varden and his sisters are considered part of Ed’s tribe. Brian was born before the blood rite. Long story short, when it came time for us to become part of this society, Ed decided since Mia was his sister, he was then Dr. Cooper’s son or Ed Cooperson.”

  “That is some tale.”

  “Before the blood transfusion, I worried that Ed was waiting out Ted’s death and was going to take Mia as his mate.”

  “Oh dear.”

  “Mia was never interested, but Ed doesn’t think in a twenty-first century way. But since the blood rite, he is happy to still be in some way her protector.”

  “I’m sure that Mia doesn’t need another protector. Honestly, I don’t think she needs anyone to protect her,” Nanny commented. “I have never met a stronger life force than that little bird.”

  “Ed was the first to train Mia. She was having a problem with Angelo. He taught her how to kill birdmen. In his day, the birdmen took women without courtship.”

  “You’re a birdwoman, Mia is part birdman, how do you all get along?”

  “Very carefully,” Judy said and laughed. “I think that Mia would make an excellent mate for Nicholai when Ted completes his lifespan. We need to continue to breed valiant birdmen.”

  “He’s sterile.”

  “I didn’t know,” Judy admitted.

  “Mia doesn’t want any other husband beyond Ted,” Nanny told Judy. “I think it’s best if that subject is dropped. Mia doesn’t want to give birth to any more children.”

  Altair, who was quietly sitting in the corner unnoticed, took all this conversation in.

  “I did hear rumors that Mia had a problem with Angelo.”

  “Which I understand has been all sorted,” Judy said.

  “But what about Victor?”

  Altair’s ears picked up.

  “What about Victor?” Nanny Berta asked. “To my understanding, he doesn’t like Mia, and she cringes when his name is mentioned.”

  “That’s Soren’s fault.”

  “I’ll have a talk with him,” Nanny Berta said. “He still values my words.”

  “Good, that’s Mia sorted.”

  Altair smiled. He had forgotten about Ed and Mia’s relationship. Poor little bird had Ed and Lazar taking a familial protection role. Mia was not fond of patriarchal societies. Still, it was nice to know that Mia did have lots of eyes on her when he went back to the sanctuary. Sariel could only do so much. It took more than a village to watch over Mia.

  ~

  Enos read through the campers’ account of the haunting twice.

  “What do you think?” Burt asked.

  “It’s very similar. There seems to be one ghost with more than simply ‘Get off my land!’ in mind.”

  “Now read Mia’s,” Burt said, handing him the summary of the incident he wrote from Mia’s journal.

  “I’m going to break his arms,” Enos said, getting up.

  “Calm down. She wasn’t harmed. She said she felt the ghost was showing his dominance. This is something we’re going to have to be careful of if we decide to investigate the situation up there fully.”

  Ed walked by the office window, carrying Mia over his shoulder, heading to Cid’s house.

  Burt looked at Enos. “Now there is something you can do something about.”

  “He’s family. Mia walks too slow for him.”

  “She hates to be picked up,” Burt said.

  “Ted does it,” Enos argued.

  “That’s not right either, but in his mind, it’s romantic,” Burt explained.

  “I ran Stephanie out of the woods with her thrown over my shoulder,” Enos confessed.

  “Maybe not
the best thing to do,” Burt said. “Unless it was supposed to be romantic?”

  Enos didn’t say anything.

  “How are we ordinary men supposed to compete with you guys?” Burt asked.

  Enos laughed. “I heard that you have no problem in that department.”

  Burt blinked twice. “Who told you what?”

  “Murphy says, ‘Watch your girl because they can’t help falling for Burt.’”

  Burt laughed. “I had no idea my superpower was stealing women.”

  “Maybe you have a little birdman in you? Historically, we didn’t court; we just swooped down and took off with our brides.”

  “Enos. You are not to behave that way here,” Burt said sternly.

  Enos smiled. “Don’t worry, Nanny Berta would pin my ears back if I dared to act like that.”

  Cid answered the door to see kicking legs and Ed holding them. “Come on in.”

  Ed put Mia down, and she hauled off and slugged him. Ed didn’t seem to notice. Mia rubbed her hand.

  “Judy is nearing her time,” Ed said.

  “Okay.”

  “We want to know how soon until the house is going to be livable?” Mia asked.

  “Depends on whether they want the walls painted or not?”

  “Let’s say no,” Mia said.

  “In a few days, I’ll have the primer on. There aren’t any appliances aside from the furnace and water heater,” Cid said. “The bathroom fixtures are in and plumbed.”

  “What’s left in the budget?” she asked Ed.

  “Not much.”

  Mia turned to Ed. “I still have some connections at the salvage yard. Could you put up with a used stove and refrigerator until you can afford better?”

  “It’s not me you have to ask. I could put up with a campfire and an icehouse.”

  “Good point.” Mia picked up the phone and called the aerie.

  Judy answered.

  “Could you make do with a clean, used refrigerator and stove for a few months?” Mia asked.

  “Yes.”

  “Thanks, bye.” Mia looked at Cid. “I’m going to need to borrow your truck.”