Crossroads

by Alexie Aaron [Aaron, Alexie]

  “Keys are over there. When are you going to get your own truck?”

  “When I sign my dignity away,” Mia said, now resigned to where she was going to get the money to help Ed out in the future.

  Chapter Twenty-nine

  Murphy and Charles walked in companionable silence. Both had eyes on the tykes who stopped every few yards to examine something Mother Nature had left on the forest floor. The woods south of the river was damp from the recent rains but afforded many a distraction for the little boys.

  “Ed is fond of telling me that Varden is every bit his son as Adam is,” Charles told Murphy.

  “Varden is stronger than most human/birdman hybrids according to Enos,” Murphy said. “Judy saved Mia with Ed’s blood. I remember Ed promising that Mia’s children would be his children. He would protect them with his life.”

  “When Amanda and I were in college, we had many a spirited debate on what the mindsets of these minor gods were. After working with one of them, I must admit I had it all wrong. They want to be worshipped, but they put themselves on the line for their people - if Ed’s typical of his race.”

  “Dis Pater takes his job very seriously. He’s scary. Charles, why do you dig up the dead?” Murphy asked.

  “To learn. Knowledge of the past is most important. Humans are a relatively young species on this planet. We have outlasted weather, famine, plagues, and war. What drives us to continue is told to me in fragments from the past.”

  “An old tree can tell you what the world was like climate wise. You can tell it by the rings.”

  “How?”

  “The rings are different. You can see years with good rainfall and years that were dry.

  There was a gasp and a yelp.

  Charles and Murphy looked around them, and the boys had disappeared. Charles moved quickly to where he had seen them last and found the two struggling to stand up in a shallow pit filled with three inches of mud.

  “How did you get down there?” he asked.

  Before they could answer, the ground gave out under his feet, and he slid downwards, landing on his back. Varden pulled Charles’s head up out of the mud while Adam wiped as much mud off the older man’s face as possible.

  “Thank you, my little saviors,” Charles said. He looked upwards and saw Murphy hovering. “Take the boys out first. I think I’ll topple them over if I try to stand with them here.”

  Adam cheered as he was lifted upwards by the axe-carrying ghost.

  “Grandpop, are you alright?” Varden asked.

  “It was quite a surprise, but I’m fine, Varden.”

  Murphy lifted Varden out and then took a moment to rest before trying to extract Charles out of what resembled a grave. Charles kept sliding in the mud and couldn’t get to his feet.

  Varden and Adam found some old pine boughs and tossed them into the muddy pit. Charles was able to stay on his feet long enough to grab Murphy’s axe handle and be pulled upwards. He kept looking at his hands after.

  “What’s wrong, Grandpop?” Varden asked.

  “Stephen’s spectral axe made my hands tingly.”

  “When he used to rock me to sleep, I was tingly all over,” Varden said.

  “You can remember that?” Charles asked, amazed.

  “Grandpop, I remember everything.”

  Brian was surprised to see his mother and Uncle Ed waiting to pick him up from summer camp. He let Ed swing him around and rode his shoulders proudly to Cid’s truck.

  “How’d it go, kiddo?” Mia asked.

  “I missed my best friend.”

  “Noah still needs the okay from Uncle Tom before he can leave the farm. You can help him catch up by letting us know what you did today.”

  Brian was very chatty. He named a few boys and a girl he’d never met before. He kept looking behind him in the back of the truck. “Who’s that riding in the back with the stuff?”

  Mia pulled over at the park, got out, and lifted the tarp. “Hello, can I help you?” she asked the ghost rider.

  “Graveyard?” the odd-looking man asked.

  “Through that gate,” Mia pointed out.

  “Thank you kindly. Things have changed on this side of town,” he said and hopped out. “Young lady, you look familiar.”

  “Mia Cooper Martin.”

  “Andy’s Mia.”

  “His friend.”

  “I’m his uncle Bob. I heard through the grave-line that he’s going to be a godfather.”

  “Yes, to my daughter Maeve.”

  “I’ve come to give him some advice and tell him where to find my cuff links.”

  “Where did you get on the truck?”

  “Salvage yard. Me and Dirty Pete hang out there.”

  “Did I get a good deal?” Mia asked, looking at the appliances.

  “You have the only refrigerator that works without whining.”

  “Well, that’s something. Mr. Bob Carmichael, it’s a pleasure to meet you.”

  Mia adjusted the tarp.

  “Cooper!” Acalan called from across the street.

  Mia waved back.

  The artist jogged across the street. “I thought you were having truck trouble as fast as you pulled over.”

  “I had a ghost rider,” Mia said. “Have you met my brother Ed?”

  “You don’t have any brothers.”

  “Ed, tell him.”

  “I’m Mia’s brother by blood.”

  “Is that the same thing as a blood brother?” Acalan asked, looking at the mammoth man who exited the truck.

  “No.”

  Acalan looked at Mia and then at Ed. “Damned if I can find a resemblance.”

  “Ed, Acalan is an old friend from school. He beat up the bullies for me.”

  “He’s rather little.”

  “I wasn’t then,” Acalan boasted, holding out his hand. “Are you a birdman?”

  “He’s a god,” Mia said. “And you just insulted him.”

  “I would love to paint your portrait.”

  Ed raised an eyebrow.

  “How are you on cave drawings?” Mia asked.

  “I don’t know? I’ve never tried,” Acalan admitted.

  “Acalan is an artist. He can see angels, and he’s Dieter’s boss,” Mia told Ed.

  “I’m a dig foreman for Mia’s father. Before that, I was a god.”

  “He’s not kidding,” Mia said.

  Acalan knew there was a bigger story, and he would wait for it. “I have to get back, but I would love to sit and have a conversation sometime, Ed.”

  “I would like that too,” Ed said. “Right now, I have to put a stove and a refrigerator in my new house. My wife is going to give birth any day now.”

  “So, you’re moving here?” Acalan asked.

  “Down the street from Mia.”

  “Welcome to Big Bear Lake, Ed.”

  Ed grinned. “Thank you, Acalan.”

  ~

  Paula looked at Noah who had his arms wrapped around Brian. “This is why I need to stay here,” she told Burt who was rocking on the porch next to her.

  “I have selfish reasons for wanting you two to stay,” Burt said.

  Paula looked over and smiled. “Is it my pizza?”

  “And your company,” Burt admitted.

  Lazar opened the door. “Mr. Hicks, will you be staying for dinner?”

  Burt was hesitant. He didn’t want to make a pest of himself.

  “Mia didn’t cook it.”

  “Then yes, I would love to have dinner with the family.”

  “Just getting a count. Have either of you seen Dr. Cooper?”

  “He was taking the boys fishing. I think Murphy went along.”

  Lazar looked at his watch. “Could I inconvenience you to ring the bell?”

  “Wait, they’re coming up the drive. Oh my!” Paula said, looking at the mud-covered trio. She got off the porch and ran up to take a very sleepy looking
Adam off Charles’s hands.

  “We slid down into a pit,” Varden said.

  “It wasn’t a pit, Varden,” Charles said. “More like a shallow grave.”

  “It took Uncle Murphy three tries to get my grandpop out,” Varden said.

  “I don’t know if I should hose you two off before putting you in the tub or just dip you in the creek?” Lazar said.

  Varden was keen on either prospect. Adam had already fallen asleep on Paula’s shoulder.

  “The women aren’t going to let me take the boys out again,” Dr. Cooper grumbled.

  “Not if we get them nice and clean, first, before they hear the story,” Paula conspired.

  “I’ll run the tub, but maybe we should put the boys in the shower first,” Burt offered. “Come on, Varden, show me where your bathroom is.” Burt reached out a hand.

  Varden ran and gave Charles a kiss before taking Burt’s hand.

  “I’ll watch the big boys,” Lazar said, happy to get out of mud-bath duty.

  “I’m headed for the shower, and then I’m going to go back and put up some warning markers. Someone could have gotten hurt. Where is everyone else?”

  “Helping to finish Ed’s house. Evidently, Judy has her due date wrong, and the baby is coming any day now.”

  “I’ll get cleaned up and then watch these boys so you can get back to what you were doing.” Dr. Cooper walked to the carriage house and entered through an open garage door.

  Murphy climbed the porch and sat down next to Lazar.

  “You’ve had a time of it,” Lazar said.

  “It took me awhile to recharge. That hole was not there yesterday.”

  “Where?”

  “Just south of the creek. Someone is digging for something.”

  “Do you think there’s gold in them there woods?” Lazar asked.

  “No. Just mushrooms and moss. It’s very wet up there,” Murphy said.

  “Have you ever been up north of the bridge?” Lazar asked.

  “A few times, but just on the road. The bridge zaps all the energy out of me.”

  “I’m starting to think the lumber company woke something up, and it’s on the move,” Lazar said.

  “I think you’re right. Enos was up there and said that spirits chased him out,” Murphy reported.

  “I’m not but a seat filler in the command center, but if I were in charge, I’d ask you to do daily rounds to see how fast these holes are appearing and just how soon they will impact the living population.”

  “You’re a military man. You see this as a battle,” Murphy said.

  “Isn’t it?” Lazar asked.

  “I hope not.”

  Mia helped Cid put in a temporary fix to bring the old stove to the level of the counters, above the sheet vinyl Judy had chosen because of the ease of maintenance. When the Coopersons could afford the stove of Judy’s dreams, then it wouldn’t take more than removing a few wood screws to accommodate the superior appliance.

  Ted and Ed were painting in the other rooms. They had the height and arm length to complete the task several times faster than Mia could. But they were messier.

  “Thank god, you haven’t put in any flooring yet. You are going to put in flooring?” Mia questioned Cid.

  “Yes, when they can afford it.” Cid motioned for Mia to come outside before he spoke quietly. “They have no money. Ed can’t get a bank loan because he has no credit history. I’m doing the best I can. They know that things aren’t going to be like Woodlands. They wouldn’t be the first family to live with plywood floors.”

  “I’m sorry,” Mia said. “I know you’re doing the best job possible. I’m worried about you being able to get an occupation permit from the county.”

  “Me too.”

  “Susan said that they’re getting new bleachers for the high school gymnasium. I saw someone on YouTube using these for flooring.”

  “I think that is an excellent idea. I have all the machinery to reclaim the wood. I wonder how much the high school is going to want for the wood and how fast we can get it?” Cid asked.

  “I’m going to see if I can strike a bargain. May I borrow your truck again?”

  “If you’re going to bring me back Douglas Fir or better, then yes. I’ll have Murphy work on making pegs to cover all the bolt holes.”

  Mia put her phone in her pocket and shook her head. She received the information she needed from Susan Braverman, who thought it was a marvelous idea. The only fly in the ointment was that the interim athletic director was a new guy that Susan had little to no dealings with.

  “Scott Hogan?” Mia had asked, putting her hand on her upset stomach.

  “Yes.”

  “Please, call him. Ask him if it would be alright if I dropped by to talk to him this evening.”

  Susan called, and Mia was told that Mrs. Martin would be welcome anytime.

  Mia started the truck and stopped at home to feed the girls first and change into something more fitting a negotiation. Lazar was waiting for her at the bottom step. “I take it you won’t be joining us tonight?”

  “I’m going to try and talk some wood out of a guy.”

  “Then may I suggest something more feminine?”

  “Honestly, I could just throttle you,” Mia snapped. “Do I look that bad?”

  “Why are you dressed like a Birkenstock model?”

  “I don’t believe you just said that. Does your mother know half the stuff that comes out of your mouth?”

  “Dress like you’re going to negotiate with Roumain.”

  “No.”

  “Why?”

  “Because Burt already… Burt! I’m going to bring Burt.”

  “No.”

  “Lazar, Burt knows this guy.”

  “What are you afraid of?”

  “Being hit on.”

  “You’re hit on all the time.”

  “By a future teacher of Dieter?”

  “Oh, that’s different.”

  “Will you come with me? Everyone else is still working on Ed’s house.”

  “No.”

  Mia shook her head and walked up the stairs to change her clothes.

  Lazar smiled. He knew Mia had to do this herself. She didn’t want to, but she would respect herself more if she took on the job.

  Mia returned wearing a pair of trousers, and one of Sabine’s cast-off cashmere sweaters and gave Lazar a look that would have frosted a beer mug.

  Mia waited on the front porch. The fireflies had just started coming out. Mia estimated that maybe it was rather late to call on a man if you were a married lady, but Cid wanted to get started on reclaiming the wood tomorrow.

  Scott opened the door with a ready smile. “Why, Mrs. Martin, how nice of you to call. Although, I fear people may talk.”

  “Shut up and let me in,” Mia growled.

  Scott escorted Mia into the living room. It was a comfortable room filled with books and overstuffed furniture.

  “May I get you a beverage?”

  “Yes. Water would…”

  “Beverage as in adult speak for booze,” Scott clarified.

  “A beer would be nice…”

  “But would a whiskey be better?”

  “How’d you…”

  “I noticed you eyeing the scotch on the sideboard,” Scott said. He poured two glasses and added a bit of water. “Sit. Your choice.”

  Mia looked at the couch, then at the two chairs facing the other. She chose a chair.

  Scott was amused by Mia. He knew he had the upper hand in this conversation and wanted to see how she was going to handle things.

  “Susan Braverman mentioned that you were the gentleman in charge of hiring a team to disassemble the bleachers in the gymnasium and have them disposed of.”

  “I am he.”

  “Would you consider letting me have the lumber if I take care of removing them from the gym for free?”

  “Let me
get this straight, you’re offering the labor in lieu of payment for the wood?”

  “Yes. And I need to have the wood tomorrow.”

  Scott sat back and didn’t say anything.

  “Would it help if I told you why I need the wood tomorrow?”

  He nodded.

  “Money is tight for my brother Ed. Hell… heck, it’s tight for all of us. His wife is going to deliver a child any day now, and the knucklehead hasn’t finished his house yet. Yes, he can stay with me, but I have the twins and loads of family coming for the christening and…”

  “Take a breath.”

  She did and continued, “I have the labor to help him, but I need enough flooring to satisfy the inspector for an occupational permit.”

  “Fine. I’ll be at the gym tomorrow at seven to supervise.”

  Mia’s face lit up. “I owe you a big one. Favor,” she was quick to say.

  “What did Burt say about me, Mia?” Scott asked.

  “That you were a golden boy and god’s gift to women, something like that. I wasn’t really listening.”

  “He probably asked if I hit on you?”

  “Yes.”

  “Do a lot of men hit on you?”

  “Recently, yes. Not too fond of the activity. I’m sorry that I’ve brought this baggage with me. I’m as guilty as the women who prejudge me for something they heard. Here you are being gracious and allowing me to visit you late in the evening. I don’t know you. You’re a striking man with an easy smile, and instead of me trusting my feelings that you’re a good person, I’m treating you poorly. Please accept my apology.”

  “I accept your apology.”

  “Why with your credentials are you here in Big Bear Lake?” Mia asked.

  “I’m here living on the charity of my grandparents because I’ve just gone through divorce number three.”

  “Ouch.”

  “Yes. The last thing I’m interested in is women who play games. I enjoyed the little we did speak at the library. You were direct, honest, and trying to protect me from the somewhat undeserved reputation you have.”

  “I gather Lisa Lane-Cordoba spoke with you after I left.”