“I’m fine, aside from rampaging hormones…”
“Hormones are messengers, Mia. They are sent by your brain to fix something. How are you feeling?”
“I’m off the rails, mentally. I’m fighting for my marriage while trying to keep things normal for Brian. I was hoping getting away from it all would help to calm me.”
“I’m sorry, I didn’t know you and Ted were having problems.”
“For the most part, we’ve been able to sort through the initial problems, but they’ve left open wounds that not even you can heal.”
“Mia, I’m not a marriage counselor, and I’ve never been married, but I watched my parents go through hell and come out stronger. My father was a prisoner of war in Nam. When he came home, Mom didn’t know who he was anymore, but she dug in her heels and got to know who he had become, burying who he used to be. Am I making any sense?”
Mia nodded. “You’re saying I should give up what we were and learn to appreciate what we are now.”
“Yes, but you need to take a few moments to mourn the past before you’ll be able to put it behind you, and when you do, you have to do it without regrets.”
“You are a very wise man.”
“When you get everything sorted, I would like you to come back in and let me in on how that tattoo you have on your wrist moves.”
“I’ll do more than that. When I’m ready, I’ll show you all it can do. You may be sorry you asked,” Mia said.
“I may be. Good luck, Mia. I’m rooting for you and Ted. I’ve never met two crazier people. You both deserve the other.”
Mia giggled. “I hope he thinks so too.”
~
“While the three of you are gone, Murphy and I are going to work on a few things that need to be done. I need to paint. Brian came too soon, so his room is still just primer,” Cid said, putting a hot mug in front of him.
Ted looked over at him. “Please keep track of your time. We can afford to pay you.”
“You can pay for the supplies. I’m just earning my board,” Cid said, his eyes twinkling.
“I think you’re looking forward to having the farm to yourself,” Ted said.
“Maggie, Jake and Murphy are here. I’m hardly alone,” he said.
“You know what I mean.”
“Yes. I am looking forward to thinking about me for a change. Selfish bachelor time. I may even have a wild party,” he threatened.
Ted laughed.
“How about you? Are you looking forward to being without your gadgets?”
“That’s going to be tough. But I understand why Mia wants this. She wants both of us to concentrate and get to know each other again.”
“I think it’s a wise move on her part.”
“She really is wonderful, isn’t she?” Ted said.
Cid felt a rush of hope move through him. “She’s too good for the likes of you.”
“Nah, I think I’m her best fit. We fit quite nicely….”
Cid put his hands over his ears. “Stop.”
Ted laughed and raised his mug. “Here’s to Superman and his kryptonite.”
“And here’s to Batman, who has been given another chance. May he realize that by giving, he receives so much more than he would if he just took.”
“Wise words.”
Murphy moved out of the kitchen hall where he’d been listening to the two techs. He wasn’t happy with Mia’s moratorium on him following them to the cabin on Wolf’s Head Lake. She said she needed to fly solo for a while, and he would respect that, no matter how much he would worry about her while she was gone. She had new secrets to impart to Ted, things that he and Audrey already knew about. He prayed that Ted would realize, like he did, that Mia may change physically, but under it all, she was still the Mia that both of them loved.
~
Mia met Audrey at the mall as she promised. Audrey was excited to show her what she had found. She drew Mia into a store with a lot of very flexible mannequins, wearing soft clothing, displayed in the windows. Mia could appreciate the colors but was puzzled as to why Audrey was so excited.
She followed Audrey around the store as her friend scooped up this and that, holding them up to Mia to judge the colors on her. She followed Mia into an overly large dressing room and ordered her to strip.
Mia, who rarely let nudity embarrass her, was beet red.
“Come on, put this on and this,” Audrey said, handing Mia a bra that opened in the front. Mia put it on, and then Audrey pulled a tank over Mia’s head.
“I feel like I’m a three-year-old,” Mia complained.
“Trust me,” Audrey said, handing her the yoga pants.
“Okay, now what?” Mia asked, expecting Audrey to hand her something else.
“Do it.”
“I beg your pardon?”
Audrey tapped her two wrists together.
“Here?”
“Yes.”
Mia peeled the edge of her glove away and did as she was told. And as the tats appeared, Audrey stepped away so Mia could see her back in the three-way mirror behind her. She looked like a confused Goth for a moment. But when the wings moved out of her, she smiled. “Oh my!”
“See, you don’t have to be naked to fly,” Audrey said, jumping up and down.
Mia extended the wings as far as the room would allow. She smiled as Audrey touched one of the wings tenderly.
“Even in just the bra, you look fierce. Perhaps you would like darker, stronger colors?” Audrey asked.
“No, it’s perfect. Do you mind?”
“No, please go ahead.”
Mia brought her wings back in and waited until all was settled before hugging her friend.
“They have dresses with backs like this, swimsuits and pajamas. I’m pretty sure though, the pants Ralph made would be fine. That way you could hold stuff. You can’t hold stuff in these pants,” Audrey said, snapping the waistband.
This caused Mia to laugh. “Okay. I guess I can afford a few things, even at these prices,” she said,
