Mia sat down, pulling her glove on while the men settled themselves. She accepted the offered glass of wine, but she didn’t trust her shaking hand to hold it quite yet.
Alan stared at her a moment before speaking, “Mia, Amalie or, as you know her, Amanda is Émile’s eldest daughter. She came to the United States to go to school and never returned. They knew of your mother’s career and have read her papers, but they didn’t know Amalie had a daughter until your aunt Aubree saw the Ice Queen poster. You see, you’re the image of Adele, your grandmother, at your age. They had their people contact the photographer who contacted me. I confirmed that you were indeed Amalie’s daughter. Émile wanted to meet you, privately.”
“I’m not surprised that my mother has a family, sir. My cousin Sabine, who has been doing a genealogy search, mentioned that my mother had a sister and both of her parents were living. That was the first I knew of this. I have been busy, but I did intend on pursuing an investigation of my own, I assure you.”
“You are married?” Émile asked
“Yes, and I have a child, a boy, Brian Stephen Cid Martin. He would be your…”
“Great-grandson!” Émile said with jubilation. “Here I find a granddaughter and a great-grandson. Boys are rare in our family. You are blessed to have one so soon.”
“I am pretty lucky. Tell me about my grandmother. Is she well?”
“All in good time. Let’s first start our meal.” He nodded to the waiter.
Mia took a sip of the wine. It danced on her tongue. She suppressed a giggle, and Émile winked at her.
“Mia lives out in the country in a refurbished farmhouse,” Alan said.
“We too live in a farmhouse, in Alsace. It is an old house, but we love it,” Émile assured her. “Your grandmother is ailing, but I’m sure she will rally when she hears the news that I have found not only our granddaughter but our great-grandson too.”
“I don’t mean to be indelicate, but can you explain why my mother would not mention you to me, ever?”
“Very simply, we embarrass her. We are artists and clowns. Amalie doesn’t like laughter, and we can’t help who we are. You either laugh or you cry, and we prefer to laugh. Your aunt Aubree is a comedian. She was touring your fine country when she saw the poster, found the contest video, and finally, the one of you putting yourself in such danger. PEEPs, I believe it is called.”
Mia blushed. “I don’t normally participate in contests. That was a one-off. I do, however, investigate the paranormal with my friends in the Paranormal Entity Exposure Partners. My husband Ted is one of the partners,” she said proudly.
“And where is my great-grandson during these investigations?”
“We have a wonderful friend who watches him while we are away, and sometimes, my cousin Sabine helps out. She has triplet girls. Her husband recently passed. We named Brian after him. He was a very brave man, a knight.”
Émile listened to her intently, and when he talked, his face readily expressed his emotions. “Aubree’s two daughters are living at the farm with us. Just until they are out of university.”
“That’s what family is for,” Mia said wistfully. “I had a much different experience growing up. I had two godfathers and a grandmother to watch over me when I was small.”
“I am sorry, we have not met sooner, Mia,” Émile said, meaning it.
“Me too. Tell me, how long are you here?”
“Not long, I will be leaving in the morning. I, however, issue an invitation for you, your husband and son to come and spend time with us. Your grandmother, Adele, would so love to have someone to fuss over. Think about it. I will pay for your journey. Life has been good to us. Let us share it with you, Mia.”
“I would love that, Grandfather Neyer.”
“No, you must call me Papa Émile, I insist.”
“Thank you, Papa Émile. Thank you for finding me,” Mia said sincerely.
~
Alan took her back to Ralph’s and walked her to the condo where she would change before traveling back to the farm.
“Alan, what a surprise! How did Émile become your client?”
“He set up a trust for you and your heirs.”
“Without meeting me first?”
“He said that he could tell by the PEEPs video that you had a sense of humor and you were one of theirs.”
“This is overwhelming,” Mia confessed.
“Don’t worry, Mia. I will take good care of you. You’re part of my family too. You and that rascal ghost of yours.”
“He’s hardly mine,” Mia said dryly.
“Keep telling yourself that,” Alan said, kissed her on the cheek and left her standing in the doorway.
~
Mia tried Ted’s cell as soon as she had cleared the city traffic. It went to voicemail. “I have so much to tell you,” she said excitedly. “Call me!”
She next called the house and Cid picked up. “Martin residence, head house-elf speaking.”
“Cid, this is Mia.”
“So says your caller ID,” he reminded her.
He sounded funny. His voice had a tremble to it. “Cid, what’s wrong?”
“Come home, and I’ll explain everything.”
“Ted? Brian?”
“Brian’s fine. Come home. How did your dinner go?”
“I met my mother’s father. I have grandparents in France and an aunt and cousins.”
“That’s wonderful. Hold on to that feeling. Come home.”
Mia pushed the truck to its factory recommended top speed. Soon she was pulling into the driveway. Ted’s car was gone. Mia launched herself out of the truck. Cid ran out of the farmhouse holding on to Brian.
“Where?” Mia asked, tears streaming down her face.
“On his way to Kansas.”
“His parents, sisters?”
“They’re fine. Everybody is fine except… Come on in. Hug your son, and don’t hate me, Mia. I swear to God, I thought it was going to go in a different direction.”
Mia rocked Brian and told him about Papa Émile. “I held his hand, and so much
