“No.”
“All you have is her word for things, and you run to her, why? You don’t even like her.”
“She and I got along well before you came along.”
Mia flapped her wings behind her, lifting them up so they didn’t trail on the blacktop. She walked towards him and stopped. “I didn’t read the emails. I have no idea what was lies and what was the truth. I can’t help you out there. What I can do is show you your own words to me.”
Mia pushed into Ted’s mind, past the math and into his memories. She started a chain reaction that would present the truth before his eyes. She added in hers, and between the two of them, a holographic image emerged of their life together. “This is the truth, Ted.”
She resisted the urge to extend her wings. She didn’t want to distract him.
She waited until she felt she had made her point. She extended her wings and lifted herself off the ground.
“When did that happen?” he asked, looking at her wings.
“Most recently. It’s a byproduct of me saving your ass. And look at the thanks I get. You leave me and run to the person who wants so much to destroy me. Well, let me promise you one thing. I’ll not be destroyed. She can’t win. She’ll drop you like yesterday’s news when she finds out that I won’t let your defection break me. She’s using you. She hates me because I won. Because you love me. I know you love me, and you’ll always love me. Why? Because I’m wonderful, fantastic, and the best fuck you’ll ever have. Not that you’d know. Go ahead and bump naughty parts with boring Beth. I’m done.”
Mia lifted herself in the air and flew away.
Ted stood there stunned. “What just happened here?”
“Are you going to leave him there?” Sariel asked.
“Yes,” Mia said through clenched teeth. “Fucking idiot.”
“Mia! Your language is appalling.”
“I told you I’m not angel material.”
“Evidently not. There are better words.”
Mia let loose with a blue line of coarse, very descriptive words before she broke into laughter.
“That’s not what I meant,” he said, tipping her over.
Mia stalled and started to fall but flipped back before she lost her composure. “That was uncool, Sariel.”
“We could continue to circle, or I could show you how to soar, Mia.”
“Since I will crash when I see him continue on to Kansas, why don’t you show me? I do worry that I’m a little distracted.”
“Come, Misfit. Yes, that’s my name for you. Misfit, follow me upwards.”
Mia copied the way Sariel moved and soon caught up to him. He taught her how to remain airborne in any position. What Mia really excelled at was flying in close proximity to Sariel without her wings touching his. She instinctually understood the smallest movements and copied them. It was nothing more than learning to dance with a new partner, but this time, it was above the clouds.
There was no sexual tension, because neither of them were attracted to each other that way. Sariel had learned his lesson that Mia was not led by her loins. If he wanted to win her as his shield maiden, he would have to respect her and wait until she was ready. He was surprised when she took off for the first time. His feather inside of her alerted him that she was airborne, and he was there in minutes. He expected to see that the large Italian birdman had convinced her to fly, but when he saw that she was flying solo, quite badly but remaining airborne, to chase down the love of her life, he was impressed.
“The car is moving, Misfit,” Sariel said.
“Which way is it going?” she asked, too afraid to look.
“He’s going home. Congratulations, Mia, you won this battle.”
“But I haven’t yet saved the marriage,” she said.
“Whatever happens, don’t settle. You are meant to be adored, Misfit.”
Mia looked around her confused. “Could you point me in the right direction?”
“Oh, Misfit, you still have so much to learn.”
Sariel guided Mia to the farm and watched as she landed. She turned, looked up and saluted before she pulled her wings in and walked into the house.
“The phone’s been ringing off the hook,” Cid said as Mia made her way into the kitchen and collapsed into a chair.
She held out her hand. “Caffeine me, please.”
Cid filled a mug and placed it in her hand. Mia raised her head long enough to take a sip before laying it down on the table. “Who was on the phone?” she asked, confused.
“Your husband was, spouting promises, regrets, and there was a lot of shit I didn’t understand, but the important thing is, he’s coming home. What did you do out there?”
“I fought for him, Cid,” Mia said and fell asleep, exhausted, the coffee mug still in her hand.
Chapter Fourteen
Ted didn’t know what to expect when he arrived back at the farmhouse. Would Mia even be there waiting for him? Would Cid and/or Murphy kill him? All he knew was that he had made the single most idiotic error ever to made by anyone; he left the woman he loved. He relived the memories Mia had shown him on that deserted bit of road. The feelings that he blocked, the memories that he had pushed away, all came to bear testament that Mia Cooper was the only woman he would ever love.
His misplaced gallantry was a fantasy made up by a caffeine-addicted techie whose bible was written by Marvel Comics. He knew deep down that Beth was using him. He still thought he could save her though, but now he no longer wanted to. Sometimes you have to let go of regrets in order to move forward. Regrets anchor a floundering ship. You need to cut the cord in order to sail to safety.
Mia sat on the porch swing sipping on the coffee that she had reheated in the microwave. She had added Ted’s ring
