“That would be horrible,” Ted said.
“Yes. But you can’t blame him. In ancient times, the healers would present the locked-in to the thorn oak, and it would pull the soul from the body so it could move on. It was considered a mercy. That aberration we dealt with in the mall is a genetically modified thorn oak. It digests the souls instead of allowing them to move into the light,” Mia said, frowning.
“Life is so much simpler when you’re ignorant of the world around you,” Ted commented, handing Mia the next plate to dry. “You said Mark was haunted?”
“There is an old house that calls to him. I saw a brief glimpse when I handed him the Dr. Pepper. I’ve got to learn to keep my gloves on.”
“No, Mia, I want you to feel. Talk to me, and let me feel with you,” Ted said.
Mia looked up at him and didn’t know how to respond. On one hand, she was so overcome with emotion at the love he was pouring forth, but she knew the heavy burden she would be giving him. “I can’t do that to you. One of us must remain sane for Brian’s sake.”
Ted’s watch buzzed. He tossed down the dishrag and pulled Mia along to the window. “The sun is setting.” He wrapped his arms around her, and the two of them watched the sky paint itself with golds and reds. The water became a looking glass repeating the colors as the waves rippled underneath the sky.
“It’s so beautiful, Teddy Bear,” Mia said. “I’m so glad we came.”
“Me too. Brian seems to be settling in like a champ. He’s asleep. I think it’s high time we were too.”
Mia looked at his watch, and for a couple of paranormal investigators, this was early. Ted leaned down and whispered, “I want you, Mia. I want you in my bed, now.”
They locked the doors and turned out the lights. Soon Mia was being swept away by Ted’s version of being tucked in.
Mark saw the lights go out in Sunset Cottage from the window of his room. The Martins must have been very tired after their drive. The phone call with his mother had gone well. She had been able to absorb the material after all these years. She also had a report from the care home, and his father was holding his own. His grandparents were optimistic. He wished he could feel that way. Tomorrow, he wanted to visit the Martins again. Mia seemed to understand what he was feeling without him saying a word. He would show her the picture he found in his grandmother’s bible. It did look just like her, except this angel had real wings.
Chapter Eighteen
Mia moved around the cottage, careful of where she put her feet. Ted and Brian were still asleep. She took the cup of hot coffee out on the deck with her. She wore Ted’s jersey and nothing else. She pulled her legs in and tugged the shirt over her bent knees as she sat in the Adirondack chair. She gazed at the still lake and counted her blessings. Her husband was taking his giant-sized strides towards her. Gone were the tentative steps, restrained by the fear of rejection. She had bared herself to Ted, and he had accepted her, adored her, and loved her.
She sipped her coffee and thought about what she was going to say to Angelo Michaels. She owed him an explanation. He, like Murphy, tended to take on a chauvinistic role when dealing with her. He wasn’t her father, and he would never be her lover. If he wanted her to listen to his counsel, he had to find another role that both of them could live with. Mia took her grandmother’s words seriously when she mentioned Mia working with Angelo. Mia had to make peace with him, and she had to do it soon.
She pulled off Ted’s shirt and extended her wings before wrapping them around her and disappearing.
Angelo sat perched above the herb garden and glared at the city full of humans going about their business without a thought about who was keeping them safe.
“Don’t turn around, Angelo,” Mia said softly. “I’m only here for a moment.”
He took off his dressing gown and tossed it behind him.
“Thank you,” Mia said, wrapping the expensive silk around her naked body. “I didn’t think ahead.”
“You never do. May I turn around now?” he asked.
“Yes. Sorry.”
Angelo was wearing the silk pajama bottoms to the wrapper. He looked down at Mia and smiled. “You came here without thinking…”
“I wanted to explain.” Mia walked up to him and reached out her hand. “But I think I need to show you. Come into my mind, Angelo.”
“I hesitate to do so. Last time, I fucked things up royally.”
“Oh dear, your language. You have been in my mind too many times,” Mia teased. “Come, I only have a moment.”
It just took a moment. Mia watched his face and saw the brows unknit and the jaw unclench. He opened his eyes and regarded Mia.
“You have his feather inside you.”
He could tell by her shocked look that she had no idea.
“I don’t think he put it there to do you harm. I think it’s more a memory device. It also notified him you were airborne. That’s how he saved you from killing yourself. You silly, indulgent little bird.”
“But I’m not a little bird, Angelo. I’m not a bird at all. Mia turned around, dropped the robe and opened her wings.
Angelo took a step back as the mighty wings of an archangel were presented. “How in the world?”
Mia grabbed the robe and clutched it to her front before turning around to face him. “Not a bird, not an angel. What am I?”
“Something wonderful,” he said. “Forgive me, Mia. I have
