“I love you, Ted,” Mia said impulsively.
“Ah, Brian, the fair maiden is trying to distract us builders. Maybe we should reconsider putting in an aerie.”
Mia laughed. “I’m going in for a swim. Would you boys like to join me?”
“Not with war approaching. We have an outer perimeter fence to build,” Ted said.
“Okay,” Mia replied and walked into the warm lake water. “It’s wonderful.” She dove into the water, pushed hard with her arms and legs and surfaced quite far from shore. She swam back a few yards and began to do a couple of laps, turning when her peripheral vision acknowledged that she was a few cottages down. After her initial burst of energy, she turned and floated on her back. She gazed at the sky. A few fair-weather clouds floated by, causing little disruption in the sunshine.
She heard the soft lap of a paddle and turned over to see the Native American paddling towards her. She prepared herself to flee but saw the intent look on the brave’s face. He wanted to talk to her. She treaded water and waited for him to draw alongside.
“You can see me,” he said in very good English.
“You can speak to me,” she responded.
“I have a favor to ask.”
“Go ahead.”
“Find me, and release my remains to the sky.”
“After all this time, you will be hard to find, unless you can show me,” Mia said. “But I will do as you ask.”
“When the moon is full, I’ll be stronger then.”
Mia calculated the days and nodded. “I will be here.”
Mia watched as the brave paddled away and disappeared in the glare of the water. She swam to shore.
Ted watched as his Ice Queen emerged from the water. Mia’s newfound strength and confidence had made her more beautiful than before. Ted knew that she was unaware of this change. To Mia, she was, well, Mia, a little bit clumsy and more interested in others than to spend time primping in front of the mirror. He liked this about her and marveled at how unaffected she was by all the attention she had been getting. Modeling had been a way to gain a much needed wardrobe and a paycheck to help them to make ends meet and to cover Ted’s materials. Mia never asked how much they cost, just how fast could they get them. She made sure they fed Brian’s college fund. Each day, the child grew more and more aware of the world. Mia and Ted could see that he would always be searching for knowledge.
He held open the beach towel and wrapped her up in it. “I love you, Mia.”
“I guess I won’t be getting my aerie,” she said, looking down at the pointed tops of the castle.
“Would you be happy with the builder and son?” he asked.
“Yes. It fills my heart to have such talented men at my beck and call.”
Ted laughed. “Mia, I’ve been thinking about Brian.”
Mia saw the seriousness of his face and tilted her head and gave Ted her undivided attention.
“I think, when the time comes, Orion should take Brian under his wing.”
Mia was floored.
“Wait, before you say anything. We can give Brian the best education the western world has available, but this will not be enough for him. His ability to learn far surpasses mine and, I suspect, Cid’s. It’s only his body that is holding him back.”
“He is a human child, Ted. No amount of birdman can change that. When Brian has completed all the avenues of classical education, I will consent to a trip to the Great Library. But I want him to play, Ted. I want his imagination to soar, not be bound to the structures of education all the time.”
“I agree with you. I just want the best for our son. Orion can give him that.”
“You can give him more,” Mia said, toweling off. “Your childhood was blessed. You had a father who gave you the freedom to discover who you were.”
“He thought I was gay until you showed up,” Ted said.
“Well, he accepted you that way, didn’t he?”
“Yes, most annoyingly.”
Mia gazed over at her son dozing in the stroller. “I think we have time, but if you want to approach Orion, I won’t stand in your way. You know this means more feathers.”
“Good thing I’m not allergic. I noticed you made friends with the ripple of water.”
“You have sharp eyes,” Mia said and told him about the conversation. “It seems that I can’t get away from work.”
“Between that and your promise to Mark, you’re going to have your hands full. How about we see if Audrey and Cid want to join us?”
“Where would we put them?”
“Audrey can bunk in with Brian, and Cid can sleep in a tent, or maybe you could use a favor owed and get an RV.”
“You ask Cid, and I’ll make a call.”
“Murphy’s going to want to come,” Ted said.
“Fine.”
“Burt may want in on the old house.”
“I suppose.”
“Mike…”
“I can see that this vacation is over. Before we do all this, let’s take our sleeping son to the cottage for his nap and enjoy ourselves before we have a cottage full of PEEPs.”
“Yes, ma’am!” Ted said with enthusiasm.
~
Mark was waiting for the Martins at the end of the drive. He smiled as they slowed. Mia insisted he get in the front. He protested, but she insisted.
“We’re counting on you to show us around,” Ted said.
“I’ll do my best. I’m not from around here, but Grandpa Sam takes me with him on errands and stuff.”
“It must be great to be able to spend the summer with them,” Mia said.
“It took a little getting used to.”
A series of pings and pops came from the Martins’ devices.
“You have reached civilization,” Mark said. “This is where the village’s cell tower range ends. Sometimes, I sit
