“It’s quite a walk,” Mia said.
“I have Gran’s old bike to use. If my friends saw me on a girl’s bike…”
“We’ll keep it our secret,” Ted said. “Mark, would it be a problem if we invited a few friends here to help you explore the old house properly?”
“Would I still get to go in?”
“As long as your grandparents give us their permission. You can even get on television if you want, or not. We will respect your privacy,” Ted said.
“And you can say no. You found the house. It’s your call,” Mia pressed.
“I think the house needs all the help it can get,” Mark said. “Invite them. Who are they?”
“Have you ever heard of PEEPs?”
“Yes! You’re not them?”
“We are a part of them. We’re normally not on camera,” Ted explained. “I run the command center, and Mia’s too ugly.”
“You heard the man,” Mia said, kicking the back of Ted’s seat.
“You’re nuts. She’s… Ah, you’re just teasing,” Mark realized. “I saw it a few times. My mother only allows so much television time, so I have to budget.”
“Smart woman. I’ve been thinking of cutting Murphy’s time,” Mia said. “He’s developed a John Wayne fetish. If I get called ‘Little Lady’ one more time, I’m going to salt his remote.”
Mark realized that there was a lot more to the Martins than he suspected. They seemed to have an extended family that they had difficulty explaining. He commiserated, as questions about his father had him pinned against the wall at times.
“I sent the information to Cid regarding the EEG technology,” Ted said. “He’s gathering up some equipment and will bring it along. We may be able to fashion something you will be able to use.”
“But how will you do all this?”
“Mark, I’m pretty smart.”
“No, he means how will you do all of this and still be a dad,” Mia interpreted.
“Mia and I step in when the other needs time for special projects. Sometimes we need help. Parents have to depend on others sometimes, Mark. For example, your mother needs the training course to further her career so she can provide for you and your father. She wants to be with you. She just can’t,” Ted explained.
Mark listened. “Oh, take the next left. This is a shortcut to the Dairy Freeze.”
Brian clapped his hands as the inertia of the quick left turn pulled him to the side of his car seat.
“Hey, Andretti, do you mind warning a girl?” Mia said, twisting herself upright.
Ted laughed and received another kick to the back of his seat.
Chapter Twenty
Sam White waved the second of the two posh RVs into the drive. Once it had parked, the PEEPs truck would be backed in. He was quite excited by all the young people who had come to help Mark out. Mia had okayed things with Mary. As long as the vehicles kept to the long drive, and the extra electricity used could be taken out of the deposit, it wouldn’t be a problem.
Ted looked at Mia. “I thought the favor was for one RV.”
“It was. I don’t know who’s in the white whale.”
Mike hopped out of the RV. “Mom was at loose ends,” he explained just before Glenda Dupree made her entrance, clothed in the loudest shorts Mia had ever seen. Mike’s mother moved with the saucy grace of a burlesque dancer.
“Hello, PEEPs!” she shouted.
Mike winced. He rushed over to Mia and took her hands. “She was with me when Burt called. I hope you don’t mind.”
“It’s fine, Mike. Glenda is always welcome. How many sheets to the wind is she?”
“One Bloody Mary, thermos size.”
“Oh dear. Come here, you need a hug.” Mia pulled him into her arms.
“Darling, it’s poor form to make out with husband number two when husband number one is standing beside you,” Ted said.
“Sorry, Ted,” Mike said, blushing. “But you have no idea how my mother pushes my buttons.”
“Beer’s in the cooler on the back deck,” Mia said, opening the door for Mike. “Glenda, it’s great to see you.”
“No, it’s not. You didn’t know Mike or I was going to be here, did you?”
“Burt failed to mention it,” Mia said honestly. “I hope I can feed all of you.”
“Don’t worry, I can,” Cid said, rushing up and scooping Mia up in his arms. “This is so great. Murphy was pissing and moaning. I’m you’re kitchen bitch if you need me. Anything has to be better than babysitting a depressed ghost.”
“Where is he?”
“He took Maggie for walkies in the woods. Am I the last to arrive?”
“Yup. Burt and Audrey are inside,” Ted said. “Put my wife down. She isn’t a prize you won at the fair.”
“Oh, sorry, Mia,” Cid said, embarrassed. “Come on, old man, I have two coolers of food to get into the house.”
“Old man? I’m not much older than you,” Ted argued.
Mia watched the two argue their way to the truck. “It’s just their way of saying that they missed each other,” she said to Glenda, who was looking out from the other side of the screen door.
“Bromances are hard to understand but necessary,” Glenda said.
“I think you’re right,” Mia said. “I’m overwhelmed by everyone responding so quickly.”
“Mia, you and Ted have been there for everyone. It’s time they stepped up.”
“They have, that’s the point. If it weren’t for each one of them, there would be no Ted and me,” Mia said, trying unsuccessfully to stop her eyes from tearing up.
Glenda opened the door and pulled Mia inside for a good cry. “You go in, and get it all out. I’ll open the door for Tweedledum and Tweedledee,” she ordered.
Mia, embarrassed by the emotional blip, walked into the bedroom and let the tears fall.
After a while, there was a light tapping on the door.
“Come in.”
“Glenda said that if I didn’t get my butt in here, she was going to have my liver for breakfast,” Ted said. “What’s wrong?” He sat down and picked her up and put her in his lap.
“I’m not
