“Our family. For better or worse, we have PEEPs with us forever,” Ted said, gently rocking Mia. “I know this isn’t how you wanted to spend your time here,” Ted said.
“No, it’s fine. We need them.”
“They need us,” Ted said. “Glenda especially. She must be getting tired of picking on Mike.”
“About Mike…”
“I’ll be good, but he can’t bunk with us,” Ted said.
“Yes, sir,” Mia said. She got up and jumped up and down, trying to look in the wall mirror.
Ted lifted her up.
“God, I look a mess.”
“Naw, you look lived in,” Ted teased.
Mia wiggled out of his grasp. “Lived in? You have to work on your compliments, Teddy Bear.”
“I’ll do that right after the hundred other things I’d rather do,” he said and walked smartly out the door.
Mia laughed. She pulled a brush through her hair. She stopped to check on Brian but found him gone. Someone had spirited him away. She suspected Glenda or Audrey but was surprised by Burt holding Brian in the kitchen.
“Mia, what does this boy eat? I was making myself a sandwich, and I heard him babbling.”
“Ted and I feed him franks and beans and beer,” Mia said, opening the refrigerator, hunting for the prepared bottles. She found them behind a half dozen white wine bottles. “Does wine procreate? I swear there were only two in there this morning.”
“Cottage warming gifts. Audrey insisted. Come to think of it, only Audrey drinks white wine. Should we be concerned?”
Mia laughed and raised her hands.
“Ooh ooh,” Brian said, reaching out his hands.
Mia turned to see Murphy standing there, hat in hand.
“It’s about time you turned up,” Mia said, handing Murphy the bottle. Murphy picked up Brian and walked over to a rocking chair and proceeded to supervise Brian with the bottle.
“Now that’s something you don’t see every day,” Burt said. “A floating baby and a bottle.”
“Stick with me, you may even see a flying woman,” Mia said.
“You’ve come so far, baby.”
“You too. How’s the comic book?”
Burt was about to correct Mia and remind her that it was a graphic novel, but what was the point? She knew what it was; she chose to call it a comic book. “Fine, it will be released the same week as PEEPs returns to the airways!”
“And we can get paid!” Mia said, knocking fists with Burt.
There was a light tapping on the back door before it opened and Sam White came in with Mark. Mia turned to introduce Burt but found him gone. He had dropped his sandwich to run over and scoop Brian up from Murphy.
Mark looked at the man in the chair and nodded.
“Burt, Mark can see Murphy, and Sam’s cool,” Mia explained.
“Why didn’t you tell me sooner?” Burt said, handing the baby back to the ghost. He walked over and shook hands with each. “Burt Hicks, founding partner of Paranormal Entity Exposure Partners.”
“Mark Leighton.”
“Sam White.”
“I hear we have a haunted house that is calling to you, Mark?” Burt asked.
“Yes, sir.”
“Burt, call me Burt. If you start calling all us old farts sir, we’re going to get confused.”
Mia laughed. Burt was great with kids. When he heard that a child was in trouble, it was Burt who insisted PEEPs come right away. Mia hadn’t even been to the house to check it out. Burt thought that doing a totally raw investigation was the ultimate test for the PEEPs personnel.
“We’d like to have a meeting, but first, why don’t I introduce you to the others,” Burt said, leading the two out the door to the back deck.
Mia took advantage of being alone with Murphy. She sat down on the footstool in front of the ghost. “Thank you for coming. I really need your advice on a separate matter.”
“I’m listening,” he said, trying not to show how touched he was.
“There’s a brave from a long lost tribe. He needs us to find him and release his remains to the sky. I get the feeling that there’s more to it than just finding his bones…”
“Could be a trap.”
“That’s what I was thinking. I hate to be this way, but Roumain’s not through with me yet, I’m sure. This Native American arriving practically on my porch is a bit too much of a coincidence.”
“He knows your weaknesses. You have a soft heart for the lost,” Murphy said. “Speaking of soft touches, have you spoken to Angelo yet?”
“Done and done. I talked to him in person and told him what happened.”
“Good. He’s not your enemy, Mia. He’s just smitten.”
“Oh, now don’t you start with that nonsense.” She smiled and borrowed Ted’s words, “I’m not a carnival prize.”
Murphy laughed. Brian pulled the bottle away and burped, which caused Murphy to laugh harder.
Audrey came in and saw what looked like Brian rocking himself backwards. “Mia, he could… Oh, Murphy’s there. Sorry, didn’t see you,” Audrey said pointedly. “I’m just going to use the little girl’s room before the meeting starts.”
Mia watched her leave and reached out with her mind. “Audrey’s sad. She and Matt have had a fight. Let’s be kind to her.”
“I’ll pick on Mike harder.”
“That’ll do it,” Mia said mischievously.
As if on cue, Mike walked in the door. He looked over at Mia, the odd arrangement on the rocker, and back to Mia’s face, and pointed his finger. “I’m watching you two.”
Murphy laughed again. Mia hadn’t seen him this at ease in a long time. All of them had been affected by her and Ted’s situation, she realized. She vowed to make it up to them all. She got up and opened a few tins of cookies and placed them around the great room. She next started a fresh pot of coffee. Audrey came into the kitchen, and Mia hugged her.
“Lesbian action, cool,” Mike said, from the corner.
“Asshole,” Audrey retorted. “Thanks, Mia. I need to talk to you later.”
“I’ll be here.”
The others started coming in, so Mia and she broke off
