“That would be my daughter and son-in-law’s doing. I’m just around for spoiling.”
“We’ve adjourned our meeting and have set up the investigation for tomorrow, so the others have started to party. Would you care to join us?”
“Oh, as long as I can bring something. Let me see, I’ve got some snacks in the freezer I could bake up.”
“Any food would be welcomed. I’ve got a house full of PEEPs,” Mia said.
“I’ve heard that. Glenda has been telling me a few of your adventures. She’s very proud of her son.”
“We all are,” Audrey said.
Mia looked at Audrey a moment, stunned, but realized that she was being cordial. “Mike is very special,” Mia added quickly. “He’s one of a kind.”
“Ooh ooh,” Brian said, pointing down the street.
Mia looked over to see Murphy heading into the trees. He tipped his hat at Mia and disappeared. “Murphy’s checking things out, Brian. How would you like to go swimming?”
Brian clapped his hands.
“I guess that’s a yes,” Mia said.
~
Mia emerged from the bedroom in a one piece swimsuit. Audrey handed her Brian so she could change. They entered the kitchen to see Cid happily planning a barbecue with Sam.
“I didn’t know we had a grill,” Mia said.
“Ted built one out of stuff he found in the boathouse,” Sam said, impressed. “I sent Mark to get my charcoal and grill set. You’re married to a smart fella.”
“I am. He tells me that often.”
“He’s not the smartest one, Mia. My test scores were higher,” Cid told her.
“In verbal, which surprises me, considering how much my husband talks,” Mia said. “We’re going for a swim. Leave that, and join us.”
“In a few minutes. Sam is giving me his whiskey glaze recipe.”
“Whiskey? We don’t have… Glenda has - okay, I’m on the right page now.”
Audrey came out of the bedroom. “I’m ready when you are,” she said.
“Well, this is us, out of here,” Mia said, grabbing a few cookies on her way out the door.
Ted watched his wife arrive with Audrey and Brian. The males who had congregated on the dock with drinks in hand were watching too. Burt had a wistful look on his face. Was it for Ted’s wife or Audrey? Mike openly leered and let out a whistle which embarrassed Mark beside him. Mike pretended that Mark was the guilty party and said, “Shame on you, they are old enough to…”
“Watch it, Dupree,” Mia warned.
This had started the Mia, Mike war. Ted, Burt, and Mark watched as Mike got up and set his beer down.
“I’m watching it, Cooper. Nice of you to bring it out for all to see. I don’t see any judges though.”
Mia handed Brian to Audrey, her mind calculating the distance to the idiot at the end of the dock from where she now stood. She could push him with her mind, but that was a waste of her powers. Plus, she didn’t want to scare the hell out of Mark. She ignored Mike and casually walked onto the dock. She leaned down to Mark and asked, “Are you enjoying yourself?”
“Yes.”
“How deep is it at the end of the dock?” Mia asked in a whisper.
“Ten feet.”
“K.”
Mia turned and looked at Ted, smiled wildly and waved.
He knew that look. He nodded his assent.
Mia spun around, took off running and knocked Mike off the end of the dock into the water.
She dusted off her hands while she waited for him to emerge, which he did, sputtering. She calmly walked down the dock and over to Ted.
“Oh no, I’m not defending you,” he said, laughing.
Mia spun around to see Mike barreling out of the water. She took off running. He caught her at the street. He picked her up and tossed her over his shoulder. Mia was wriggling and kicking, but Mike had a firm hold on her. He walked past his mother. “Nice day for a swim, Ma.”
“Dupree, okay, you’ve proven you’re the he-man. You can let me down now. Murphy!”
“He’s not going to save you, doll,” Mike said, walking into the water. He picked Mia up as if she was a piece of driftwood and tossed her in, receiving applause from everyone, including Murphy who was there in seconds.
Mia didn’t come up. It wasn’t until Mike’s legs were taken out from under him that Ted released his breath. Mia pulled Mike a few feet before she popped out of the water, taking a deep breath before swimming away from the investigator searching wildly for her.
Ted walked over to Audrey. “I’m not sure who to root for? On one hand, Mia’s been asking for a good dunking all week, but Mike was rather rude. Burt’s having such a good time that I’d hate to break this up. Murphy, what’s your take on the subject?”
“Children.”
“I say, let them drown each other and get it out of their systems,” Glenda said, arriving with a pitcher, full of gin and tonic, and plastic glasses. She handed Mark a Dr. Pepper, telling him, “Save your liver, kid.”
Mike caught Mia a hundred yards from shore. Mia surrendered and let him dunk her. She emerged from the water laughing. “You win.”
“Was there any doubt?”
“Ed would have been ashamed of me,” Mia said. “But I couldn’t hurt you and your pretty face.”
“Yes, it is pretty, isn’t it?” Mike said, treading water. “Let’s go back. Your husband is only tolerant for so long, Cooper.”
The two swam slowly back, exchanging gossip and barbs. Mark swam out to them. Mia and Mike cleaned up their language just in time.
“That was so cool. You guys are friends, aren’t you?”
“The best of friends, Mark,” Mia assured him and Mike.
“No better adversary to have than a good friend,” Mike said, meaning it.
“When Mia took off running, it was like hell was at her heels,” Mark reported.
“She can run faster. If hell was indeed at her heels, you wouldn’t believe how fast Mia can go.”
“‘He that fights and runs away, May turn
