“I wanted to give you something no one else would ever have.”
“Thank you.”
“Okay, enough of this. You two are fine. I can see that. Now, on to indulging me. Where is my great-grandson?”
“He’s in the bedroom regaling Audrey with his views on ice cream and pie. Or that’s what it sounds like to me,” Ted said.
Orion moved past him, and Ted came out and helped Mia walk into the cottage and into the bathroom where Ted had prepared a hot, soothing bath of Epsom salts and lavender.
“Relieve yourself, and then call me. You’re not to get in or out of the tub without me.”
“Yes, sir.”
Ted smiled and closed the door.
Mia took care of the essentials and said, “Ted, you can come in now.”
He opened the door enough to slide in and locked it after him. “Audrey’s already been, and there are two bathrooms in Mike’s RV and one in the boys’. You are to have an uninterrupted soak.”
Mia stood there and let Ted undress her, and she only winced once when he picked her up and placed her in the tub. He looked down at her and said, “I like the way your breasts bob.”
Mia blushed. Ted sat down and leaned against the tub. “What a day.”
Mia reached over and took his hat off and played with his curls.
“I need a haircut.”
“No, you don’t.”
“Orion arrived quickly.”
“Angelo’s driver likes to fold time.”
“That happened to me once,” Ted said.
“Really? Tell me.”
“I was on my way from Kansas to Illinois, and I swear, one moment I was leaving Kansas and the next I was in Illinois. I mean, what happened to Missouri?”
“There is no Missouri. It’s only a mirage on a map,” Mia said playfully.
“There’s a lot of beautiful places in Missouri,” Ted said.
“Further proof that it doesn’t exist. Like England. Totally made up.”
Ted snickered. “I’d like to be a fly on the wall when you tell Cid that.”
“Ah, Cid needs to believe in places like Missouri and England, otherwise he would start to question whether he is a character in a book or real,” Mia observed.
“Did Orion give you a pain pill?”
“Nope, Burt did before Orion came. I think they are finally working.”
“What is it with the two of you and drugs? Do I have to be worried?”
“Yes.”
Ted turned around. “Mia, tell me about you and Burt doing drugs.”
“It all started with the hollow. I dosed him pretty good, and then I took some of his stuff. I don’t remember much after that, but the next day both of us were very happy.”
“Stop, I don’t need to hear this.”
“You asked,” she said with a sly smile.
Chapter Twenty-six
Cid was busy in the kitchen, and Maggie was underfoot, hoping to catch a snack. Orion watched Cid while sitting at the kitchen bar, sipping on a glass of white wine. It wasn’t one of Angelo’s expensive vintages, but it was tasty. He watched Ted slide out of the bathroom and collect some clothes for Mia and slide back in. There didn’t seem to be anything amiss. Mia must not have told Ted yet about her visiting Angelo. He regretted this advice. It would only push Ted further away from Mia.
“You’re deep in thought,” Cid said, placing a plate of crab-filled mushroom caps in front of him.
“I’m worried about my best intentions.”
“Ah, I almost destroyed Ted and Mia with mine. You?”
“Still in process. You know, you give what you think is great advice, but in actuality, it isn’t.”
“Amen.”
“Some things don’t have to come to light. Secrets held in order not to hurt the other are actually a good thing.”
“Speaking to the choir, brother. May I have two Amens,” Cid requested.
“Amen, Amen.”
“Sounds like a feckin’ revival,” Glenda said. “Well, if it isn’t Tripod. Land sakes, it’s good to see you. Heard you’re part of the family.”
“Yes I am.”
“Good thing, family. This family is nuts, but it’s still good. So how’s your granddaughter?”
“Healing. She took a hell of a beating. Saved your son I understand. You too bartender,” Orion said, indicating his empty glass.
“Yes she did,” Cid said, pouring wine. “Glenda, can I get you anything?”
“I’m pretty sauced, but I’ll take some of them little mushrooms.”
“Coming right up.”
Ted rubbed Mia’s hair with the towel. He tenderly combed the tangles out. All the while, she stared at him as if he was a rock star. Ted was shocked at how deep Mia’s love was for him. How could he have been such an insecure jackass?
“I gave you every reason to be,” Mia said.
Ted was puzzled. He realized that Mia thought he was talking, but she was in his head instead. How many pills did Burt give her?
“Three. That’s what he takes.”
“Burt weighs a wee bit more than you do, pumpkin.”
Mia hunched her shoulders. “I broke the curse, Teddy Bear. I didn’t know I was cursed, but I was, and now it’s gone.”
“Murphy?”
“Yup. Don’t be mad. It happened when I was a kid. Bound us both. We’re better not bound,” Mia said honestly. “I thought I was free, and then I realized that I loved thee,” she said, pointing at him.
“Nice rhyme.”
“Any time.”
Ted laughed. He felt a weight lift off of him. His Mia, whom he had married knowing that she was in love with Murphy, wasn’t in love with Murphy anymore. She loved Ted so much that she had released her hold on Stephen.
“How do you feel about Sariel?”
“Sad. He’s frightened. He needs a wingman. I mean, why not another angel, for cripes’ sake?”
“You have to trust your wingman. He trusts you.”
“I’ll probably get us both killed.”
“No you won’t.”
“K.”
Ted was silent for a moment.
“Go ahead and ask,” Mia said, trying to stand.
“Who’s the best lover?” he asked, drawing her to him.
Mia giggled. “You are. You weren’t, but you are now.”
Ted’s ego took a hit. “Who?”
“Burt. He did this thing…” Mia seemed to be experiencing the memory. Her body actually quaked. “Whoa, that turned me inside out.”
Ted
