“Sure, why not.”
Kevin escorted Mia to a set of chairs at the end of the porch. Here, they could look down the long street and watch the vacationers walk back up from town.
“Mia, I don’t know what happened or what caused him to leave you, but I do know that my son did love you.”
“It doesn’t matter now. I miss him, but strange as it may seem, I feel better I don’t have these mixed feelings anymore.”
“I’m confused.”
“Um, it’s like this, sometimes when Stephen and I are fighting demons, bad ghosts, whatever, we operate as if we’re one person. But when it’s normal days and we have too much time on our hands…”
“Temptation. Let’s say you weren’t married, would you feel differently?”
“It would be worse. You see, Kevin, if ghosts start having a physical relationship with the living, they will be hunted down and destroyed. If I wasn’t spoken for, I would have to fight my urges in order to keep him safe. Am I making any sense?”
“You’re forbidden fruit.”
“Yes.”
“He’s rotten peaches,” Kevin said. “Am I rotten peaches?”
“You’re a friend.”
“Well, this friend wants you to know that I like that fellow you’re married to, and I can tell you do too. If my son does come back, don’t encourage him. Live a happy carefree life with Theodore.”
“I intend to.”
They rocked for a while, and Kevin told Mia stories that made her laugh. She told him about some of the stunts she got away with. They were having a good time, but Mia was aware that she had been out of her body for too long.
“I’ve got to get back. Thank you for the company and conversation,” she said, getting up.
“I’m going to stay here a while,” Kevin said. “Maybe someone will buy me a drink.”
Mia walked away and stopped to look back at Kevin. In the fading light, he looked a lot like Murph. She turned away and rose quickly to her room.
Mia opened her eyes. Staring down at her was Ted.
“Where have you been?”
“I OOBed. I was checking out the spirits.”
“Did you find any?”
“This hotel is rife with them. There must have been a fire at some point because there is a group of thirty or so milling around the stairway on the south side.”
“Mia, I don’t like you going out OOBing alone. Wait until Sabine comes.”
“Sure. That’s a great idea.”
She could have told him about Kevin escorting her, but she didn’t. Mia wasn’t sure why that was.
“Our dinner reservation is in a half an hour. I think we need to get dressed. I understand this is a dressy place. I have to wear a jacket and a tie.”
“Good thing you packed something. You did, didn’t you?”
“Cid did,” Ted admitted. “Did you pack something pretty?”
“Yes, I did. It’s even ironed.”
“Do you remember when I was ironing your clothes at that motel, and you came out of the shower and dropped your towel?”
“Yes, I do.”
“Did you do that on purpose?”
“Not deliberately. But who knows what my dirty little mind was thinking.”
“Do you want to know what my dirty little mind is thinking right now?” Ted asked.
“We’ll miss our reservation…”
“I’m not hungry.”
“Mason will pound on the door.”
“That’s right, we promised the boy a meal. Can we pick this up later?”
“I’ll write you a raincheck,” Mia said, slipping out of bed and heading to the shower.
Mason was playing solitaire when the Martins came out of the room. Ted was smoothing down his auburn curls that were normally stuffed into the Chief’s ball cap he wore everywhere. He wore a very expensive suit. Mason assumed Ralph must have bought it for Ted for an occasion. The suit flowed down his thin frame, giving Ted an air of sophistication. In stark contrast, Mia hopped around on one foot trying to buckle her slipper.
“Stop!” Mason said, walking over. “Stand still,” he instructed as he slid the sandal on her foot, buckling the tiny gold buckle. “Honestly, you need a lady’s maid.”
“Gee, I thought that’s what you were hired for?” Mia teased.
Mason stood up and looked her over. He picked some lint off the open shoulder dress. “You look nice. Not at all like the Mia I know, but nice. How do I look?”
Mason smiled, and Mia saw Murphy looking back at her for the briefest of moments. Mia didn’t trust herself to speak.
“You look hungry,” Ted said, confused by Mia’s silence. “Let’s go and eat.”
The three walked to the elevator. There were two other couples waiting there. Both were older, and the women looked wistfully at Mia’s companions.
“Good evening,” Ted said.
“Good evening, son,” one of the older men said. “Are you on vacation?”
“No, here for work,” Ted said.
The doors opened, and the small talk ceased. Elevator music entertained them until they arrived on the floor the restaurant was on. Ted held the door until the older couples got off. Ted waited for Mia and Mason to exit and then let go of the door.
Mason growled, tapping Ted on the chest, “Next time someone looks at the three of us like we’re fresh meat. Tell them I’m your lover, and we’re eating with your sister. That will stop the cougars from feeling up my behind.”
Mia laughed. “How does it feel to be leered at, Callen?” she asked.
“How do you stand it,” Mason asked, “to have someone drooling in front of you?”
“I ignore it for the most part, but sometimes Burt makes me talk to Mike when we’re on camera.”
“Mia!” Ted said. “Mike doesn’t drool, does he?”
“You caught me, that’s a lie, but he does
