The aroma of coffee drifted up to her. She looked down at the new barn and saw Ted standing with a mug in hand, listening to Murphy. Murphy was waving his arms, probably complaining about the deer that he feeds every winter.
Ted looked up, sensing Mia, and smiled. He tapped the ghost’s shoulder and pointed to Mia, probably excusing himself.
Mia met him halfway down the hill.
“I was waiting for you,” Ted said, setting down his mug and taking her hand. “You look beautiful in this light.”
Mia blushed.
“Mia, each time I see you, there is something new about you. Whether it’s the new Victor haircut or that tremendous weight that has been lifted from your shoulders, but yet again, I’m meeting you for the first time.”
“I’m at a loss for words. You move me so, Teddy Bear. Thank you for waiting for me, for seeing things in me no one else sees. Thank you for giving me the gift of your love.”
“You could have anyone, yet you keep choosing me, Minnie Mouse. This is the one mystery of the universe I will never solve.”
“Did you try algebra? Sometimes the hardest answers are solved using the easiest means. For example…”
Ted stopped Mia’s words with a kiss. He lifted her up and spun around with her before the two heard the small feet running up the hill. They turned to see Brian making his way to his parents. Dieter followed him carrying Varden.
“Tell me, is there anything better than this?” Ted asked, holding her close to him.
“I wouldn’t change a thing,” Mia said.
***
Glossary
PEEPS: Paranormal Entity Exposure Partners.
Dupree, Mike: Founding partner of PEEPs and on-camera personality.
Garrett, Cid: Contractor, investigator, cameraman, and technician.
Hicks, Burt: Founding partner of PEEPs, lead investigator, and cameraman.
Jake: Ghost, research and computers.
Martin, Mia Cooper: Sensitive, lead investigator, and security. Ted’s wife and Brian, Varden, and Dieter Martin’s mother. Healer of angels.
Martin, Ted: Lead technician, computers, and communications. Mia’s husband and Brian, Varden, and Dieter Martin’s father. Technical genius.
Stavros, Audrey: Researcher and investigator, married to Orion Stavros, mother of Luke Stavros.
Murphy, Stephen: Ghost, translator, and head of PEEPs security.
Recurring Characters:
Abigor, Duke of Hades: Fallen angel, commander of 60 legions of demons.
Aldridge, Ethan: Teenage paintball-gang member who was sentenced to a juvenile detention facility for his part in coercing Rory Kline and the deaths of Jason Jones and Keith Summerfield. Aided in bring Blair Summerfield to justice.
Altair: Fallen archangel. Also known as Wyatt Wayne.
Aosoth: Evil female force in the pantheon of the Order of the Nine Angels. Enjoys participation in passion and death.
April: Former owner of Murphy’s farmhouse. She called PEEPs to help her with the ghost of Charity Murphy and brought Mia together with the group.
Babcia Sophia: Crone. Lazar Popov’s Polish grandmother.
Bouché, Guillaume: Magician spending eternity in Purgatory. Lover of Beverly Cooper, father of Sabine.
Braverman, Don: Tom’s father and Susan’s husband.
Braverman, Susan: Mega Chicago Bears fan, housewife, Tom Braverman’s mother and Brian Martin’s babysitter.
Braverman, Tom: Acting Sheriff, school friend of Mia. Murphy brought him back to life, inadvertently giving him the sight.
Caswell, Nordin: Butler for Wyatt Wayne.
Chambers, Deputy: Tom Braverman’s right hand deputy.
Carmichael, Andy: Night watchman for the Big Bear Lake Cemetery.
Cooper, Amanda: Mia’s mother. Sociologist.
Cooper, Beverly: Very talented sensitive. Aunt to Mia Martin, mother of Sabine Norwood, sister of Charles Cooper, and associate of Father Santos and Gerald Shem.
Cooper, Charles: Mia’s father. Archaeologist.
Countess, The, aka Mary Sue: Malevolent ghost. Rules the Big Bear Lake Cemetery. Thinks of Mia as a daughter.
Deschamps, Maurice: Ghost, husband of the Countess. (The Long Game)
Dis Pater: Roman god of the underworld. Protects the graves of the paupers with his horde of di inferi.
Elizabeth: Head Gray Lady. Healer of the birdmen and Mia.
Ed, aka He-who-walks-through-time: Superhuman who can visit other timelines via portals, Judy’s partner.
Gifford, Edwin: ghost in Bea White’s house. Was kidnapped in A Rose by Any Other Name. Great grandson of George Wall the pirate.
Granger, Lorna: Native American woman possessed by the Deer Woman Demon. Works for the Council of Women.
Hansen, Neil: Mia’s late common-law husband. Invalid father of her miscarried daughter Hope.
Jeff the Gargoyle: Inventor gargoyle. Day job: Dark Vault guard.
Judy, aka Refugia: Birdwoman, former Gray Lady, independent healer, and Ed’s partner.
Komal: Master of bilocation. Lives in spirit form on a hidden island in Lake Michigan.
Leighton, Mark: Teenager who can see angels. Son of a veteran with Locked-in Syndrome.
Lobo: Mia’s first boyfriend. Hacker who perished in Chicago when demons attacked the hideout. (Restitution)
Maggie Mae: Mixed-breed dog of PEEPs who can see ghosts.
Malloy, Rose: Childhood tormenter of Mia. As an adult, notorious gossip and blackmailer.
Martin, Brian: The chosen one. Son of Mia and Ted Martin.
Martin, Dieter: Teenage attrpeur-âme (a catcher of souls) from Nigeria, adopted son of Mia and Ted Martin.
Martin, Sherry: Wife of Whitney Martin, killed in the hollow. Sabine took her spirit to the Museum of Modern Art in New York to be with her painting.
Martin, Varden: Son of Mia and Ted Martin. Carries the soul of dead birdman Varden, Victor’s brother.
Martin, Whitney: Former Deputy Sheriff, Mia’s high school crush and ex-boyfriend.
Mendelssohn, Ralph: Musical stage designer, Mia’s godfather, married to Bernard Wesley.
Michael, aka Saint Michael: Prince of Angels, leader of angel winged army, Mia’s boss.
Michaels, Angelo: Birdman and associate of Father Santos. Lead warrior and librarian for the Brotherhood of the Wing.
Misty Mom: Mia’s name for the caregiving ghost of her childhood.
Murphy, Chastity: Deceased wife of Stephen Murphy.
Murphy, Kevin: Irish ghost. Father of Stephen Murphy, best friend of Fergus O’Connor, and associate of PEEPS.
Nicholai: Birdman trainer. Mia’s trainer.
Norwood, Sabine: Sensitive, clairvoyant, and medium, associate of Father Santos, widow, adopted cousin of Mia,
