“But I did, Mikey. More than a year ago,” he explained. “This happened the other day when I was looking at it.”
“No fucking way,” I disagreed. “You sure?”
“Totally,” he replied. “And I’ve held this photo tons of times and this didn’t happen until recently. Swear.”
“You’re right,” I said, hoping a simple acknowledgement would do. “Strange as fuck.”
He shoved the photo in my face. “Look at the light around our heads, Mikey,” he insisted. “Strange isn’t the word. Don’t they look like halos to you? Because it sure does to me.” He snatched my copy from the desk. “See any halos in this one?” he asked, his voice raising an octave. “This is freaking the shit outta me,” he added.
“I’ll admit, it does seem odd,” I said, still staying the course with my casual dismissal even though my mind was rolling around with crazy theories like marbles in a small sack. I walked to his bed and sat down then placed my elbows on my knees, chin resting in my palms. “It’ll all be good, Coop,” I insisted after noting his worried expression.
“You don’t get it, Mikey,” he began, his hands gesturing wildly. “I was just sitting here at my desk looking at the picture when those damn halo thingies appeared out of nowhere. Out of thin air, and I’m not joking.”
“Come on now, Coop,” I said. “You justthinkyou saw something.”
His posture changed. He was seriously troubled by the image. “Listen to me, Mikey. Those . . . those . . . rings. They just happened.” He made his way to my side and gripped my shoulder.
I turned to face him.
He actually appeared terrified and the more he shared with me, the more upset he became. “And the . . . the . . . ink,” he started again. “It smeared just after,” he explained, his face turning paler by the second. “It never smearedbefore, Mikey. I’m telling you the truth here. I was sca . . . Iamscared.”
I stood and faced him, taking his hands in mine. “I’m not gonna let anything happen to you, Coop.”
“It gave me the heebie-jeebies,” he said. “That shit ain’t normal.”
He was right about that. Halos appearing in photos wasn’t normal by a long shot. I know because the same fucking thing happened to me in the house across the street. Heebie-jeebies or not, this was strange and I had a sinking feeling this was related to me and parallel universes. How do I explain something like that to my boyfriend and keep myself out of the nut house?
“I’ll protect you,” I stated, hugging him tightly and kissing the top of his head. “Don’t I always?”
“But from what?” he whispered, shivering in my arms even though it was hot for July in Idaho. “I don’t like it.”
“I know, Coop. How about I take the picture home and keep it over there for now? Think that would help?”
“Better yet,” he began. “Let’s go show your mom right now.”
Not a fucking chance.I had to act fast with an excuse. “Maybe not,” I said, making a sad face. “Mom has been kinda low because of the anniversary and everything. You know, Dad’s death.”
“Oh, okay then,” he answered, disappointment lacing his voice because he didn’t have a solution to his issue. “How about the VW lady? You said she was like your mom with her spirit world stuff. Looking into the future and all that. I bet she’d know.”
“Maybe,” I said, figuring the same damn thing. “I’ll take the pic home and hang onto it until we decide what’s best. That way you’ll feel better and I’ll know you’re not freaking out.”
“Sure thing,” he agreed. “Gives me the creeps, Mikey, and I loved that picture of us. I love Campbell Lake too.”
I certainly didn’t need to hear the comment about liking Campbell Lake. My mind was reeling as I tried to keep calm during the conversation. Of course the image was tied to everything. But the halos again? This time on mine and Coop’s head, not Mom and Dad’s?
Jesus H. Christ!
Mom and Dad both died.
“Let’s keep this between us, Coop. Okay?”
“Yeah, I understand,” he muttered, still fixated on the photo in his hand. “Here. Take this.”
He handed me the photograph and as soon as I touched it, the halos disappeared. I damn near shit myself and almost threw the fucker to the floor. My heart was racing when I quickly grabbed my shorts and buried the picture in the pocket.
Madame Druzella had a shit-ton of explaining to do.
CHAPTER FIFTY-FIVE: Cooper
