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You’re really going to let Phoebe dance so close to those windows? Wow, okay. Hope she doesn’t twirl into the glass and shatter it, scarring herself horrifically in the process.
Oh good! The entire population of Point Pleasant can see your kids as they play here. At least there is easy access for anyone who wants to break in and kidnap them tonight.
Giving a name to those intrusive thoughts, as my doctor finally identified them, was a relief. But even then, anxiety doesn’t care about what’s rational, and I’m always going to fear for my children’s safety. Honestly, I can still visualize my rambunctious kids fighting with each other as we unload and stretch, and can imagine them crashing through that glass less than an hour from now. If any of my kids got horrifically injured, I don’t care how much of a badass I am now; my life would still shatter. But I can’t let fear hold me back or stop us from enjoying life. So, here we are. Life goes on. Later tonight, I should thank Jake for making this happen. I smile to myself as I unlatch my seatbelt.
Jake catches my expression and playfully asks, “What’s that smirk about?”
I look at him with a twinkle in my eye and answer with a raised eyebrow, “I was just thinking how grateful I am that you planned this trip.”
His brow shoots up in shock, “Really? That’s a switch.”
“Hey, I’m already eating crow here. Don’t make me feel worse.”
He leans across the console and kisses me and a chorus of groans rises up from the back seat in response. We end the kiss smiling against each other. Things really are getting back to normal finally.
As everyone empties from the car onto the driveway behind the house, Eliza opens the door. She has an ear-to-ear grin on her face, reminding me how much she loves to host us here and giving me a pang of guilt for not visiting more often. Through the doorway, I see the clean kitchen with its trendy, poured-concrete countertops and white, shaker-style cabinets. The kids give Eliza hugs on their way in and then proceed to lug their bags down to the two basement bedrooms they always claim as their own when we’re here. Jake smiles at me and kisses my cheek before taking my bags and bringing them in and up to the second-floor guest room.
Eliza looks at me with her eyebrows raised and a hopeful smile on her face. When I smile back at her, she does a dramatic but silent clap. She’s been privy to all of my emotions these last few months. Now that I’ve given her the slightest indication that things have turned a corner for me and Jake, she must view this as a reason to celebrate. And while yes, we have made progress, I am not ready to get too carried away with my joy.
I duck my head back into the car to make sure we aren’t leaving anything we need, and also to avoid Eliza’s watchful gaze, just for a moment. Maybe we should have stayed in a hotel. I don’t know how much healing I’m going to be able to accomplish if I feel like we’re being observed for a social experiment the entire time we’re here.
I straighten back up and almost jump out of my skin when two small red figures suddenly hover on either side of my hand on the car door handle.
“Oh, for fuck’s sake, Jerry!” I yell at the imp on my left.
“Um, actually ma’am, I’m Cliff.”
“Okay, fine. Whatever. Can you guys please try to not scare the shit out of me?”
Eliza call from the door to the house, “Miranda, is everything ok?” I look up and she is furrowing her brow, balancing on her tip toes, trying to see what made me jump on this side of the car.
I hold my finger up to keep the imps quiet for a moment before responding, “Oh, I’m good. Just have to take a work call.”
She knits her brow together even more before releasing them with a nod of recognition. She calls again, “Oh! Got it! Well, take your time,” before turning back into the house and closing the door behind her.
The imp on my right speaks, sounding impatient with me. “Oh, okay. Sure. Whatever you command, your highness. We’ll be more careful the next time we come bearing the news thatyoucommanded us to bring to you.”
I look at my toes. I can’t believe a tiny, mischievous demon successfully shamed me. “I’m sorry.” But I’m also bouncing on my toes at the prospect of gaining some intel. “What do you have for me?”
They exchange a glance, and then Jerry, his little arms folded in front of him, speaks. “I’m not so sure you deserve to hear it right now, to be honest.”
“Woah now. I apologized, and I didn’t even have to! You guys do work for me now, remember?”
Cliff rolls his eyes “How could we ever forget?”
I squint at him. “Did you just come here to give me a hard time, or do you have something to tell me that could matter?”
Once again, they exchange what I believe to be a knowing look. Then Jerry nods at Cliff, who inhales deeply before beginning to speak. “We have some news. The Muses are moving on. They said they aren’t worried about you anymore.”
I let out a relieved sigh. “Really? I’m free? I mean, so to speak?”
Cliff tilts his head and furrows his brow. “Huh? So to speak? I guess. Calliope said she’s not worried about you because you haven’t come after her yet. But she also mentioned a friend of hers. I heard something about her following around and wanting to seduce your friend, I guess.”
The memory of George frantically pacing the other morning pops into my head. “Wait, what? George has had a lady in red visiting him. How does she plan to seduce him? George isn’t really into the ladies so much. And by so much, I mean not at all.”
Cliff shrugs, and Jerry chuckles.
“Well, she’s already started and is apparently doing a good job of getting inside your friend’s head.” Jerry laughs outright now.
