A Strangely Amazing Mother’s Day #5
“Sorry, didn’t mean to startle you!” the spirit said.
“Colonel Ted Hargrave, sir, at your service. David headed east, straight down the sidewalk. But Marty Lawson has called the police to the house . . . I guess when you called an ambulance, that alerted police officers as well. So, I saw which way he went, and I even think I know where he went. There is a little park with a playground. David goes and sits—never bothers the kids. I guess he likes to imagine that Donna comes home somehow, and he gets to watch his little one. I swear to you, Ray and I fought together but died at different times. Still, both of us are hanging around. I am his friend, and I have seen all that David has suffered and what’s gone on with his medications. So, I’m begging you, too—”
“We need to move! Get me to that playground! Please!” Jackson urged him.
The spirit didn’t wait a second longer; he swept through the air and Jackson followed at a mortal run—damned fast, thanks to years of working with the Krewe.
Police were arriving at David Johnstone’s house, he saw from the sidewalk. But seconds after, he was in the park.
And he saw the man sitting on a bench, staring at an empty slide. There were no kids around at this hour of the night. Darkness had come upon them long ago.
Jackson walked over and took the seat next to him. He wasn’t worried. The man wasn’ a threat.
Tears were running down his face. He looked at Jackson, shaking his head.
“I thought I was going into my house. I thought that . . . I had that little vial the doctor gave me, and I saw her . . . in my mind, Donna! She was going to fall, and I swept her into my arms and thought we were in the wrong house, so I took her out back. But she wasn’t Donna, and I didn’t realize that until .
. . I don’t know. You knocked my arm. It was like .
. . clarity was knocked into me. You’re welcome to arrest me.
What I did was horrible and I’m praying that . . .”
“Hey. Honestly, sir, I’m law enforcement, not a lawyer, but I think that what was done to you with the meds .
. . it wasn’t really your fault.” He hesitated.
But he knew that Angela would agree. “David, we’re going to tear through the old records.
Everything the police have, neighborhood reports, everything.
We will do everything in our power, even though it has been a long time, but—”
“Could she still be alive? Could Donna still be alive? And my baby?” he asked in a whisper.
“I don’t know. I know I can’t guarantee you anything, but we will try to help you,” Jackson assured him. “Let’s head back and see what’s going on. Cindy Lawson was in labor and I believe Angela thought that the baby might pop out before an ambulance could get there.”
The man nodded, still miserable. They walked back from the park, but there were no police around.
Only Angela was waiting for them on the sidewalk in front of David’s house.
And she was smiling. Jackson was glad; that had to mean the baby had been delivered alive and well even if a few weeks earlier than due. But she had met the spirit of Ray and his colonel friend and knew what had happened to David and the real Donna Johnstone and her baby?
“I think I’m supposed to be under arrest,” David said to her, miserable and confused.
“Uh, no,” Angela said. “Marty got here with the ambulance. Cindy was pretty spectacular. She said you were just helping her because of what had happened to you and she was so sorry . . . she forgot about time. Now, I don’t think Marty believed her, but he understood.
And their little boy is fine. The ambulance arrived just when I was hoping for a bit of help.
Baby was out, but I didn’t want to make mistakes with the umbilical cord or .
. . with Cindy! She and Marty are off to the hospital.
And even at a few weeks early, the EMT told me the baby weighed about eight pounds! ”
“What?” David asked, sinking to the sidewalk. “What? That poor woman! I terrified her. I made her go into labor early. How can they be so forgiving after what I put them through? I don’t deserve this. I should be locked up for what I did—”
“Believe it or not,” Angela told him, “Cindy is happy. I guess none of us has realized this, but . . . it has turned into Mother’s Day. And Cindy gets to hold her baby, truly be a mom, for Mother’s Day.”
“Well, that’s beautiful,” David whispered. “But still . . . what I did! I’m guilty of kidnapping a pregnant woman.”
“One who understands and cares,” Angela told him.
“You weren’t in your right mind,” Jackson reminded him. “David, we need to talk about this doctor. He—”
“He tried to help me,” David said.
“David, he may have tried to help you, but he gave you hallucinogenic drugs. If you were on simple depressants, this never would have happened. I’m not wishing ill on anyone, but if someone else with a past that was threatening or worse wound up in the same position .
. . well, we need to avert more problems! ”
David winced. He looked around and then at the two of them. “Of course, I understand. But . . . is there a prayer?” he whispered. “Is there a prayer that Donna is alive?” he asked.
“I’ve already called in the case to our founder, a man named Adam Harrison, who has the power to put every possible investigator and investigative technique into play.
Some of the best techs in the world are going through cyber clues that might exist .
. . David, if there is a chance, we’re on it,” Angela assured him.
“Really?”
“Really.” Jackson said. He hesitated. He wondered if it was so great that the man had not been arrested. He’d be going home to his empty house—a new house he had still prepared as if his wife and baby might walk back in at any moment—alone.
And Jackson thought there was still a chance for his family. He knew Mary would have brought the children to their special lodging for the night and ready for the great day he’d planned for tomorrow. Tomorrow, which was already here.
But he knew his wife and his partner, too. And she just didn’t intend to leave the man alone at a time like this.
“You’re coming with us!” she told him. “You are not going to be alone tonight. And you’re not—I do mean not—taking any of those wretched drugs that man gave you. Do you understand?”
“I . . . I . . . mean, thank you. But after everything, the last thing I want to do is impose on you or cause any confusion of the plans you must have made,” David told them.
“If you want to make us happy, come with us! Give us the assurance that you’re going to be okay!” Angela told him.
“I can promise—” David began.
“That you’ll come with us. Now. It’s late!”
Jackson grinned. Angela had no clue they weren’t going home. But it would be all right. The place he had reserved had several rooms for the kids and a big pull-out bed in the parlor. Mary and the kids would probably already be asleep in their rooms.
And miraculously, Corby and Victoria always understood. It made their family moments very precious.
In another ten minutes, long enough for David to gather a few things, they were on their way.
Naturally, Angela frowned when he was “going the wrong way.”
Then of course, he let her know what was going on and how they’d all have an enjoyable day with the hot tub and the heated pool and good friends, old and new.
When they arrived, despite the late—or early—hour, the kids came running out with balloons celebrating Mother’s Day with shouts and hugs. And they introduced David who was quickly great with the kids.
They made up the bed in the parlor.
Everyone headed off for a few hours of sleep.
And as he took his wife in his arms, Jackson told her, “My love, you are the greatest gift in life, a brilliant partner in all the madness we encounter, an incredible wife, the kindest human being despite all that you witness. And today, above all, the world’s most amazing mother!”
She laughed softly. “Wow! Eloquent, my love. Was that your way of asking me if I was too tired to fool around?”
They both burst into laughter. Angela proved she wasn’t too tired at all, and of course . . . the energy of their lovemaking helped dispel the stress of the day. And when they fell asleep, it was quick and deep.
He held her in his arms, and he thought that while they’d had a few distractions, she’d helped a baby enter the world. And for her, he knew that her being able to help under such circumstances already made it an extra-special Mother’s Day.
And for people who miraculously understood kindness and forgiveness, as well!
*
Angela
Spirits of the dead—ghosts—tended to respect couples and closed doors.
That’s why Angela was stunned to feel the strange sensation of a touch that was hot and cold at the same time. And as she opened her eyes, she knew a dead man’s spirit was anxiously waking her.
It was Ray Cummings; a man she thought should have been extremely happy since his great-grandson was sleeping on the sofa in the parlor of the rooms Jackson had taken for her special Mother’s Day treat.
“Ray,” she whispered in confusion. Jackson woke, possibly hearing her whisper, possibly aware that they’d been joined by a spirit.
“Ray,” Jackson repeated, adding, “David is fine; you must know—”
“I do know and I’m so grateful!” the spirit told them.
“And in that . . . you’re not going to believe this!
My friend Harvey has a friend, Sam, and neither has been able to find any of .
. . um, you people. Seers . . . the gifted .
. . whatever you call yourselves. And he’s been trying now forever because he stumbled upon a situation! ”
“What’s the situation?” Jackson asked, frowning. Angela almost smiled; Jackson was the ultimate professional, usually quick as a whip. But then again, they hadn’t had a hell of a lot of sleep!
“He found them!” Ray proclaimed.
“Found . . .”