A Most Excellent Midlife Crisis - Robyn Peterman Page 0,83
chuckled, walked across the small room and seated himself next to my best friend. “I will answer to many things. Whatever you choose is fine,” he assured her, and then grew more serious. “Your great-granny resides in the light—in Heaven. She watches over you as your Guardian Angel, and her love for you will never die.”
Missy’s eyes widened and filled with tears. She gaped at the Archangel and watched in amazement as he let his own eyes turn a sparkling gold.
“You wouldn’t lie to me?” she asked.
“John Travolta doesn’t lie,” I offered. “He omits occasionally, but we’re working on that.”
Michael smiled. “I neither lied nor omitted just now, Missy. What I told you is the truth.”
Missy absorbed the information then leaned back onto Heather for comfort. “Okay,” she said, looking around suspiciously. “While all of this has been life-altering and possibly nightmare-inducing, I’m not following why you felt the need to blow my mind. What exactly is going on? Why do I need to know all of this?”
“You ready for more?” I asked, hoping not to get shot down. I wasn’t sure how much more she could take.
“Do I need more wine?” she asked, holding up the empty bottle.
Charlie stood up. “Probably,” he said in his kind way. “I’ll go get another bottle.”
“Wait,” Missy said, tilting her head in thought. “Does June know? About you?”
Charlie smiled and shook his head. “She does not. For me, June is my once in a very long lifetime love. I will age with her, and when she passes on, I’ll pretend to pass on for the sake of our children. I’ll move away for a generation or two and then come back to watch my great-grandchildren grow from a distance.”
“I’m confused,” I said as a thought occurred to me. “I thought it was rare for an Immortal to have a child. You and June have four.” Maybe my birth wasn’t as rare as I’d thought. If that was the case, Gideon needed to use something a little more reliable than condoms.
“Adopted children,” Charlie said with great pride and a wide smile as he patted his heart. “The lights of June’s and my life.”
“Oh Charlie, it makes me sad that June will die and you won’t,” Missy said softly.
“No,” Heather said. “It’s rare and beautiful. So few of us get to experience what Charlie has. He’ll have memories of June for the rest of time.”
Missy turned and stared at Heather for a long moment. Heather stared back. It was as if they’d both forgotten anyone else was in the room.
Missy broke the stare first and touched Heather’s cheek gently. “I understand. Charlie, I would like that wine, please, and I’d like to know what you people have omitted.”
“Long or short version, dude?” I asked.
“Short,” Missy said. “Brain’s too full as it is.”
I nodded. “You’re a Soul Keeper. It’s not a myth. It’s not a wives’ tale.”
Missy grinned. I was floored and relieved.
“I am?” she asked with a laugh. “I’m a freak like the rest of you people?”
“That you are,” Gideon said with a chuckle.
“Amazing,” Missy said. “An hour ago, I thought I was having a nervous breakdown. Now, I’m kind of digging it.”
“Highly unusual and quite remarkable,” Tim said, smiling at Missy. “You are uniquely suited to be part of the club.”
“Thanks,” Missy said with a wink. “And let me tell you right now, Courier between Heaven and Hell, if you rehome the vibrator I just ordered, I will mess with your shit.”
Tim looked taken aback for a moment then he sheepishly grinned. “Duly noted. Your toy shall arrive unscathed.”
Missy hopped up and began to pace the small room. Charlie handed her a new bottle of wine as she passed him and she took a slug off it. Gathering her thoughts, she stopped then pinned me with a stare.
“Okay, I’m ready,” she said. “It still makes no logical sense why I’m being told this if there’s not a reason, so hit me with it.”
“Brave and beautiful,” Heather said with pride.
“Back at you,” Missy said to Heather. “Out with the rest, Daisy.”
“Clarissa killed my mother,” I told her, trying not to let the fact send me into a fit of tears or rage. It would do no one any good if I lost my shit when I needed to keep it together. “She tried to steal her soul, but one of Mom’s ghosts got to it first. Her name was Ethel, but she liked being called Birdie better because of her penchant for flipping people off.”