Page 77 of Daddy, Take Me Away
Giggling, she rubbed her hands against her butt. “Maybe I took your words more literally than figuratively,” she suggested.
“Cute, but no,” he teased, getting their bags from the car. “Grab the key?”
“Sure, oh, hi, Lydia, we’re back!” she said, waving wildly.
Stone grinned and released one suitcase’s handle to add his own wave. “Thanks for inviting us back.”
His statement had Micah pausing on the third step and looking back. “Is that another figurative statement?” A bark of laughter made her flush. “Okay, I guess that was a pretty stupid question considering Lydia is a ghost.”
“Not at all,” her Daddy assured her, leaning forward to peck her cheek as the stair made her almost his same height. “And though she didn’t go to the post office to mail me a card, that didn’t keep her from coming to me in my dreams and asking us to return.”
Micah’s mouth dropped open as she stared at him and then back at the house. When he passed her on the stairs, it took her a moment to follow. “You’re serious.”
“I am. Won’t say it wasn’t a bit unsettling, but well, I couldn’t ignore it either. The house wasn’t booked when I called this morning, so here we are.”
Micah found the key where she’d left it and slid it into the lock. “Whatever the reason, I’m glad you did, Daddy. It will be nice to make more memories here.”
There weren’t any adventures on his secret agenda as they’d done those the first time they were here. Instead, they spent the day cooking a meal together which, of course, included dessert. Micah set a place for Lydia, placing a lemon-blueberry cupcake on a plate, making sure there were plenty of multi-colored sprinkles in the shape of stars clinging to the mountain of icing.
When she saw her Daddy’s eyebrow quirk as she laid a napkin and utensils beside the plate, she smiled. “Don’t want Lydia to feel left out.”
“I don’t either, Webby, but I’m just going to say it now. If I see that cupcake floating in midair and a bite being taken, I might have a stroke.”
“Good thing I’m a nurse then. I’ll bring you back, Daddy,” Micah promised.
After supper, they carried mugs of hot chocolate out to the front porch to watch the world go by. When she was about to sit in one beside him, Stone held out his hand. “Come sit with me, Webby, I believe Lydia might want to join us this evening.”
Settling on his lap after he’d taken a seat, she said, “Oh, I forgot to grab the book.” She’d chosen another book from the parlor shelf, but it was presently upstairs beside their bed.
“Give me your cup while you run up and get it.”
“Okay, I’ll be right back.” Micah jumped off his lap and ran up the stairs, grabbing the copy of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn that had called to her when she’d picked their second book of the trip. She skipped down the stairs but paused inside the door when she heard voices. Who could possibly be visiting? The only person who even knew they were here was the rental agent and she always just phoned, but she’d seen both hers and her Daddy’s phones upstairs on the nightstand. Looking down at her gown, she wondered if she should go upstairs and change or simply stay inside until whoever it was left. Her decision was made when she heard Lydia’s name being spoken. Taking a few cautious steps forward, she listened.
“Lydia, I know I never met your Ethan, but I feel compelled to speak for him, if you’ll let me?”
It was her Daddy’s voice and when she heard no other, she realized he was having a conversation with their ghost. Holding her breath, she strained to hear if there was a response, but heard nothing but the creaking of the porch planks as the rocker rocked back and forth.
“Thank you, that means a lot. Micah is everything to me, she is my heart and the other half of my soul. I know how much you loved your husband and how tragic it was when you lost him. I can’t even imagine losing my Micah. But, Lydia, even though this house you shared was where you two were the happiest, and no one can blame you for wanting to hold on to that happiness, I just know that I’d never find true contentment without Micah by my side.”
“I know you’re scared of what might be on the other side, that you won’t find your Ethan waiting for you, and I can’t swear you will, but everything in me feels as if there is so much more than just the world we see. All you have to do is look to the heavens to know we are but a small speck in the vast expanse of the universe. I might be a scientist, but I’m also a man whose heart tells him true love has a power that can’t ever be fully comprehended. If you want to stay on this plane, in this house for another hundred years you can and no one will blame you. But if you decide to take a leap of faith, to go join Ethan, know that Micah and I will never ever forget you and your hospitality.”
Micah felt tears welling in her eyes as she listened to the most incredible human being she’d ever met. And when he chuckled, and added, “I love that idea, but Micah would have to agree. I’m sure you understand.”
Agree? With what?
Curiosity overtook her and she pushed through the screen door. “Agree with what?”
Stone chuckled. “What has Daddy told you about eavesdropping, little girl?”
“That’s it’s naughty,” Micah said without hesitation. “But what do I need to agree with?” Before Stone could respond, Micah turned toward the empty rocker. “Lydia, if Daddy meant I had to agree with what he was telling you, I do. I know that no matter where we are, I’d want to be with my Daddy. I’m sure yours feels the same way.”
Her gaze never left the rocker as she held what most would consider a one-sided conversation. But Micah knew better. She didn’t have to see a physical form for her heart to know Lydia’s spirit. With a huge smile, she shook her head. “You don’t need to thank us, we need to thank you. We’ve had a lovely time here and will always treasure the memories you’ve helped us make.” After another moment, she tilted her head and then reached out a hand, closing her fingers around air but feeling a warmth and a connection in her soul
When she turned back to her Daddy, he smiled and held out his hand and once again, she climbed onto his lap. As if he hadn’t just held his own conversation with a ghost, he handed back her mug of cocoa, took the book from her, opened it and began to read.
An hour later, he closed the book and dropped a kiss on top of her curls when she protested. “Just one more chapter?”
“Afraid not, baby. You might have forgotten, but I do remember some little girl confessing to eavesdropping.”
