Page 37 of Medium
Manny said calmly, “Hey, Pia. I get what you’re saying on the shower thing, but eventually you’ll need to get clean. What’s your stance on baths? Maybe with bubbles?”
“Bubbles are good,” she said. It was the longest sentence I’d heard from her since she arrived. But she followed with, “Then no one could see me.”
I covered my mouth with my hands. Fuck.
Manny, however, calmly said, “Did Randolph Chamberlain watch you take a shower? That’s creepy.”
“No. I mean, he turned the hose on me every few days, but I still had my pajamas on. I just didn’t like being stared at all the time.”
“Bastard,” Manny snarled. Then he said, “Look, Ms. Jackson really likes being brushed under their chin.”
Was it wrong to be thankful that the fucker who kidnapped Pia hadn’t gotten off on it?
Pia said in a lower voice, “He and his friends would come look at me. He didn’t let me have a blanket or a tree. I was so cold. And I missed my mom.” This last was said with a hiccup, and then we heard crying.
I got up and walked over to the window. Dominic and the other Hunters had better make sure Randolph Chamberlain didn’t get his hands on any other Wonders.
Rory said, “Pia’s mom says Chamberlain treated her like an animal at the zoo. Some of his friends made comments, but Chamberlain didn’t let them touch her or anything.”
“Thank fuck,” Shane said.
We heard movement from the guest room, and Shane got up to go into the kitchen. I felt the bond tugging, so I went with him, busying myself getting a glass of water for Pia.
We heard Rory say, “Wow, Pia, I like the braid thing with the rhinestones. And, uh, Ms. Jackson, that’s a mighty fine tiara you’ve got there. I’m sure Shane’s Granny would be thrilled to see you wearing those.”
Shane and I stuck our heads around the corner. Pia’s face was blotchy, but she smiled at Rory. Her hair was braided into a crown around her head, and Manny had woven what was probably a sparkly necklace into it.
Shane said, “Wow is right. You both look amazing.”
I made toast and warmed up the bacon in the microwave while Shane fixed scrambled eggs for Pia and Ms. Jackson, who’d decided they were hungry again.
When we sat back down, I said, “Uh, so, Rory, can you tell us a little about your Medium abilities?” I didn’t want to bring up Pia’s mother, so I stayed away from anything to do with the ghosts themselves.
He shrugged, turning his coffee cup in his hands. “I’ve been able to see and speak with ghosts from when I was a little kid. I get it from my mom; she could do it too.”
Manny opened his mouth, but Rory pointed at him and said, “Not the time.”
Shane leaned back in his chair. “Not the time for what?” His tone was borderline hostile.
Rory slid his eyes to Pia, then he sighed. “Fine. My mom was a professional Medium. My dad came from money, and my grandparents decided my mom was a con artist. So whenMom and Dad got married, Grandfather disowned my dad and never spoke to him again.”
Shane grimaced. “I’m sorry. It must’ve been tough.”
Rory held up his hand in astopgesture aimed toward the living room. “My parents died in a car accident when I was sixteen, and I went to live with my grandparents. I’d never met them before, but I knew better than to let on that I had my mom’s gifts.” He made a face. “That lasted until my grandmother passed away.” He gave a wry smile. “Grandfather found out about my gifts at the same time he realized I was in a polyamorous relationship. He disowned me.”
He glanced over his shoulder toward the living room. “Grandfather would like me to tell you how once he passed away, he realized not only were my Medium gifts real, but he finally understood that people are all the same on the inside, so it doesn’t matter who anyone loves.”
I suppressed a shiver at the thought of ghosts in the room with us. Through the bond I felt Shane’s discomfort as well.
Manny snorted. “A little too late to change the will though.”
Rory toasted him with his coffee cup. “True, but he’s been giving me stock tips ever since, and that’s benefited you as well,chico.”
Manny stuck his tongue out at Rory, and Pia giggled.
I asked, “Um, how did the ghosts help you rescue Pia last night?”
He frowned. “Pia, do you want to hear this?”
