Risen (Haunted Series Book 22)

you that we we’re going to pull away from the island.  We noticed that our instruments weren’t performing at their best.  There may be some magnetic interference emanating from the isle.”
“By all means, take us to a safe distance.  I’m sure the men will be able to locate us without any trouble.”
“We are kind of hard to miss,” the captain said.  “This is such a beautiful spot.  I’m puzzled as to why we haven’t seen other watercraft taking advantage of that beautiful beach.”
“Captain Billard, that beach is a smoke screen.  Its beauty hides something horrible.”
“So that’s why your partners are landing on the rocky side of the island?”
“Yes.  But I fear that will only delay the conflict to come.”
The captain turned away from the woman.  He had been informed that one of his passengers was different and to treat her like everyone else.  Was it because she was crazy?  If so, he would exercise caution.  Or was it because she was prophetic?  In that case, he would resurrect his St. Erasmus medal and start praying for guidance.
~
Mia stared at the four people who stood before her.  They each had rehearsed a statement and demanded that Mia and Ted hear them out.
Mia, against her better judgement, had let this farce get this far by allowing them over to speak their piece, instead of rejecting the idea they presented to her and Ted on the phone.
Ralph, her beloved godfather, stepped forward and cleared his voice before starting, “As you know, I have had a part in your raising and have spent a lot of time with Brian.”
“Who wore you out,” Mia interrupted.
Ralph shook his finger at her.  “You said you’d be quiet and listen.”
“You did say that,” Ted reminded her.
Mia turned to her husband.  “Whose side are you on?”
“Yours, pumpkin,” Ted said.  “I was just pointing out…”
“Shush,” Ralph said.  “She only gave us fifteen minutes to plead our case.”
Ted pretended to zip his mouth shut and leaned back against the wall.
“Go on,” Mia said.
“It’s not like I’d be alone with the children.  Bernard, Amanda, and Charles will be on hand too.”
“My father will be working on the site.  Bernard will be cataloging the find, and Amanda, I mean Mother, will be…”
“Watching the children,” Amanda finished.  “I promise not to put a finger on a keyboard while the children are with us.”
Mia looked at the earnest face of her distracted mother and had a hard time not smiling.  She’d never seen her this animated about the prospect of being with young children before.
“What we’re asking of you and Ted is, let us have the kids for a few weeks.  We’d like the same opportunity you have afforded to Ted’s folks,” Amanda added to play on Mia’s guilt about being rather one-sided on the grandparental rights issue.
“It’s true the Martins have had more access, but they raised Ted and survived.”
“Hey,” Ted said.  “I was an angel.”
“I’ve met angels, and from the stories your sisters tell, you weren’t even close,” Mia said, crossing her arms.
“Darling,” her father, Charles, started.  “Don’t you remember the fun you had running around the dig sites?”
“I do remember getting into my share of trouble.”
“You survived.  Brian will too.”
“Okay, I can see what a wonderful experience that two weeks on an archeological dig will be for Brian.  But Varden is a baby.  Leave him here with us.”
“Mia, I’d like to get a chance to bond with Varden,” Amanda said.  “It won’t be long before he… well… he…”
“Flies away,” Bernard, Mia’s other godfather, filled in.  “We know all about the charm Angelo placed to stop this, but he is a strong child, Mia.  Let us enjoy being with him, teaching him the academic way of life, before he concentrates on the physical.”
Mia looked to Ted for help.
“He’s got a point.  My folks have had their time with the boys.  And it’s not just Amanda and Charles, but Bernard and Ralph will be there too.  They are used to the little con artist.”
“Also known as Brian,” Mia said, just in case her son was listening at the top of the stairs.  “He’s a handful for us.  You’ll have to watch him.  He’s got it into his head that he’s a wizard.”
“Actually, that was Nicholai, your birdman trainer, who put it in his head after he bluntly told Brian that he had no wings,” Ted said.
“He was greatly put out after that,” Ralph said.  “Angelo had quite a time comforting him.”
Mia clenched her teeth.  “It wasn’t Angelo’s place…”
“That’s neither here nor there,” Ralph said quickly.  “Give us a chance.  If I feel we are in over our heads, we will return the children promptly.”
Mia thought a moment. An idea came to her.  “Dad, there’s a young man who seems to be able to keep up with Brian’s mischief. Would you consider taking him on for, let’s say, some college credit?”
Ted’s face lit up.  “You’re talking about Ethan Aldridge.”
“Yes.  He’s a very smart young man who has recently found out that the medical profession may not be his forte.  How about an internship?”
“Dear, our daughter is blackmailing you,” Amanda said, quite amused.
“You’ll give us the boys for three weeks?”
“You said two,” Mia corrected.
“No, we said a few.”
Mia narrowed her eyes.  “You’ll take on Ethan all summer?”
“Yes.  I’ll even give him a stipend.  Three weeks with Brian and Varden,” Charles said, extending his hand.
“Deal,” Mia said, shaking it before letting her father pull her in for a hug.
“Are you taller?” Charles asked.
“Two inches,” Mia and Ted chorused.
“Don’t ask her why,” Ralph warned.  “I did and ended up replacing the carpeting.”
“Sorry, about that,” Mia said, remembering how the armor of her wings sliced the Berber like butter.
“Call this Ethan. Tell