Spirit Chaser

Chapter 2-2

“This,” Marlese said, cradling the baby as she sat at the kitchen table, “is Malcolm Charles Lovelace. He’s seven months old.”

“Lovelace?” I asked. I didn’t recognize that last name. It must have been the father’s last name. But…where was he?

And his middle name. My father’s name was Charles. Feelings of nostalgia swam up from my stomach and bloomed all over my body as I thought about Pops seeing this baby for the first time.

Malcolm kicked and tugged at her hair. He was a chubby little guy, with eyes so glossy, they almost glowed.

It was just me and Marlese at the table. Bo wisely stayed at the front of the house with CeCe. CeCe stayed out of Marlese’s sight.

“Can I?” I asked, motioning to Malcolm.

Marlese said something soothing to Malcolm, caressed his cheek, and handed him to me.

It had been a long time since I’d cradled a baby, but my father instinct told me what to do. The little guy was heavy, and he looked up at me as if to say, “Who the hell are you?”

A volcano of warmth and joy erupted all over my body as I held Malcolm. My grandson. Still, it didn’t have a ring to it.

Marlese reached over and gingerly stuck a pacifier in Malcolm’s mouth. Once Malcolm accepted it, she sat back down at the plate of catfish and macaroni I had made for her, and she ate quickly.

“Hey, little man,” I said softly as he sucked the pacifier. “Do you know who I am?”

Malcolm glanced up at me and grabbed at my glasses. He was fast, but I evaded him at the last moment and laughed.

“I don’t know what else to say other than it’s an honor to meet you,” I said.

I rocked him. Hazel came up and sniffed.

“This is Hazel,” I said quietly. “I didn’t reckon she would like babies so much, but she’s real keen on you. She’ll keep you safe as long as you’re here. Between her and Bo, you don’t have to worry about a thing, little man.”

Malcolm watched me, mouth agape as I spoke to him. What was he thinking? Whatever I was saying, it must have meant something to him. All I could think about in the moment was how much I wished my wife could have been here. She would have hogged Malcolm and given me no snuggle time. And my son Marcus would have been an uncle. An uncle!

Suddenly, the thought of my family missing this moment made me very sad. Sick-to-my-stomach sad.

When I looked up, Marlese was almost done with her food.

“He’s a beautiful little baby,” I said. Malcolm spit his pacifier out, but I caught it just in time and slipped it back into his mouth. He cooed and I mimicked the sound.

“Usually, he’d be crying by now,” Marlese said. “He doesn’t like strangers.”

“We’re not strangers anymore, are we?” I asked Malcolm. Suddenly, he was interested in a glass of water on the table and he reached for it. I pulled him away.

“Speaking of strangers,” I said, settling on Marlese. “Mar, it’s good to see you after all these years. Why’d you come home?”

“It’s a long story,” she said, avoiding my gaze.

I didn’t look away. “I’ve got all night.”

We shared the moment, Malcolm kicking in my arms and Marlese with nothing else to say but the truth. Then my phone rang.

Malcolm startled and I hushed him.

“Bo, can you get that?”

Normally, I’d hear Bo’s footsteps on the hardwood as he walked toward the kitchen, but he didn’t come.

“Bo!” I asked, irritated.

“Boss man, maybe you oughta get that,” Bo called from the front room.

“I’m busy right now, if you haven’t noticed,” I said.

“Pick up the phone, will you, Lester?” Bo asked.

Marlese’s eyes widened. I sat, staring at my green rotary phone on the wall next to the hallway. The caller ID next to the phone showed jumbled letters again.

Oh no. I still had PTSD from the last time my caller ID looked like that.

I brushed Malcolm’s hair and handed him to Marlese. I wiped slobber onto my trousers and snatched the phone off the hook.

“Broussard residence,” I said sharply. “I’m busy, so call back later.”

“No, it can’t wait,” CeCe said. She was supposed to be in my living room, so why was she on the phone?

I craned my neck into the hallway. Bo stood next to the radiator by my front door. He motioned for me to come.

“Cecelia, it’s so nice to talk to you,” I said, smiling my fakest, widest smile. “But really, my daughter is home for the first time in seven years, and I would truly appreciate it if you called me back tomorrow. How does that sound?”

“And I would truly appreciate it if you stopped ignoring me,” she said, her voice growing harsher. “You have no idea what a mess you’re in.”

I sighed.

“Give me a minute.”

I slammed the phone on the receiver.

“Who’s that?” Marlese asked.

I held up a hand and told her to wait. I stomped toward the front of the house. Bo saw me coming and dipped into the living room.

CeCe was sitting on the couch, fidgeting her hands on her dress, looking around nervously.

I put my hands on my hips. I had never seen her this worried before. Something was wrong.

“Les,” she said, starting.

“I’m sorry,” I said softly. “But I’m having a life moment. I need to take a rain check on the reunion. Maybe next week.”

What color was left on CeCe’s face drained now. Her face was damn near translucent.

“No, you can’t,” she said, shaking her head. Her eyes were incredulous.

“What do you mean I can’t?” I asked. “Of course I can.”

CeCe hung her head. “Halgeron was PISSED when I asked him for the favor.”

“So?” I asked. “He’s always pissed whenever I’m involved.”

She ran a hand through her platinum hair. “He’s summoned you, Lester. It has to be tonight.”

“No take-backs,” Bo said. “You got your favor, but old Halgy won’t take it kindly if you decide you don’t want to do it all of a sudden.”

“CeCe, I didn’t know my daughter was going to show up on my doorstep after you left,” I said.

CeCe shrugged. “This is your chance. Now or never. If you back out, I’m in trouble.”

I cursed. “Fine. I’ll talk to him. Just give me thirty seconds, and don’t call me again, please.”

In the kitchen, Marlese was feeding Malcolm a bottle.

“Mar, I’ve got to run out,” I said. I went onto the back porch and slipped on my gabardine. I didn’t know what I was going to say to Halgeron, but I’d have to improvise.

“What kind of formula does Malcolm drink?” I asked.

Mar gave me the formula name as if relieved. She rattled off a few other things she needed. It was clear she didn’t have much money. I felt as if I were solving a giant jigsaw puzzle, and I only had a few unrelated pieces so far.

I joined CeCe and Bo in the front room. She had opened a ragged stitch to the spirit world. A world of mist, rocks, and yellowed light awaited me through the hole.

This was going to be the first time I had been back in the spirit world since my access was restored. I sure as hell had fought hard to get visiting rights returned, but this wasn’t quite the way I expected to come back.

Knowing Marlese was occupied in the kitchen, I didn’t waste any time. The three of us jumped through, and the hole quickly closed behind us.