Natural Reaction - a Mary O'Reilly Paranormal Mystery Read online

  Mary grinned. “Well, we need to work something out with your mother, so we get to see you more often,” she agreed.

  “I like your ring,” Maggie said, as she stuffed her mouth with waffle.

  “Thank you,” Mary replied. “Bradley gave it to me.”

  Andy stopped buttering his waffle for a moment and looked up at her. “Are you guys getting married?” he asked, delighted.

  Mary nodded. “Yes we are.”

  “That is so cool,” Andy said.

  “Why thank you, Andy,” Mary said, a little surprised at his reaction.

  “So, he’s going to move here, right?” he asked. “Chief Alden is going to be my neighbor?”

  Ian laughed. “Now I see why he’s so excited.”

  “Well, it’s okay,” Mary said. “I can totally understand his infatuation.”

  A little while later, both of the children were washed up and ready to go.

  “Your mom will be here in a moment,” Mary said, blinking back tears. “Thank you for staying with me.”

  Maggie came over and gave her a big hug. “You are my favoritist place to stay,” she said. “I love you.”

  “I love you too, Maggie,” she said, returning the hug.

  Ian squatted down and Maggie hugged him too. “Remember now,” Ian said, his voice cracking slightly. “You promised you’re going to marry me when you’re older.”

  “Will you get me a pretty ring, like Mary’s?”

  Laughing, he gave her a quick squeeze, “Aye, just like Mary’s.”

  Andy walked over to Mary. “I guess I’m too old for a hug, right?”

  Mary shook her head. “Well, you might be too old,” she said. “But I’m not.”

  She gave him a hug.

  “I’m glad the Chief is marrying you,” he whispered to her. “He’s like a hero.”

  Nodding, she wiped away a few stray tears. “Yeah, he is.”

  When she heard the knock on the door, she gave Andy another quick hug and stood up. “I think that might be for you,” she said.

  She opened the door and Katie came inside. The children threw themselves against her. “Mom, you’re home.”

  Katie hugged them and held them for a few moments. “I missed both of you so much,” she said. “Did you behave yourselves?”

  Maggie nodded. “I was so good. And guess what? Mary got a ring from Bradley. She’s getting married.”

  Katie looked up at Mary. “Really?” she asked. “That’s wonderful.”

  “Yeah, Chief Alden is going to be living here,” Andy said. “That’s so cool.”

  Katie laughed. “Yes, that is cool,” she agreed.

  “Can I go tell dad?” Andy asked.

  “Yes, you may,” Katie said.

  “Me too?” Maggie asked.

  “Yes, but be sure to say thank you and good-bye to Mary and Ian.”

  “Thank you. Good-bye,” both children repeated obediently as they rushed out the door.

  “Well, I love emotional good-byes,” Ian laughed. “Katie they were a delight. Sometime we’ll have to tell you about Maggie’s guardian angel.”

  “I’d love to hear more about him,” she said.

  “Aye, I’m sure you will,” he said. “Now, I’ll go and clean up the waffles. Welcome home, Katie.”

  “Waffles?” she said to Mary, “You really did spoil them.”

  “It was my pleasure. Really.”

  Katie took Mary’s hand and looked at the ring. “Oh, well, that’s just beautiful,” she said. “And was it romantic?”

  Mary grinned. “It was perfect,” she said.

  “Daddy!” They both heard Maggie’s cry of delight and peeked out the door to see Maggie throw herself into her father’s arms.

  A shadow of sadness passed over Mary’s face.

  “What’s wrong?” Katie asked.

  Mary shrugged. “Nothing really.”

  Katie laughed. “You’re not a very good liar, Mary. Now tell me.”

  “I don’t know if Bradley and I will be able to have children,” she said. “I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to be a mother.”

  Katie hugged Mary. “My mother always told me never to borrow troubles,” she said. “Just wait and see what happens, you might be just fine and you’ve worried for nothing.”

  “Mom, come on,” Andy yelled.

  Mary smiled. “You’re right, and you’d better get going.”

  She squeezed Mary’s hand. “Things will turn out the way they are supposed to,” she said, moving to the door. “Besides, there’s always adoption.”

  Mary walked with Katie out to the porch. She nodded. “I know,” she said. “But I’ve always wondered about that.”

  Katie hugged her again. “It’s a wonderful experience,” she said softly, “I know because our sweet Maggie is adopted.”

  The End

  About the author: Terri Reid lives near Freeport, the home of the Mary O’Reilly Mystery Series, and loves a good ghost story. She lives in a hundred year-old farmhouse complete with its own ghost. She loves hearing from her readers at [email protected]

  Other books by Terri Reid:

  Loose Ends - A Mary O’Reilly Paranormal Mystery (Book One)

  Good Tidings - A Mary O’Reilly Paranormal Mystery (Book Two)

  Never Forgotten - A Mary O’Reilly Paranormal Mystery (Book Three)

  Final Call - A Mary O’Reilly Paranormal Mystery (Book Four)

  Darkness Exposed - A Mary O’Reilly Paranormal Mystery (Book Five)

  The Ghosts Of New Orleans -A Paranormal Research and Containment Division (PRCD) Case File