Ghost Writer - Pandora Pine Page 0,3
Monday.
“When you go back to work for the first time.” It wasn’t a question. Kevin wore an understanding look on his face. He’d been able to bring Aurora to the office when she’d been smaller and less mobile. Now she spent her days at Ten and Ronan’s house with Everly and Tennyson’s mother, Kaye, who was often joined by Ronan’s father, John, who couldn’t get enough of the babies.
“I’m not sure how to say goodbye to him.” It was all Cope had been able to think about for the last two weeks. How the hell was he going to be able to drop the baby with Kaye tomorrow morning and walk away?
“That’s easy. Just leave him with me tonight. First sleepover and first day back at work all at once.” Ronan shifted Wolf from one shoulder to the other. The baby didn’t flinch.
“Just because you can’t get your baby to cuddle with you doesn’t mean you can steal ours.” Jude was out of his seat and stalking toward the present table. “Carson called half an hour ago and said they were going to be late getting here since the Velociraptors were taking a late nap. Why don’t you open your present from me while we wait?” Jude set the large box in front of Cope.
“Are you sure?” Cope had been eyeing the present since Jude had carried it in. He’d shut his psychic gift off so he wouldn’t be tempted to peek at the contents. He knew that was the reason Jude had kept his gift at Ronan’s house instead of trying to find a hiding place for it in their home.
“Absolutely!” Jude kissed Cope again. “I know how hard tomorrow is going to be on you, but I think this present is going to be just the thing you need to find your smile again.” He set the gift on the table in front of his husband and plucked Aurora out of Cope’s arms.
The box was wrapped in blue glitter paper that shone like a disco ball in the afternoon sunshine. Tiny reflected rainbows dotted the table, giving it a little extra pizzazz. He lifted the lid and gasped in shock. “Oh, Jude!” It was a typewriter. In fact, it looked like the one his mother had given him for his tenth birthday. Cope burst into tears.
Jude was at his side in a heartbeat. “If you don’t like it, I can return it. I kept the receipt.” He looked like he had no idea how to soothe his husband.
“No, it’s not that.” Cope had never told Jude the story about his typewriter and his ambitions of writing when he was a child. It was unbelievable that Jude bought this for him. “How?”
“Funny story.” Jude stopped to wipe a rogue tear from Cope’s cheek. “I had no idea what to get you for your birthday. I was downtown, about to go see Madam Aurora. I was sure there was stuff in her store you wanted, but before I could get out of the car, I saw this little antique shop I’d never noticed before across the way from Aurora’s shop.”
“Play it Again, Sam?” Cope asked. He’d always meant to pay a visit, but never had the time.
“Yeah, that’s the one. Their claim to fame is having a piece of the actual sheet music Sam played in Casablanca. Who knows if it’s true or not, but I guess that’s half the fun?” Jude shrugged. “I was walking through the store and this typewriter spoke to me. I’ve never felt anything like it before.”
“What did the typewriter say?” Ronan asked.
“I didn’t hear any words. It was like I was being pulled toward it. Every time I went to move away, it was like I couldn’t. It made me wonder if that’s how the Force worked.” Jude wore a whimsical smile.
Fitzgibbon snorted. “You think the Force made you buy the typewriter? Who owned it before, Yoda?”
“Funny.” Jude rolled his eyes before turning back to his husband. “Are you getting any kind of vibes from it?”
Shutting his eyes, Cope set both hands on the typewriter. The cold of the metal sunk into the pads of his fingers. He could hear birds singing and Aurora babbling, but other than that there was nothing. His gift was silent on the matter. “I’m not getting anything.” Cope felt a little bit relieved.
These last six months at home with his son had been relatively spirit-free. He’d encountered a couple of departed souls looking to chat with loved ones