“Same here. Ronan texted to say he’d brought Jude and the kids ice cream this afternoon, so at least they’re not all starving.”
Cope picked up his phone and sent Jude a one-word text. [Pizza?] His answer was almost instantaneous. [Hellz yes!]
“That settles that.” Cope pulled up Greek Life’s app and placed their usual order; pizza, salads, mozzarella sticks. “It was great of Jude to keep all the kids today, but we can’t do that to him all week. We need to find something for us all to do. Why thehell didn’t we book a house near your brother in Florida for the week?”
“River and his family are spending the week out west with Barb’s family. He said they’re going to visit Carhenge, in Alliance, Nebraska.” Ten grimaced as if spending time in the corn husker state was the last thing he wanted to do on winter break.
“Carhenge? What the hell is that?” Cope asked.
“It’s Stonehenge made out of junked cars.” Ten snorted. “River promised to send me a replica! He said they’re also going to the Kool-Aid Museum and to visit the world’s largest ball of string . He invited us to go with them, but I passed. It all sounded like too much excitement to me.” He rolled his eyes.
“See, that’s the trouble with New England. No roadside attractions. Wouldn’t you pay to see the world’s largest snowbank?”
“Don’t need to pay, the largest snowbank is in front of my house. At the rate we’re going with the snow, it’s not going to be melted until Fourth of July.” Ten pulled out his phone. “Like you said, we can’t leave Jude with the kids for the next four days. Here we go, vacation week Haunted Happenings.”
“Let’s hear them.” Cope loved the different events scheduled in Salem, even during the winter. Any kid could get a pic sitting on Santa’s lap, but in Salem, you could snap a pic with Krampus.
“They have arts and crafts classes every morning this week. Tomorrow the kids are making dreamcatchers.”
“That’s a maybe. What else you got?” Cope knew Everly and Aurora loved arts and crafts, but Wolf did not.
“Oh, wow!” Ten said. “You’re not going to believe this, but Alistair Hooke is coming to town. He’s doing a live group reading tomorrow night.”
“Seriously?” Cope asked. “With his new television show and hit podcast, I can’t imagine he’s got time to do live readings.” Alistair Hooke was the gold standard for psychics. He was internationally known and respected. Prime Ministers and kings came to Alistair for advice, or so said the online rumors. His charm and charisma drew people to him like moths to a flame, and his dead-on predictions turned even the most ardent skeptics into true believers.
“According to the theater’s website, there’s still tickets left. I would love to see him in person. I think Everly would too, same for Aurora, since those two are joined at the hip. You think Jude and Ronan would want to go?” Ten asked.
Cope chuckled. “Jude’s not usually into this kind of thing, but with his cabin fever at an all-time high, I think he’d jump at the chance to get out of the house. Let’s book it. Grab a ticket for Fitz too. Jace is out of town at some seminar in New York City. We’ll take everyone to Lobster Charlie’s after the event to smooth over any ruffled feathers.”
Ten went to work on his phone. “Done! We’re all set. I can’t wait to tell Everly, although, knowing her, she already knows and is trying on outfits as we speak.” Ten was quiet for a few seconds, he seemed to be studying Cope. “How are you doing with this being Jude’s last week of sick leave?”
“Jude thought he was ready to go back weeks ago. I had to be the one to pump the breaks and remind him of his double vision, headaches, and how easily he gets tired. You know me, I’ve never been the kind of husband to tell Jude what he can or cannot do, but lately, that’s all I’ve been doing. He’s told me several timesthat I’m not his mother and that I need to get off his damn back. I think he’s itching to get out of the house just to get away from me.”
Ten patted Cope’s shoulder. “I hear that. Ronan’s the same way when he gets hurt. He treats me like the enemy, when all I want to do is help his stupid ass. I keep telling him that’s what I’m putting on his tombstone. He thinks I’m joking.”
“That sounds hilarious now, but it won’t be so funny when he’s haunting your ass 24/7.” Cope couldn’t help but wonder if he would be able to see Jude’s spirit if he passed first. Thanks to a spell put on Jude when he was a baby, Cope wasn’t able to read his husband. Would that spell end with Jude’s last breath, or would it continue on into the afterlife? Cope shivered. He hoped the answer to that question was fifty or sixty years in the future, but if Jude kept up his He-Man bullshit, that day would come much sooner than either of them would like.
“Very true,” Ten agreed with a laugh. “You still didn’t answer my question about Jude going back to work.”
Damn, Cope had been hoping Ten would have let that question slide. “The doctors have cleared Jude to go back to work. I know how much he’s missed solving cases and working with Ronan and Fitz. He’s anxious to get to work with Greeley.”
“But?” Ten prodded.
“But we both know what’s gonna happen, Ten.” Cope sighed. “Jude’s gonna run full-tilt, full-time until the next catastrophe hits. I mean, Jesus, he’s been shot, kidnapped, drugged, stabbed, beat to hell. I hate to even think about it, but what’s next?” He hated spilling all of his greatest fears to Tennyson, but knew that he faced a similar uncertain future with Ronan.
“It’s the same for me and Ronan. I know he’s going to go all out to solve cases and bring long-overdue justice to grieving families. The one thing I’ll say in his favor is that I’ve noticed him not being as impulsive over the years, especially after Everly and Ezra were born. Jude seems to be following along the same path. He’s definitely slowed down. I don’t want to even say this, but Jude’s accident happened at home, under the most innocuous of circumstances. An accident like that could happen to any one of us. All you can do now is let him run free and be ready to catch him if he falls.”
More like when he falls,Cope thought. “Thanks, Ten. I really needed this pep talk. I’ll pick up the food and see you at our house.”
As grateful as Cope was for Ten’s advice, he knew Jude was going to do what he wanted, when he wanted. All he could do now was hope Jude’s standoffish attitude toward him would soften. He wasn’t sure he could hold his temper much longer and smacking his stubborn husband with a cast-iron frying pan wasn’t an option.
3
Jude
Jude was one day closer to going back to work. He spent the day taking the kids to the aquarium along with Kaye. Lizzie had been enchanted with the penguins, who swam after her when she ran back and forth along the glass. Wolf had been a fan of the sharks, which hadn’t surprised Jude one bit. He and his son had spent time during Christmas break watching animal documentaries. Their favorites had been about predators; lions, tigers, bears, wolves, and sharks.
Now, he was settled into his seat at the convention center. This was the exact building Jude had been in several months back when possessed doll, Agatha Louise, had nearly killed three people on stage. He hoped this show wouldn’t end with him, Ronan, and Fitz giving people CPR.
