Medium Rare (Haunted Hearts)

12. Cade

12

CADE

S tuffing my cell into the back pocket of my jeans, I glanced up to see Uncle Gally regarding me with one eyebrow cocked.

“What?”

“Your boyfriend?”

“That was Jay. I’ve spent exactly one day with him. I hardly think that merits being called a boyfriend.” My brows furrowed together. I loved Uncle Gally like no one else. Despite being my uncle, we had grown up together, meaning he had been more of a big brother to me. And because he was gay, too, I never had to worry about any homophobia, or of him “just not getting it”. If anything, he “got” too much. But it bonded us together in ways that my other uncles couldn’t.

He definitely had inherited the Ivanov good looks.

He got more dates than I ever would.

“I don’t know. If it smells like a duck?—”

“Oh my God, just stop. Look, all the problems I’ve been having with—” I waved my arm indiscriminately. “—all of them, Jay’s kid is experiencing them as well. I think he’s a medium, just like me.”

“I thought your talent was rare? You know, a medium, which is rare. Ha! Medium rare. Kinda like how you eat your meat. Your boyfriend’s meat. See what I did there?”

“Why are you like this?”

“Family gift.”

“No, no one else in the family is this dumb.” I shook my head. He was having fun at my expense, but that’s because he loved me. Such an idiot. “You’re not wrong. Someone who can see and talk to the dead is rare, but it’s not like one in a billion. It’s more common than you think, but most people don’t even know they can do it. Most kids who have had imaginary friends are actually talking to the spirit realm; they just don’t know it. And then the parents try to suppress it, or make kids feel weird about it, and so the talent shrivels up and goes away as the person matures.”

“Seriously? You know I’m joking.”

“Yeah, I know, but I’m trying my damnedest to educate you. You’re impossible.”

Gally grinned from ear to ear.

“You’re an asshole.”

“I know.” He smirked. “Listen, if you have to drive back out there, I get it. No kid should be tormented by the things you see, otherwise they’ll turn out like you.” Gally winked.

I shook my head. “I do need to go. Can you handle Aunt Lavinia’s things here at the hospital?”

“Yeah. I got this. You go save the world. Oh,” Gally dug into his pocket and fished out a set of keys, “But you should take this, and leave me with my own car?” He wiggled his fingers indicating the need for his own keys.

He then tossed a keyring across the room, and surprisingly, I caught it while pitching his own keys over to him. It was quite the circus act, objects flying around at the same time. I snatched the keyring flying toward me. I’ve never been the most athletic or coordinated, so my success surprised me. “What’s this?” I glanced at the shiny new key dangling from a dealership key tag.

“Hope you don’t mind. If you don’t like it, we can change it, but I went down to the car lot while you were gone house hunting and got you one just like mine.”

“What?”

“It’s a Jeep. I watched you drive away. You had a smile plastered on your face. I figured you were diggin’ my ride, so I got you one of your own — out of the money your mom left you.”

“Are you kidding me?” A tingle started at the base of my spine.

“I can’t tell whether you’re happy or not.” Uncle Gally’s face contorted with confusion.

My heart melted.

Mom had set the money up in a trust fund, because she died when I was young, and sadly, she knew her time was limited. Sometimes being psychic was cruel. I was, like, sixteen. Way too immature to be managing the family inheritance. It was a lump sum of money that had been passed down for several generations. As long as it was carefully managed, it would sustain me my entire life. All I had to do was ensure it was bequeathed to the next Ivanov of my choosing — a niece or nephew who had the gift. That’s the way it worked.

Of course, over the years, other relatives asked to dip into the fund, which was almost never refused, but the endowment was generally meant to go to the one family member with “the sight” so that they could focus on community service, rather than earning a living wage.

Uncle Gally had been left in charge of the trust, and he was extremely practical about it all, and financially astute.

“You need a vehicle, Cade. One that’s going to reliably get you around. It might seem like a lot right now, but trust me when I tell you the purchase won’t even make a dint in the total amount. Just take the car and be happy about it. Unless of course you truly hate it, and then we’ll find you something else.”

“No, no way.” I clutched the keyring. “Gally, thank you.”

“Safe travels. Okay? Go see your boyfriend and save his kid from the ghouls and goblins.”

“Goblins are not a thing. And he’s not my boyfriend.”

“Do you know that for sure?”

“Er…I mean, well…”

“Then shush.” He winked at me. I wasn’t sure if he was referring to the small monster of myth and legend, or my current love interest.

Was it an interest?

I spun around to leave, but then remembered the witch cottage, and how much I wanted Uncle Gally’s approval on it before I made an offer. “Gally?” I said as I turned toward him.

“Yeah man?”

“Jay did take me to a house. One I want you to see.”

“Already?”

“It has history. It belonged to a ?ovaxani. It’s completely clean and uninhabited by the haints. It’s actually built to exclude them. I need you to give your blessing on this house, because I’m certain I’m going to put in an offer.”

“Well, we can definitely take a look!”

“Come tomorrow?”

“I’ll have to get someone to cover my shift at the restaurant, but that shouldn’t be too hard to accomplish. Bah,” Uncle Gally beamed. “My little nephew is all grown up. Look at you. Buying a house.”

He walked across the room and embraced me into a massive bear hug.

“I’m proud of you. For so many reasons.” He squeezed. “What time?”

“I’ll let you know.” I squeaked out. His hugs pressed the air right out of me.

He released his monster squeeze, then patted me on the shoulder. “Get out of here. I’ll be watching for your text.”

After getting a description of where to find my new Jeep, I left Uncle Gally to the monotonous paperwork from the hospital and the inevitable planning of Aunt Lavinia’s final service. As I left I could hear Gally talking to a nurse who was asking if the family knew if final arrangements had been pre-made, where the body was to be sent, and all the other things that come with the death of a loved one. Of course, I would help out, but not until after I had this current dilemma resolved.

While walking through the parking lot, I pulled my phone out and texted Jay.

Leaving the hospital now. I’ll be there in an hour. Hope everything is okay.

Glancing around, the lot was particularly empty due to the frigid temperatures and the snow that was now falling rather wildly — it looked as if another storm was brewing — and I spied my new car.

“Holy shit, Gally. What have you done?”

There she sat. Bright red, sparkling all pretty and new. A red four-door Rubicon waited for me to take her for a maiden road trip.

I climbed in, cranked the engine, then adjusted the seat, the rearview and side mirrors.

No sputtering, no arguments. Simply a purr as the engine roared to life. This was luxury.

I pushed the console button to activate the entertainment system, dialed in to my favourite radio station, and as the tunes filled the cab of the vehicle, I leaned back into the cushy newly upholstered seat and closed my eyes.

“Thanks, Mom.” After all, it was her careful management of the family dowry that allowed this to happen. I wouldn’t have ever been able to afford this on my own. I didn’t make that much money.

I fished my phone out and sent a quick text to Uncle Gally.

She’s amazing! Thank you.

I noticed there was a USB slot in the dash, so I pulled out my charging cord and plugged the phone in. Might as well let it get to full capacity while I drove back to Jay, and Sam.

The vents belted out air hotter than a tropical vacation as I slipped the gearshift into first and steered my beast out of the parking lot. Just like Uncle Gally’s tank, this girl could take on any winter condition.

Within minutes, we were off to Camrose — and Jay, my jock with a body and a medium rare of a son.

“Jeez, Gally, I’m never gonna call it anything else now. Damn you.” I smiled a large toothy grin. Despite angry ghosts, Aunt Lavinia, and a special kid who desperately needed my help, I couldn’t think of anything other than how my life seemed to be heading down the path it was meant to travel.

It took longer than an hour to get to the McCauley place, given the roads, yesterday’s storm, and the worsening winter conditions. It didn’t surprise me. I only hoped that Jay and Sam were safe.

I knocked on the witch cottage door.

Jay opened it, wearing grey sweatpants and a matching hoodie.

“Damn,” I whispered.

“Hey.” Jay beamed. “Eyes up here.”

“Fair, but kind of hard.”

“Not yet. Maybe later.”

I laughed as Jay pulled me in for an unexpected hug.

“Thank you,” he whispered. He clung tight, and his chest hitched as he inhaled a ragged breath. “I didn’t know what the hell to do.”

“I told you I’ll do anything I can to help you and Sam, and I meant that.” I pulled away and looked into Jay’s eyes. They were glassy, puffy, and a little red. “You’ve been crying. How bad did it get?”

“You should see. He has marks everywhere.”

“Marks?”

“Welts, bites, bruises.” Jay’s lip twitched. He was going to lose it.

I pulled him in and held him for a bit. He was struggling to breathe calmly.

I got it. I understood what he was going through. He had experienced the supernatural for the very first time with me, and it had been violent. I wish I could have shown him what I had seen growing up. The calm and peaceful souls of recently departed who wanted to tell their loved ones, one last time, how much they didn’t want to leave. The gentle caress of a grandparent who didn’t get the chance to say goodbye to their grandchildren. The last minute messages to friends with promises to reunite again.

Those were some of the better, soothing, and hope-filled instances I had experienced.

Well, at least I had.

That had changed.

And I didn’t know how or why. But we needed to figure that out.

Jay pulled away. “Come, let me show you.” He took me by the hand, which took me by surprise, such an intimate gesture, and led me into the house.

In the living room, Sam sat on a lawn chair, clutching a handheld video game, lost in the escape the electronics provided.

“Sam, look who’s here,” Jay said.

Sam looked up; dark circles bagged under his eyes. His face was drawn, the skin whiter than it should be. Someone so young should never have looked this bad.

“You came!” Sam dropped his device and leapt into my arms.

“You bet, champ. I couldn’t stay away.” I hugged him tight.

“Sam, can I show Cade your tummy?”

“Yeah,” he said quietly.

Sam glanced away as he stood still while Jay lifted his son’s T-shirt.

The array of ghostly touches was horrifying. The poor kid. My chest became tight, partly in anger, but also in a good dose of empathy. I can’t imagine how scared Sam would have been while being attacked by something he couldn’t fend off.

There was one bite mark that looked particularly nasty, and probably hurt some too.

“Sam, I’m so sorry. I’m gonna help make this right. Okay?”

Sam glanced up at me with his big brown eyes, tears welling up and over, spilling across his cheeks. He sniffled, then ran a hand across his face to wipe the wetness away.

He gave me a stiff nod.

“It’s okay to be scared. To be honest, I’m scared a lot these days too. But together, with your dad, we’ll figure out what’s going on and stop them from being so nasty.”

“Thanks, Cade. I knew you’d come.”

“You want me to fix you some mac and cheese, buddy?” Jay said.

Sam nodded, then returned to his game.

Jay took me by the elbow and led me into the kitchen. The floor plan, despite the age of the house, had been redone in an open concept. Sam wasn’t that far away, but within seconds, the video game had him ensnared and distracted. Still, Jay’s words were hushed.

“I brought over a few simple things, but there’s no furniture, food, or daily items we’ll need if we stay here any longer than a couple of days.”

“I can run and grab whatever you two need.”

“Well, something to sleep on would be grand. I’m not that young anymore. Sleeping on hardwood floors isn’t going to do my back any wonders.”

I chuckled.

“Do you have air mattresses at your place? Something that can be outfitted for camping indoors?” I asked.

“How are you so nice?”

I shrugged.

Jay pulled out his phone and started making a list of things in a text, and included where to find them at his house, and then shot me the message.