SHE FOLLOWED ME HOME - ch 15

SHE FOLLOWED ME HOME – ch 15

Mo deas

^^

Mia knew food wasn’t the cure for sadness, but her grandmother was right. You can’t eat and cry at the same time.

She sighed and smiled weakly, “Oh, Grandmam, I’m so glad you’re here. You, too, Grandpap.”

Collin answered by saying, “Mia, we planned on coming for your birthday but wanted to come a bit early so we could spend some time with you. You’ll need to show us that famous garden your mother’s been bragging about.”

Mia’s eyes grew somber.

“Mia? Sweetie,” Sinead began, “does what’s troubling you have something to do with your garden?”

“Grandmam, I’m not sure. I feel like whatever it is, is being blocked from me, not allowing me to know. All I can say for sure is that the garden has spooked Mo deas. One minute, she’s in the garden with me, playful as ever, then suddenly, she’s standing stone-still, starting at the ground. It’s almost as if she’s paralyzed. But it doesn’t last long.”

Collin hid his concern but asked, “How often does this happen, Mia?”

“Grandpap, every time I’m in the garden. And several times, at that.”

“Mia, and how many times a week are you in the garden?”

“Several times a week but not every day. There’s no need. At least not until dad expands it. Right now, it’s too small for that much work.”

“We’ll take a look at it tomorrow in the daylight and see if we can’t figure out what’s going on. In the meantime, tell me about school.”

As the conversation went from Mia’s school to Brian’s landscaping business, to Morena’s growing position at the health clinic, Mo deas wandered from room to room, as if checking to make sure the house was safe. Mia watched subtly but knew Mo deas was keeping guard. She didn’t think anyone else noticed until she heard her grandmother’s voice.

“Mia, Mo deas is quite the guard dog, ah cat! She’s extremely protective.”

The pretty white cat, stopped prowling and stood at Sinead’s feet to stare into her eyes. “Yes, a very protective, but old wise feline.” She leaned over to pick up Mo deas who rubbed her head on Sinead’s cheek. Sinead hid the sad look in her eyes and thought, “she knows but is guarding her secret. Oh, poor Mia!”

With supper now over, Brian offered to clear the table. “Hon, you and Mia go spend time your parents. I’ll clean the kitchen, even though there’s not much to clean.” He looked at Collin and continued, “Collin, your daughter is a riot! She cleans the kitchen as she cooks so there isn’t much to do once we’re done eating.”

Sinead laughed at that statement and said, “Oh, Brian, I raised her well enough. She learned from the best. Isn’t that right, now, Morena?”

“Before we sit and get too comfortable, Mia, why don’t you help your old grandpap. I’d like to bring in our bags before it gets much later.. There isn’t much but we also have your birthday gift in the trunk of the car. Come give me a hand so your mom and grandmam can catch up.”

As they left the kitchen, Sinead asked her daughter, “Morena, she doesn’t know?”

“Oh, mom, she has such a gift and yet, if she knows, she isn’t saying, and while I think I know, I’m not even sure. I can’t even give her a hint to prepare her! Your sight seems to know, so while she’s outside, please tell me.”

“I wish I could, Morena, but the only sense I’m getting is a huge change. Mia’s right. Whatever it is, doesn’t want us to know until it happens. All I know for sure is that it’s going to be one sad, and a joyous one. They’ll overlap. It won’t be long now, but I can give you solid advice, not from my sight, but from my heart. When the time comes, don’t push Mia to confide her feelings in you. Don’t push her to sit and talk. Leave her be, but let her know you’re there when she’s ready. And when she’s ready to open herself to conversation, she will. The sadness will pass soon enough but the memories will last a lifetime.”

The front door opened, and Mia and her grandfather brought in two travel bags and announced there were two more. Immediately, they turned and walked back outside.

Brian left with them and grabbed the travel bag from Mia. He suggested she pick up the small carboard box that had her name on it.

She said happily, “Grandpap? Is that for me? Whatever can it be?”

Collin smiled and said, “Well, my lovely girl, you’ll need to wait a few days to find out. Now, let’s go inside. The night air is a bit too damp for these old bones.”

Mia, the ever observant almost-teenager, was quite aware that Mo deas who followed her everywhere, didn’t come outside. Although she felt like sobbing, she swallowed deeply, and blinked her tears away.

Once inside, she poured the special milk she had for Mo deas, heated it, then walked to the hearth where the pretty feline lay contently on her bed.

“Mo deas,” she almost sobbed, “have some milk. I hope it makes you feel better.”

Morena walked to daughter with a mug in her hand, “Mia, honey, I made your special hot cocoa. I hope this makes you feel better.”

Brian started a fire I the heart, more to eradicate the dampness than to warm the house. Morena brought in a tray of scones and a pot of tea.

Sinead laughed. “Oh Morena, you’ve only been in Ireland five years, and you’ve already adopted the after-supper routine of tea and scones. What a treat and yet, not at all unexpected.”

Mia, now finished with her cocoa, sat on the floor with Mo deas in her lap. She hardly said a word as only she heard Mo deas silently mewing.