Medium in Paradise: A Humorous Paradise Romance (13 page)

Though the next few weeks slowed to a crawl, the house warming party hurtled towards her at meteoric speeds. Janie seemed to be calling every other day with additional details, tips or orders and not necessarily in that order. Each call made her palms sweat, a tight ball of anxiety settling in her stomach and expanding just a little as every day drew her closer to what she now referred to as ‘Janie’s Big Party’. The only thing keeping her sane was Shrimp and her mother’s constant sage advice to ‘Stay calm and center your energies’.

Arnie was conspicuously absent from class. Her heart sped up with anticipation and dread at the beginning of each class as participants filed in, but none of them was ever him. She thought about calling him a few times, but clearly he didn’t want to see her, and to be honest, she wasn’t certain she wanted to see him either. She needed time to process the new information flooding her brain and she couldn’t very well do that with Arnie distracting her.

Someone—or something--else that was missing, was Sam. If she were to weigh her distress about Anthony, Arnie and Sam on a scale, it would definitely lean most heavily toward Sam. Her disappearance was worrying and nothing she’d done to lure the ghost back seemed to be working.

Dina agonized over both Anthony’s proposal and her burgeoning feelings for Arnie. Arnie was right, she and Anthony had a lot of history. Though he didn’t make her one hundred percent happy, she understood him, he was familiar and despite his shortcomings, that meant a lot to her. She liked Arnie, he seemed like a great guy. He was gentle and giving and attentive and had two cats for Gods sakes. How many guys had cats? Anthony hated cats. For that matter, he wasn’t very keen on pets of any kind. The two of them were as different as the sun and the moon. But still, when things became familiar and settled into a routine, all of that could change in an instant. Did she really want to start something new, moving into what could very well turn out to be a failed excursion into uncharted emotional territory?

The ring sat in her purse, nestled inside a tiny zipped pocket which she frequently opened, peering at the twinkling stone with a mixture of exhilaration and fear. One day she slipped the rock on her finger, staring at it and turning it to and fro beneath the lights in her office. It was beautiful, sparkling coolly on her finger and looking for all the world as though someone had chipped a tiny piece off of a star and set it in platinum to be sold to some delighted bride. She waited to feel something, anything. A feeling that told her ‘This is it. You’re going to be someone’s wife’, but that eureka moment never happened. She was giddy, excited when she placed the heavy ring on her finger, but that was all. But maybe she’d never feel like that and this was all there was to it.

“What the hell is that?” Lila squealed, rushing inside the office and grabbing Dina’s hand before she could slip the blasted ring off her finger and back into the purse. “You’re en
gaged
?”

“No, nothing like that. Just a little test run.” Dina had to jerk her hand from Lila’s vice-like grip. Intending to remove the ring, she twisted it, but it wouldn’t budge.

“Why am I just now finding out about this ‘nothing like that’ engagement?”

“It’s a long story,” Dina said, gritting her teeth as she pulled at the ring in vain. “Dammit! I knew I shouldn’t have had that pickle with my sandwich!”

“A whole pickle?”

“With a turkey pastrami on rye and baked chips,” she muttered, guiltily.

“Damn. Girl—you know a lot of salt does not agree with your finely tuned system.”

“Yeah, but I was stressed. I needed something and I figured indulging in a sandwich was a better bet than eating a hot fudge sundae with double fudge and nuts.”

“You really are stressed.” Lila assessed Dina, her eyes glittering with interest. “I’m assuming your ‘nothing like that’ engagement has something to do with that?”

“That and the fact that the proposal happened right after I slept with Arnie.”

“And he was still there?” she asked, voice rising.

“Right on the couch, damned close to butt naked,” she groaned, leaning back in her chair and shaking her head.

“Oh shit…” she whispered, eyes wide.

“Exactly.”

“So what now?”

“I don’t know, Lila,” she sighed, lifting her head. “I really just don’t know.”

The day of the party dawned clear and blue. Birds sang from treetops, dipping down and fluttering around the yard, then settling on the feeders she had dangling from bushes and tree limbs. But Dina didn’t have time to watch their antics. She had a party to prepare for and her nerves were shredded just thinking about all she had to do, not to mention the tiny little detail she’d overlooked about inviting both Anthony and Arnie to her housewarming party. Of course, this had been before things had fallen apart with Anthony and before she’d slept with Arnie, but still. Maybe neither of them would show up, she thought hopefully. It wasn’t like she’d seen or heard from either of them over the past couple of weeks. But the thought of the awkwardness of having the two of them in the same room at the same time made her cringe. But right now, she didn’t have time to worry about any of those details. So after sucking down two cups of coffee in quick succession, she got to work.

Janie had once again bullied her by organizing what time the party should start. Dina had wanted it to start around 11am and be over by 5pm, but Janie had pooh-poohed the idea. Thus, the party would start at 6pm and end around 11pm. After all, what fun was a party when your guests were melting in the heat of the southern sun? Dina had reluctantly agreed and the time was set.

She’d called on Paula to see if she and her friends would help her prepare as they’d promised, but she’d breezily backed out, saying ‘Older women needed more time to get beautiful’.

So, Dina had to exercise her meager designing skills by piggybacking on ideas from HGTV and several popular DIY decorating blogs and coming up with a lavender colored theme, her favorite color. She added several large, three-wick candles housed in tall, clear candle holders that she strategically placed around the yard and on different corners of the deck, ready to be lit when the sun set. Cute paper lanterns were a last minute addition she couldn’t resist when, searching for a few missing items, she’d seen them on sale in the Dollar Store.

While she was tossing thick swathes of tulle over tables and twining it around table legs, Shrimp playfully pulled and tugged at the fabric, creating several small holes in the delicate material. He finally got so rambunctious that she realized she’d have to put him up or risk being driven crazy. But after putting him in his kennel, he started whining, barking and generally looking miserable. Fed up, she came up with a better solution and walked next door, asking if it would be okay for Mia to watch the puppy for the day.

“Please, Mommy! Please?” Mia jumped up and down, hands clasped in prayer.

“I guess it’ll be alright.”

“How’s the floating lady doing?” Mia asked as she was leaving.

“I don’t know,” she said after a pause. “I haven’t seen her in a while.”

“See—I
told
you she was real!” Dina heard her say as she left. She returned to her house and was able to complete the rest of her decorations mostly hassle free.

When Janie arrived at 4:45, buzzing with energy, a manic gleam in her eye, things went into overdrive.

“Move all of those appetizers to that table over there. No—not
that
table--
that
table. That’s right. Be careful, honey! You should know none of this came cheap and if you drop it, Marcus will have to comp this lady right here and Marcus doesn’t like to comp anyone.” Janie trilled with laughter, lording over the delivery personnel rushing around placing platters laden with food on rented, fold out tables. While she hadn’t yet reached the level of overbearing, she was walking a fine grey line. Dina saw a young woman Janie had been bossing around roll her eyes and grimace when she turned her back and marched back out the door.

“Everything looks amazing,” Dina said, looking around at all the tables. Riblets had been marinated in dry rub then grilled; tiny, individualized cups of red-skinned potato salad were nestled in ice; shrimp was slathered in a mixture of cilantro, lime and garlic then tossed on the grill alongside the riblets and a host of other goodies laid out on platters made her mouth water in anticipation.

“I told you he was worth every dime,” she said, critically eyeing a guy whose slightly wrinkled uniform didn’t quite meet her high expectations. “He’s doin’ my Fourth of July party, too. I swear I can’t get enough of the man.”

“And he gave me plenty of food for the money.”

“Remember, it’s the first impression that counts when you’re growing your brand. I won’t be surprised if you gain a few new customers once this party is all said and done. The right customers. People that could make all the difference in putting your name in the right circles. This is your coming out party, Dina. Make the most of it.”

A late model, cherry red Porche pulled up to the curb with a squeal of tires. A guy in his early twenties got out, his movements deliberate and measured as he walked up the walkway. He stopped, saying a few words to a young man as he got out, carrying the last of the platters. Whatever he said made the slouching young man stand up straighter, his face taking on a stony expression as he politely moved past Dina and Janie.

“Jaine, why did you not tell me your friend was so beautiful?” he asked, when he finally stood before them. “You must be Dina?” he said with a light accent. His eyes stared intensely into her own and when she reached out to shake his hand, he startled her by bringing her hand to his lips, lightly kissing the back. “A lady deserves more than a handshake, I believe.”

“I—okay…” He slowly released her hand, a smile on his full lips.

The semi-famous caterer was very good-looking and very short. Thick black hair lay in stylish waves against a perfectly shaped head, accentuating gleaming bronze skin, high cheekbones and thin, slashing eyebrows. He wore a tight designer tee-shirt and a pair of slim fitting jeans. If she had to guess, she’d say he was from some country in South America.

“Marcus! How are you, darling?” Janie gave him one of those light, cheek-to-cheek kisses.

“I am so sorry I am running a little late,” he said. “I try to meet all my new clients on the day of their first party. Many parties to attend to and employees to organize. It seemed everyone wanted a party today. You understand, no?”

“Yes--”

“Normally, I do not offer discounts to anyone, not even my friends,” he blithely continued as though she hadn’t spoken. “I have been on many television and cable shows and am being romanced for a reality series of my own. If you cannot afford me, you just cannot.” He raised his hands in the air, shrugging. Dina frowned at the little dynamo’s conceit. “But when Janie told me that you would be hosting a party and needed a caterer, I jumped at the chance to meet you. I saw you on the local news and was impressed. Your work ethic is nearly equal to my own--,”

“Nearly?”

“Well, most people do not work on my level,” he said with an arrogant tilt to his head. “But you are getting as close as one can hope to my own levels of intensity. I am looking forward to training with you. I have a 10 K I am training for and am looking forward to your…workout methods.”

Cocky bastard,
Dina thought.

“Hopefully I live up to your expectations.”

“I am sure you will do perfectly.” If possible, his eyes intensified even more, becoming like two lasers.

“Well, Marcus, we need to finish preparin’ for this party and I’m sure you have other things to do. I’ll be right back, Dina.”

“I will see you starting in August.” It was a declaration.

“Sounds…like a plan.”

The two of them walked away, Janie busily chatting and Dina went back inside to give the house a final look. She was sipping from a glass of water, munching on a handful of almonds, when a low vibration started from her feet, lightly radiating up through her body. Her body went stiff as soft, undecipherable mumblings sounded faintly from the far corner of the room. Goosebumps prickled her arms and raised the hair on her scalp

“Sam—is that you?” Dina whispered, a feeling of dread that had never accompanied a visit from Sam racing through her body.

All the dishes began to rattle, cabinet doors slamming open simultaneously. A low keening wail rose into the air from which she was able to make out one word:

“
Help
.”

Janie walked inside just as all the cabinet doors slammed shut, the sound so loud they both jumped, staring at each other, mouths open. Janie was the first to speak.

“I don’t know what the hell is goin’ on,” she said softly, composing herself with admirable rapidity. But her eyes still darted anxiously to the door when a loud noise sounded outside. “But we have a party to throw and nothin’s gonna ruin it.”

The first guests began to arrive. The only thing Dina had time to do was send up a rushed prayer that the paranormal craziness was over. Or at least would hold off ‘til after the damned party.

First to arrive were her brothers, their significant others and kids. Then came her mother, four aunts, three uncles and innumerable cousins. Paula Ingleson, Molly Laurence and the rest of the Southern Ladies Club followed soon after.

“Oh, this looks simply
amazing
!” Molly enthused, looking around. “And the food looks scrumptious.”

“Thanks. But I can’t take any of the credit for the food.”

“You hired the caterer so that means you can take all the credit you want,” Paula said, already nibbling on a riblet.

“
Hey
—we haven’t even done the prayer yet!” Dina scolded.

“People pray at parties?” she asked, with an unapologetic lift to her brow.

“Yes, when they’re not heathens! And you have some nerve considering you didn’t help like you promised.

“I already told you, older women need more time with their makeup,” she said with a wave of her hand. “You’ll know what I mean when you’re my age.”

“Umm-hmm.”

She and the rest of the ladies wandered off to make the rounds, ladling themselves drinks from a table with a large punch bowl cradled in ice.

The floodgates seemed to open after that, with guests streaming in back to back. Of her family members, her youngest aunt arrived last. At only a ten years older than Dina, she was the beauty of the family and she knew it. Flouncing in, hair trailing down her back in a wild, silken tangle, her husband walked a few steps behind her, his eyes doting as he watched his beautiful wife greet various people she passed. In his role as a senator in South Carolina, he was a fierce politician with powerful allies. But as husband to her Aunt Georgina, he was a goldfish without a bowl, flopping around helplessly whenever she entered the room. She had been told by her mother that Georgina was five months along, but if her slim figure was anything to go by, you’d never know.

An hour in and Arnie and Anthony were thus far, no-shows. She didn’t know whether to feel relieved or pissed.

After gathering everyone together, her mother led a blessing for the house and the safety of its guests. Afterward, everyone flocked to the tables where the food was laid out.

Having typed up fancy little notes about the house and its history, she’d placed them in each room on easily visible surfaces, allowing everyone to do a self-guided tour. She hoped against hope that her many nieces and nephews grimy little hands were washed before they smeared sauce on something.

“I’m feeling a little vibe in here, Dina. It’s pretty negative. Is everything okay?”

Dina turned to her Aunt Georgina who, despite her heavy perfume, somehow managed to sneak up on her while she was stealing a few moments to herself. Up close, she could just make out her baby bump beneath her pricey summer dress.

“I—there was a little incident earlier. But I think it’s all under control now,” she said in a rush. It was nearly impossible to lie to any of her aunts so she’d given up trying years ago.

“I knew it.” She looked around, her eyes narrowing as she looked at the necklace Dina was wearing. “Is that the necklace of the ghost that’s in your house?”

“She’s not really a ghost.” Why did her mother have to go and run her mouth to Georgina of all people?

“Yeah, I know, your mother filled me in,” she said, impatiently waving a hand with thickly lacquered, rouge-tipped nails around. “You shouldn’t be wearing that trinket. It probably has something to do with this terrible energy.”

“Georgina, I don’t think--,”

“It’s true. No need to question me, little niece,” she said, with the customary family brusqueness that so irritated Dina.

“What are you two whispering about over here?” her mother asked, gliding over with a plate of grilled shrimp and marinated vegetables. “Does it have anything to do with all this negative energy?”

“Yeah, that’s exactly what we were talking about. Why’d you let her host this party here?” she asked, turning accusingly to her mother. “She’s putting all of us in danger.”

“Danger? Aren’t you being a little dramatic?” The moment she said it, Dina wished she hadn’t.

“I know what I’m talking about, Dina,” Georgina said, nostrils flaring. “I’m tapped into the other side far better than you are. So, yes, you’ve put me, your future nephew--,”

“It’s a boy?” her mother exclaimed, clapping her hands excitedly.

“—yes, a boy--your mother and all your guests in danger. Something very serious is going on here and had you been tapped into your own power, you might have known that.”

“I didn’t know until a few minutes before you guys arrived that there was any trouble to begin with,” she said, stiffly.

“Then you should’ve called the whole thing off.”

“It was too late!” she cried. “People were already starting to arrive.” Not technically true, but she wasn’t going to tell
her
that.

“It’s a good thing all your aunts are here at once,” Georgina said, heaving a sigh. “Cause we’re gonna have to do a hardcore cleansing ritual in here.”

“Alright, but let’s do it after the party.”

“We need to do it now,” Georgina said with a heavy scowl.

“In the middle of my party? Hell, no! That’s insane.”

“I say we hold off until after the party. Nothing’s happened thus far--,” her mother began.

“Dina said there was an incident earlier.”

“There was?” Her mother turned to her, a small frown marring her forehead.

“Just a tiny little nothing,” Dina fibbed. “Nothing to get worked up about.”

“You sure, sweetie?”

“Yes, Mom. I’m sure it’ll be fine. We’ll wait until the last guest leaves, then we’ll get to work.”

“That’s fine,” Georgina said, turning to walk back out to the living room. “But if something happens, don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

**

Two and a half hours after the run-in with Georgina, the party was in full swing. The French doors were thrown wide to allow easy access from the deck to the dining and living rooms. Loud chatter from partygoers rose into the rapidly falling dusk. A few people swayed and danced to reggae music playing from speakers hidden discreetly in corners. There seemed to be at least three dozen people at the party that Dina couldn’t remember inviting and to her jaundiced eye, they seemed to be the ones eating and drinking the most.

For the past few hours, Dina had been anxiously peering out the windows from time to time, looking for the two men she hoped wouldn’t come. So far so good.

But she’d spoken too soon. No sooner had the thought crossed her mind that neither of them would show up, when they both showed up at the same time.

“Looks like at least one of your men is on their way in. Oh—wait one minute--the second one’s parking right now. Looks like you got a gorgeous twofer.” Dressed in a form-fitting purple number that matched her hair and highlighted her many tattoos, Lila looked thoroughly entertained as she joined Dina’s at the front windows, sipping from her third cup of rum punch.

Her heart rose to her throat as Arnie made his way down the front walkway just as Anthony parked across the street in a freshly vacated spot.

“Oh, crap!” Dina looked around wildly just as Anthony got out of the car, looking for a place she could dart to collect her bearings.

“Calm down,” Lila said, throwing her a crazy look.

“Maybe I am overreacting.”

“You are. Just remember this, you broke up with Anthony, so you owe him nothing, even if he did try to pressure you with a last minute proposal because you have another guy around.” She finished her drink, going for a refresh and ignoring Dina’s pointed look at her cup. “And you don’t owe Detective Sexy anything either. You just met the guy, for God’s sake! So ease up and put them in their place if you need to.”

“How old are you again?”

“Old enough to have been in the same position a time or two,” she muttered, wryly. Her look darkened as she caught the sight of Janie, man in tow, making her way in their direction. “Oh, no. Here comes the Pit bull of Real Estate. I’m gonna go talk to that cute guy that’s been staring at me for a few minutes. You know where I am if you need any help.”

“Dina, here’s Bill Nixon, the guy I was tellin’ you was interested in representin’ you through his PR agency,” Janie announced as she bulldozed her way through the room.

“Uh, Janie, I’m a little occupied at the moment…” she said, wildly looking around for Arnie and Anthony.

The guy launched into slick sales talk, his watery blue eyes zooming up and down her body every other second or so. Later, the only bit she’d recall was his general skeeziness and making an appointment to meet with him on Wednesday of the following week.

“We’re gonna get a little something to drink, honey. Throat’s parched after all that talkin’ Billy just did.” She rolled her eyes behind his back. “See you in a bit.”

Janie and her date wandered away and she was left with a few moments to regroup as Arnie chatted on the deck with Paula. Nick and Anthony were carrying on an animated conversation with the ruddy-faced real estate broker who’d tried to talk her into investing in some small apartment building he was selling.

Fortifying her nerves with a glass of wine, she took a gulp, then used her unexpected freedom to slip out to the empty front porch. Sinking into a chair, she closed her eyes, sitting her glass on the table and enjoying the momentary solitude after the stress of having two love interests show up, a possible haunting and an aunt tearing into her for her admittedly questionable decision making.

“Nice party.” Her eyes shot open and she was looking up at Arnie. He was dressed in a pale grey dress shirt that was open at the collar and a pair of black dress slacks. His hair looked freshly cut.

“I didn’t think you’d come.”

“I wasn’t going to. But then I realized how ridiculous that would be.”

“Why would that have been ridiculous?”

“Because I missed Shrimp.”

“Maybe he missed you a little, too,” she replied, her heart warming at his words.

“Dina, I--,”

“There you are. Oh—
you’re
here.” Anthony fell into stony silence as he sourly observed the two of them.

“Yeah, I am.” Arnie thrust his chin out in an open challenge.

“Didn’t she already tell you she accepted my proposal?”

“She never told me a thing. And I’m pretty sure you’re lying.”

“I’m not.”

“You are. I can tell from the way that weak chin of yours is wobbling. There—just like that,” he said, pointing his chin in his direction.

The two of them swelled up like two shaken soda cans about to explode.

“Do you have an answer for me, Dina?” Anthony demanded.

“If she had an answer for you, you would’ve known by now,” Arnie retorted, calmly. “Clearly the lady’s not interested.”

Anthony’s face contorted with fury.

“Guys--,” Dina said, standing up. “I don’t want any--,”

She was interrupted by the sight of every light in the house blinking off and on crazily. Then, with the sound of glass exploding, the house went pitch black, the only light coming from the citronella candles placed around the yard. Startled screams followed and several people stumbled from the house confused.

“What the hell is
that
?” Arnie asked.

They all turned as a brightly glowing light appeared in the middle of the living room. The light grew until it suffused every inch of the room, illuminating the fear on the faces of each person witnessing what for many of them, was their first paranormal event. A few brave souls had begun filming the strange happenings. The footage would probably be a part of their Tumbler or Facebook newsfeed by the end of the night.

A piercing, soul wrenching wail rent the night air. People began fleeing from every corner of the house, muffled screams and yells following in their wake.

Out of the glow, she was able to make out two distinct figures. One of them was definitely Sam, the other was a male. Their bodies became clearer and more distinct as the glow expanded. They were struggling, their energies creating such a force that the platters sitting on the table lifted, hovered for a moment then crashed to the floor. Cushions from the couch were tossed through the air, one of them smacking one of her aunts in the chest and knocking her to the floor. Pictures fell from walls and artwork, some quite expensive, shattered to the floor, irreversibly broken.

“Sam? Is that you?” Arnie uttered in a disbelieving voice. He stepped forward, then whipped his head toward Dina. “Dina, what’s going on?”

“I’ll have to explain later. But yes, that’s Sam. She’s been visiting me for a while now. It’s a long story.” Arnie looked stunned as Sam fully appeared.

“
Help me, Dina! He’s hurting me
!”

“Dina, is—is that a ghost?” Anthony’s voice was decidedly shrill, his face drawn, one foot poised on the step, his body ready for instantaneous flight.