The Trouble With Snowmen (14 page)

Chapter 29

Maximilian hung up his phone. “The séance with Madam Zadora is tonight at nine. Lame boring nine. I wouldn’t even be caught dead at a party at that ridiculous hour. At least
my
séance was at midnight.”

Haley tried on the last outfit, a high-wasted pair of bell bottoms in slinky teal. Her shower had felt splendid, she’d eaten the best piece of toast in the world, and Maximilian was so cute when he was grumpy.

Earlier, she’d told him all about her and Larry’s attic discovery and asked if he wanted to help with another séance. At first he’d been reluctant to attempt another one after the last one, but then he’d called a friend of his who he said could actually communicate with the dead. Haley didn’t figure the results could be any worse.

“Let me text Larry and let him know. Wait, do you have his number?”

Maximilian looked at his phone. “Is that not the first thing people do when they meet someone interesting? Here.” He handed her his phone. “I’ll go make us some lunch, and we can sit and talk about what’s going on with you and Larry. I mean, look at you. You are nauseatingly happy. Take off my pants. No eating in my pants.”

As soon as Maximilian came back into the room with two bowls of beef stew, Haley let him know that Larry couldn’t make it.

“What?” Maximilian mouth flew open. “Madam Zadora is really busy. I was lucky to even get her. Next time we might have to do the séance at noon.”

“No, it’s okay. He said we should go ahead. He doesn’t know when he’ll be available. Tonight he has some horror thing at the Marriot. ”

“Really,” Maximilian said. He looked at her with a twinkle in his eye. “You two seem chummy chum all of the sudden. Do tell.”

Haley’s phone rang. “Saved by the bell,” she said, but then saw Brenda’s name. She answered it anyway.

“Be at the office tomorrow, seven sharp,” Brenda said. “I have to be in a meeting by seven-thirty, and I need you to make sure the contracts are in order.”

Yes, it was definitely Brenda. No, she wasn’t making any sense.

“Haley? Are you still there?”

“You fired me. I don’t work there anymore.”

“Don’t you want your job back?”

“I don’t—”

“Larry told me all about the misunderstanding. I want to make it right.”

“He did? You do?” A smile broke free on Haley’s face.

“One more thing. I would like you to be my guest of honor at my house for a casual get-together with friends tomorrow evening. Don’t even think about saying no.” And just like that, Brenda hung up.

“That was strange.”

“Who was it?” Maximilian had set the bowls down at one of the long sewing tables. He handed Haley a spoon.

“Brenda. She said Larry talked to her, so I have my job back.”

“When do you start?”

“Looks like tomorrow.”

“Well, that’s just great,” he said through his teeth. “What about Dallas? What about the show?”

“Oh.” Haley stuffed a large bite into her mouth to give her a second to think.

Maximilian stared at her, darts flying out of his eyes.

She pointed to her mouth and chewed and chewed. She didn’t want to tell him what she thought this all meant, but it made her smile.

“Haley! Are you ditching me, or what?”

“I think he wants me to stay,” she said and felt the giddiness bubble in her chest.

“Well, I want you to go.” He zigzagged his head. “You told me you would be my model. Everything is made for you. If I have to use another model, I might have to resize everything at the last minute.”

“I know, Maximilian. I’m sorry.” She couldn’t contain her joy. “I had a wonderful, magical evening with Larry last night.”

“Whoop-de-do! You had sex and my life is ruined, and I’m supposed to be happy for you?”

“Yes?”

“What about his big Texas tour? Isn’t he fixin’ to be gone?”

“I don’t know. Maybe since it’s in Texas he’ll be coming back and forth. If I go with you, I won’t be here. I have my job back, and I have Larry, and I want to see where this goes. Besides, you’re going to win this, with or without me. Your stuff is spectacular.”

“It is.”

“You might do better with a professional model. I wouldn’t know what I was doing.”

He shrugged. “I think you would do fine. And you hate that job.”

“I do, but I can go ahead and start looking for something else. In the meantime, I think I can endure Brenda. It’s not like she stands over me or anything. She’s hardly ever even at the office. And who knows, maybe since her and Larry are friends, maybe we could become friends. Maybe once you get past that bitch-boss exterior there’s a nice person in there, somewhere. I mean, if Larry likes her, maybe she’s not that bad.”

“So you are willing to stop your life for a man you’ve known for a couple of weeks? I’m not sure you’ve learned a thing from our experiment.”

“Yes, I have.” Haley gleamed. “I’ve learned so much about what I want. I don’t know for sure where this is going with Larry, but I’m hoping that it will lead to something permanent—you know, like marriage. Maximilian, I want to be a wife and a mother more than anything. I want to be Larry’s wife.”

“Betty Friedan is rolling over in her grave right now.”

“Who?”

Maximilian frowned. “She wrote the
Feminine Mystique
.”

“Okay, so what? What does that have to do with this?”

“I’m just saying, what the hell?! Are you serious? You’re telling me that you are willing to give up $50,000 for the diminutive chance that this screwed-up relationship with Larry White, the famous writer, will develop into a proposal of marriage one day.”

Haley thought about it for a second. “Yes. I guess that’s exactly what I’m saying. I don’t think the message in that book is women must make money. I think the message is women can do whatever the hell they want to. And I want to get married. Is it too soon to ask you to design my wedding gown?” She smiled and nudged him.

Maximilian recoiled. He picked up his bowl and walked to the kitchen. He stayed in there for a while before he came back out and started piddling with a bin of thread they had already established he was not taking with him to Dallas.

Feeling awful, Haley approached him and said his name, hoping he would turn around, but he kept his eyes on his task.

“I didn’t mean to upset you,” she said. “I want you to know that I wouldn’t ditch you for some fling. That’s why I’m going to tell you this before I’ve even told him. I love Larry. I truly, deeply, forever love him. He’s warm and humble and passionate and down-to-earth yet sophisticated when he has to be. He’s brains and beauty inside and out. And he wants me to stay. But . . . if you really think that me not going will make you lose, then I’ll go.”

Maximilian snapped his head up and looked at her. “Really?” His shoulders shot up as he smiled wide but then a split second later, his shoulders slumped and he frowned. Suddenly, he shook his hands “Blahh. No! I don’t need you. You would make me look bad, not knowing what you were doing. I don’t want you to go.”

“Do you mean it?”

He growled out, “Yes.”

“You’re the best friend ever!”

“I know. But you owe me big. I mean, if I ask you to take my imaginary billy goat out for a walk at three in the morning you will,
owe me
.”

She threw her hands around him. “I love you, Maximilian!”

Regina walked in. “Hey, what’s all the hugging going on that I wasn’t invited to?”

“Regina,” they both said and opened their arms for her to join them.

After a few seconds, Regina said, “Is this a happy hug or a sad one?”

“Sad,” Maximilian said.

“Happy,” Haley said.

They all laughed as they let go.

“Well, what I’m here to say won’t help the mood in either case.”

“What is it?” Haley asked.

Regina looked exhilarated and younger than Haley had ever seen her. Her hair, which she usually hair-spayed in an almost 80s style, was in a casual ponytail, and her cheeks had a nice pink pinch to them.

“I’m leaving today,” Regina said with a sad smile.

“What?” Maximilian asked.

Haley’s heart fell. “I thought you were leaving next week.”

“Our presence was requested a little earlier by his parents. They’ll be leaving on a trip for their wedding anniversary, which I didn’t even ask how long they’d been married. Don’t look at me like that. This is hard enough.”

Haley wasn’t sure who she was talking to, her or Maximilian. So she glanced at Maximilian who did look pitiful, but he managed to say, “They are going to love you. Just like we do.” He gave her a hug, and then they reached over to Haley, and then they were all embracing again.

“I am so happy for you,” Haley said. And she meant it with all her heart. They pulled back to arm’s length but stood there holding hands in a circle.

“Thank you.”

“What about your stuff?” Maximilian asked. “Did you pack already?”

“Enough. I don’t have anything that important that can’t be replaced. I’m only taking the essentials. The new owner can do what she wants with the rest. Scott has a furnished apartment and from what I’m getting for this place, I’ll be able to replace whatever I need.”

“Guess what? Guess what?” Maximilian said, like it suddenly popped into his head.

“What, what?”

“Guess who got on the hottest reality TV show around?”

“You’re kidding! That is so wonderful. I knew it. I knew you could do it! You’re such a great designer, Maximilian. Oh my goodness, I’m going to miss you guys so much.” And at that, she scrunched up her face, but it was too late. Tears ran down her cheeks, causing a chain reaction and soon all three of them were wiping their eyes.

“What about you Haley?” Regina asked. “What are your plans, honey?”

“I got my job back, I broke up with Travis, and—”

“She loves Larry White more than me.”

“Differently, Maximilian. I love him differently.”

Regina squealed. “Really? You and Larry?”

Haley nodded. “Yeah, really.”

Chapter 30

Haley and Maximilian had placed all the candles Maximilian had used for the last séance on the coffee table in Larry’s living room and poured a couple of glasses of wine before they heard the doorbell.

“I’ll get it,” Maximilian said.

Haley knew a ghost lived in the apartment and yet she didn’t feel afraid at all. She had even spent the night. But then again, she had been pretty focused on Larry. Nothing could have deterred her attention. She still felt the effects of their time together—blissful, girly, euphoric.

Regina moving and Maximilian leaving in the morning were the only things that had her down today. She would miss her little family so much. However, as much as she would miss Maximilian, she couldn’t leave Larry when her heart demanded that she stay.

Haley smiled at the thought of them having the entire house to themselves. They could have fun, even in the living room, without having to worry about someone walking in.

Maximilian came back inside the apartment with a lady. With a name like Madame Zadora, Haley had assumed she’d look like a gypsy from the movies. But she dressed more like a businesswoman in her button-down long-sleeved shirt and black slacks. Haley guessed her to be around thirty. She wore her hair in a bun and had on dark aviator sunglasses.

As they crossed into the living room, Maximilian said, “Haley, this is Madame Zadora Hart. Madame Zadora, this is Haley Monroe.”

Madame Zadora held out her dainty hand. “Just Zadora.”

“Excuse me?” Haley said, accepting and shaking her hand.

“My name. It’s not
Madame
Zadora.” She shook her head. “Please, call me Zadora.”

“You are way too modest,” Maximilian whined. “And what are you wearing?”

“Maximilian!” Haley scolded.

“What?” He then turned his attention back to Zadora. “Don’t be surprised if one of your new outfits is a snazzy thing that represents who you are.”

“Wine?” Haley offered.

“No, thank you,” Zadora said, her attention on the room. “I see you have the candles set out. That’s good. Do you have any food that we can offer the spirits you are trying to reach?”

“I have no idea, but I’ll go see,” Maximilian said.

When Maximilian was in the kitchen, Zadora asked Haley who they wanted to contact. Haley told her what she knew about the couple. A few minutes later, Maximilian brought a sandwich and set it on the table. Haley had an awful feeling that this would turn out ridiculous, like the last one had.

But then Zadora started speaking. “We will light the candles because the spirits are attracted to warmth, and we will dim the lights to make it seem cozier and intimate and more like what they are comfortable in.”

They all sat staring for a minute, Zadora looked from Maximilian to Haley, and then they both realized that “we” meant them. So Maximilian lit the candles while Haley turned out the lights.

After everyone sat on the floor around the coffee table, Zadora removed her sunglasses, revealing beautiful emerald eyes. “We’ll sit here and hold hands and be silent for a few minutes.”

Haley opened and closed her eyes a few times, adjusting to the dimness.

Zadora then spoke just above a whisper. “I will see if I can make contact with Mr. Chase, since Mrs. Chase seems to already be here.” She nodded toward Larry’s desk in the dining room area.

Maximilian squeaked.

Haley couldn’t believe her eyes, but there in the darkness stood a figure of a woman. The ghost glowed and was see-through but didn’t float like Haley would’ve thought a ghost would do. Instead, she walked on the floor, even making sounds. She had her hand on her chin and shook her head like she was worried.

Maximilian was quiet and very wide-eyed. He now had his hand on the table, halfway standing, halfway sitting, like he was ready to run.

“It’s okay,” Haley mouthed to him and squeezed his hand.

He nodded and whimpered.

Zadora closed her eyes and began to chant under her breath.

Haley wasn’t sure if she was supposed to close her eyes. She looked at Maximilian. His eyes were still wide with fear and his lips were pressed together. Haley nodded at him and smiled.

“Mr. Chase,” Zadora said, “your wife is here with us. She is waiting for you. She needs you. Mr. Chase. Will you please step forward from the other side just for a little while? Your wife waits for you.”

Haley kept a circular vision on the ghost by the desk, Zadora and Maximilian, not wanting to miss a thing. Suddenly, she felt a cool breeze, and it wasn’t her imagination because the flames on the candles waved.

Zadora’s huge green eyes flew open, and her voice came out rough and deep. “Thank you.”

That was all Maximilian needed. “Oh, hell no!” He shook off Haley’s hand.

As Maximilian stood up, the ghost caught Haley’s attention. “Wait, wait,” she whispered at Maximilian. “Look.”

His back was to the ghost, and he shook his head no.

“Look,” she said again and smiled.

Maximilian turned to see what Haley saw. There were now two ghosts and they stood about a foot apart. Mrs. Chase’s hands were on her hips. “Where have you been?”

“I’m sorry, Mary,” Mr. Chase’s ghost said, “I couldn’t find you.”

“Couldn’t find me? I’ve been here, waiting for you, forever. And what did you do? You left me?”

“It’s not like I planned it. Before I knew it, I was there. And I couldn’t find my way back.”

“Well, did you ask for directions?”

“What? Directions? It’s not like I drove a car here.”

“Good thing, I would have really been waiting an eternity.”

They laughed, and he touched her face. “I sure have missed you, Mary.”

“I’ve missed you too, dear.”

He held out his hand to her. “Are you ready to come home with me?”

“Yes.” She accepted his hand and sighed. “Are you sure you know the way. Did you bring a map? Maybe we should . . .”

And then they disappeared into the darkness.

“Awe.” Haley put her hand on her heart. That was the sweetest thing she had ever seen.

“That was the scariest thing I’ve ever seen,” Maximilian said. “Sorry, girls, but I’ve got to get out of here. I’d forgotten what a blast it always is being around you.” He stood up and kissed Zadora on the cheek.

“See you later, Max,” Zadora said.

“Thank you, darling,” he said without a hint of anger over her calling him Max. He gave Haley a quick pat on the head and then ran out of the apartment.

Haley and Zadora laughed.

“I don’t know how to thank you,” Haley said. “What a wonderful gift you have.”

“This is the only time it seems worth it, when I can help them,” Zadora said and then turned her head like she was listening to something.

“Everything okay?”

She nodded. ”Everything is fine. For a second, I thought I felt another presence, but I must have been mistaken. It’s gone now. Probably just the couple’s aura.”

“I see.” Haley couldn’t imagine how it felt to be able to sense things like Zadora did. And she did look tired now, like it had taken a lot out of her. “Hey, do we owe you payment?”

“No, Max promised me a new wardrobe after he got back from winning
Catwalk Wars
.”

“Okay. Well, you’re in good hands. Say, um, just out of curiosity, if you don’t mind me asking, how in the world do you know Maximilian?”

Zadora slipped her glasses back on as they both stood up.

Haley felt like a giant next to the tiny woman.

“We’ve known each other since kindergarten. We were the outcasts. Max, well he has always been Max. And I was the weird kid who had ghosts for friends. You know the type.” She joked. “But the difference between the two of us is that he’s always embraced his uniqueness, and I try to hide mine. No matter what the kids said about him, he wasn’t going to change for anybody. He thinks I should be more like him. Always has. He handed out flyers in middle school announcing our
Ghostbuster
services.”

“Did it have the pictures from the movie?”

“Yes it did.
And
the slogan.”

Haley laughed. “I guess that didn’t help you keep a low profile.”

“He always means well,” Zadora said like a mother talking about her son. “And no matter what, he has always been there for me. I would do anything for him.”

“And I’m guessing he feels the same about you.”

Zadora smiled as they walked toward the door. “If he had it his way, I would have a crystal ball and be working in a carnival.”

“You’re probably right,” Haley said, remembering what Maximilian had said about the new snazzy outfit he’d threatened to make Zadora. “So this isn’t something you do all the time?”

“No, not really. I try to keep this part of my life private.”

“Maximilian made it seem like you were super busy.”

“I am but not with ghost stuff. I’m an accountant. Tax season.”

After Zadora left, Haley felt a sense of completeness. Mrs. Chase had her man back, and so did she. And Haley even felt a little closer to Maximilian. She admittedly felt a little pang of jealousy over the fact that this girl got to call him Max when she didn’t. But after the entire story, Haley thought she understood why. The name Max was probably a part of his life he would rather forget. But Zadora was the best part of it, so she, and only she, got to call him Max. Haley could respect that.