Erasing: Shadows (The Erasing Series) by K.D. Rose Read Free Book Online Page B

Michael asked. “Is he in the real world too?”
    “Yep,” said Ed, and he was out the door.
    “Well does he even know how to find the house?” asked Michael.
    “Don’t worry about it,” said Jonathan. “He’ll find it.”
    “I still don’t like that kid,” said Trina.

Chapter Six
    The Real Ed
    As the first one home to the real world, Michael was greeted by hugs from everyone except his mother, who was more than a bit irritated that he had been gone so long. He couldn’t blame her. It had been shocking to him when he first came back, and Mira was no longer in the bedroom with him. The fact that Mira had somehow managed to manifest her whole body in the other world scared the daylights out of him. No wonder his mother was upset too.
    “Mom,” said Michael, once he was away from the kids, “it’s all about getting Mira back.”
    “I know,” said his mother. “It’s already been a whole day in real-time. I just worry.”
    “I know you do, Mom,” he said and kissed her on the cheek.
    As usual, Morgan was hanging out nearby and had heard the conversation. “Dad, have you lost Mom, still!” she said it as if it were a joke.
    Madison rapped her on the top of her head. “It’s not funny!” she exclaimed.
    “No it’s not,” said Michael with a stern look. He had been through too much today.
    “Sorry, Dad,” said Morgan and hopped away to another room.
    “Mom,” said Michael, “a large group of our old friends and one new one are coming here tonight for a meeting about all this. We’ll be in my study. Can you keep the kids occupied upstairs?”
    “Of course, dear,” said Mrs. Ross. “I’ll make some sandwiches too. You never know when you kids will be starving.” Michael was grateful for his mother again. She still referred to his friends as kids even though they were grown now. She had known most of them all their lives. It was a tight group. Mrs. Ross had thrown more than one late night sandwich party for them when they were younger.
    “Thanks so much, Mom,” said Michael. “I don’t know what I’d do without you.”
    “Starve, likely.”
    “By the way, how was Brandon?” asked Michael.
    “We had a minute of translucence this afternoon, honey, but he turned back solid after only a few seconds,” said Mrs. Ross.
    “Oh, damn.” Michael’s face turned red, and he clenched his fists. “I’m so worried about Mira, I don’t even have a clue about the problem with Brandon. He can’t disappear again. He just can’t!”
    “Honey, you’re overwrought with all this stress. You leave Brandon to me. He’ll be fine.” Mrs. Ross patted Michael’s arm and stroked his head as she used to do when he was a child.
    “Are you sure, Mom?”
    “I’m sure,” said Mrs. Ross. “You just concentrate on poor Mira.”
    Michael knew not to question his mother when she was like this, and he had utmost faith in her. Still, how in the world had a three-year-old managed full-body travel to the other world? Was someone trying to take him? He banished that thought from his mind. He must trust in his mother. She always knew more than she let on, but he never pressed her about it. Somehow, when the High Five Gang was younger, she had always known what they needed and when, or she had shown up at just the right time.
    However, he was left wondering if the exercises this afternoon in the other world had somehow caused that moment of translucence. Well, he might never know, and now he had to take a shower, spend some time with the kids, and get ready for the meeting.
    ***
    Exactly three hours later, Trina showed up with Lu, Zac, and Onie in tow.
    “How are the kids?” asked Michael, trying to care but asking more to be polite.
    “Curious as to what we’re doing,” answered Onie, “but good.”
    “Mine too,” said Michael.
    Just then, the doorbell rang, and Jonathan tumbled in.
    “Did Mom make sandwiches?” Jonathan pointed to his stomach and wore a pained expression on his face as if he