One Wish Left

CHAPTER 3: RESEARCH

She'd seen him.

Laura had seen the officer at the airport from a distance, and, boy, did he ever look like shit. Well, as much as a tall, blue-eyed babe in uniform with sandy blonde hair could look like shit. Still, it worried her, and she found herself surprised yet again at the strange empathy she felt for this man. She literally had to hug herself to keep from going over and doing the same to him. When she saw him curse under his breath and rub his eyes, she thought better of it. Yet when she was driving up to her apartment building an hour later, she felt a twinge of regret.

That's it, she thought. As soon as Kieran is in bed, I am going to do some research on this guy.

And right on cue, her son leaped into her arms as she burst through their apartment door.

"Mom!" he squeaked. Oof. This voice dropping stage was brutal.

"Kieran, baby, I've missed you so much! Have you done your homework? Did you behave for Nana? And did you seriously get taller since I last saw you?" Laura rambled as she dropped her bags and squeezed him back.

He chuckled and rolled his eyes. "Yes, mom, as always."

"Laura, dear, you really shouldn't badger the boy. He's a pre-teenager now," said Laura's mother with a wink.

"Na-NUH!" Kieran whined. But by his blush, Laura knew he was secretly flattered.

"Okay, honey. I really do want to hear all about your long weekend with Nana, but it's getting very late. Off you go," she ordered, with one more hug for good measure.

"G'night, mom," he whispered into her shoulder.
Laura breathed deeply. How much longer would he be this enthusiastic about her affection? She had a feeling these days were numbered.

He slumped off to his room, and Laura was immediately engulfed in a firm embrace from her mother.

"Hi, Ma," she breathed. It was amazing how being with her family again brought immediate relief.

"You look tired, dear," her mother said. Well, not always such a relief.

"I am, Ma. This traveling-back-and-forth thing is really getting to me. I don't know how much longer I can sustain this," she vented. "But I do love Chad."

"I know it, dear. Maybe you won't have to wait much longer?" her mother pried hopefully.

"I don't know about that, mother. I don't think we're quite there yet. The thought of getting engaged, planning a wedding, and figuring out all of the changes that would mean for us as a family is even more exhausting than the travel."

Her mother nodded sagely as Laura picked up her bags only to dump them again in the living room.

"In any case, it's wonderful to have you home, dear," and she squeezed Laura's shoulder before making her way to her own bedroom.

Laura was physically exhausted, but her mind was still reeling after seeing the security officer at the airport again. She made herself a cup of peppermint tea with honey, grabbed a bag of almonds, and sat down at her computer. She was going to need sustenance if she was going to call out her ghosts tonight. She decided to start with ruling out any connections between the officer and Brodie.

Her first online query about Brodie turned up articles about the accident and about his athletic achievements as a two-time all-state football player. She'd read these all before, so many times in fact that she almost had them memorized. Then she saw his obituary.

Her finger hovered over the button. She'd never been able to bring herself to read it before.

"Brodie, I swear if you even come back to haunt me for real after this, I will kill you. And it would not count as granting my last wish either!" she yell-whispered, shaking her head at the absurdity of having this conversation with her long-dead boyfriend. She'd be worried about her mental health, but she'd had similar conversations with the memory of him countless times over the years, and she hadn't done anything too crazy yet.