They fell asleep only to be awakened by Teddy's feet hitting the floor and flying to his parent's room. "Mommy!" he yelped and jumped into the bed. "Mommy, there's a big man in my room."
Both jumped awake when their bed moved, Eddie taking Teddy into her arms. "Stay here," Jamie warned, getting up.
Jamie reached for his gun, he had a permit for it and kept it in a drawer next to the bed to protect his family. Teddy saw it and said in an eery voice still cradled in his mom's protective arms. "That won't help you daddy."
"Why not buddy? Daddy is just going to tell this man to leave," Jamie said evenly. His weapon was a second option in case the intruder refused. Jamie went into Teddy's' room carefully, there was no light on at all, the nightlight having burned out. There was also no man in his room, nothing but a big shadow created by the lamps outside.
He sighed quietly, letting the weapon hang loosely while checking the closet, which was empty. The house was quiet but Jamie went searching anyway. After ten minutes, he didn't see anyone and Teddy had fallen asleep in Eddie's arms. "Well?"
"Nothing, there's no one inside or around the house," Jamie put his weapon back in the drawer and sighed.
"He is so sensitive now we tried to move on Samuel," Eddie sighed. 'He thinks that he's a protective spirit, and the though of him not being here will scare him. Why don't we just leave well enough alone?"
Jamie sat on the bed watching his son sleep soundly. "We don't know that Samuel isn't trying to protect him and that's why he won't leave. He said a big man was in his room right? That isn't Samuel so who else?"
"That's what I mean, if he's happy with Samuel here why force him out?"
"Because ghosts don't belong here Eddie. We don't know if Samuel is really truly good or not," Jamie rubbed Teddy's curls quietly.
"What if he isn't? What if he is appearing a kid to...No, that is ridiculous, that's what that is."
Jamie put an arm around her, "We're jumping to conclusions. Let's just try and get some sleep okay? We all need it "
"You want to put him back in bed?" she asked looking at their son's innocent face as Christa began to cry loudly.
He took Teddy nodding, "I'll get Christa on my way back.' Jamie tucked Teddy back under the covers then went into Christa's room. She was screaming at the top of her lungs, lena was int he room with her trying to soothe her. She had pooped and wet herself and had a look of terror on her face if a baby that young could feel terror.
"What happened baby girl," Jamie's heart fell seeing the look on her little face. "It's okay Christa shhh, it's okay baby girl."
"She was scared and you two were taking your sweet time," Lena replied. "This baby is terrified."
Jamie took her, "We were putting Teddy to bed because he woke up scared, saying someone was in his room. Come here baby, daddy has you. " He walked around the room bouncing Christa and rubbing her back gently. He kissed her head, rocked her slowly to the changing table.
Lena went back to bed and the house was peaceful the rest of the night. It stayed peaceful the next few days. Teddy's attention on Samuel got more and more intense. He kept trying to invite his friend to play with his sister. After the other night Eddie kept an extra careful eye on Teddy while he played.
"Play with sissy...teach her too, she baby..." he told the air. He was still having full conversations with this little boy. Shaking her head Eddie disappeared into the kitchen for a quick glass of water. The house was quiet until a door from down the hall slammed shut.
She startled and nearly dropped the water. "Mom?" Had Lena come home and she didn't see her?
Leaving the glass Eddie peeked her head out into the living room. Christa squealed, clapping her hands while Teddy continued talking to no one. She didn't see anyone and all of the doors were open. It had to be a fluke, she shook her head and went back to the kitchen. Filling up the water again Eddie took a slow drink, washed the glass and leaned against the counter quietly.
She heard the noises again, creaking floor board over her head, but no one was home with wore a heavy boot like that. She decided it was all the talk of ghosts and shook it off. She went to play with Teddy and Christa in the living room. She felt uneasy, like she wanted to get out of the house. "Come on, let's go for a walk, okay?"
Teddy cleaned up his toys while Eddie changed Christa's diaper. Behind her the door slammed shut making Christa cry. Eddie cradled her a minute, "Come on, Teddy. Let's go...let's go get some ice cream..."
"Yay ice cream, yummy yummy. Mommy get strawberry cone and Teddy get chocolate? Sissy can't eat ice cream, she a baby."
"That's right," Eddie smiled. "She can enjoy the fresh air "
Teddy looked at his sister," I sowwy Christa but you need to grow more then you can eat ice cream. Teddy will play blocks with you later okay?"
She cooed and waved her arms. Eddie just wanted to get out of house and relax, get away from the heavy air.
She helped Teddy with his sneakers hurriedly while Christa sat in the stroller. The house was quiet except for a strange scent coming in from the bedroom.
Eddie got out of the house with the kids. They walked down to the water and sat and had ice cream cones.
Christa reached her tiny ball fisted hands out for her brother's cone, licking her lips pleading. "Do you want to try a little," Eddie asked. She offered the cone to the baby for a lick.Christa took an uncoordinated lick, eyes wide at the cold. She looked up, pinching her face.
"Don't think she like, Mommy," Teddy laughed. Then, "Mommy, why you scared?"
Eddie looked her son over thinking and finally said, "Mommy always wants to make sure you and your sister are safe and happy. That's my job and daddy's."
"I happy, love you, Daddy and Sissy..." he replied. "Samuel keep us safe, Mommy. He now who good and who bad, Uncle Joe help him. Man that is in full ny hat, he mean and scare Teddy."
"Well anytime he scares you come to me and daddy because we will never let anything happen to you. we love you both," Eddie said.
"But you can't, " Teddy said. "Cause only Teddy see..."
Eddie studied him, "Why can only you see him Teddy?"
"Cause you have to be special," Teddy replied. "Uncle say it...say I special so i see..."
"Uncle? Uncle Joe told you that? Can you see your Uncle Joe too," Eddie asked.
"Not all the time," he replied. "Just sometimes."She nodded quietly going back to her ice cream thinking.
They weren't home when Jamie and Lena got there. They were sitting and waiting when Eddie came into the house with the kids."Hey Teddy bear where did you guys go," Jamie caught his son, bear hugging him smiling. He stood up, meeting Eddie to kiss her and Christa.
"We will talk about it later," Eddie said. "We took a walk and got ice cream."
He stopped her with a kiss, "Relax and sit. I'll pour you a little wine, Lena would you like a refill?'
"Please, she replies. "Edit, where did you take the children?"
Jamie took the glass to refill while he poured one for Eddie too. "We went for ice cream mom."
"Before dinner? "she asked. "Well aren't you the fun Mom."
Eddie and Lena drank their wine and played with the kids while they ordered the chicken. It would be a nice night with family. They hoped at least. Not one word was said until the kids fell asleep, Teddy putting up a fight to sleep alone. Jamie and Eddie said prayers with him and kissed his head. "We are right down the hall baby."
Teddy's eyes closed but he reached a tiny hand out to them anyway. "Mommy, daddy."
Eddie sighed, this was so hard. "Teddy, Eddie replied. "If you get scared, ask Uncle joe to protect you and he will."
"Samuel too but," Teddy's eyes closed fast.
"That's right" Jamie soothes. "Samuel too." He whispered I love you but had already fallen asleep. Eddie watched him, hesitating to leave.
"Come on Eddie, he's good. Let's let him sleep,' Jamie said softly. She nodded and headed back to her bedroom. She checked in Christa and she was sound asleep. Jamie waited for her, walking in together to relax before bed.
That night things were fine, there was not any disturbance and Eddie slept well in Jamie's arms. He was glad that she seemed at peace and their kids and Lena all slept too.
Lena left a week later, Teddy insisted on playing with Samuel and Eddie was beginning to think that it was all in their minds. She was glad things were starting to get back to normal and relaxed a little. She should not have let her guard down. She was doing dishes one afternoon while Teddy was playing. She heard the heavy boots on the second floor...and a childish laugh, but not Teddy or Christa.
Eddie put the dish down so fast it nearly cracked and went out to the living room. Christa was lying on her back as Teddy played with her they seemed unbothered by what Eddie is hearing. She listened carefully, the steps pounding faster and a child giggled.
"Teddy?" she asked. "What is Samuel doing now?"
He looked up, "Teddy playing."
"I know, but where is Samuel now? Is he upstairs," Eddie rushed, trying to match her racing heart.
Teddy shook his head," No mommy, he playing ball in my room. Samuel likes playing ball."
"Is he laughing?"
"No mommy he doesn't laugh like that. Samuel doesn't really laugh," Teddy said. He frowned at that about his friend, "Teddy doesn't know why. Maybe his daddy didn't like him to laugh so he doesn't cause he's scared."
Eddie's breath caught sharply, "Do you hear the laughing too?"
He nodded, "Yes, always I hear it. Mommy hear now?" It didn't bother him. She shook at how calm he admitted that he was able to hear the laughing.
"Yes, mommy heard it and the footsteps. I thought Samuel was playing upstairs," Eddie held her waist, taking in deep breaths.
"Yes, mommy heard it and the footsteps. I thought Samuel was playing upstairs," Eddie held her waist, taking in deep breaths.
"Samuel run around sometimes, maybe he do it now, I ask him, "Teddy ran off to find his friend. Eddie lifted Christa off the floor, moving her legs so they didn't cross. She gave the baby a kiss, then four more before Teddy returned.
"He say he stop Mommy," Teddy replied. "He gonna bounce ball again now. This was making Eddie crazy.
She cradled Christa, "Tell him I said thank you. Why was he running Teddy? Was Samuel playing a game like tag?"
"I don't know, when I ask he hide," Teddy replied.
Teddy sat down to play again so Eddie put Christa back down the mat with her big brother to play together. "Can you watch Christa for mommy and make sure she stays safe? What would you like to play with her?"
"Peek a boo."
"Okay," Eddie a little smile. "Let's play peek a boo with sissy."
Smiling and clapping his hands Teddy started the game, making a show for his sister. Anytime she laughed he did. Eddie loved to see her kids like this so light and happy. The sounds died down. They played and waited for Jamie.