I started this story in Sept of 2012 and here it is April 2025.
Beyond Ghosts and Shadows has a few more chapters to go and then Kire & Co will return in a new tale when they return to Paris.
There's also a "side quest" I may write as well, plus finishing up Into the Darkness.
Thanks so much for sticking with me. I really do sincerely appreciate it and hope if you've enjoyed the stories that you'll let me know your thoughts.
CH 170
Myrna offered to take Bodil back home as she had driven the buggy to our grandparents home, but our sister declined, saying she would walk back with Phelan and I as she had originally planned.
"Myrna," Toke said before our paternal grandmother climbed into the driver's seat. He reached out and took her hand in both of his. "You are always welcome here."
"Thank you, Toke," she said before she left, promising to wait outside of the inn for Bodil.
Once Myrna was gone, Phelan presented Hilda with a portrait of me to add to her collection as well as another one of Alex, whom Hilda begged me to bring with us the next time we visited. He also gifted her the figurine from our stop in Germany, which was added to her mantle with the rest.
"He is such a handsome boy, just like his father and uncle," Hilda said, kissing the image of Alex several times before she hugged it to her chest and looked at me and Phelan, frowning deeply. "I do not want my boys to leave."
"You know I will return in six months," Phelan assured her. "And I am fairly certain that's enough time to convince Erik to visit for a few days, if his wife will allow it."
"My sweet grandson," Hilda said, smiling up at him with her toothless grin. "How I adore you, Phelan."
She squeezed him tightly, kissed him multiple times on the cheeks, then squeezed him again before he was able to step aside.
"My baby," she said to me as I walked toward her for one last farewell. "Seeing my Erik is nothing short of a miracle. God has blessed us with two wonderful boys."
Hilda reached for my face, but slowly reconsidered. Gently I took her wrist and allowed her fingers to settle onto the unmasked side of my face.
"Your grandmother has nothing but love in her heart for you, my beloved Erik."
"It has been a pleasure to meet you and Toke. I am already looking forward to our visit in the spring."
"I will cry now," Hilda said. "As soon as you boys walk out that door."
Toke groaned to himself, shaking his head as he briefly hugged me and my brother.
Before we walked out the door, he handed me my violin case. "Don't lose this," he said, narrowing his eyes. "They are too expensive."
"I will keep a closer eye on it," I promised.
"Bodil," Toke said with a nod. "We will see you Monday to finalize plans for business?"
"If I have decided by then," Bodil replied.
With that, the three of us left the Ostergaard farm and walked back toward the town with Phelan selecting rocks along the road.
"Are we stoning someone?" Bodil asked, watching Phelan discard several rocks he deemed unusable.
"We're hardly savages," he grumbled.
"We're children," I replied. "Children who hurl rocks down the road."
"Erik is feeling a bit surly because he is terrible at skipping rocks," Phelan said.
"Ah, so this is a contest," Bodil said with a nod.
"Of course it's a contest, one that requires great skill, which Erik lacks," Phelan replied.
"Is this what having a sibling entails? Throwing rocks and declaring victory?" Bodil asked, looking at both of us as if we were mad.
"I already know who will win," Phelan answered.
"I am walking back to the farm and telling Hilda you are being a terrible brother," I grumbled.
Bodil assessed the situation. "Are girls allowed to participate?" she asked.
Phelan pretended to choke. "No, of course not."
"Why?" Bodil asked. "You don't think I can throw a rock?"
"I absolutely do think you can throw a rock and probably better than Erik, however, I have to ride in the same train car as him for a day and a half. I cannot allow him to lose to our baby sister. He will be intolerable. Well, more intolerable, which is truly a feat."
"You are the most highly irritating person I've ever met," I groused.
"Shall we play?" Phelan asked me.
"You aren't playing unless I'm included," Bodil insisted.
Phelan stared at our sister for a long moment. "If you insist," he said, handing out rocks to both of us.
"How do we know you didn't keep the best rocks for yourself?" Bodil asked.
With a look of annoyance, Phelan held out his hand. "Do you want to trade rocks?"
"I do," Bodil answered, swiping the two rocks from Lan's outstretched palm and replacing them with the ones he'd given her.
Phelan shrugged. "You poor, misguided girl. They are rocks. The skill comes from the wrist, not the rocks. Now, if you would like me to demonstrate how–"
Bodil drew her arm back and sent the rock hurtling down the road where it skipped multiple times, causing little clouds of dust along its impressive route.
"What were you saying?" she asked once the rock settled far up ahead.
Phelan rolled his tongue along the inside of his cheek. "Nothing of interest," he said under his breath.
"Your turn, big brother," Bodil said.
Phelan rotated his wrist several times, then drew his arm back, testing the trajectory of his throw until he seemed satisfied. Extending his arm out to the side, he released the rock and we watched as it sailed through the air, bounced once, hit a rut in the road, and veered into the weeds.
"Was that it?" Bodil asked, amused by his failure. "I thought you would be better."
"Was that it?" Phelan asked, imitating our sister's voice. "No, that was not it."
"That was clearly not very impressive," Bodil commented.
"Yes, and I can clearly see you're cheating."
Our sister blew a raspberry. "How does one cheat at tossing a rock down a road?" Bodil questioned.
"I have no idea, but obviously that is the case, isn't it, Kire?"
"I am more inclined to believe she's just much better than you," I replied.
Phelan stopped dead in his tracks. "I do very sincerely beg your absolute pardon, little brother?"
"Her throw was far better than yours. I'm not sure what you want me to say," I said.
Phelan scoffed. "You needn't say anything at all if you intend to defend her."
He turned away from me, but I still caught him wink at Bodil. In response, Bodil rolled her eyes and shook her head.
"Erik, are you throwing that rock or keeping it as a souvenir?" Phelan impatiently questioned.
I took a breath and threw the rock as hard as I could, hurling it into the field. Several birds were flushed from the bean field, which drew a cackling round of laughter from my intolerable siblings.
"I believe Erik is disqualified," Phelan said.
"I am holding my violin," I pointed out. "It's nearly impossible to throw well when you're holding onto something else."
"That is a terrible excuse," Phelan said, earning a nod from Bodil.
"And what is yours, elder brother? Bodil is currently in first place and it's her turn again," I commented.
"We will see if she is able to repeat her first stroke of luck," Phelan said.
Beside me, Bodil went through an exaggerated routine of stretching her arms above her head, rotating her neck, and flexing her fingers.
"Oh, for God's sake, just throw it," Phelan groused.
"Hush," Bodil said to him.
She lifted her chin, drew her arm back, and hurled another rock across the length of road ahead of us, snickering as it bounced an impressive distance.
"Phelan?" Bodil said.
"You certainly have beginner's luck," he said under his breath.
Bodil huffed. "Luck indeed."
Phelan cleared his throat and threw his rock an impressive distance, but not nearly with as much grace as Bodil, who was more than willing to celebrate her pending victory by waving her arms around.
"Erik, your turn," Bodil said as she collected another rock. "And if you'd like, I will hold your violin. I assume the case is filled with excuses?"
Phelan snorted with laughter and I glared at the two of them.
I didn't have high hopes of success and released the rock with a flick of my wrist, watching as it bounced three times and skid across the dirt.
"Better than Lan," Bodil said with a nod of approval.
"It was not," Lan snapped.
"I believe it was," I said, agreeing with our sister.
This was how we proceeded down the street, relentlessly teasing one another, which was mostly aimed at me and Phelan and our lack of skills when compared to Bodil.
Our sister's sharp wit kept us on our toes, and I found being in the presence of my brother and sister quite entertaining.
"You've done this before, I gather?" Phelan asked as he handed Bodil another rock. The two of them threw at the same time.
"Of course. What else is one supposed to do on endless dirt roads through the countryside?" she asked.
"I suppose I should have asked you that question before we started up this friendly rivalry," Phelan said.
Bodil shrugged. "If it's any consolation to you, this is the second contest of the day."
Phelan narrowed his eyes. "I beg your pardon? Second contest?"
"Yes," I said to him. "You were not aware, but there was a preliminary round for Brother of the Year."
"I assume Kire was the winner?" Phelan asked.
"Surprisingly no," Bodil told him. "He had a very impressive lead, but you managed to secure the victory. Quite impressive considering you were not aware of the contest."
Phelan strutted beside us, chest puffed out. "Yes, I am quite impressive, aren't I?" he pompously said.
"And also Erik won Husband of the Year, but he was the only one in the running," Bodil said.
"Husband of the Year already? It's only September," Phelan pointed out.
"Then you had better find a wife if you have any chance of victory," Bodil teased.
Phelan smiled tightly in response. "Are you coming to see Kire conduct an orchestra next month in Paris?" Lan asked, changing the subject once the town came into sight.
"I will consider it," Bodil said, which seemed to be her answer for all questions that required her attention.
"I have a few tickets for family and friends," I said. "I am more than happy to set one aside for you if you decide to attend."
"If you can spare two, I will ask Gran to accompany me."
"Of course," I said with a nod.
From the corner of my eye, I saw Phelan turn fully from us and collect additional rocks, which he tossed one by one down the road, making very little effort to skip them along the dirt.
"Are you attending, Lan?" Bodil asked.
"I have every intention of being there, quite possibly for every performance if I am able to procure a seat."
"How difficult could it possibly be?" Bodil asked.
"Very. E.M. Kire's debut as a conductor is sure to be in high demand. I've heard he's quite popular," Phelan said.
"Hmm. It's almost as if you don't know the composer at all," Bodil dryly replied.
I cleared my throat. "I am fairly certain I could set aside a ticket for you to each show if you want, being my brother and all."
"Well, I didn't want to assume." Phelan smiled to himself as he looked away.
"Why would you assume otherwise?" I asked.
Phelan started to speak, but changed his mind. "Never mind. I was thinking of a long-standing jest between me and a friend of mine. Set aside a ticket for each performance and I shall compensate you as needed."
"Will you sit with us if Gran and I both attend?" Bodil asked Phelan.
Lan issued a pointed look. "If that is the seating arrangement, then yes, however, if both of my nieces and nephew attend, I would probably sit with them as I don't get to see them nearly often enough."
Bodil frowned. "Gran would like another opportunity to speak with you."
"Well, there is nothing stopping her, is there?" Phelan said back to her.
Our sister sighed heavily.
"What was that for?" Phelan muttered.
"Do you want to know what that was for?"
"I would not have asked if I wasn't interested in knowing what is behind your dreadful sighs," Phelan grumbled.
"Fine. You are abrasive," Bodil said.
Phelan touched his hand to his chest and made a face. "Me?" he incredulously asked, raising a brow. "You find me abrasive?"
"Yes, perhaps not now after we have spoken several times, but at first you are incredibly difficult to like."
Our brother scoffed. "Please, do not hold back and spare my feelings," Phelan dryly said.
"I am telling you the truth," Bodil replied. "Would you rather I not?"
"You may certainly feel however you desire," Phelan said.
Bodil frowned at Phelan. "I am not the only one who feels that way."
Phelan inhaled. The hotel came into view, as did the horse and buggy with Myrna awaiting her granddaughter's arrival.
"I will collect our final telegrams before the booth closes," Phelan stated, swiftly walking toward the train station, leaving me with Bodil as we neared the hotel.
"I don't want to leave on a sour note," Bodil said to me, issuing a worried look in the direction of the train station where Phelan had disappeared inside.
"I'm certain we will see you again tomorrow morning before we depart for Paris," I replied.
"He is angry with me," Bodil said under her breath.
"No, I don't think so," I replied.
"He is angry about what I said to him."
"Angry, yes, but at you no."
Bodil frowned, but didn't ask for further clarification.
"Gran," Bodil said as we neared the buggy.
"How was your walk back?"
"Entertaining," Bodil answered. "Erik is conducting in Paris next month. He will set aside two tickets if we are interested."
Myrna eyed me briefly. She smiled in a half-hearted way, as though she wasn't certain if the expression was allowed.
"I would be honored to have my sister and grandmother in the audience," I said, hoping she would consider the offer.
Myrna's smile turned a little more genuine. "The honor would be ours."
Myrna shifted into the passenger seat and Bodil took up the reins. "Breakfast tomorrow morning at five," she said. "If you would not mind one more meal together. I won't even make you clean the dishes."
Five was painfully early, but I nodded, having no real choice in the matter with two siblings who were awake well before I was accustomed to retiring for the night. "We will see you then."