Christmas at Estelle's Read online

  CONTENTS

  Dedication

  Legal

  Oriceran Map - USA

  Oriceran Map

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Author Notes - Martha Carr

  Author Notes - Michael Anderle

  Social Links

  MC Series List

  Series List

  DEDICATION

  From Martha

  To everyone who still believes in magic

  and all the possibilities that holds.

  To all the readers who make this

  entire ride so much fun.

  And to my son, Louie and the wonderful Katie

  who remind me all the time of what

  really matters and how wonderful

  life can be in any given moment.

  And finally, a special thank you to

  John Nelson of the Austin, Texas

  Police Department

  who patiently answers all of my questions.

  I hope I made you proud.

  Thank you for your service.

  From Michael

  To Family, Friends and

  Those Who Love

  To Read.

  May We All Enjoy Grace

  To Live The Life We Are

  Called.

  Christmas at Estelle’s JIT Readers

  Paul Westman

  Thomas Ogden

  Micky Cocker

  COVER DESIGN Contest Winner

  Kristoffer Pyle

  Christmas at Estelle’s (this book) is a work of fiction.

  All of the characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Sometimes both.

  This book Copyright © 2017 Martha Carr and Michael T. Anderle

  Cover Design by Kristoffer Pyle

  Cover copyright © LMBPN Publishing

  LMBPN Publishing supports the right to free expression and the value of copyright. The purpose of copyright is to encourage writers and artists to produce the creative works that enrich our culture.

  The distribution of this book without permission is a theft of the author’s intellectual property. If you would like permission to use material from the book (other than for review purposes), please contact [email protected]. Thank you for your support of the author’s rights.

  LMBPN Publishing

  PMB 196, 2540 South Maryland Pkwy

  Las Vegas, NV 89109

  First US edition, December 2017

  The Oriceran (and what happens within / characters / situations / worlds) are Copyright (c) 2017 by Martha Carr and LMPBN Publishing.

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  CHAPTER ONE

  Leira Berens sat on her couch with her left leg propped up on pillows, sidelined from work at the Paranormal Defense Force. There was a stiff white plaster cast on her leg, stretching past her knee and she was under doctor's orders to take it easy for at least another week. Leira's partner at the PDF, Felix Hagan suggested she get a nice red cast or something in green to match the Mustang. "You could do both and you'd be your own Christmas ornament." Leira had given him a determined dead fish look and he dropped it. To start with, Leira didn't do taking it easy very well.

  She was already missing Correk, wondering if he was alright and Hagan knew not to push things. Not this time. The battle with Rhazdon was too close and there were losses this time. Leira winced at the memory of her mother almost falling over the cliff.

  The troll was sitting on her stomach and was busy pouring Pop Rocks into his mouth until his cheeks were stretched out as far as they would go. He opened his mouth and looked at Leira as the candy ricocheted around just behind his sharp little teeth, making a racket. He was doing his best to entertain her.

  Her mother, Eireka came out of the kitchen and let out a laugh watching Yumfuck's head jiggle from the momentum of the candy.

  Eireka had moved back into the guest house for the time being and was doing her best to take care of Leira and let her stream of swearing roll past when she was helping her get up off the couch. A flash of pain would go across Leira's face as she clenched her teeth but she didn't complain. Not if you didn't count the string of motherfuckers or sons of bitches.

  Eireka looked at her daughter as Leira leaned back and stared at the fading orange, circular stains on the ceiling. Eireka followed her line of sight and gave a tsk at the stains. All those years alone has made you stoic, thought Eireka, a pang in her heart. She looked around at the living room, at the couch and the red velvet chair. "It's already the holidays and there's not a single Christmas decoration to be found. Where's that old box of ornaments? I haven't seen some of those in years."

  "Mom... leave it alone."

  Eireka paused, watching Leira. "I know you miss him."

  Leira looked up at her mother. "Correk, his name is Correk." She said his name softly. "Has there been any word?"

  "Not yet. He was alive after the battle with Rhazdon and when they took him back through the portal. That's all we know for now but with all the magic on Oriceran..." Her voice faded as she let the thought go. "What about a wreath for the door?"

  Leira took a long look at her mother and her face softened. "I know this is your first Christmas since you were released." Leira did her best to smile. "Sure, why not? Let's do a wreath. What about one with pine branches and a large red bow? We'll go classic." She shifted on the couch and felt a rolling ache mixed with an itch that had been bothering her for days, deep inside the cast.

  She shut her eyes to focus and pulled in enough magic to run a thin stream through her body, soothing the broken bone in her leg. Eireka saw the symbols rolling slowly across Leira's arm and let out a deep breath, sending out her own energy to join her daughter's, soothing the ache deep inside Leira's bones. Leira let out a satisfied sigh as the magic swirled around the itch just behind her knee. Her mother's energy gave her an unfamiliar comfort.

  The energy sensed something was wrong and surged, lunging forward as it sought out the break in her bones to heal it. Eireka sensed the presence of the stronger light and pulled back. "Turner Underwood was pretty clear about that, young lady."

  "Well, now I don't have to wonder what you would have sounded like during my teenage years." Leira let the magic subside and glanced up at her mother. "Making up for lost time?" She gave her a crooked smile. "I won't try to fix the leg with magic. Turner said he wasn't sure it would heal correctly if I did that and I'm not going to take the chance. Not on that at least. I can be a little patient." She held up two fingers just inches apart.

  "A little," chirped the troll. "Able to tolerate waiting... a little." He poured more Pop Rocks into his mouth.

  "Where did you get those?" asked Leira, as the troll offered her some. Leira held out her hand and poured some into her mouth, feeling the fizz and pop. Her mouth puckered from the sour candy.

  "Nana got those for him, of course. I left your grandmother on her own at our place. The furniture is rearranged by now, for sure and there's an off chance she's using that deck of cards to read the neighbors' fortunes. Probably cheating with a little magic, too." Eireka saw the look on her daughter's face.

  "Sometimes I forget you were a detective. I missed most of that. Don't worry, I don't think she'd charge anyone for their so-called reading. I think she just likes watching their faces when she tells them a few things that she shouldn't know."

  "Nana told me that she met some of their dead relatives when she was in the world in between and is passing along messages," said Leira. "She can't k
nock on a door and say, hey I met your Uncle Bob. He said the earring you lost rolled behind the dresser and he forgot about some money that's in an account at a bank in Wichita. The readings are her cover. Nana is clever."

  "You get that from her. Very resourceful. Doesn't hurt that she's using a deck of cards that was made on Oriceran and has a little magic stored in them."

  Yumfuck looked up surprised from where he was sitting on Leira's stomach.

  "That's right, I know about the cards." Eireka arched an eyebrow as she smiled. "Mom thinks she's sly. Best to let her keep on thinking it even if she's going to Oriceran again. I don't know everything she's up to or if you're involved...." She pointed at the troll who clamped his mouth shut and reopened it just as fast with another loud rattling of exploding candy. "But secrets always have a way of coming out, my furry friend."

  "Nana's traveling through portals again. Even after the world in between. Now, that's ballsy."

  There was a loud, sharp knock at the door and Eireka went to answer it, ignoring the insistent "No," from Leira.

  Eireka stopped at the door and waited, looking back at the troll who reluctantly slid off Leira's belly and walked slowly into the bedroom, shutting the door as the knocking resumed. "He's got the guilt thing down cold," whispered Eireka. She opened the door wide to find most of the regulars standing in a line at the door. "Hi guys, must be lunchtime. Come on in." She stepped aside to let Craig and Scott pass by her.

  The regulars had been streaming in and out of the guest house located behind Estelle's bar, since Leira was released from the hospital a few days ago. They came tramping in as an orderly group, leaving casseroles or beer and staying just long enough to sign her cast or chat for a moment.

  Estelle was always keeping a watchful eye from the patio, a cigarette held firmly between her lips as the smoke swirled around her red bouffant. People entered in groups of four and after a few minutes were expected to move it along while everyone else waited just outside the door. Eireka smiled and glanced over at Estelle, giving her a wave. Estelle answered with a nod and blew out a long trail of smoke, staying right where she was, a hand on a bony hip.

  Estelle had only visited once, late at night after the bar was empty, giving a soft tap to the door. Leira had still been awake, staring at the ceiling again and was grateful for the distraction. "Come in." She could smell the cigarette smoke even through the closed door. It was Estelle's calling card.

  Estelle came walking in and quietly got a chair from the kitchen without saying a word. Leira was used to the intrusions from Estelle over the years when Leira was on her own. She seemed to always know when to barge in and when to keep her distance.

  Estelle pulled the chair up close to the couch and sat down on the edge, leaning close in the darkness to get a better look at Leira. "How you doin' kid?" She made a point of not taking a drag on the lit cigarette. A small concession to being inside the guest house.

  Leira looked just over Estelle's shoulder and saw the troll standing on the kitchen counter, peering around the door frame. His pale fur was silvery in the moonlight coming in from the windows. He pulled back, into the shadows as Leira focused back on Estelle.

  "My brain thinks I can get up and go do something but the body is a little more reluctant," Leira finally said. She pushed herself up onto her elbows, giving a low grunt, careful not to wake her mother. The troll peeked round again, this time holding a large piece of a Pop Tart between his paws, quietly nibbling at the edges. Leira made herself look over at Estelle.

  "Sounds about right." Estelle's voice was low and gravelly. Her normal tone. "That itchy brain of yours will make you restless but it'll also get you off that couch a dang bit faster." Estelle sat back, her head tilted to the side as she scrutinized Leira. "You'll be okay. You've got some good Texas dirt in you."

  Leira looked over at Estelle. "Don't you mean on me?"

  "No, baby girl. Everybody's got to eat a peck of dirt before they die. Good for you. And if you're lucky enough to be from Texas, then you get that good Texas dirt in your blood. Something about the soil around here... if you get knocked down, you get twice as determined to get back up again and show everybody a thing or two."

  Estelle leaned in closer to Leira till Leira could smell the mixture of Shalamar and cigarettes. It was oddly comforting to her after four years in the guest house. Made her feel rooted to the world. I need that.

  The image of Correk being carried off the battlefield flitted through her mind and she felt a strong wince in her leg, flinching as she pulled back from Estelle. They had explained the broken leg as an accident running down a bad guy off his meds. Correk's absence was told as an assignment for the Feds that they weren't allowed to talk about in any detail. He wouldn't be back for a while.

  Estelle watched the jerk of pain pass through Leira's body and sat back, her thin red lips firmly pressed together. "Listen here to these instructions. You don't do it alone," she said, finally. "I know you won't ask for a lot of help. I get that and I admire it. You got a lot of giddyup in you. But it's also true that a lot of people see you as family around here and they'll be stomping through here in no time to check on you and show a little kindness. Let 'em. People find their own ways to tell you they love you but you have to be willing to hear it. It's a gift right back to them, too." She spit out the last words with emphasis, nodding her head hard and almost biting the cigarette in two.

  "Now, let me sign that dang cast." Estelle had pulled out a black marker and made an oversized E followed by the rest of her name in a swirl. She penned her name right on top of Leira's knee with a nice smudge where a few cigarette ashes had dropped. "There you go, much better." She had slapped her thighs with satisfaction, more ashes dropping to the floor.

  Leira had let herself relax back into the pillows without answering her, drifting off before she could say anything else. When she opened her eyes again it was morning and Estelle was gone. Still not sure she's entirely human.

  Since then, Estelle had been both encouraging the regulars to stop by and monitoring their visits.

  The regulars knew not to linger in Leira's small living room or they'd be on Estelle's list. If they did, they'd earn a month's worth of side eye through the smoky haze that could chill someone to the bone. That and slow service on beers. Craig and Scott hustled in and signed their names, gave a few well wishes as Craig set down a six pack of Shiner Bock. "I owed you a few beers," he said, smiling as they made a quick retreat back to the bar. The cast was becoming covered in signatures. Cassidy pulled out a few markers in different colors and drew holly leaves and berries right next to her name.

  Mike made a last-minute suggestion that they could help Leira to the bar and prop her up there as Mitzi and Kimberly shook their heads. But he plowed ahead until a low growl emerged from Estelle outside.

  "That was a first," he muttered quietly as he patted Leira on the shoulder, his eyes wide. He quickly signed his name and walked past Estelle who blew a large, smoky O over his head as he passed.

  "Damn, it's like she was marking him as he went by," said Craig, a chill going down his spine. Once the last of the regulars were firmly ensconced at the bar again and Eireka shut the door, the troll emerged from the bedroom, scrambling up the side of the couch and perching himself on the cast. He dangled his legs over the edge and let out a soft trill as he picked up a pen Cassidy had forgotten and covered his paw in ink, pressing down, leaving a tiny imprint.

  "A Yumfuck Christmas," trilled the troll.

  "That would involve a lot of eating." Leira plucked the troll off her cast and held him in the palm of her hand. "Your first Christmas too. I guess I can do a better job of at least not getting in the way of everyone else's ho ho ho."

  "Fa ra ra ra ra." The troll smiled.

  Leira looked at the troll and smiled. "My favorite movie of all time, no matter what time of year. A Christmas Story. Good one Yumfuck." She held him closer to her face. "No parties, though. Deal?"

  "Deal." He crossed his pa
ws behind his back and smiled at Leira.

  CHAPTER TWO

  The regulars stepped away from Leira's door and made their way over to their favorite spots at the long outdoor bar on the other side of the patio. They sat at the bar chattering about work and the mid-winter bowling season as Estelle walked around to the back of the bar. Everyone was making a point of not looking back toward the guest house. Estelle got up on her stool and wiped down the bar top as a couple tried to get her attention. "No, honey, not yet. Finish your conversation." She cocked her head as if she heard something interesting inside and hopped down, walking into the bar and taking a sharp turn toward the kitchen past the large pink Christmas tree decorated in white and blue ornaments. The couple looked at each other and looked around as Mitzi smiled back at them.

  "I swear she's got the hearing of a bat," said Paul.

  "Wait a minute till we're sure she's really gone." Craig leaned to the left on his stool, trying to get a better look inside. "No sign of her."

  "That Pepto Bismol tree. You think that's ironic?"

  "It's retro."

  "She's out of sight in the kitchen. She can't hear us or see us."

  "I mean, I get the white lights everywhere. Half of them she keeps up year round. Kind of makes sense."

  "Should we bring presents. Maybe do a Chinese gift exchange? Or a Secret Santa."

  "There's an elf on the shelf inside that moves around every night."

  "No kidding..."

  "No Secret Santa. We're doing this for Leira. Brighten up her place. Brighten up Leira. Stay on mission."