When I reach the ship, India releases the anchor. In the full moon, her ectoplasm is glowing white. She grins at me as we begin ascending into the starry sky. “Are we friends again, Captain?”
“You made us lose several nights’ profits, you almost got us all vanquished, and now you’re asking if I can be your friend?” I demand. “You’re lucky I don’t throw you off the schooner!”
“What a terrible thing to say!” India exclaims. “Are captains of pirate ships normally this cold and merciless?”
“Are you challenging my position as captain of the Lady Kate?” I definitely feel challenged – over my pride as well as my job.
“Why don’t you two have a duel?” Tony suggests. “You’ll let off some steam, and then we’ll all know who’s the real captain.” Tony is always looking for free entertainment.
India shakes my hand, the official start to a Dreamcatchers’ swordfight. A second later, she’s lifting me in the air above her head. She hurls me backwards to the deck and draws her dagger.
I fumble for my sword. Once I find it, I quickly defend against India’s attack. I swing the sword up at her, trying to buy some time so I can stand up. I accidentally cut through her neck, detaching her head.
The head, looking astonished, tumbles through the sky and drifts down to the deck.
I scramble to my feet and run to pick up India’s head. “What have I done?” I whisper, unable to speak louder. I’m not sure what happens when ghosts get decapitated. There’s no blood…
Her mouth smiles, then her head floats up and her lips meet mine. I feel arms around me – her body has reunited with the head, the ectoplasm knitting itself back together.
“I think for chopping off my head you can give me one kiss.” She smiles again, this time sadly, and pulls away.
I grab her and pull her back into me. “Is that all I get?” I kiss her lips again – her lip gloss tastes like grapes. No, like sweet wine.
India pushes me away. “You don’t love me.”
I think of India fighting monsters in Dreams that scared even me. I visualize her dancing to indie Japanese music when she thinks no one’s watching. I look at her now, looking at me, long lashes falling over eyes black as the night sky. And finally I’m seeing what was there for three years. Finally I see my destiny.
“I don’t love you, India.” I grab her hands. “I adore you. I cherish you. I need you. Desperately. Will you be my Key to Paradise?”
She looks startled. “Well, sure, I guess – if I get to come too.”
“I’m sure that can be arranged,” booms a voice from above. We all look up to see a sky-yacht hovering over us. A golden ladder swings down, and President Livingston climbs down to our deck. “Are you two ready to ease the burden on the taxpayers?”
Chapter Nine
I can’t resist chortling when India prances out of the gazebo and begins skipping down the aisle in that dress. The angels gave her a modest white robe, but she’s drawn psychedelic patterns on it with marker and cut the skirt so it reveals as much as possible. She looks like a cartoon female superhero.
The chief justice of Paradise clears his throat. “Do you, Jamie Starling, agree to be this woman’s eternal partner and to follow the terms and conditions of Paradise?”
I didn’t read the terms and conditions, but I say, “Yes. I mean, I do.” I’m about to start a new chapter in my life – a Dreamcatching-free chapter, a chapter where I’m lassoed to one woman only. I don’t know how well I’ll do, but I’m willing to try if it means being with India in Paradise. She’s the only woman I’ll ever need, though certain parts of me may tell me otherwise at times.
“Do you, India O’Donnelly, agree to be this man’s eternal partner and to follow the terms and conditions of Paradise?”
India tries to smile, but she looks miserable. “Could you repeat the question?” she asks softly.
“Don’t you want to go to Paradise?” I ask her. I’m mostly doing this for her benefit.
“I want to go wherever you go, Jamie. I love you.”
Well, I want to go sailing!” I exclaim. I feel like a heavy burden has been lifted from my shoulders as I take India’s hand and fly with her out the arched doorway, over the rose garden, and down through the clouds into our own realm.
It’s raining beneath Paradise. The rain splashes right through our intangible bodies, washing us inside and out. We rejoin the surprised and delighted crew on the Lady Kate and sail over the ocean.
India starts talking to me about all the Dreams we’re going to harvest together, the house I’ll build us in West Ectopia, and the anniversary parties we’re going to throw.
As for me, my future plans extend as far as this afternoon. I happen to know from reading the newspaper that there’s a wedding taking place at a synagogue in Santa Monica. The guests won’t mind if we quietly slip in for some cake.
Acknowledgments
I have been blessed with being able to utilize the amazing talent of my editor, Alyssa Kress, for both the big things (this plot doesn’t make sense) and the small things (delete that comma.) Also, Karen Ronan helped me immensely by crafting a superlative cover and completing the manuscript’s formatting. I’d like to thank my entire extended family for supporting me in my creative conquests, through rain and sun.
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