Chapter 44 - Ambrosia

Delia kept her distance from Goodwin for the next year while the plants grew.  She talked to him on the phone periodically but when he asked if he could see her, she made up excuses. She was afraid of, even knew, what would happen if he came over and she just wasn't ready for a relationship - yet.

While the plants grew, Alex was also growing.  He was already 13 years old.   And to think she thought she could figure this entire mess out in time for him to start school and now he was a teenager!  But on his 14^th birthday, the plants matured.  Delia let Alex know that today would be another sort of birthday for him. 

She asked Alexander if he remembered Mr. Goode? Alex said, yes, sort of. She told Alex that she was going to ask him to come over and help her create the cure since he seemed to know more about it than she did and there is no way she was going to mess this up. Alex was fine with that. 

Delia was a bit nervous when she called Goodwin, remembering their last encounter. She hadn't seen him at all since then. He seemed to understand she needed this space and when she asked he instantly said “Of course! I am honored you want me to help.  I will be there in an hour!”

When he arrived, Delia ran outside and threw her arms around him. She was more than happy to see him and it stirred feelings in her she was trying ignore. He easily accepted her embrace. But first things first. She must create the cure for Alex.

To keep herself busy while waiting for Goodwin to arrive, Delia had prepared a spaghetti dinner for them.  While they ate they discussed the process for creating the Ambrosia.

After dinner, she poured them both drink and handed the recipe book to Goodwin to look over. He took it eagerly and poured over it. 

Delia called Alex in and asked if he was ready. She wanted this to be his decision too. He had been this way for 14 years and she wanted to give him a chance to back out. He said no way - I want am ready. Delia was sure he was. This is something they had been planning all of his life. 

When Delia and Goodwin felt they could glean no more from the book, Delia brought out the ingredients – a death fish and life plant being the main two precious components – and began the Ambrosia preparation under Goodwin’s watchful eye.  She chopped and mixed everything together and baked it in the oven exactly as the recipe called for.

  

Now it was up to Alex.  He sat down and began to eat and ate every last  bit of the Ambrosia. 

He handed the empty plate to his mom and said, “Thanks guys.  It was good and all.  Very sweet, like a desert.  But I think I am still transparent.  I don’t feel any different.”  

It was then that things began to change. Alex got a warm feeling throughout his entire body and began to glow with all different colors of the rainbow. 

Then when the feeling subsided, he looked at his hands and feet. They were no longer blue!  Nor were they transparent.  He was no longer a ghost stuck in the real world.  He was a real, whole person!

Alex was thrilled!  He was real! Alex exclaimed, “Look! I can see my fingers and not see through them! Yesssss!”

Delia and Alex thanked Goodwin for his help.  They couldn't have done this without his support. Then she gave Alex a hug and a high five. You are so handsome she told him and embarrassed him a little. 

Finally Delia 

presented her 'normal mortal' son with a Birthday gift. One that she was afraid he may never have had a chance to use – a new backpack for school books. She was so happy.

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