Spirit Whispers

by Cadie Snow

  Jaime passed through a cold spot and glanced at Olivia to see if she’d noticed. Her sister widened her eyes, indicating that she had. Lily lead them to the far wall. There was a chalkboard propped against a shelf. It hadn’t been used in a while, but Jaime recalled the board in the front window advertising sales.

  “You see?” Lily pointed to a message written on the board.

  The word had been written with an unsteady hand. The letters were in jagged chalk lines, as though the writer’s hand shook while printing out the message: T E R R O R.

  Jaime stepped closer, studying the letters. “This was written in chalk. Who has access to the shop?”

  Lily shook her head. “No, that’s what I thought at first, but there’s more. I’ve heard faint whispers that sound threatening. I can’t make out what they’re saying, but the tone is dark and forbidding.”

  “How often do you hear those?” Olivia said. “And when did that start?”

  “I knew you’d believe me,” Lily said. “You can use your witch abilities to find out what’s happening. I don’t understand it. Until a few days ago, it was calm around here. Then…”

  Almost as if on cue, a vase slid off a table and crashed to the floor, then shards of the pottery slid toward Lily’s feet. She looked up in horror.

  “That,” Jaime said, putting her arm around Lily, “was a ghost.”

  Olivia looked intent. “I sensed that too, but I can’t pick up any emotion yet.” Her empath abilities could be used to pick up feelings, often before Jaime could connect with a ghostly presence.

  “Tell me more about the chalkboard,” Jaime said, ignoring the mess on the floor.

  “There have been other messages,” Lily said. “At first they were innocent. One I couldn’t make out at all, and another was gibberish. The words didn’t make any sense. I erased them, thinking it was a prank. It could have been a disgruntled customer or something…but harmless.”

  Jaime had the ability to speak to the dead, so if a ghost was present, she should be able to make contact. “I’m not picking up a presence right now.” She walked around, mentally focusing.

  Olivia held up a hand, letting Lily know to be patient.

  The shop was quiet, though colder than Jaime recalled. She opened her mind to receive communication, but was greeted with silence, so she went back to Lily. “Ghosts can make themselves known but can also vanish when they want to.”

  “You don’t see anything?” Lily said. “I thought for sure you would, considering your abilities.”

  “It doesn’t mean that I won’t,” Jaime said. “This may take a bit of time. The vase was a sign and the message a warning. I don’t like this at all.”

  Lily wrapped her arms around her waist. “You see why I was afraid?”

  “We do,” Olivia said. “It’s good that you called us.”

  Then Jaime froze. The hair on her arms stood up, and she shuddered. A presence who wished to remain hidden had reached out in warning. The threat was clear, and disabused Jaime of any idea that the ghost was friendly. And a ghost who could manipulate chalk to write a message was powerful. The trouble was that this ghost was evil.

  Chapter 3

  Jaime wondered how much to tell Lily, since she didn’t want to frighten her more. But it was best to let her know what was going on. “I’m going to have to help you with this situation.”

  “I’m relieved to hear that,” Lily said.

  Olivia stared at Jaime. “Tell us what just happened. You look like you’ve seen a—”

  “Ghost?” Jaime shook her head. “Not seen…felt. And it’s not good. This presence is pervading the shop and I don’t understand why.”

  “Why would a ghost be here, or want to harm me?” Lily said.

  “That’s what I need to find out,” Jaime said. “There’s a reason; there always is. For now, is there someone who can be with you in the shop?”

  “I could ask my employees to cover shifts, so I’m not alone,” Lily said. “My stock clerk has asked for more hours, and I’m sure my salesclerk would be agreeable.”

  “Make sure that they aren’t alone, either,” Olivia said. “There is safety in numbers. Until we find out what the ghost is after, extra caution is called for.”

  Jaime hugged Lily to reassure her. “Try not to worry. The ghost is trying to scare you, so is lingering in the shadows.”

  “It’s definitely working, because I’m shaken up,” Lily said. “I haven’t had to deal with a ghost before. It won’t be good for business either if the shop acquires a reputation as being haunted.”

  “We will do our best to handle this before that happens,” Olivia said.

  Jaime would need to employ tactics to discover more about the unwelcome presence. “We’ll team up on this. I’ll bring Harper with us next time. She’s telepathic, so maybe we can get clearer communication.”

  Olivia followed Jaime out to the sidewalk—shopping for a table forgotten. “I’ll fill Harper in tonight, and what she thinks.”

  Jaime wasn’t too hopeful. She’d rarely come in contact with a presence she couldn’t talk to. Whenever she had, it hadn’t been good.

  For the rest of the day, Jaime tried to get some work done. While she sat at her desk doing bookkeeping, her mind wandered. The key to ridding Lily’s shop of its resident ghost was to discover the reason for the sudden appearance.

  That would lead to identifying the presence and uncovering any unsavory history. For Jaime to urge the ghost to move on, she needed to know more. She continued to balance accounts for her customers but kept the issue in the back of her mind, hoping an idea would surface.

  Jaime had known Lily a long time. She was loved in the community, so it didn’t make sense that the haunting was directly related to her. The shop had been quiet during the many years it had been open. What had changed?

  “Mama, I’m home.” Abigail was the first to arrive after school, reminding Jaime that the boys had soccer practice and would be late.

  “In here,” Jaime said.

  Abigail came in, smiling. “I don’t have much homework. Maybe I can watch extra television?”

  “Yes, maybe,” Jaime said. “How is school? Are you liking your new classes?”

  Abigail shrugged. “I guess. The best part is hanging out with Eve. I eat lunch with her, and we do homework in the library.”

  That didn’t sound too bad; Jaime was relieved. “I’m glad you’re making friends.”

  “Can Eve sleep over on Saturday?” Abigail said. “She wants to get together more, but I didn’t think you’d want me going to her house. I mean…until you meet her parents.”

  “I’m glad you understand,” Jaime said. “Sure, you can invite Eve. I can pick her up, if you like.”

  “That’s okay. She can get here,” Abigail said, then skipped up the stairs.

  It would be good to have Eve come over and to get to know her better. There was something different about her, but that didn’t mean it was cause for worry. Abigail could use a friend, so it might work out fine.

  The evening progressed uneventfully. The twins even did their homework without complaint, so were allowed to watch their favorite shows. Abigail had forgotten about the extra television privileges and was in her bedroom texting. No doubt it was a conversation with Eve.

  Jaime didn’t mention the situation with Lily. There was no reason for the kids to be involved. They didn’t need to be distracted from school or be concerned about something they had no control over. Jaime could take care of things.

  After the lights were out for the night, Jaime lay in bed staring at the ceiling. She remembered the feeling she’d had in the shop, the sense of evil that had surrounded her. The presence had been so palpable that she could almost touch it, but she hadn’t been able to see who it was.

  A lovely lady with golden hair glided across the porch of the main house, looking out at the plantation. Her hair was parted in the middle, then braided and tied back. She wore a dress with a hooped skirt and carried a pa
rasol. But she looked afraid.

  Jaime reached out to the woman but couldn’t touch her hand. The image began to fade, then two men loomed closer. It was significant that there were two, but Jaime was puzzled about it. One leaned down, glaring into Jaime’s eyes. She gasped when he attempted to grab her. Danger pervaded her senses.

  When Jaime ran, the man pursued her. She didn’t want to be there, didn’t belong there. But she was worried about the woman. Why—what did she have to do with anything?

  Then Jaime saw the woman again, with a circle of flowers on her head as if she were celebrating. But her expression was so sad that it tugged at Jaime’s heart. If only she could help her, but Jaime was so far away. She couldn’t reach her no matter how she tried.

  The scary man’s face reappeared, and he grimaced as he slowly vanished from sight. He was a threat…but why? Jaime turned to walk away but couldn’t. A hand touched her. She screamed…

  Jaime opened her eyes. It was still the middle of the night. She turned on a lamp and pulled her dream journal out of the drawer. She wrote down everything she could remember, to document it before more hours of sleep wiped it from her memory.

  A dream could reveal things that were inaccessible directly. It wouldn’t be the first time that Jaime was able to explain something in life through what she saw in her dreams. As a psychic, she was able to access the spirit world. She could speak to the dead and sometimes gain information through her dreams.

  She put the journal on the side table and got back into bed. No clear message could be gleaned from the dream. But the images might provide clues. She planned to study it more later.

  The next morning, the kids left for school and Jaime arranged to meet her sisters for lunch. The downtown café was the place to go for comfort food. Plus, it was a good place to talk. The restaurant was decorated in a red-and-white theme, giving it a welcoming atmosphere. The heavy carpet and high-backed booths provided guests with privacy.

  When Jaime arrived, her sisters were sitting in a back booth, chatting. “What did I miss?”

  “I just heard all about Vic,” Olivia said.

  Harper waved her hand. “There wasn’t that much to tell. We had a good time at the lake, that’s all.”

  Jaime slid into the booth across from them, then said to Olivia, “Did you tell her about Lily?”

  “I told her last night,” Olivia said. “I’m sure that’s why you wanted to meet. It’s a mystery, and I have a feeling we don’t have a lot of time to solve it.”

  The waitress came by to take the orders, then Jaime said, “I had a dream last night.”

  “Tell us,” Harper said.

  Jaime shared the details of the dream, letting them know that the images were from the past. The lady had been on a plantation. Jaime had read her journal entry several times, trying to decipher the meaning, and was hoping her sisters would have insight. “The man in the dream was menacing, and the woman was sad. That’s what I felt, more than anything. But why was she sad?”

  “The theme was a dangerous man pursuing a woman,” Olivia said. “That wasn’t uncommon. But that doesn’t help us, unless we know who they were.”

  “Did Lily have any ideas?” Harper said. “Could the ghost be a relative?”

  “I suppose,” Jaime said. “But why wouldn’t this have happened sooner? If there is a vendetta against Lily, why wait? Something must have prompted this unexpected appearance.”

  The waitress returned with the iced teas, followed by the chicken biscuits. Jaime couldn’t make them taste the same at home. “I swear this place has a secret ingredient in these things,” she said. The fried crispy chicken patty was in the middle of a flaky biscuit.

  “Make sure I don’t order the peach cobbler for dessert,” Olivia said. “It’s my favorite, but I can’t afford the calories.”

  Harper cut her biscuit in half, then said, “On a different subject…any signs of dangerous sorcerers?”

  Jaime smiled. “Um, that protective spell was to keep sorcerers away…not attract them.”

  “Very funny. I guess that’s a no.”

  “You’ll be the first to hear if this shield doesn’t do what it’s supposed to.”

  “Back to Lily,” Olivia said. “When I was in the shop, I sensed sadness, but couldn’t pinpoint where it emanated from. That fits with your dream and the woman who looked sad.”

  “It’s not much of a clue, but it’s a start,” Jaime said. “When we are done here, let’s pay Lily a visit. The answers have to be in that shop.” She looked at Harper. “Be prepared to use your powers. I’m hoping this ghost will communicate with you.”

  It was an especially warm day downtown, so it was nice stepping into the cool interior of Lily’s Antiques. A couple of customers milled about, then one left. The other spoke to Lily and made a small purchase. Jaime and her sisters looked around a bit while they waited.

  When the last customer left, Lily came over. “I’m glad to see you’re back. Have you come up with anything?”

  “Not much,” Jaime said. “But we want to see if we can get more clues.”

  “We didn’t want to call up a ghost while you still had customers,” Harper said. “But I’m going to snoop around and see if I can make any connection.”

  Jaime looked at the chalkboard, but it was blank. Lily had erased it, which was just as well. The public didn’t need to see the message. “Has anything else happened since we were last here?”

  “Not really,” Lily said. “I don’t feel comfortable in here like I used to. I can’t feel safe knowing there is a ghost watching me.”

  Olivia strolled along an aisle, looking at a couple of side tables that were for sale. But Jaime knew that she wasn’t really shopping but trying to pick up emotions. Her abilities as an empath could shed light on what the ghost felt.

  Lily went to catch up with Harper, while she was looking around the shop.

  Jaime stood next to Olivia and whispered, “The evil is more intense…like it’s growing.”

  Olivia nodded. “The emotions are conflicted, some happy and others horribly sad.” She went back to examining the antique table and pulled it out, as if she intended to buy it.

  Jaime looked up to see Harper heading their way, with Lily right behind her.

  “Anything?” Olivia said.

  “The ghost in this shop isn’t talking, so I didn’t hear anything,” Harper said. “It’s frustrating.”

  Lily looked at Jaime. “What now? If you can’t solve this, I don’t know who can.”

  “We aren’t giving up,” Jaime said. “This sort of thing can take patience. I don’t think that you are the target, but just to be safe, is there someone who can stay with you until this is resolved?”

  “You think the ghost will come to my home?” Lily said, eyes big.

  “Probably not,” Jaime said. “Only a very powerful ghost can travel like that. But it can’t hurt to be cautious.”

  Lily hesitated. “Uh…I suppose I could ask a friend to stay for a few days.”

  Probably to lighten the mood, Olivia said, “This is a nice table. I could use it in one of the bedrooms. Could you hold it for me? I’ll arrange to have it delivered.”

  Jaime noticed that Harper had walked way. She was probably looking around more, trying to pick up any ghostly communications.

  From a corner of the store, Harper called, “This is gorgeous.”

  Jaime and the others found Harper staring at a satin dress. It was a soft cream color, and some of the layers of the skirt had a light pink hue. Lace hung from elbow to wrist and ran along the edges of the layers of the skirt. Tiny buttons lined the front.

  Lily stood beside Harper. “That is a wedding costume, a silk Victorian dress. The jacket and bustle skirt are exquisitely tailored. Women in Georgia wore dresses like this post-Civil War.”

  “I didn’t notice it right away,” Harper said. “Where did you get it?”

  “I found it at auction,” Lily said. “I haven’t had a chance to display it
properly, so I hung it back here. I was fortunate to find it. Replicas are made today for brides who prefer the Victorian look. But this dress is authentic.”

  Harper fingered the lace, hardly taking her eyes off the dress.

  “This dress is in perfect condition,” Lily said. “The jacket has spring bones and lacing on the back for a good fit and comfortable wear. It is lavishly decorated with handcrafted lace and pearl buttons. There is a special cotton petticoat which gives the volume effect popular at that time.”

  Harper touched one of the delicate flowers sewn to the top layer of the skirt.

  “Those are handmade flowers,” Lily said. “Would you like to try it on?”

  Harper’s eyes sparkled. “May I? It’s so lovely. When I get married, I want to wear something like this.”

  “Will it fit her?” Olivia said.

  “It can be altered, if needed,” Lily said. “Harper is slender, as women often were in that era. She might need more length, but a good tailor could add a few layers to the skirt.”

  Harper removed her light jacket. Underneath she wore shorts and a sleeveless top. “I can put it on over my clothes…just to see.”

  The dress was elaborate, so Harper required help getting into it. Olivia held the jacket, while Lily and Jaime assisted her to put on the petticoats and skirt. When that was adjusted, Harper slipped on the jacket and buttoned it.

  Harper brushed her hand over the waist. “How do I look?”

  “Come see for yourself,” Lily said, then guided Harper to a full-length mirror.

  Harper held her hair up in one hand. “I need one of those fancy hairstyles, like the brides in those days…with a ring of flowers.”

  A ring of flowers. Jaime reacted, but too slowly. It was just like in her dream, a woman with a ring of flowers over her braids. “Harper…”

  It was too late. Harper let her hair fall and put her hand over her belly. “Something’s wrong. I don’t feel well.”

  Olivia caught on. “Quickly…get out of that dress.”

  But it wasn’t that easy. It was as though the dress had become attached to Harper. The buttons wouldn’t budge, and when Jaime reached for the skirt, images flashed in her mind. They were images of another woman, the one from her dream.