Walnut Grove House

by Alexie Aaron

  “You have the smell of money about you,” Jesse had said, setting his sandwich down. They were in the kitchen, eating at the counter.

  “I was born into money. But presently, I’m taking a hiatus to live amongst you paupers,” Ethan replied. “Would you like another beer?”

  “No thank you. I think I’m supposed to be cooling it on alcohol. The emergency nurses gave me a list, but I left it when I legged it. I’m feeling a little rattle when I breathe, but otherwise I’m feeling alright.”

  “Mrs. Martin will know what to do.”

  “Are they expected home soon?”

  “In a few days. Mia will be arriving before the rest of them.”

  “I hope she’s not coming home to nurse me,” Jesse said.

  “Most likely. Is that really so bad?” Ethan challenged. “Is it really bad to have a total stranger care about whether you live or die?”

  “I think we have slid into your story,” Jesse observed.

  “Maybe. Take it from me, this family and their friends are a force that you shouldn’t try to stop. They will help you to find your way if you’re lost, or help you adjust if a touchy-feely ghost managed to get his hand on your heart.”

  “Ah, the miracle of Murphy. He saved my life today.”

  “I’ve seen it close up. I was drowning in quicksand when Tom Braverman jumped in and sacrificed himself so I could reach the shore. I tried to pull him up, but Murphy got there first. The next thing I know is, Tom’s body appears to be flying out of the pit. I went to him and found that he wasn’t breathing, and his heart had stopped. I was doing CPR when Murphy reached inside and started his heart by squeezing it. He pulled me away when the deputy’s heart started. I couldn’t see Murphy at the time, but when Tom opened his eyes, I could tell he could see Murphy. First, I saw wonderment reflected on his face, then fear that his life was about to change, and finally, resignation.”

  “How’s he doing?”

  “He’s sheriff now, so I don’t think the sight is too big a challenge,” Ethan said. “I suspect it connects him to Murphy and maybe Mia. Or that could be old baggage, I don’t know. Braverman and Mia are childhood friends.”

  “Cid pulled me out of an icy lake,” Jesse said. “I was dead but not dead-dead.”

  Ethan laughed. “If I had a nickel for every time I’ve heard that.”

  Jesse smiled. He turned to go back to his room when he felt a pressure change in the house. It was as if a door opened. Maybe Ethan had returned to the house. Jesse walked to the main staircase.

  “You really should be wearing slippers or socks,” Mia said from above him.

  “When did you get home?” Jesse asked.

  “Does it matter?” she asked approaching him.

  “No.”

  “Good. Now get in bed.”

  “Um.”

  “Mr. Holden, I need to check your vitals. Do I have to call for Murphy to hold you down?”

  “No.”

  “Good,” Mia said.

  He walked obediently to the guestroom and lay on top of the covers.

  Mia leaned over him and took off her gloves.

  “You smell wonderful,” Jesse said, catching the aroma of the outdoors and something else he couldn’t identify.

  “Thank you. Open your shirt.”

  Jesse did so.

  Mia ran her hand along his chest, and then she did something he would never forget. She put her hand inside him. “Be still. Look at my face if this frightens you,” she instructed.

  He did so, still in shock. She removed her hand and sat him up, removed his shirt, sat behind him, and moved her hands on the surface of his back before moving into his body.

  “Breathe with me, Jesse. In…. and out… In… and out. You’re going to cough a lot, and hard. Murph, fetch a bucket. No that’s a trashcan, the puke bucket, hurry. Jesse, spit it in here.”

  Jesse felt his chest burn, and then the coughing started. He emptied a small amount of foul water into the bucket.

  “Murph, find Ethan and ask him, nicely, to brew some of Lazar’s wretched tea.”

  “Not that stuff in the red canister,” Murphy said, wrinkling his face. “I can’t smell nor taste, but I can tell it’s nasty.”

  “Yes and make it strong. Tell him to add some honey.”

  Murphy disappeared.

  Mia still knelt behind him. “You have a small amount of lake water still in your lungs. Did they warn you about the possibility of pneumonia?”

  “Yes.”

  “But you still left the hospital.”

  “Evidently,” he said before he expelled more fluid.

  Murphy appeared. “Ethan is brewing tea and has a pizza in the oven for you.”

  “Wonderful. Speaking of wonderful, you did an excellent job of keeping Mr. Holden with us. I can’t wait for your overexaggerated tale.”

  Jesse could have sworn he saw the ghost have two red spots appear on his face.

  “Bad Mia,” he said and left.

  “I’m sensing you two have a thing…”

  Mia sighed.

  Jesse felt his lungs burn, and he started coughing again. When he had finished, he said, “I believe you did that on purpose.”

  “Don’t mess with me, Jesse,” she warned.

  Jesse heard someone whistling just before Ethan appeared at the door carrying a tray. “Mrs. Martin, you’re home but a few minutes and you’re in bed with a new man. Tsk tsk.”

  “Just playing doctor,” Mia said. “Put the tray on the table. I’m going to get some of that vile rub Lazar’s grandmother gave me when I caught the flu.”

  “I’ll just stay here and stare at the half-naked man to make sure he doesn’t get away, master.”

  “Good boy, Igor,” Mia said running down the hall.

  “Why is she running?” Jesse asked. “And what is that appalling smell?”

  “Your tea. You should have stayed in the hospital. There, you would have backrubs by gorgeous nurses. Here, you get the old hag.”

  “Oh, there goes your bonus,” Mia said out of breath. “Hag, I’ll own up to, but old?”

  “Do you want me to stay in the house, on the property, or go home?” Ethan asked.

  “Where are you now?”

  “Standing here…”

  Mia climbed back behind Jesse. “Ethan…” she growled.

  “In the carriage house.”

  “That’s good. I will stay up with Jesse tonight. You get the day shift.”

  “It’s daybreak in Alsace. Where are you supposed to be, Mrs. Martin?” Ethan asked.

  “Traveling to tour some cathedral. Saint something or another,” she said, rubbing ointment on Jesse’s back. “Breathe in and expand your lungs… yes… good.” Mia slid out of bed and walked down the hall to the bathroom to wash her hands.

  “Here, drink this,” Ethan said. “Sip, slowly. I put a lot of honey in it but…”

  Jesse almost gagged.

  “Finish it,” Mia said. “Or I’ll make you cough again.”

  Jesse finished the tea. His eyelids drooped.

  “Don’t be afraid. Sleep is part of the cure. I’ll stay with you tonight. Tomorrow, you should be right as rain. When I return from France, we’ll deal with what Murph did to you. Right now, rest.”

  Jesse lay back and felt the covers being tugged out from under him. Mia gently moved him to his left side, and finally, he was tucked in.

  “I put a towel here. If you find yourself drooling or need to cough, just do it. Don’t hold anything in. There’s a bucket if you can’t make the bathroom,” she said.

  “Thank you,” he managed before he drifted. He remembered puzzling how Mia could be there with him and in France at the same time. It became too much and he allowed himself to sleep.

  Chapter Thirty-one

  Cid slid out of Sally’s room just before dawn. He walked down to Ethan’s cottage where he left the jeep he had borrowed. He got in and dro
ve home. He saw Ethan had left a few of the outside lights on, but since they had a guest, Cid figured it was okay. He walked into his home just as the sun crested the tree line.

  Jesse woke up, and aside from the foul odor of the ointment, he was no worse for wear. He showered and pulled on the PEEPs sweats that were setting on his bed when he returned. He followed his nose downstairs where Ethan was making pancakes.

  “I brewed some coffee. You may want to add some water. I’m not much of a barista. It came out like syrup.”

  Jesse poured himself a cup, and Ethan pushed an envelope across the counter. “Mia left this. Oh, and she wasn’t here,” he said.

  “But she was,” Jesse argued.

  “I know, Murphy knows, and I expect Ted knows, but it’s important that Cid doesn’t know.”

  “But why?” Jesse asked lifting the envelope, expecting the smell of perfume but getting basil instead.

  “It’s most likely explained in there. And it’s not your imagination, it does smell like pizza.”

  Jesse opened the envelope where a note written with spiky handwriting greeted him.

  Dear Jesse,

  Forgive me for being, as Ethan calls me, a hag last night. I wanted to remove what was left of the lake before it infected your lungs. The tea and ointment kept your lungs clear the rest of the night. Before I left, your lungs were free of that rattle. You were sleeping so soundly that I didn’t want to wake you.

  Why was I here:

  Father Simon called me. He was concerned about you being left to your own devices. It turns out his fears were justified. Please rest and let Ethan, Cid or Murph pamper you for a few days. If you feel feverish or have pain breathing, go to Green Ridge Hospital and ask for Dr. Walters. He’s seen handprints on hearts before. It may be a good idea to see him anyway. As he is fond of saying, “Mrs. Martin, you’re a healer not a doctor.”

  Why I wasn’t here:

  Jesse, I’d appreciate it if you don’t tell Cid I was here. I know you don’t like lying and neither do I, but Cid and I are on tenterhooks lately, and I don’t want him to think that I’m interfering with his life. Yes, his friends equal his life. He needs to feel that he can handle any situation he runs into. And he can, mostly. Since he didn’t ask for my help, I’m crossing the line here.

  Thank you for understanding,

  Mia Martin.

  “Do you have a shredder?” Jesse asked.

  “In the office. But Cid will wonder what’s shredded, since Ted’s not home, and put it back together. Here.” Ethan held out his hand. He pulled out a lighter, set the envelope on fire, and dropped it in the skillet already in the sink.

  Cid walked in sniffing. “Did you burn breakfast?”

  “Yes,” Ethan lied. “Would you like some of my burnt offerings?”

  “No. Jesse, how would you like to go out to breakfast?”

  “I’m a little worn out. I think I’ll take it easy for a few days,” Jesse said. “I may even have this doctor, Ethan was telling me about, take a gander at my heart.”

  “Dr. Walters,” Ethan confirmed. “I’ll call and make you an appointment.”

  “Did you see the fair Sally?” Jesse asked.

  “Yes. She’s got a temporary job at the facility cooking.”

  “That means she’s going to be around for a while,” Jesse said.

  Cid beamed.

  Ethan and Jesse exchanged looks.

  “I’ll empty my stuff out of the trailer,” Cid said, getting up. “I have those books Daniel wanted to give to Faye. Where did she end up?”

  “If Kiki remembered to remove Faye’s emerald pin, then she’s with Kiki. If not, I expect she’s in the trailer,” Jesse realized.

  Cid paled. “Mia is going to kill me! I brought home another ghost!”

  “I think she’ll be fine with Faye. Before you go, could you show me how to work the media equipment on the third floor?” Jesse asked.

  “Sure.”

  Jesse walked over to the little desk, grabbed a notepad, picked up a pen, and wrote down, Have Murphy make sure that Faye doesn’t spill the beans about Mia! “Ethan, could you see if the pharmacy has this muscle cream?” Jesse asked, handing him the notepad.

  “I’ll see to it right away,” Ethan said reading the note.

  ~

  Faye had just set down one of the books from the box when there was a frantic tapping on the door to the trailer.

  “Come in,” she said.

  Murphy moved into the trailer. He took off his hat. “Jesse sent me.”

  “Is he okay?” Faye asked.

  “Yes. Did you visit him last night?”

  “Yes, but I didn’t wake him.”

  “So…”

  “I saw Mrs. Martin with him. She put her finger to her lips, and I vanished. They aren’t…”

  “No!” Murphy told her the whole story, ending with a plea to keep the visit from Cid for the time being.

  “I don’t see that he would have any problem with her taking care of Jesse unless she’s been meddling elsewhere,” Faye speculated and lifted an eyebrow.

  “I don’t think so. I’m not sure. I don’t know.”

  Faye smiled. Mr. Wonderful was wringing his hat in his hands. She had the mighty Stephen Murphy flustered. Then she remembered that this ghost saved Jesse’s life and helped them release Jon and Daniel into the light. She felt ashamed of herself. “Stephen, I won’t say a word, I promise.”

  “Thank you. Miss Faye, would you like to go for a walk sometime?”

  “No funny business,” Faye said.

  Murphy put on his hat and tugged it low over his eyes and said through his teeth, “No funny business.”

  “Then I’d love to take as stroll around your beautiful farm with you. Do you read?”

  “I know how to read, but sometimes it’s hard to turn the pages.”

  “I could read some of Daniel’s adventures to you.”

  “I’d like that very much.”

  Cid opened the door. He was surprised to see Murphy there.

  Faye looked at him. “Surprise! Guess who’s stuck with me for a while?”

  “Jesse,” Cid insisted. “You’re in Jesse’s trailer, you’re Jesse’s ghost.”

  “Fine. So, Stephen, what does a ghost do for fun around here?” Faye asked.

  “We could go and talk to Sally. She has lots of stories, most of them funny.”

  “Sally! Is Sally here?” Faye asked.

  “At the veterans hospital.”

  “WAIT!” Cid shouted. “I don’t want you two bothering Sally.”

  “But you were bothering Sally last night,” Murphy said, tipping his hat back with his axe. “Seems to me you didn’t come home last night either.”

  Faye saw that Cid was more flustered than Stephen was earlier. She winked at Stephen and said, “I think we’ll leave Sally be for now. Give Cid a chance to mess this up on his own.”

  “Would you care to go for that walk now? We could share our best Cid-screwed-up stories,” Murphy said, holding out his arm to Faye.

  Cid walked out of the trailer and watched the two ghosts move together, stopping to laugh at something one of them said. Cid, who could hear every word, winced.

  Ethan walked out of the house with his car keys. “I’m going home to get a few video games that I think our guest would appreciate, unless you need the car?”

  “The priests should be returning my truck sometime today.”

  Laughter filled the hillside.

  “What’s going on there?” Ethan asked.

  “I may have overstepped myself, and they are making me pay for it.”

  “Whatever it is, it will blow over. The Martins are due home in a few days, and their kind of chaos will take center stage.”

  “Is that why you haven’t moved in with them yet?” Cid asked.

  “Yes. I’m not bred for what’s normal for the Martins. I’m surprised you’ve lasted this long.�
��

  “I think I’m part of the chaos. I hope that Sally will fit right in.”

  “I’ll light a candle for you, Cid,” Ethan said and got into his jeep.

  Chapter Thirty-two

  Father Simon walked out into the Chapel of the Holy Spirit to find Bridgeton Atwater sitting in the front pew.

  “I’m sorry, were we supposed to meet here? I thought it was Father Santos’s chapel.”

  “It is. I thought that I would give you a ride there. I have the use of the congressman’s driver for another month. He is staring down the local teens at the moment.”

  “I was going to catch the bus.”

  “I thought you had a few broken ribs.”

  “Eight. The hospital thought it was a miracle my back didn’t break. I guess it pays to be wiry. I’m healing.”

  “I imagine your work suffers because of this.”

  “You’re very astute. I can’t carry the supplies many of my homeless need.”

  “I’ve taken rooms in the city. I’d like to lend a hand until you’re one hundred percent,” Bridgeton said.

  Father Simon was surprised. “Is this for publicity? Not that I mind. Many a good work gets done when self-promotion is on the table.”

  “Nothing like that. I saw you risk your life for me. I’d like to return the favor and help you out. I’m at loose ends.”

  “So you’re not going to step in and take Arnold’s seat until reelection?”

  “No. I’m not interested in politics. It wasn’t my idea to follow in the congressman’s footsteps. I’m finding with each free breath I take that I haven’t executed any idea of my own since I was in short pants. See, my language is all wrong for a man my age. August had so much control over me that I don’t know who I am anymore!”

  Father Simon slid beside Bridgeton and took his hands in his. “Let’s discover who Bridgeton is together.”

  “Let’s start with the name. I’d rather be called Wart.”

  “Like Sword in the Stone Wart?”