The Ultimate Seven Sisters Collection

by M. L. Bullock

  I didn’t respond. I stared at my watch and waited for the contraction. I could feel it building, and I knew it would be a strong one. I suddenly prayed I didn’t pee on myself. I had to go, and I didn’t want to pee in Henri’s car.

  “This sucks so bad!” I yelled as I clutched the dashboard. We pulled into the ER driveway of Springhill Memorial, and Detra Ann bounced out of the car and inside to get a wheelchair.

  A nurse chased her, and together the two women managed to get me into the chair. Henri yelled at us, “I’m going to the marina to get Ashland. I’ll be back soon.”

  “Okay, thanks!” I yelled at him like I was crazy.

  “Breathe, Carrie Jo, breathe. It’s all right. You are going to be all right. Oh my gosh, I’m going to be an aunt.”

  “This your sister?” the nurse asked as she pushed me through the double doors.

  “Yep,” I lied. I knew they wouldn’t have let her stay with me if I’d said no. She was like a sister to me. That had to count for something.

  For the next fifteen minutes a swarm of nurses worked around me, hooking me up to intimidating machines that supposedly monitored the contractions and my heart rate. The on-call doctor was coming to check my dilation. When she arrived, I cried, “It’s too soon. The baby isn’t supposed to be here yet. And he’s not moving. What’s wrong?”

  “It’s okay. Babies sometimes get still before they are born. If he’s in the birth canal, there isn’t much room for him to move around. Let’s just check.” The doctor moved her stethoscope over my stomach and listened intently. As she moved the cold round piece over my stomach, my panic grew. Shouldn’t she have found him by now?

  “Ah, there he is. He’s fine. You want to hear him?” I nodded and accepted the stethoscope. Yes, I could hear his heart beating strong and evenly. I knew he was a boy. I had known it all along. I didn’t know why I’d tried to deny it. I tried not to think about what that might mean.

  “Let’s take a look now. See how far you have to go.”

  Detra Ann stood at the head of the bed holding my purse and my hand. I looked at her, and she smiled down at me like a cheerleader-angel.

  “Hmm…not that far along after all. Only dilated two centimeters.”

  “That’s bad, isn’t it? Is the baby going to be okay?”

  The doctor smiled patiently. “Yes, he is fine. Early labor happens to many women. Your doctor is on the way. We’ll consult, but if the due date is three weeks away, then he’ll probably want to stop those contractions for a while.” She looked at her watch and said, “If your doctor isn’t here within the next half hour, I’ll write the order myself. Either way, you’ll have to stay overnight so we can keep an eye on you and the baby. We don’t need the baby to come today. He needs to wait a bit longer, if possible. Would you like something to help with the pain?”

  “No, I think I’m okay for now. I’ll wait.”

  “Okay. I’ll be back soon. Hopefully with the orders for that drip. It will stop the contractions. Let the nurse know if you need anything.”

  She smiled at me and rearranged my blanket before leaving us alone.

  Detra Ann put our bags on the nearby table and sat beside me. “Don’t worry, CJ. It’s going to be fine. You heard the doctor. This happens sometimes. I have seen it in my own family. My cousin Lanie came to the hospital four times before she actually had the baby. She just about wore us out.”

  “I don’t mean to be an inconvenience to anyone.”

  “That’s not what I meant. I hope you know that.”

  “I’m sorry to be such a jerk. I want the baby to stay where he is because I know he’ll be safe in there. What happens when he comes out? What about this curse? I can’t stop thinking about it.”

  “Well, you need to. That baby needs you to think happy thoughts. All right? I mean, think about this in the light of day. Are curses even real? What if it’s all just a big coincidence and you’re worried over nothing? Lots of people die young. It’s not a reason to believe in curses. I think you should tell Ashland and let him worry about it.”

  “But you were the one who said we shouldn’t tell him,” I said, frowning at her as I prepared for the next contraction.

  “Well, I know, but I changed my mind. If it’s going to make you go into labor and make you sick, then you need to tell him.”

  “Carrie Jo?” I heard a voice call from the doorway.

  “Yes?” I answered and froze. It was my mother. “Momma?”

  “Yes, it’s me. Your housekeeper told me where to find you. I hope it’s okay that I came.”

  It wasn’t, but I didn’t want to argue with her. I was so shocked at seeing her that I didn’t bother to introduce her. She wore a neat dress that came past her knees. To my surprise, it didn’t have long sleeves and it wasn’t black. It was cobalt blue and completely out of style; she probably bought it at one of her favorite secondhand stores. The dress had a conservative neckline and three-quarter sleeves. She wore cheap shoes and carried an even cheaper black purse. Deidre Jardine had once been a pretty woman; today she wore light pink lipstick and a bit of mascara, which made her look prettier than usual. How long had it been since I had seen her wear makeup? I thought it was against her religion. She had gotten ultra-religious about seven years ago and given up worldly things like makeup and jewelry. I was surprised to see she wore gold stud earrings, like the kind girls wore when they first got their ears pierced.

  Before I could say anything else, a wave of pain hit me. I closed my eyes and focused on making it through the agonizing half minute. The machine beside me sputtered out paper and beeped. A nurse appeared and studied the paper. “That’s a good one. If you decide you need pain medicine, just yell.”

  “Breathe, baby,” my mother coached me patiently.

  “Mom is here too? That’s great. Between your sister and your mother, you will do just fine.” Thankfully Deidre didn’t make a fuss, but when I opened my eyes I could see her looking at Detra Ann questioningly. My friend shrugged and didn’t say anything.

  “What are you doing here, Momma?”

  “Didn’t you get my letter, Carrie Jo?”

  “Yes, but I haven’t had a chance to read it yet. I’ve been a bit busy.”

  “I see,” she said sadly. “It’s not important. What can I do for you?”

  “You can tell me why you’re here, Deidre.” I said curtly. Detra Ann’s eyes widened, but she kept her mouth shut.

  “I wanted…I didn’t know you were having a baby. Your housekeeper told me you were going to the hospital. I didn’t mean to interfere. I’ll go now.” She sounded on the verge of tears. She picked up her purse and headed out the door.

  As she disappeared, Detra Ann scowled at me. “I had no idea you could be so mean, CJ. I know y’all are estranged, but she is that baby’s grandmother.”

  “You don’t understand,” I said woodenly, offering no further explanation.

  “You’re right, I don’t. I’ll be right back.” She stomped out of the room after my mother and left me alone. I instantly felt guilty. Of course she was right, but she didn’t know what I’d been through with Deidre. The humiliating childhood. The horrible teenage years when I couldn’t keep friends. Coming home from school to find a circle of strangers praying over your bedroom, touching your things, rebuking the devil. She had done that. Not me. If Detra Ann wanted to be mad at me, so be it.

  I lay in the bed, tears sliding down my face, when another contraction came. My phone rang in my purse, but I couldn’t reach it. Feeling desperation rise within me, I said a prayer. “It’s me, God. I know we don’t talk as much as we should, and that’s totally my fault, but I need your help. Please protect Ashland and our baby. Help me know what to do because I haven’t got a clue.”

  Just then, Detra Ann came back in. My phone rang again, and she dug it out for me. Without waiting for permission she answered. “Hey, Ash. Sure, she’s right here. Everything is fine.”

  She handed me the phone, and I took it with shakin
g hands. The contraction was passing, and I felt like myself again. “Hey, babe.”

  “You okay? I’ll be on the way soon. Henri found me.”

  “Sorry to mess up your day.”

  “Stop that. You just hold on, okay. I promise you it’s going to be all right. You just do what the doctor says and listen to Detra Ann. We’ll be together soon, the three of us.”

  “All right.” The tears sprang up again, against my wishes.

  “Hey, hey,” he said in a low and comforting voice, “don’t cry. You can do this. I promise you I’ll be there soon.”

  “I can do this,” I repeated obediently. “Be careful.”

  “Will do. Talk to you soon. Let me speak to Detra Ann.”

  “All right.” I handed the phone back to her. A nurse hustled in the room and reviewed the paper. She let me know my doctor was coming down the hall now. Detra Ann smoothed my hair and kissed my forehead after she hung up the phone.

  “That’s from Ashland. And me. You know I love you, CJ.”

  “I love you too.” I leaned forward and fell into her arms. We hugged until the next contraction came.

  “Is she still here?” We both knew who I meant.

  “Yep. She’s in the waiting room, crocheting and praying.”

  “That’s good. For once in my life, I’m glad to hear that. I can use all the prayers I can get.”

  Chapter 7—Ashland

  Everything went wrong that morning. I fell off the boat for the first time ever. The engine didn’t want to start, and when I finally thought I would be able to get her going, Henri came running down the pier. I knew right away it was about CJ, and that made the weight of the day feel even heavier.

  “Baby is coming, Ashland. She’s at the hospital.”

  “He’s not supposed to be here yet.” I couldn’t help but worry. This wasn’t normal, was it?

  “Somebody better tell that to the baby because he’s absolutely determined to arrive. You want to ride with me?”

  “No, I better take mine.”

  “You sure?” he asked, studying my face.

  “No, I’m not sure.”

  “Get in. I’m driving. You look like you need a minute to think.”

  “Yeah, probably so.” I left the boat where she was, climbed into his Dodge Charger and put on my seat belt. We didn’t say much as we drove out of the marina parking lot, but I was glad for his company. I sensed he wanted to say something, but he didn’t. I wasn’t one to push someone to talk. It was a trait that drove my wife batty.

  The dark clouds gathered above us and seemed to increase as we drove. “I can’t remember when I saw the sun last. Weather seems weird lately.”

  “Yeah. You can’t ever tell about the weather down here.”

  “What’s going on, Henri? Is it the baby? I can tell there’s something you aren’t telling me. Don’t hold back now. I want to know what’s happening. Is Carrie Jo sick or something?”

  “As far as I know, the baby is fine. Carrie Jo is fine too. I swear.” He was trying to play it cool, but I knew he was holding back. I started to ask him again, but something caught my eye. It was a lone figure standing at the edge of the road. For a millisecond I thought he was alive, but as we approached him I saw that I was wrong. He was a ghost, and if he didn’t move, we would drive right through him. His black suit was covered with dust, and it looked like something from the early 1900s. His hair had a dingy white tinge, but his skin was even whiter. Then he jumped into the road as we drove through him, and instinctively I gasped and tried to move out of the way like a wild man. His face lingered in front of mine for a long, agonizing moment, and he grinned at me. His dry, dead lips pulled back from his yellowed teeth. I screamed as he passed through my body, and Henri screamed too. The soul-sucking phantom pulled all the warmth out of me.

  Henri slammed on the brakes. “What the hell was that about?” he demanded. “You seeing things?”

  “Hell yes!” I said, trying to calm my breathing. I wiped my face furiously with my hands as if I could wipe away the ghostly residue from my soul. “I guess you didn’t?”

  “No, but I felt something. Coldness. Gone now. It is gone, right?” He glanced over his shoulder into the back seat, and I followed his lead. Nothing there. Thank God.

  “Yes, it’s gone.”

  “Anyone we know?”

  “Nobody I have ever seen. And I hope I never see him again.” I kept my eyes glued to the road ahead and tried not to look around me. So that’s why I had been out of sorts this morning. The spirits were back. “I don’t think I’ll ever get used to this. I thought by talking about it and, you know, embracing it and all that jazz, it would get better. But it hasn’t.”

  “What do you mean?”

  I didn’t have time for this right now. I had to get to my wife. Why did I even bring it up?

  Henri glanced at me and said, “What’s up?”

  “It’s been months since it happened last, so I thought it went away. I’ve seen things at a distance, but that just now was right in my face. It’s like he was taunting me. Laughing at me. Something isn’t right.”

  Henri’s jaw clenched, and I could see him struggling with something. We were just ten minutes from the hospital now. “For the love of God, tell me what you know, Henri.”

  “The girls didn’t want to tell you, but there is a rumor…no, that’s not it. There is some concern that you might be cursed.”

  “What?” I said, laughing.

  “Carrie Jo wanted to surprise you with a family tree print. You know the swanky kind you hang in a picture frame? During the research, Rachel noticed something strange about the date of expiration for some of your relatives.”

  “Date of expiration? Rachel is involved with this?”

  “I don’t know what else you would call it.”

  “Sorry, go on. You were saying?”

  “The bottom line is the men in your family never live past forty. CJ wants to make sure that doesn’t happen to you or your son.”

  “My son,” I said, enjoying hearing that. Carrie Jo had been so insistent that we would have a girl. I always knew that was wrong. Even Lenore knew. I wished she were here now to tell me if I was going crazy or not. “Cursed? How can a whole family be cursed? Is that even a legit concern, or is my wife finding things to worry about?”

  “I saw the genealogy, and she’s not exaggerating. It is a real phenomenon. Your family never talked about this?”

  “Not to me. My dad died when I was a kid, and my Uncle Robert…damn. He died too. Both before they were forty. Great. Does that mean at age forty I’m going to keel over?”

  Henri said nothing but kept his eyes on the road. Finally, he said, “Stop holding out. Tell me the truth.”

  “Most of them died right after they turned thirty. Very few made it to forty.”

  The car hit a pothole and made a crunching noise. It seemed appropriate. Here we were talking about curses, and Henri’s car was tearing up.

  “So what’s the cure?” I asked. “I mean, how do I get rid of this bad mojo or whatever it is? I can’t deny I’ve been in a kind of funk lately, but I chalked it up to being a new dad. Sometimes crap just happens, and up until now it seemed I had no problem with luck. Now I guess that’s all changed?”

  “It has to have something to do with your gift. Curses are supernatural, and you have a supernatural ability. Where did you get your gift from? Do you know where it started? Did your mother see ghosts? Your father? Anyone give you clues about where this supernatural stuff came from? Maybe if we knew the answers we could trace the curse.”

  “Not really. My mother talked to the air all the time, but I didn’t chalk it up to ghosts. I thought she was just pretending, playacting. I was a kid, so that kind of stuff didn’t bother me. Later, though, she really pursued the supernatural, always dragging me to séances and whatnot. I couldn’t tell you about my father. He didn’t really share things with me.”

  “Too bad we can’t ask your mother.”
<
br />   “Yeah, I know she’d love being a grandmother. She loved children.”

  There was an awkward silence as we zipped through a yellow light on Government Street. “We could ask her. If you’d be willing.”

  I bit my fingernail. I had my elbow on the window ledge. It made me feel ready to act if I needed to. Why did I think I could run from a ghost? Hopefully we wouldn’t drive through any more of those.

  “What are you talking about?”

  “A séance would do the trick. I’m sure we could contact her.”

  I ran my hands through my hair. “I can’t even begin to tell you how opposed I am to that idea.”

  “I figured you would be. CJ mentioned it, but considering what you’re up against…. I’m only trying to help.”

  “I know it, but there has to be another way.”

  “You’re probably right.” Henri banked the vehicle to the right. We were close now, just a mile away. I was so anxious to get there I unbuckled my seat belt in anticipation.

  “You’ll be a great father.”

  I couldn’t help but smile. “You think so?”

  “I know so. Here we are. I’ll drop you and then follow you up. Don’t wait for me.”

  “Don’t worry, I won’t,” I said with a smile as I practically jumped out of the car. As soon as the smoky glass door slid open, I knew I was in trouble. There in the lobby were two ghosts, and both of them knew I could see them. “Oh great,” I muttered to myself.

  “Can I help you?” an older lady with a nametag that read ‘Dot’ asked me. She must have thought I was talking to her.

  “No, ma’am. I know where I’m going.” I didn’t tell her that an old man and a young boy were standing behind her. Why creep her out like that? The two ghosts weren’t frightening like the roadside apparition had been. They whispered to one another, and the younger one pointed to me. The boy’s hand passed by Dot’s ear as he nudged the man. Dot patted her hair-sprayed hair as if she could feel it. Without much more notice to me or her hair, she answered the phone in a bright, cheerful voice, “Springhill Memorial Hospital. How may I direct your call?”

  I sailed past her and caught the elevator. The baby floor, as it was affectionately known around here, was the fifth floor. I stood in the elevator with four other people and a ghost. He had a slack jaw, and the remnants of yellow hair circled his large head. Suddenly as if a magnet drew him, he moved closer to me. He stared at me with his empty gray eyes. “You know, don’t you? You know where she is. Tell me,” he pleaded with me. I tried not to fly across the elevator and scare the other passengers. As soon as the door opened I jumped ahead of the ladies who stood closest to it. “Tell me!” the ghoul screamed after me. I had gotten off on the wrong floor. Two more levels to go now. I flew past a crowd of people; I wasn’t sure if they were dead or alive, and thankfully none of them followed me into the stairwell. By the time I made it to the fifth floor, I was so panicked I had to stop and catch my breath. I heard a sound behind me. Peering down the railing above me was another specter, a ghostly janitor with bloodless skin. His phantom mop plunked to the ground, and he eased down the steps toward me.