Giving Up the Ghost

by Magenta Wilde

  “You were driving? Did you tell him you were itching to drive a tow truck?”

  “Yes.”

  “And now the tow truck needs a tow. Oh wait, he got it out of the ditch,” she said, watching Roger emerge and circle it while assessing for damage. “Looks like it’s in good shape. Hell, he might even let you drive it again one day.”

  “Very funny. What about you. I see you’re up and running again? Did you coax the battery back to life, or did you get a jump?”

  “More than that. The farmer I bought the eggs from? His son was coming to visit, and he helped this here damsel in distress. He gave me a jump, and what’s more, I have a date this weekend!”

  “Way to go,” I said, high-fiving Trish.

  “So, what did you see? A deer?”

  I shook my head and gave her a quick recap of what had taken place.

  “Whoa. That was intense. Are you alright? Do you need to go the hospital? Does he need to? Does he need a shrink? Or a priest?”

  I smirked. “Time will tell,” I said, as I saw Roger heading in our direction. “You got it out. Did I do any damage? I meant it when I said I’d pay if I broke anything.”

  Roger shook his head. “It’s all good. It’ll need a wash, but I’ll take care of that some time between now and April.”

  I chuckled, then grew serious. “Are you fine to drive?” I asked. “I think I could, if you felt out of sorts.”

  “I’m good. I feel tired, and hungry, but I also feel better than I have in a long time.”

  “Do you want me to drive back with you, or would you prefer some alone time? If so, I can get a ride with Trish.”

  “I’d like nothing better than if you drove with me,” Roger said. “But you can be the passenger this time.”

  “I guess I’ll have to earn driving privileges,” I joked.

  “I know of a couple ways you could persuade him, if you need advice,” Trish joked as she elbowed my side. “Now get in the truck and go home. Just let’s follow each other until we get back to town.”

  “That sounds good.” I gave Trish a quick hug and hopped into the passenger seat of Roger’s truck.

  “Buckle up,” he ordered. “I’ll buy you dinner once we get back into town. And please don’t be one of those girls who orders a salad and picks at it for five minutes and insists she’s stuffed.”

  “Hey. There’s more than one reason Tom refers to me as his daughter. I vote for someplace we can get a big burger and fries. Or ribs. Wait, Albie’s has a buffet, and theirs is actually a good one – not like one of those buffets filled with old, overheated TV dinners. Or one of Gino’s big, cheesy pizzas. Oh, a milkshake sounds good. I wonder if Clyde’s still open?”

  Roger shook his head and chuckled as I continued to rattle off a litany food options.

  He pulled me over to him and planted a hot kiss on my lips. I was stunned and thrilled at the gesture.

  “Why’d you do that?” I stammered.

  “Because all that talk of food is making my stomach hurt with hunger. And I really wanted to kiss you. Plus you promised to pay me back for driving my truck into a ditch.”

  I smiled, then started listing other area restaurants I’d neglected to mention the first time.

  “You know you’re asking for trouble,” Roger said, shaking his head and smiling.

  “Don’t I know it.”

  30

  After returning to town, Roger and I opted for Clyde’s, sitting at the counter in silence while eating our burgers and sharing fries and onion rings. After reliving the accident that claimed Ivy’s life, I think we didn’t feel much like talking, and simply felt content to fill our bellies and let the events of the evening soak in.

  When we finished our meal, he drove me to my house, quietly thanking me before heading home.

  I told him to call or stop by if he felt inclined.

  I hoped to hear from him, but thought he’d need some time. One day passed, then two, and then a week went by. As the days stretched out, I alternated between chiding myself for thinking there had been some kind of spark between us. Then I would turn and look back to the poppy on my counter. It still lived, remaining fresh in bloom. That had to mean something.

  I debated calling him or visiting his shop, but decided against it. The flower still thrived, I told myself, so all hope was not dead.

  Soon it was nearly October. I went to my shop one crisp morning, organizing things and setting out a few more Halloween candles I had made to sell.

  To clear my mind I sat down and lit a candle. I concentrated, looking at the flame. When I felt myself detaching somewhat and feeling floaty, I thought about what I wanted. I knew I wanted him to come to me, on his own. No spell. No coercion. Not even a nudge. If there was something real there, then let that possibility guide him to me, so we could give this a chance. That was all I wanted.

  I opened my eyes and blew out the candle.

  In time I would know.

  The poppy seemed to shimmer and glow a bit brighter.

  Not long after opening, I looked up to see Scott and a woman with wavy, shoulder-length lavender hair and lively brown eyes make their way into my shop.

  He had a huge smile on his face and his arm was wrapped around her in a loving way. This wasn’t just his usual friendly self. I could sense something more there. Instead of the usual pot funk that surrounded Scott, there was some happy domestic aura that surrounded the duo. I had a vision of the two of them in a kitchen, baking brownies – probably edibles, because I couldn’t see Scott being that domestic – and having playful food fights while laughing about their own private jokes.

  I greeted him and inclined my head in her direction. “And who would this lady be?”

  “This is Amber,” Scott said. “After my loan was approved…”

  I interrupted with a quick victory cheer.

  He and Amber smiled, and he continued. “Once I got the go-ahead, I started looking for someone to help me fix up the bar, and an old college buddy recommended Amber here. She’s been doing more than decorating the place, though.”

  “I see you two have clicked,” I said.

  “Really clicked,” he said. His smile was broad as he gazed happily at Amber. She was quite petite, no more than an inch or two above five feet. Her diminutive size and frame made me think of a pixie when paired with her lively eyes and the pastel hair. She looked up with him with adoration and they were lost in each other for a second. I was surprised, as I never saw Scott as the type to settle down, but they seemed to fit. I was happy for them.

  She looked around my shop and began exploring as Scott came closer to me, leaning on my counter.

  “It looks like something real is happening here,” I said, tilting my head in her direction.

  “Yes. I’ve never felt this way about anyone before.” He paused, his eyes serious for a minute. “Sorry. I didn’t mean anything against you in any way.”

  I shook my head. “No. I know what you mean. We had fun in the past, and you were really good for me in college after I was broken up about Fletcher. You made me feel accepted and relaxed and I will never stop appreciating you for that. But we’re not a life match. I think we work better as people who can joke around and not take things too seriously. And, just having just met her, even though I don’t know Amber, there’s something I really like about her.”

  Scott relaxed. “That’s good. I would like you to like her. You’re not unhappy, though, considering the drama with Roger? He told me some of the details when he was at the Dive a few days ago. That sounded intense.”

  I nodded. “It most definitely was.”

  “Have you heard from him at all?”

  “No. Not since that night.”

  “Are you okay with that? Not having heard anything since?” Scott asked.

  I shrugged, trying to look casual about it. “Whatever will be will be, as the song goes. And as for that night at the movies, I’m sorry if I sort of used you there.”

  He waved his han
d to dismiss the concern. “We’re friends. You were upset. And I know you were dealing with … outside interference.”

  I laughed. “That’s one way to phrase it.”

  Scott continued. “I think he really feels something for you. I think you do, too. And he’s dealing with the stuff about his sister, and I think finally closing the door on that.”

  “It’s been a while, though,” I countered. “I thought I would have heard something by now.”

  Scott’s expression was inscrutable. He shared a glance with Amber.

  “Since he comes to the Dive now and then, is there something you know that you’re not telling me?” I pressed.

  Scott smiled. “I’m not at liberty to reveal anything that is disclosed to me while I’m behind the bar counter. I consider my role to also be a therapist of sorts.”

  “And I bet you hear some juicy stories.”

  “You have no idea,” he smiled, and then turned to Amber. “See anything, hon?” She returned to him, holding a candle that smelled like chocolate. “I’d like this,” she said, leaning into Scott as he wrapped an arm around her waist.

  I wrapped the candle, placed it in a small handled paper bag and handed it to her.

  “How much?” Scott asked.

  “On the house,” I replied.

  “Oh, thank you,” Amber said. “That’s really not necessary, though.”

  “Scott can let me have my first beer for free at his new pub,” I said. “I’ll consider that a fair trade. “Especially if you sit down with me and we get a chance to get to know each other.”

  “Sold.” Amber held out her hand to me. I shook it and noted she had a strong, healing energy. Interesting.

  The pair made their way out the door and I waved, calling back out to Scott one more time. “And Scott?”

  They paused and looked back at me.

  “I really am happy for you. Both of you.”

  He smiled, before glancing at Amber. “I know you are. I can tell. But it’s always nice to hear, too.”

  A short while later I was in the back of the shop making a cup of tea when I heard the bell over the front door jingle.

  “You’re here early today. Maybe I’ll name you employee of the month,” I joked as I wound around the dividing wall, expecting to see Vanessa ready to start her shift.

  Instead I saw Roger … and smiled. “Well. Long time, no see.”

  “Yeah. I’m sorry about that. I found I needed a bit of time – well, maybe more than a bit of time – to think. I visited my parents, went to Ivy’s grave, talked to Wyatt.”

  “And how are you now?” I asked.

  “Better. I’m still working through some things, but I feel like I’m ready to move forward and not be stuck in the past.”

  “That’s good. Now you can devote some of your energy to those things Ivy mentioned, like getting out there and dating. Heck, maybe you’ll even meet a woman you like.”

  “I actually did meet a woman who I like.”

  My heart skipped a beat. He looked like he was about to say something when the side door to the shop opened and Vanessa walked in. She said hello and made her way to my back office to hang up her coat and put her purse away before starting her shift.

  “So who is she?” I asked.

  “What?”

  “This woman you met. Is it anyone I know?”

  He smiled and set a poppy on the counter.

  “Is that the one I gave you last month?”

  He nodded. “I’ve kept it in a glass by my kitchen window, giving it water every day. Every time I see it I think of you. Did you cast some kind of spell with this flower?”

  “Not like you’d think,” I told him. “If it withered, that meant you weren’t thinking of me. That was all I did with that.”

  “No hocus-pocus to make me think of you?”

  “Nope. Not one bit. So, who is this woman you met?”

  “I think you already know the answer.”

  I smiled and plucked out the poppy I’d had on my counter all these weeks, setting it next to Roger’s flower.

  “Is that from the same bouquet?” Roger asked.

  I nodded. “It’s the same magic, too.”

  I took both flowers and put them together in the vase.

  “You’re taking my poppy.”

  “I’ll give you this one,” I said, as I patted my hand over my heart.

  “Deal,” he smiled as he leaned in for a kiss.

  About the Author

  Magenta Wilde has wanted to be an author since before she could write. After many years of working in the fields of journalism and publishing, she decided she wanted to craft her own original stories. She is married to a fellow writer and editor, owns four cats (but really is owned by them), and enjoys reading, writing, humor and history.

  This is Magenta’s first book, but it will not be her last.

  Visit her website, www.magentawilde.com, or her Facebook page, www.facebook.com/MagentaWildeAuthor for updates.

  Up next

  If you enjoyed the adventures of Poppy Blue and all her friends and family, be sure to check out the next book in the series, which will be released in Autumn 2017.

  In Plenty of Trouble, Poppy Blue’s aunt and cousin are coming to town for a visit. Their impending arrival has Poppy’s outspoken mother Fiona all riled up. In addition, Poppy has found a new hire, Jordan Keep; fortunately he seems to fit in better with the headstrong mother-daughter duo than their own blood relations do. Throw in Poppy’s efforts to find some alone time with her new love and one seriously botched magic spell, and soon everyone discovers that they’re encountering plenty of problems.

  For updates from Magenta Wilde or to sign up for email alerts, visit her website, www.magentawilde.com, or her Facebook author page at www.facebook.com/MagentaWildeAuthor/