by Kiki Howell
“Paige, Eunice. Can I take a look at your notes? I came in a couple minutes late.”
Paige glanced at Ben over her shoulder. The lecture hall would hold 300 students when full, but their class only took up two-thirds of that. Even with so many people the dozen or so male ones were noticeable. Atop that, he was large, broad, and had skin blacker than her own, turning him into a dark pillar that was hard to ignore or overlook. She passed over her notebook. “Sure. What kept you? Hot date?”
“Yeah,” he scoffed. “With a hot little six-year-old.”
Paige, puzzled, looked to Eunice. “His step-sister,” she explained.
“Oh, right. How’d she get dumped on you?” She carefully packed her books into her bag.
Ben’s voice dropped slightly. “Mom’s...not doing great. She just needed a little extra sleep this morning.” He scribbled quickly and passed the notes back to Paige. “There, thanks. Didn’t miss much.”
The Barbie squad filed past, one winking at Ben. “Hey.”
“Hey,” he answered, giving the girl no attention. “Where are you two headed next?”
Eunice sighed, standing and slinging her back onto her shoulder. “I need to hit a computer and the closest room is always full. Hiking to Central, I guess.”
“Paige?” he asked.
She tucked her notes away and rose, clearing the path for Eunice. “Um, nowhere really. I’ll walk with you.”
Ben hurried to keep up. “Do you mind if a puppy follows you?”
Paige and Eunice both laughed. “Puppy? What kind? A Doberman?”
“Sure. Big and scary?”
The girls were still chuckling, but Paige’s laughter died as Dr. Gonzales approached. He passed, headed for the same door.
Eunice poked Paige in the ribs. “You got it bad.”
“I get it,” Ben mused aloud. “He’s a doctor. I’ll only ever be a nurse.”
Paige shook herself from thoughts of the doctor. Away from his curly black hair smattered across his brown chest. Well, it was a smattering in her imagination. She would love to find out. No! Ben was getting the wrong impression and she wanted to rebuild his confidence. “There’s no only about it. If we make it through this, our jobs will be essential. This isn’t a cop out or second best. We are choosing it. Besides, he’s a nurse, too.”
Ben huffed. “Yeah, still...”
Eunice finished his thought, “There’s something about a doctor.”
PAIGE PULLED THE DOOR closed behind her, hesitating until she was sure the lady still slept. She only took two paces before she was approached by the master. He was still dressed from dinner, although his jacket and shirt were both open.
“Excuse me, sir.” She tried to move out of his path, sweeping her narrow black skirts closer.
His hand spread over her hip, taking hold and pulling her closer. “Lydia is asleep?”
Paige nodded.
“Good. Jane, I have a task for you.” He fumbled at his waist and she shook her head, backing away. “You have no husband, is that correct?”
Paige’s eyes darted from the growing expanse of white skin beneath his navel to his eyes. “Please, Master.” She tugged to free her arm.
“I won’t force you, Jane.” He pulled her flush against him, his erection pressing into her belly. “But I would reward you for helping rid me of this. You betray no one and Lydia isn’t bothered by dalliances as long as they aren’t with her lady friends.” His hand slid down the back of her arm, cupping her elbow.
“But I don’t... I’ve never...”
“Hush, Jane. I understand. Here, take it like this.” His hand guided hers to his length.
She fumbled, fingers slipping, spreading the wetness already there. In moments, she puzzled out how to stroke him. “Master Charles, I shouldn’t.”
“Shh. You’re doing exactly what I asked. Let me touch you.”
She flinched and backed up, but his hands went to her face and she relaxed when he didn’t grab for her breasts or ass. He drew lines over her cheekbone, along her jaw.
“Yes, keep it like that.” His eyes rolled back and his grip on her chin tightened, tipping it up. “You are doing it perfectly.” His nose brushed hers and he hunched. The girth of him had grown slightly, but now he throbbed and her apron grew damp. Rather than release her, Charles pulled her tighter, kissing her.
Gasping, she gave him access to her mouth and he claimed it, tongue probing in an unfamiliar way. She had kissed boys, but never like this.
PAIGE STARTED AWAKE. “What the fuck was that?” Only when she saw the time on her clock did she regret the words. Listening carefully, she waited for one of her roommates to wake and yell at her or pound on the wall.
She let out a screech when Geoffrey walked through the door.
“Sorry. Didn’t mean to scare you, but thought I should check.”
Yanking back the sheets, she jumped out of bed, hurrying to the bathroom to rinse her mouth. She still tasted old white guy.
That wasn’t quite fair. Master Charles would only be a handful of years older than Dr. Gonzales, and she’d definitely imagined kissing him.
Geoffrey stood in the hall when she exited the bathroom. He’d known Summer’s ancestor. Maybe he knew hers too. “Say, you didn’t know a couple named Charles and Lydia, did you? Because I think I’m having the same dreams as Summer.”
Walking or floating beside her, Geoffrey followed her back to her bed. He continued to stand while she sat on the edge. “Not that spring to mind. They’ll be your ancestors though. Do you think they lived in Salem?”
Paige shrugged. “I have no idea. I mean, they must have been slaves, but where were they taken? Still, it felt...close.” She shivered and rubbed her arms. “I dunno, maybe it’s nothing.”
“You should write it down.”
“What?” Paige tilted her head.
“Summer wishes she had. She can’t grasp the memories like she wants. Can’t...it’s all feelings and intuition.”
“Well, I haven’t dreamed anything yet that I particularly want to remember.” Wrapping her arms around herself, she fought shudders.
“Just a suggestion. I’ll let you get back to sleep.”
“Thanks, Geoffrey.”
He shrugged. “What else am I going to do?”
Paige smirked. “Summer needs to find you a body.”
“Yes, well, until then.” He made a point of going through the wall.
Chapter Three
“WE NEED ANOTHER party.” Paige plopped into one of the kitchen chairs. “Exams are ending, it’s almost Christmas, and our Halloween party went great.”
Silence. Didn’t they enjoy the last one? It had been great, a perfect break from the boring. She would just have to convince them.
“Come on. Ember, you had fun, even in planning. And Gwen, you won’t have any bad encounters. Geoffrey can scare them away.” The ghost crossed his arms and glowered at her over Summer’s head. “Just like that. This one will be more fun, Summer. I promise. Even fewer, hand-picked people. Clinton.” She pointed to Gwen when naming her boyfriend. “And Connor.” That was Ember’s current squeeze and he could be found in Paige’s classes, easy peasy. “Eunice and Ben.”
“You’re rounding on ten quickly,” Summer warned.
“Yeah, and that still leaves room for each of you to bring a bud.”
“No smoking!” Summer declared.
“Bud-dy. Yeesh. Oh, I know, let’s do a gift exchange. Cheesy crap that costs ten bucks or less. Ember, help me out.”
“The last one was a lot of fun. And you’ve been wanting to invite Jess and Jake over.”
Summer looked to Gwen. The blonde shrugged. “Clinton has a friend, Franklin.”
“Sure! Sounds great!” Paige could feel this idea nearing reality.
Summer threw up her hands. “Fine, if you all want to do it. But I’m leaving on the 21st.”
“Oh, yeah,” Gwen snapped her fingers. “I have a train home that day too.”
“So, 20th? I think my last exam is that day.” Paige pulled out her phone and checked her calendar.
“Mine’s the 19th,” Ember said.
“20th works for me too.” Gwen nodded.
“Okay, so I’ll get a tiny tree, raid the box of ornaments in the attic and—”
“There are ornaments in the attic?” Summer asked Gwen in a whisper.
“Pick up some chocolate,” Paige finished.
“I can get that.” Ember raised her hand. “And candy canes. Love those.”
“So, we just need gifts?” Gwen asked. “Can it be chocolate?”
Ember answered that first, “Yes,” followed by Paige’s, “Sure. Who is going to turn down chocolate?”
Summer rose from her chair, carrying an empty bowl and cup. “I gotta run.”
Ember jumped up. “Oh, yeah, forgot study group.”
That left Paige with Gwen and Geoffrey. “Thanks for backing me up.”
“No problem. I bet I will enjoy this one more.” She sipped her coffee.
“I better get ready to go. And Geoffrey? I don’t expect you to poltergeist on the guests. In fact, that would be really bad. Just stick with Summer and make sure she has a good time.”
“Christmas party?” His brow drew down in puzzlement.
“Yeah. What were your parties like?” She took one last swig from her coffee mug.
He shook his head. “We don’t hold parties at Christmas.”
Paige’s mouth fell open. “Really? But I thought the Puritans were all religious. Isn’t Christmas a huge deal?”
“We are, but the celebrations are all pagan.” He scrunched his nose. “Burning yule logs, decorating trees, none of them are Christian.” He nearly spat at the end.
“But, the nativity. Jesus’ birth is in the bible, isn’t it?”
“It is.”
He didn’t elaborate and Paige’s head started to hurt. “Does that mean you don’t exchange gifts either?” She put a hand to her temple.
“Definitely not.” This time he didn’t put his nose quite as high in the air. Even so, Paige got the impression he approved of his way over hers. She knew which she would pick.
“Wow, that sucks. Did you ever have parties?”
He rolled his eyes. “Yes. They were nothing like what happened here at Halloween. We would gather, share a meal, play some music and dance, a little.”
“Whoa, slow down there. I mean, you and I might have to dance or something. After all, for Christmas, it’s going to be just you and me.” As she said it, a possible alternative occurred to her. “Or will you follow Summer to Quebec?”
“If that were possible. Can we agree to keep the day somber?” His haughty attitude disappeared as he actively sought her cooperation.
Paige snickered. “You got it. I’ll get all my party out before, okay.”
THE PARTY WAS SIGNIFICANTLY less raucous than the last. Half their complement watched Charlie Brown while another circle sat around the kitchen table nibbling chocolate. Christmas carols played, but the music was low enough to pass without comment from the guests.
Paige leaned on the table, trying to join in the discussion but constantly distracted. After a few minutes, she left Eunice with Summer, Ember, and the others to stand behind the couch as Lucy railed on about dog germs.
The small tree beside the TV was covered in lights, the reds, greens and blues bouncing off frosted glass. The ornaments had to be thirty years old. Maybe older. They’d gotten a lot of attention as gifts were deposited near it.
Still restless, Paige paced back to the kitchen. Geoffrey left Summer’s side, but only the roommates could see him at all.
“That guy is following you.” With no fear of exposure, the ghost pointed right at Ben.
Paige smiled. “Yeah, like a big puppy.” Turning toward Ben she asked, “Did I already wish you a Merry Christmas?” He wasn’t far away, but stepped closer before answering.
“No. You throw the best parties.”
His shiny shirt had a satin finish and Paige touched his sleeve. “Nice shirt. How do you think you did?” she asked, referring to their exam that afternoon.
He slipped the other arm around her waist. “I know I passed, but not sure how much.”
Paige nodded. “Yeah, I think I did well, but you never really know until the marks come back.”
They chatted a little longer, until the loo-loo-loos marked the end of the movie.
“Time to play Santa.” She popped into the kitchen first. “Hey, let’s open presents.”
The couch doubled up as various girls sat on laps. The rest sat cross-legged on the floor or in one of the three armchairs. The gifts went quickly and were exactly what she’d hoped.
“A notebook, with a chewed up pen. Gross!”
“Christmas socks!” Clinton stripped off his own to flaunt alternating red and green toes.
“Chocolate orange,” Eunice said just before slamming it on one of the end tables, making a lamp totter.
“Mistletoe.” Ben held the plastic sprig over his head.
Summer scoffed. “That’s holly.”
“Can I get a kiss anyway?” He puckered up and leaned toward Summer, who giggled and turned away. “You?” He gave the same duck lips to Paige who puffed out her own for a smooshy, anything-but-romantic kiss. “Woohoo! New tradition!”
Paige opened hers last. It was a mirror with an ornate silvery frame about the size of her two hands together. Peering at her reflection, she couldn’t stop the smile growing on her face. “Thank you, Santa.”
The party continued a little longer, but once the presents were claimed, people started splitting away. Ember and Summer’s classmates went first, followed by Clinton, his friend, and Eunice.
“I’m going to call it a night.” Summer climbed the stairs. “My train leaves early.” Geoffrey followed.
Gwen chatted with Ben while Paige did a quick round up of napkins, mugs of egg nog, and chocolate wrappers. She would have to vacuum, but it could wait until the others headed home.
She sat beside Gwen, thinking to join the conversation, but her roommate chose that moment to turn in. “It was great getting to know you, Ben.” She brushed his sleeve and held his hand a moment, her small, white fingers barely wrapping around his big paw. With a small wave, she climbed the stairs.
“I like her.” He nodded to the stairs.
“Yeah, they’re a great bunch.” She crossed her arms. “And when are you going home?”
He smirked. “But Mom, I wanted to stay up and see Santa!”
Paige laughed loudly, covering her mouth. Ember, in the kitchen with Connor, shushed them.
“Oh, stuff it, Ginger. Your smacking is almost as loud.”
Ben put his hands on her hips. “Want to see if we can be louder?”
For a second, butterflies fluttered in Paige’s belly. Had she really considered Ben that way? He was a hunk, no doubt there, but a friendly goofball, not a lover. He put her at ease by slobbering on her cheek. He sounded like a dog or crappy vacuum.
“That tickles,” she complained, wriggling away.
He continued to smack his lips, both together on their own and on her cheek and forehead.
“Okay! I give up!” Ember brought Connor by the hand to the door.
Connor punched Ben in the arm. “You suck.”
“Yeah, I just proved that.”
“Ugh, get out.” Paige pushed them through the door Ember held open. “And don’t come back this year!”
Ben gave a mock salute and turned away.
“Merry Christmas.” Connor gave Ember one more kiss before she closed the door.
Paige yawned. “I’m beat. See you in the morning.”
Ember climbed the stairs behind Paige. “So... you and Ben.”
“What? There’s no me and Ben. There’s just Ben.”
Ember shrugged before opening the door to her room. “If you say so.”
Paige stood in the hall, considering. “No. That’s crazy.”
> Chapter Four
PAIGE HELD THE talisman upside down, so the loop rested in her palm and the cross pointed up.
“Sever his eyes from me. Return them where they belong.” She held the ankh in the flame of a candle for a minute, then shoved it into a pile of dried leaves and flowers. They didn’t smoke, but their aroma grew. She wafted the scent over her.
Leaning forward, pain ached along her back and bottom. The lady’s punishments were become less and less bearable. She could only hope her husband’s attention would calm her. As far as she could tell, Lydia didn’t know about her nighttime encounters with Charles.
“Jane! What are you doing?”
Another slave, much older, looked from the ankh to Paige and back.
“For packing!” Paige insisted. “To repel moths and keep smells away.” She tucked the ankh under the hem of her skirt and wrapped the leaves and flowers in a scrap of cloth. “See?”
Hands on hips, she glared down at the assembled items. “I see very well, Jane. You should know better. This sort of thing, witchcraft, will get you hanged.”
She recalled the hangings of several women and doubled her efforts to cover herself. “I...I’ll get rid of it.” Shoving everything into her pockets, she promised, “Tomorrow.”
“Good.” The woman turned her greying head. “Then I’ll pretend I never saw it.”
Paige knew just the place to bury all of it. No one would look for it, and if they did, they’d have no idea it belonged to her. All she had to do was sneak out to the grove tomorrow while the lady took her afternoon nap.
PAIGE BOLTED UP. THAT grove was familiar. Very familiar. The trees were larger now, but she knew where Jane had buried her talisman, right here in Salem.
Geoffrey stood at the foot of her bed, not quite opaque.
“What are you doing?” she asked, glancing at the clock. Seven. Only early because she wasn’t doing anything today.
The ghost shrugged. “Nothing. Now that Mary, er, Summer is gone, I don’t have anything to do.” He had gotten better at calling Summer by the name of her current incarnation, but he still slipped up now and then.
