It was Him. There.
And he wore that smile.
The one He always wore when He was proud of her.
After a slow nod, he faded, and her breath caught in her throat as she whirled around to find…
Nothing.
This wasn’t like the night of the Halloween party, where they caught glimpses here and there, easily explainable tricks of the light.
That had been no trick.
And she knew her husband’s voice.
She jumped, letting out a scream when Seth opened the sliders and stepped in juggling a couple of large serving bowls in his arms.
“Sweetie? What’s wrong?”
Unable to say it, she realized the tears were falling even before she felt Seth’s arms wrap around her. He sank to the floor with her as her knees finally unhinged, her now blurry gaze focused on where He’d been standing.
“You’re going to think I’m crazy,” she whispered.
“You’re scaring me, love. Do you need to—”
“Seth, listen to me! I keep seeing Kaden! I don’t mean like at Halloween that time, either. I’m hearing him, too!”
He glanced into the living room, where she couldn’t stop staring, then back to her. “What do you mean?”
“I swear I’m not making this up. I keep seeing him. I keep catching glimpses of him, and I just heard him speak to me earlier. Right before you came in with the chicken.” She sobbed as he slowly rocked her in his arms. “I swear I’m not making it up!”
* * * *
Seth wasn’t sure if he should feel relieved or terrified. Of course the ghost of his best friend metaphorically popped up around every corner of their lives, especially in the early days when Ed or someone would give him one of the many index cards or CDs of video messages and instructions on how to go on once he passed.
What Seth hadn’t wanted to admit to Leah was that he thought maybe he’d been going crazy himself.
“I know, baby,” he softly said.
She sat back and stared up into his face. “What?”
“I know. I’ve…seen and heard a couple of things I can’t explain, either. Since I started putting up the Christmas display, actually. So for a while now. Since last month. Even on the night of the private dinner.”
She stared at him for a moment. “Why the hell didn’t you say something?”
“Because for starters, I thought I was imagining it. Secondly, I didn’t want to trigger you. And third…I wasn’t sure if it was real, or my brain making it up to make me feel better. Not to mention how busy you were with the fundraiser. Maybe we’re both just exhausted and—”
“Seth, I was married to him for over twenty years. I know his voice. I heard him.”
Seth looked around, what he could see of the living room from where they sat on the kitchen floor. “I know, sweetie.”
“You believe me, don’t you?”
He held her a little tighter against him. “Yeah, I do.”
“Is it him?”
“I hope so.”
“Really?”
He nuzzled the top of her head. “Remember what he said in that last card we got from him at the Halloween party? That he would try to watch us if he could? Maybe…maybe he is. I don’t know. I don’t claim to have all the answers. But it makes me feel better knowing he’s hanging around, if he really is.”
She finally relaxed against him. “Me, too,” she whispered. “I’m sorry.”
“Why are you apologizing?”
“I don’t want you to think I don’t love you.”
“Baby, I know you love me. I love you, too. But I’d be a liar if I said I didn’t miss the hell out of him. But can I ask a favor of you, please? Not as your Master, but as your husband?”
She looked up again. “Of course.”
“Let’s not talk about this to anyone. Not even Loren or Tilly or Tony or any of the gang.”
“Why not?”
“Because I don’t want them thinking we’re…the bad kind of crazy, for starters. And I don’t want to freak anyone out. I want this to be our secret. Just for us.”
“Why do we see him more at the parties and this time of year?”
“I don’t know. Maybe it’s the energy of everyone, or the season. I don’t know. Do we have a deal?”
“Yes, Sir.”
“No. As Seth and Leah.”
She nodded. “I promise not to tell anyone else.” She sat up again and looked around. “I don’t think anyone else would believe us if I did tell them.”
Suddenly, Seth started laughing.
“What?”
He smiled. “How many of those fucking tentacle things were in that bargain bin, anyway? Tilly’s going to laugh her ass off when she hears about that.”
“I don’t know, but I’m donating the ones we ended up with to the cause. Bobbing for Boners and Dildo Diving will become classic kinky pool party games.”
* * * *
Then…
He wished the pain would just.
Go.
Away.
But it was so damned hard to let go. To relinquish control.
Closing his eyes, he breathed, feeling himself falling, but slowly, like…
He didn’t know what it was like. He had no frame of reference for this sensation.
Is this it?
At some point, he opened his eyes and smiled, finding himself standing in the front yard and staring at the Christmas display.
No pain, no fear.
Freedom.
There was a bright light, just like some people claimed. Except it came in the form of strands of LEDs and ornamental inflatables.
If I’d known it’d be like this, I would have given up sooner. Let go of all control so they could start over.
Looking up at the clear night sky, the sprinkle of stars scattered over the black, he closed his eyes, now knowing he could return whenever he wanted to check in on them.
It didn’t even bother him he wasn’t in control any longer.
All he knew was peace.
* * * *
Now…
He watched them from the living room. He’d always watch over them, because he loved them.
And he knew they loved him, too.
Eventually, Seth helped Leah up off the kitchen floor. After Seth finished bringing in the food and they put it away, Seth made one final patrol around the house and turned off all the lights before they headed for bed.
He turned and walked over to the darkened Christmas tree, to the two First Christmas ornaments hanging prominently in the front.
Now he knew.
Everything was as it should be.
THE END
WWW.TYMBERDALTON.COM
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Tymber Dalton is the wild-child alter-ego of author Lesli Richardson. She lives in the Tampa Bay region of Florida with her husband (aka “The World’s Best Husband™”) and too many pets. Active in the BDSM lifestyle, the two-time EPIC award winner is also the bestselling author of over one hundred books, including The Reluctant Dom, The Denim Dom, Cardinal’s Rule, the Suncoast Society series, the Love Slave for Two series, the Triple Trouble series, the Coffeeshop Coven series, the Good Will Ghost Hunting series, the Drunk Monkeys series, and many more.
She loves to hear from readers! Please feel free to drop by her website and sign up for updates to keep abreast of the latest news, views, snarkage, and releases. You can also find all of her Siren-BookStrand releases under all four of her pen names on her author page on the BookStrand site.
www.facebook.com/tymberdalton
www.facebook.com/groups/TymbersTrybe
www.twitter.com/TymberDalton
For all titles by Tymber Dalton, please visit
www.bookstrand.com/tymber-dalton

Siren Publishing, Inc.
www.SirenPublishing.com
r />
A Kinkmas Carol [Suncoast Society] (Siren Publishing Sensations) Page 12
