Maxie shrugged. “Whatevs.”
Melissa, aware the guests would be leaving soon, came to the front room to help me see them off. She is comanager of the guesthouse and knows exactly what that means. It means she does a lot of work and doesn’t get paid.
The van arrived exactly on time as it always does, and everybody got their luggage and themselves aboard. Many fond farewells, all of them sincere, were offered. But as always, it was something of a relief when the van pulled away and I knew I’d have two days before it showed up with new guests to entertain again.
I turned back toward the house and saw Richard phasing through the front door. He wasn’t carrying any luggage, of course, but I could tell by his expression and the flow of his movement that he was leaving the guesthouse for parts unknown.
Paul was right behind him.
For all my show about how it was Paul’s decision to stay or go, that moment made me want to yell to him not to leave, that he was my friend and I needed him here. But I didn’t because I’m an adult and because I respect the choices others make even if they don’t match my own.
Besides, Melissa said it. “You’re not leaving, are you, Paul?”
Paul looked at Liss, then at Richard, then at me, and then back at Richard again. “No,” he said. “What gave you that idea?”
It was mostly Maxie. I didn’t say that either, but Liss didn’t pick it up for me this time. “Well, Richard . . .” I began.
Richard turned—he had passed us already—and looked at me. “Yes,” he said. “I am leaving. I don’t know where I’ll be, but I need a break from this place.” He looked at the house. “No offense.”
“We understand,” Melissa told him. “You’ve been through a lot.” That girl has a future in diplomacy. Or any other field.
Richard looked away to avoid eye contact. “I wanted to . . . thank you. For the help you’ve given me these past few days. I realize it was done with the best possible intentions.” The man’s warmest thoughts could have kept the ice in my freezer solid. Of course, it was in a freezer, but you get the idea.
“But I still think Paul should come with me,” Richard went on. He looked at his brother. “You were doing all that traveling, and there’s still a lot of world to see.”
Paul smiled that crooked smile of his. “I have plenty of time,” he said. “Keep me informed about your whereabouts, Richard. I’ll be in contact every night.” He looked up at the sky, which was his sign for the Ghosternet.
“I will do that.” And with that, Richard leapt into the sky and vanished in the distance.
We turned back and moved toward the house. “So you don’t need to see the world anymore?” I asked Paul.
“I still intend to do so, but with all eternity ahead of me, I don’t see a great rush,” he answered. “One thing I’ve learned is that it’s good to have a home base. And it’s nice to have people you see every day.”
“Stop it,” Melissa said. “You’ll make me cry.”
We all laughed at that and went inside. I had every intention of sitting down in a nice soft easy chair for at least two days—after I cleaned the guest rooms, changed all the sheets, and took a look at that beam in the den again. Maybe Tony was right.
You can’t let old wounds stay open forever.
The Hostess With the Ghostess Page 27
