Spouse on Haunted Hill

by E. J. Copperman

  Even Maxie was dressed for the occasion in her traditional black T-shirt, this one reading “Team Bride,” and Everett had seen to it that she wore something other than her usual sprayed-on blue jeans, in this case a denim skirt, which I supposed was close enough. I had not seen Paul at all today, leading me to think his newfound ability to wander to his heart’s content had led him to, you know, wander to his heart’s content. I guessed we’d had our good-byes when I thought he was going to evolve and I was going to die.

  Josh walked into the library, stood and observed. “You look beautiful,” he said.

  “You’ve actually seen me in this before.”

  “You looked beautiful then, too. Come on. We’ve got people expecting a show out there. If we don’t hurry they might decide to go to another wedding.”

  I walked over and hugged him close. “You know you’re not supposed to see the bride before the wedding,” I said.

  “That’s silly. How would I have asked to marry you?” His arms tightened and held me closer. “You gave me a real scare that night, you know. I heard Richie on the phone and I thought . . . well. Actually I thought Maxie would hit him with a baseball bat.”

  I looked up into his face. “You really thought that?”

  “Oddly yeah. I knew she’d have your back. She wasn’t going to let Melissa grow up without a mom. From what you’ve told me, she’s a really good friend.”

  “Maxie drives me crazy,” I told him.

  “Well, you drive me crazy, but in a good way. Let’s go get married.” He extended his arm and I took it, and then we went to the den.

  Marv, who cleaned up nicely from his usual grease-covered jumpsuit, was standing at the far end. There would have been rows of chairs to create an aisle, but there weren’t enough chairs for that, so we just walked in, me holding Josh’s hand. Melissa walked to my side. Josh’s dad walked to his.

  Melissa had actually taught Lester “stay” because there was no point to a leash with him, and he was sitting patiently, wagging his tail, as we walked in and took our position right in front of Marv.

  I couldn’t see the guests once we turned to face Marv, but I could hear a few things. Jeannie kept telling Ollie to look forward because he was missing it. Ollie said he didn’t care. My mother sniffed a little, which was something she had only done after my previous wedding. My father, situated above Marv’s right shoulder so he could see my face better, actually pulled Mom’s cell phone out of his pocket and took a picture. If the others noticed they did not react.

  Josh smiled, though. But then, he was smiling all the way through.

  We answered the questions Marv asked. Josh, who was asked first, answered, “I do.” And strangely I heard the words echoed from just behind me.

  I took a quick glance and saw Everett, in his dress uniform, standing in profile as Josh and I were doing to face each other. He was looking into Maxie’s eyes and she was absolutely gazing into his.

  She was wearing an elaborate white wedding dress with veil and train, and looked lovelier than I had ever seen her. I stood looking at her for so long that there was a pause after Marv finished asking me about marrying Josh, and there was a quick chuckle from the crowd.

  “I do,” Maxie said.

  I turned my attention back to the man who was about to be my husband. He was still smiling, aware that something else was going on and secure that I would tell him later. He was exactly the man I needed.

  “Yes,” I said. “Definitely yes.”

  “Oh, go ahead and kiss,” Marv said.

  We did, and for a quick second I looked to see Maxie and Everett doing the same. When the four of us were finished, she looked at me, a small tear escaping from her left eye. “Tell my mom,” she said. I nodded my agreement.

  There was applause.

  We were immediately surrounded by well-wishers, which was nice but overwhelming. I was completely free of any lingering concussion symptoms, thank goodness, but was still feeling a little light-headed just based on context.

  Josh and I were separated by factions of friends and family. Melissa got the first hug from each of us, and I held her the longest I would anybody that day. Then she went off to stand to the side with her best friend, Wendy, and I moved on to the others.

  I couldn’t actually talk to Dad, Maxie or Everett just now, not with the in-laws in the room, but I made sure to give each a thankful smile. Mom stood next to me and said, “Best thing you’ve ever done. Except Melissa.” And we fell into each other’s arms for a while.

  Phyllis had taken pictures for her social page and said she might run them with the story about the murder of Maurice DuBois, but she was kidding. I was pretty sure. Later when we were having dessert I heard her reiterate her offer to Melissa to start working at the Chronicle when she turned fourteen.

  Sy Kaplan, Josh’s grandfather, told me I was a “looker,” and reminisced about Josh and me meeting at his store. It hadn’t seemed like that big a deal at the time, but look what happened.

  When I got to Kitty Malone, I whispered in her ear and she stopped, stiffened and looked into my eyes. I nodded. She gave me a very warm hug and told me to pass it on. I promised to try.

  Jeannie danced the most at the party, largely because there was no band or DJ. I played a mix tape Melissa had made for me of my favorite oldies, including a couple of songs by the Jingles just to be nostalgic. Jeannie has danced the most at every party we have ever attended together. Jeannie is a force of nature. Her husband danced with her, then watched as she danced with Josh, A.J., Pollitzer and for a brief moment Lieutenant McElone.

  The lieutenant came over during dessert and thanked me for inviting her and Thomas. It represented an emotional outburst for her, and then she said she had to go home because her children were probably taking the house apart by now. I thanked them both for coming. She kept looking around the ceiling as she left, but none of the ghosts was there.

  By the time everyone but my parents had gone home, we were exhausted and drained. Melissa, fresh off her first glass of champagne, which she declared was “gross,” was sprawled on one of the easy chairs, looking at Josh and me on the love seat, which seemed appropriate.

  Mom and Dad were on the sofa. Well, Mom was on the sofa. Dad was pretending to sit but was above the cushions by about six inches. “This was a good day,” Mom sighed. “A good day.”

  There was a tiny sense of regret for me, although it wasn’t putting a damper on the events of the day. I didn’t say anything, even when Maxie told us she and Everett were going on a honeymoon starting immediately.

  She was back in the T-shirt and denim skirt, and Everett was in fatigues. “Where are you going?” Melissa asked.

  “We’re going to the airport,” Everett told her. “We’ll hitch a ride and once we’re there, we’ll choose a flight to get on.”

  “You’ve never been in an airplane,” I reminded Maxie.

  She shrugged. “I figure at this point, what can happen? Besides, you two need to have some time without all these people in your house.” It was the first time since I’d met Maxie that she hadn’t referred to 123 Seafront Avenue as “my house,” because she was the owner when she’d died there and refused to acknowledge my stewardship until now.

  “Our house,” I said to her. She took my hand a moment—the feeling of a refreshing breeze was warmer than usual tonight—and then she and Everett rose into the ceiling and disappeared as Melissa waved.

  “We’re going, too,” Mom said. “This is your wedding night.” She had offered to have Melissa at her place for a few days, but Josh and I both wanted her around. And she had already spent enough time away recently.

  Her father was back in L.A., texting that things were “great” there and promising to stay in touch. We wouldn’t hear from him again for two years, and then it was an inquiry about the status of the SafT litigation. Steven was never going to be
anything but The Swine.

  When Mom and Dad had left and we had determined that cleaning up was not something one did after being married, Melissa took her dumbwaiter/elevator to her room and Josh and I were left alone. We were about to head upstairs when I heard something creak in the kitchen.

  That couldn’t be good.

  Josh went in first and took a look around. “Nothing,” he said. “No evidence of a mouse or anything, not even a bug. So maybe you’d better look.”

  I wasn’t crazy about the idea, but Josh was already in the room and the lights were on. So I went in and looked around.

  Sure enough, Paul was hovering just over his favorite spot by the stove.

  Josh didn’t even flinch when I spoke to him. “I thought you’d taken off,” I said.

  “Maxie?” Josh asked. I shook my head. He nodded. Of course.

  “I wouldn’t do that,” Paul said. “I’ve been here all day, but I didn’t want to be conspicuous. This was your day, not mine.”

  “That’s crazy. Maxie and Everett were here.”

  “Yes. Getting married like you. I was just a spectator and I could watch without being seen. Don’t worry.”

  “I’m glad you were here,” I said. “It makes me feel better to know you were.”

  Paul smiled and stroked that goatee. “I am going to explore a little, though. I don’t know for how long. But I imagine I’ll be back one day.”

  “Unless you move on,” I reminded him. “They have lightning everywhere.”

  Paul shrugged. “I’m not going to try too hard. Now that I can, I want to explore the world from this perspective. Travel is so much cheaper this way.”

  He turned to leave and I felt a little tug at my shoulder. “Say good-bye for me,” Josh said.

  “He can hear you.”

  Paul turned. “He’s a good man, Alison. I’m happy for you. But I’m taking off now. It has been a privilege to live here. I will be back again.”

  “I’ll leave the basement for you.”

  That crooked grin. “Thank you.” And he was gone through the back wall, toward the ocean.

  Josh, watching my head as I followed Paul’s trajectory, held me close. “It’s really been something,” he said. “But everything has an end.”

  I kissed Josh and he kissed me back. “Oh no,” I told him. “This is just the beginning.”

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  E. J. Copperman is the Barry Award–winning, national bestselling author of the Haunted Guesthouse Mysteries, most recently Ghost in the Wind, Inspector Specter, and The Thrill of the Haunt, as well as the novellas A Wild Ghost Chase and An Open Spook.

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