Cute is not exactly what I was going for. But hey, if he thought it was cute, that’s fine by me.
“Thanks,” I said, “I was just trying to move that flower blossom that was distorting my reflection. I couldn’t pick it up and move it. Then I got frustrated. Every time I tried to grab it, my hand went through it,”
“Ah. They joys of being a ghost,” he said. I was going to ask why I could move a glass, but not a flower, but decided not to. I didn’t want to ruin the moment.
Right then, music began playing. It was coming from the hotel. An orchestra was playing. The windows had been opened to let the breeze in, which in turn sent the music flowing out into the night.
“Could I have this dance,” Patrick asked as he held out his hand.
I accepted and we danced through the garden as the moon and stars shone brightly above. It felt so magical. I felt like I was in some sort of dream or something. We danced through the gardens. We even danced in the fountain. When the music stopped, we started laughing.
“We probably looked like something out of a Disney movie,” I said.
“All we needed were woodland animals running around and we would have been all set,” Patrick said.
This has been the best day of my afterlife. Not that the time I’ve spent with Edgar, Camille, Whitney and William haven’t been a blast. I love every one of them to death. They are family to me. I’ve enjoyed the time I’ve spent with them and I look forward to all the fun we’ll have in the future. It’s just that being alone with Patrick makes me feel normal again. Maybe that’s not the right word. I don’t know how to explain it. I guess what I’m trying to say is that in my group, there are some big personalities. When all those personalities are competing for your attention and vice versa, it gets crazy. When I’m with Patrick I don’t have to compete for attention. Patrick focuses on me and me alone. It’s nice to just be able to spend one-on-one time together and have that other person’s full attention.
Well, I should probably tell Patrick I have to get back Connecticut. I’ve been gone a while. Emma’s probably is wondering what’s happened to me. I hope she isn’t too mad. I hope she’s still asleep. Tonight has defiantly been fun. I would stay here with Patrick forever if I could.
“Patrick, do you think you could take me back to Connecticut? I’ve been gone a while and Emma’s probably wondering what’s happened to me,” I said to him.
“Are you sure you wouldn’t rather stay here?” Patrick asked.
“Wouldn’t staying here permanently be hard for you, what with all the memories?” I asked.
“If you were here, I’d be fine. We could make memories of our own,” he said.
“As tempting as it is, and trust me it’s quite tempting, I’ll have to say no. Emma needs me. I hope doesn’t threaten any possible relationship?”
“I understand. I respect your wishes,” Patrick said,” And no, this won’t threaten any possible relationship. If you ever change your mind, let me know”
“I will,” I said.
Patrick and I got on the horses. This time we were each on separate horses. Patrick and I were just trotting down the street when I saw something under an ancient Willow tree. It sparked my curiosity. I turned my horse toward the tree.
Ch. 39
“Savannah, what are you doing? You said you had to get back to Connecticut,” Patrick said as he followed me.
“I saw something under that tree,” I said pointing to a weeping willow a few yards away, “it looks like it might be some kind of animal”
“Just leave it. It could be dangerous or it might belong to someone,” Patrick said.
“This coming from a veterinarian is shocking. I thought you would want to see what’s wrong with it,” I said.
“First, there’s not much I can do. As you can see, it’s already died. Second, the sun is starting to come up, we have to go,” Patrick said.
“We’re not vampires you know. Technically, we can be out in the sunlight if we wanted,” I said.
I got off my horse and as I got closer to the tree I saw it was a dog. It looks like it is some sort of Collie. A Border collie, perhaps? I tried calling out to it as I moved closer, but it just stared straight ahead.
“It’s a dog,” Patrick said as he came up behind me. He startled me.
“Thank you, Captain Obvious, for your intuitive observation. I never would have figured it out had you not been here,” I said, sarcastically.
“I love your sarcasm. It’s adorable,” Patrick said. I rolled my eyes.
Even as Patrick and I made a scene, the dog never moved. It just sat there, as if waiting for a command. I tried calling out to it. Nothing happened. Maybe if one of us tried to pet the dog it might move. I’m not about to do it.
“Patrick, pet the dog and see what it does,” I said.
“Why me? You’re the one who stopped us in the first place. I wanted to leave, but you insisted we stop,” he said.
“Well, you’re a veterinarian,” I said.
“Was, a veterinarian. ‘Was’ is the key word here. Besides, it's dangerous to pet a dog without consulting the owner first. Trust me, I will never make that mistake again,” Patrick said.
“What’s the worst that could happen? We’re already dead. It can’t exactly do any worse than that,” I said.
“Fine, I’ll do it,” Patrick said.
Patrick slowly walked up to the dog. He held his hand out for the dog to smell.
“Here doggy. You’re a good doggy, aren’t you?” Patrick said to the dog in his sweetest voice.
I started to laugh. He turned around to face me, “What, I suppose you’ve never talked to your dog like that?”
“Yes I have. It just sounds funny coming from you, the big macho soldier,” I said.
Before Patrick could turn around, a woman walked up to the dog and pets it on the head. The dog responded to her touch. Patrick and I never noticed the woman. Unless she did just appear out of thin air.
“This poor dog sits here day and night waiting for an owner that will never come home. Her owner was a sailor on the great lakes. Every time he went out on the boat, this dog would wait for him under the Weeping Willow. One day the owner never came home. People tried to get the dog to move, but she won’t. She wouldn’t eat or drink. She sat under this tree until she died. No one has ever been able to get her to move. She’s been sitting under that tree for one hundred and five years,” the old woman said.
“That’s heartbreaking,” I said.
“I know, it is sad,” the woman said.
“It just goes to show how loyal man’s best friend really is,” Patrick said.
“Even in death she remains faithful,” the woman said again.
I watched the dog. I wonder if she knew her owner is never coming back. She probably didn’t know, or else why would she continue to wait. I also wonder why her owner’s spirit didn’t come to find her? You would think he would have wanted to find his beloved dog. I want to try to get her to move from her post under the tree.
“Does she have a name?” I asked.
“We don’t know her actual name, so we just call her Willow. I must be going, the sun is coming up,” the old woman said before disappearing.
I went up to the dog and started petting her on the head. I started scratching her behind the ears. She liked this. She started coming around. I could see her tail slowly starting to move.
“Hi, Willow. You’re such a sweet girl. Do you want to come home with me? I miss having a dog around,” I said.
“Savannah, she won’t go with you. She’s been waiting under that tree for one hundred and five years. I doubt she’ll go with you,” Patrick said.
I got up and walked to my horse. Willow followed behind me. I turned around to see Patrick standing with a look of amazement on his face. I just smiled. It felt good to have a dog around again. Patrick soon caught up to me. He helped me back on the horse, and then got on his horse. I didn’t actually need his help. Willow ran a few feet
ahead of us. She wasn’t afraid of horses, which is good.
“Wow, I don’t know how you did it? Nobody has gotten that dog to move for so long. You are amazing,” Patrick said after a while.
“Thanks. I guess I just have a way with dogs,” I said.
We found a portal near the old cemetery. Willow was reluctant at first to go through, but she made it no problem. Once we were back in Connecticut, she had to smell everything, typical dog. A leash really would have come in handy. It took us forever to get back to my house a mile away. At one point, Patrick had to run after her when she started chasing a cat. The poor cat was not too happy about that. After a while, we finally made it to my house. By now the sun was up and had been up a while. I saw that Alexander’s car is gone. Arianna’s car isn’t there either.
“I have to bring the horses back. I’ll see you later,” he said and then he kissed me, “stay safe”
“I will,” I said.
I walked through the garage and into the house. My parent’s cars were gone. It looks like Emma is here by herself. I’m happy about that. Now we can talk without anyone thinking Emma is crazy. Willow followed close behind me. I could tell she’s nervous. I was startled when I saw another spirit. She’s a young woman. I didn’t recognize her. Willow started to growl and bare her teeth.
“Who are you?” I asked.
“My name is Morgan. I was looking for a male spirit who lived here by the name of Stephen. I need to talk to him, it’s very important. It looks like Ophelia will be able to bring him back to life after all. I just got back from meeting with her in New Orleans. Is he around?” the young woman asked.
“There are no spirits here by the name of Stephen,” I said.
“I must have the wrong house the. I’m very sorry for disturbing you,” she said.
Did she just say that someone named Ophelia could bring this spirit named Stephen back to life? Is it possible? I have to find out more about this. Maybe there’s a chance I could be brought back as well. I have to stop this Morgan before she leaves.
“Before you go I have to ask you something? Can the dead really be brought back to life?” I asked her.
“Yes. You just have to find someone with the right magical abilities. That would be Ophelia. She’s a Voodoo priestess in New Orleans,” Morgan said.
The words Voodoo Priestess made me a little nervous. But if she can bring me back to life, it would be worth it.
“So how does it work?” I asked.
“Well, you need to know that you won’t be in your body. It will be someone else’s body. She uses her magic to transfer your soul into another body. You may not be in your body, but it sure beats the alternative,” she said.
“I guess. What do I have to do to get her to do it?” I asked.
“You have to go down to New Orleans to talk to her. It’s worth it. I would do it, but I’ve been gone too long. This works best with those who are recently deceased. You have to believe in the magic for it to work. A lot of spirits are against it. They say it goes against the natural order of things. I think its great Ophelia is giving others a second chance,” Morgan said.
“Yeah,” I said.
“Savannah is that you?” I heard Emma yell from upstairs.
“I better be going. I have to find Stephen,” Morgan said. She then disappeared.
When Emma saw me, she ran down the stairs. She was smiling and her arms were open, ready to hug me. Hey, like I said before, old habits die-hard. She was happy to see me, which felt really good. I wanted to tell her about the Voodoo priestess who can bring people back to life, but now is not the right time. I’ll just let her be happy I’m back. I’ll ask her how last night went with Alexander later.
“Savannah! I’m so happy to see you. Are you okay? I was worried?” she said, then she noticed Willow, “Oh, you have a new friend”
“Yeah, this is Willow, my dog,” I said.
“So how was it last night with your soldier Patrick?” Emma asked.
“You knew I was with Patrick?” I asked.
“I woke and saw you weren’t there. I knew you wouldn’t just leave me. It had to be something important, like Patrick. He’s the only reason you would have left last night,” Emma said.
“I’m sorry,” I said, feeling bad about leaving.
I was so happy to see Patrick; I forgot to tell Emma I was leaving. Oops.
“No, it’s okay. Savannah, everything was fine. I’m glad you saw him,” Emma said, “So how was it spending time with him?”
“Last night was amazing. Patrick is a great guy,” I said.
“Yeah,” Emma said, raising her eyebrow.
I cannot believe she’s going there. We both knew what she was getting at and it made me uncomfortable. What kind of girl does she think I am? I don’t put out that easily. Doesn’t she know it’s entirely possible to spend an evening with a guy that doesn’t lead to you-know-what. Honestly, I don’t know why she would even bring it up.
“It didn’t happen, Emma. I don’t even know if it’s possible. How could it happen? Think about it for a minute?” I asked her.
“Ghosts fall in love. I’m sure they have passions and desires just as they did when they were alive,” she said.
“This conversation is over,” I said walking upstairs.
“Fine,” Emma said as she followed me, “no more ghost sex talk”
“I don’t know if ghosts can have sex, Emma,”
“How do you know?” Emma asked.
When I got to my old room I went to the closet and started looking for clothes for Emma to wear today when we run our errands. Willow went up to Lola who was sitting on the bed. I walked back though the closet door and right through Emma. She apologized.
“I’m sorry. So you had a good time? What did you do?” she asked.
“We went horseback riding and I found Willow,” I said.
“Aw, how sweet!” Emma responded.
‘Well, are you ready to go on our errands?”
If she’s not ready by now, we’re not going and she’ll have to find something in the closet to wear to the visitation and funeral.
“Yeah, what do I wear,” she asked.
“The Levi’s skinny jeans with the Strawberry Fields Forever Beatles t-shirt, the Rick Owens leather biker jacket, the Alexander McQueen scarf, and the black chucks,” I told her.
I let her pick out the jewelry. She enjoyed going through my jewelry box. After that I helped her with her makeup. I helped her as much as I could. When we were ready she grabbed her purse. As she was about to walk downstairs, I stopped her.
“Excuse me. What are you doing?” I asked.
“About to walk to the stairs,” she said, puzzled.
“Not with that purse you’re not,” I said.
“Why?” she asked.
Has she forgotten already? Really, Emma? I should not even have to remind her. Yet, here she is looking at me with a ‘what did I do?’ look on her face.
“Emma, does the purse remind you of something? Does it invoke any unpleasant memories?” I asked.
“Oh, right” she said, looking at the purse hanging from her arm.
She threw the notorious Chanel bag on the bed and walked to the closet. She opened the door and disappeared inside. I could hear her going through my purses. She soon emerged from the closet with a brown Marc Jacob hobo bag, another one of my favorites. She poured the contents of the Chanel bag onto the bed and threw the bag into the closet. She took the contents of the old purse and put them into the new bag, which she slung across her shoulder. We then proceeded to walk out of my room and down the stairs and into the living room, then to the kitchen. I told Emma the code for the house alarm. She grabbed the garage door opener and we went into the garage. When she put the door up I saw my beautiful red Camaro waiting in the driveway. Emma got out my lanyard with all my crazy key chains on it.
“I get to drive the Camaro. I’m so excited,” Emma said.
“Please be careful. I loved this car. I st
ill do. You better treat it well,” I said, “You are the only other person ever to drive it besides me”
“Really, not even Alexander?” Emma asked.
“Nope, not even Alexander,” I said.
“Wow,” she said.
Emma unlocked the car and got in. I slid into passenger seat. The late morning sun is bright, so Emma reached into her purse and pulled out the black Wayfarers. She put the brown leather case into the cup holder.
“Will Willow be okay with Lola and Sam?” Emma asked.
“They can’t really do anything to her besides bark. I think she’ll be fine,” I said.
“You’re right, what am I thinking?” she said, “Where are we going to get the clothes for the visitation and funeral?”
“I was thinking Saks,” I said.
“Saks it is,” Emma said.
Ch. 40
We drove in silence to the mall. I wanted to tell Emma about my decision to meet with the Voodoo Priestess in New Orleans. But I couldn’t. For some reason, now did not feel like the right time. I decided I would wait until after the funeral to tell her. Being in the car together felt normal. It is something Emma and I had done many times before, only I was the one in the driver’s seat.
“This car is really fun to drive,” Emma said. I know she is talking to break the silence.
“It is, “ I said.
After that, we were silent again. The mall seemed a lot farther than it should have been. Maybe it’s just me? Emma spoke again, this time it isn’t about the car.
“Savannah, do you think I’ll ever get used to seeing and hearing ghosts? Even though I’ve been able to see ghosts for a long time, it still makes me feel kind of uncomfortable. Like I’m seeing a secret world that I’m not supposed to know about. I feel like I’m infringing on these sprits. It’s like I’m spying on them or something,” Emma said.
I definitely was not expecting this revelation.
“Emma, I don’t know if you’ll get used to it. It’s all up to you. As far as you feeling like you’re seeing something you shouldn’t be seeing, you have no control over it. It’s not like you asked for this. It’s just something you have to live with. There are worse things than ghosts,” I said.
The Middle Realm Page 20
