Always Dead (Welcome To Dead House Book 2)

by M. L. Bullock

  When the time came and Joey was ready to talk about it, I would be there for him. I’d never call him the Ghost again. He deserved more from the people he loved. He deserved more than what he got from Aaron, a guy he trusted.

  That night before I went to bed, I did something I hadn’t done in a long time. I said a prayer. It was hokey and not very religious, but I did it nonetheless. I prayed for Mom, Aaron, and Joey. Especially Joey. I prayed everyone would be covered in light.

  When I woke up the following morning, all of the heaviness of the prior evening’s activities had faded. I felt lighter and better.

  More hopeful.

  An idea popped into my head. I had a project I wanted to tackle. I couldn’t do it by myself. I would need Tamara’s help, but I was going to make it happen.

  This would be fun!

  Epilogue—Tamara

  After listening to the phone ding multiple times as I had my hands in dishwater, I decided to check out my notifications. There wasn’t much in the way of email, but my Periscope account had exploded with new views and subscribers. People were commenting left and right. I could hardly believe it. Even more surprisingly, Kevin was recommending my channel to his friends. I would never have guessed he would be so open to the paranormal.

  Joey had been right; the camera did add at least ten pounds, and the wide lens was not my friend. I would have never done anything like pitch a show called Stripper Supernatural, but I was a good investigator and an intuitive person. Not a true medium like Chloe, but I had some skills. If only I trusted my intuition.

  I’d have to if I was going to help Chloe get established here and I was going to have a life beyond and after the Dead House.

  Damn it, Joey. I miss you. Why did you have to leave?

  Before I could put the phone back on the charger, I received a text from Kevin. Hunky, bigger than life, handcuff-slinging Kevin. He wanted to stop by after his shift, and of course I said yes. He wouldn’t wrap up until ten, but I was cool with that. I’d always been a night owl, even before working in nightclubs and the like.

  I wondered how much I should tell him about my past, and whether I should tell him anything. No, not yet. Why ruin a good thing? If he ran for sheriff, then yes, of course, I would. It might matter who he was dating, but then again, it might not. It wasn’t like we’re getting married or anything. It wasn’t like that at all. We were just two grownups having fun.

  There you go, Tamara Garvey. Overthinking everything. Absolutely everything.

  I sent him back a winking girl emoji and a mildly flirty text. I put the phone back and left the kitchen after I locked the back door and turned out the overhead light. Except for the light over the sink; I always left that light on.

  Just in case Joey wanted to find his way home.

  I’d printed the first draft of my outline earlier, and it was waiting for me in the living room, along with a few snacks and a bottle of water. I couldn’t bring myself to make popcorn, not without Joey. I’d take a shower soon, but for now, I wanted to binge-watch the Dead Files and proof my notes.

  There was always something to add or subtract. Writing challenged me, and I liked a good challenge. It was easy to skip over important details the first go-around, and it was tempting to waste words on describing dress fabrics or sounds and expressions. My dialogue sometimes came off as repetitive, but I’d get better at this whole writing thing. I was sure of it. I just needed practice and patience. I was always short on that.

  Chloe wasn’t home tonight. She was working her new job at the ice cream shop, and she was driving my car. Chloe was a more careful driver than me, but I wouldn’t rest until she was home.

  Psychic Amy was deep into her first investigation when I finished my first proofread. It needed more work, but at least I knew how the story ended for Aaron. So heartbreaking.

  We were still working on breaking the ancestral curse. Suddenly, the couch sagged a little beside me. Just like it always did when Joey plopped down on it.

  Nobody ever sat there, not even Chloe and strangely enough, not Kevin. Chloe had her own chair, and she didn’t hang out in the living room much anymore. She preferred her bedroom for studying or the kitchen for hanging out with me when she wasn’t plundering the attic.

  I held my breath as I put the manuscript down on the coffee table. Was I imagining this just because I wanted to see him? “Joey? Is that you?”

  “Who else would it be? I’m irreplaceable. No matter what you do in the car.”

  “Joey!” I started to scold him for being so nosy, but I was so glad he was here, I didn’t allow myself to get too worked up. “I’m so glad you’re here. Where have you been? Was it hard to get back?”

  As elusive as always, he asked, “Where else would I be? Is this another rerun? Oh, poor Ames. She looks so haggard. I hope she learns to rest between investigations. They pack far too many episodes into one season.” Joey’s outline appeared on the couch beside me. He was as he always was, maybe a little faded. He wore his slouchy blue jeans and an old t-shirt. His hair, a little long, was golden-blonde. His eyes were always hurt, which made you love him even more.

  Instinctively, I reached beside me on the couch as if I could actually hold his hand. I could not. Not today. He wasn’t solid at all. He was weak, far too weak to manifest. He really needed some energy. I started getting cold. I shoved the blanket up around my legs and put my hands in my lap. I couldn’t help but smile at him as a tear or two slid down my cheeks.

  “Come on, I wasn’t gone that long.”

  “I thought you left after Aaron crossed over, and I wouldn’t have blamed you if you did. I really wouldn’t have blamed you. I know, I mean, I think I know how you felt about him. I am so sorry about what happened to you and to him. I don’t even know what to say.”

  Joey watched the television for a few seconds, but he put his hand over mine. “I can’t leave you, Tamara. You’re a train wreck.”

  I buried my face in my hands at the heartbreak of it all. “I missed you, Joey. Chloe is going to be so happy to hear you’re home. She felt so bad for what she did that she put you at risk, but you protected her. Thank you, Joey! I can’t believe you did that. Are you crazy?” I went from crying to yelling at him. Apparently, this was one episode he hadn’t seen yet. “Have I told you I missed you?”

  “Of course, you missed me. I’m fabulous. I took a look at your new outline. Pardon me for not reading your manuscript.” He waved his hand at the stack of paper on the coffee table. I would never have expected him to read the story of his own death. I had dedicated it to him, though.

  “The outline isn’t bad, but I’m not sure you’ve got the chandelier scene right. She did have help getting up that ladder. That servant of hers, Anita, she was in on it. She wanted Lavinia to die. Anita wasn’t a bad woman, but she was afraid of Mrs. Loper, and I think she thought she was helping the girls. When Lavinia asked her about doing it, she didn’t hesitate. But it was Mrs. Loper who initiated the curse. The one that fell on Annabel and, of course, now our Chloe. I don’t even think she meant to do it.”

  I sipped my water and put it back on the table beside me. “Wow, I didn’t see that plot twist coming. That’s how Lavinia had all those impact injuries. She’d fallen from the chandelier instead of just hanging. So, are you saying her neck was broken, but she survived the fall? Damn! She would have had multiple injuries. That drop should have killed her. No wonder the chandelier had been going crazy.” I paused for a moment. “How did she get up the stairs afterward then?”

  “Mr. Loper found her and carried her up there. I think he thought she was dead, and his daughter was dead too, but the little girl died naturally from a virus or the flu. That’s not quite clear to me. He put them together out of kindness. Then Mrs. Loper started moving and moaning. He was trying to reset her bones. As damaged as she was, it would be easy for a sick person to misconstrue his help for hurt.”

  I thought about his statement and then further questioned him. “How do you kno
w all this?”

  “When you’re dead, you can do a lot of things, like go back in time. I just have no future.”

  That solemn statement shut down the conversation for a few minutes.

  It was tragic to imagine yet another lost soul roamed the Dead House, but at least Chloe could help them cross over. First Annie Hensley, then Mrs. Loper, and now Aaron. But not Joey. Why did I feel bad about that? I didn’t want him to stay here because of me. Maybe he wasn’t. I would just have to enjoy the time I had with him.

  “Kevin’s coming over later, Joey. You’ll have to get lost when he’s here. And no peeping, not even once!” I joked with him as he tilted his head and put his hand over his lips.

  “Your secrets are safe with me, Tamara Garvey. All of them. Has he seen the fuzzy bra yet or the leather teddy? I’m not sure Deputy Kevin is ready for you, wild child.”

  I thought about smacking him with a pillow, but that wouldn’t do any good. He laughed and tossed his hair back before hitting the remote button.

  “You’re such a liar, Joey. You know you spy on me.”

  “That’s rude. I would never do that. Now Kevin, I might spy on him.” Suddenly Joey flickered like someone unplugged him temporarily.

  “What’s going on? Are you sick, Joey?” Can dead people be sick?

  “Chloe’s mother, Tina Louise, drained me. It’s their curse. It took a lot to make a connection with her. I’ll recover, sweet cheeks.” It was weird having a conversation with a disembodied voice, even a voice I knew so well. I wasn’t afraid, but it gave me the chill bumps.

  “I’m working on it. I think I may have someone who can help us break the curse. Her name is Angela Webster. She’s supposed to get back to me soon. Do you think Chloe is in danger?”

  Joey's sad voice worried me. “I don’t know, honestly. I sure can’t take Chloe back to ask. That crazy Annabel wants to kill her. She’s probably around, and she’s really pissed but about what I don’t know. She doesn’t want anyone here, especially Chloe.”

  Joey flickered back into view, and this time he was standing beside me with a beer in his hand. Not a real beer, of course. I didn’t drink that brand. At least it wasn’t that raggedy cat again.

  “By the way, Tina Louise is beautiful, like a supermodel, and way taller than you, shorty.”

  “Hey!” I said at his assertion I was too short. He wasn’t wrong of course, but I could rock a pair of four-inch heels as well as anyone. I had a stunning high heel collection, even though I rarely wore them anymore.

  “You can feel something fierce within her. That family, the Ridaught women—they have a strength about them, Chloe has it too. It separates them from others. She had a very strong will in her day, I imagine. But she’s gone now, Tamara. Tina Louise is gone. She’s going to wait on the other side for Chloe. It’s safer for her. Oh, I almost forgot, Tina Louise says thank you for the birthday cards.”

  “She read them?” I clutched the blanket to my chest. “Really?”

  “Yes, and she’s really upset with you.” Joey grew a little more luminous now.

  “Me? Why?” I was completely stymied. “What did I do?”

  He put his hand on his sexy hip. “You let that lawyer pull a fast one on you. You didn’t get it all. She left Chloe a second trust. A large trust. He’s stealing from Chloe. She says fix it or she will!” He rubbed his forehead as if he were getting a headache. I could barely breathe. That meant all this time I’d been busting my ass trying to make a new life for Chloe, hustling here and there to make ends meet. I mean, the advance royalty check from the publishing company was nice, but it wouldn’t last forever.

  “I’ll talk to Kevin about finding a good attorney. I’m sure he can help me.”

  “Get a vicious one and force him to honor the agreement.”

  “I will, I swear! Tell her not to worry.” I glanced at my watch. “Oh, shoot! Kevin is going to be here soon. Joey, I want to show you something. It’s a surprise. Can you keep your eyes closed and follow my voice?”

  He squealed and clapped his hands as his beer disappeared. “I think so. Wait. Like, a real surprise? This isn’t some lame trick, is it?”

  “Joey, it’s me. Of course not. I love you, my friend. To be fair, this surprise was Chloe’s idea to start with. I don’t want to take all the credit for it. Come up the stairs with me. I want to show you something. I was praying we could give this to you together, but I can’t wait!” He squealed like a kid and jumped up and down again. “Close your eyes!”

  “Okay! Take my hand. A surprise, and it’s not even my birthday!”

  “But you’re home. That’s all that matters. Come on, up the steps.” I smiled at Joey’s closed eyes. I was feeling kind of sick and definitely low energy, which meant Joey was getting stronger because of me. I’d have to say goodbye to him soon to stop myself from getting even sicker. He’d understand; he always did. He’d probably go next door and drain Linda Blabbermouth if they hadn’t moved out yet.

  I opened the door to the newly remodeled guest room. I held Joey’s hand and left him standing in the center of the room with his eyes closed. I walked over to the radio and turned it on. I had a tape cued up and ready to go. Simple Minds began playing Joey’s favorite song, Don’t You Forget About Me. He didn’t open his eyes, but now it was his turn to cry. I flicked on the black light and the lava lamp. “Open those eyes, handsome!”

  “What?” he said as he spun about the room to take it all in.

  “I know you’re a nineties guy. I went with gray for the walls, because you know, the whole grunge look and believe it or not, gray is still in style. The bed is not a king, but it is a queen, which I thought was suitable. You’ve got ample storage in here, and you can do anything you like with the room. If you want to change the paint color, add twinkle lights, whatever you want, we can make it happen. This is your room, Joey. It’s only a few doors down from Chloe, but she’s okay with it. But remember, don’t go into Chloe’s room unless invited. Even I have to follow that rule.”

  Joey sat on the bed and stared at the posters on the wall. Pearl Jam, Nirvana, and R.E.M. stared down at Joey and he quickly got up to examine each of them. His legs weren’t manifested, but he was excitedly talking about concerts and singers and who was dead and who was alive.

  “You did this for me? Really? Chloe probably hates it, though.”

  “No, this was her idea. She wanted you to have a place to come back to. No more hiding in dryers, and definitely no more putting your head in the oven. Don’t lose hope, Joey. As long as you want to be here, it’s yours.”

  “I don’t know what to say,” he said as he touched the vintage Pearl Jam poster. “This is so thoughtful. You know I’m not this sentimental. I may change a few things, but I love it! Thank you, Tamara Garvey! This is the nicest thing anyone has ever done for me. I really do love it!”

  “Good. Well, do you mind getting lost for a while? My date is coming over. And remember you promised no peeking at any bare asses.” He groaned but immediately began playing with the lights. He was causing them to flicker off and on just by waving his fingers.

  “I love it. I can’t believe y’all did this for me. I can’t say thank you enough. Close the door behind you, Tamara, and pay no mind if I play the music a bit loud. My own room! It’s been a long time since I’ve had my own room. What time does Chloe get home?”

  I smiled at him as I went to the door. “She’ll be home about ten o’clock. Should I text her that you’re here? She’s going to be so happy to see you. Chloe has been overwhelmed with guilt.”

  “No, please don’t. I want to surprise her.” He smiled, and his beautiful smile lit up the room. He was happy and ultra-luminous. I couldn’t say no. I glanced at my watch again. I better get downstairs. I wouldn’t have time for a shower, but it didn’t matter. “Bye, Joey. Promise me you won’t go anywhere? You’ll stay here with us, won’t you?”

  “It’s not like I have anything else to do. I’m always dead. That’s not going to chan
ge.”

  “You don’t have to keep bringing that up. I didn’t mean it that way. I better go. I think that’s Kevin’s car pulling in the driveway. Chloe will be here soon. See you later, Joey. Right?”

  “Right,” he smiled back, and to my surprise, Joey kissed me right on the lips, but it wasn’t all romantic and mushy. It was more like a friendly kiss. I mean obviously, I wasn’t interested in him nor he me, despite our talk about 2.5 kids and the white picket fence. To my further surprise, his lips weren’t cold.

  “Why did you do that?” I could hardly move. I wasn’t sure how to proceed at all.

  “I don’t know. Go have fun, Tamara. Leave me your phone, though, because I want to watch your Periscope.”

  “You aren’t getting my phone. Besides, you have a television of your own. Watch your shows. I’ll see you later. Good night, Joey.”

  He grinned as he spun in the center of the room. “Good night, Tamara. I’ll wait up for you.”

  I smiled at that. “What if he spends the night?”

  “I’ll still wait up for you.”

  I smiled, feeling happy and hopeful. “Good night, Joey. I’ll see you in the morning.”

  With that, I closed the door. I practically skipped down the steps. I was so happy.

  I had my family back together again. My family!

  The doorbell rang, and I smiled as I hurried down the stairs. I was happy to see the new chandelier was behaving. There were no bloody bodies lying around. The music thumped and pumped from the second floor, old nineties tunes. I knew Joey would love the song by U2. How sad was it that I still made mixtapes?

  I mean come on, Tamara, it’s 2020.

  Kevin walked in with a bunch of flowers, a bottle of wine, and a face full of razor cuts. Apparently, his razor had been a dull one, but it was sweet of him to try to look nice for me. Here I was without my shower.

  “Chloe home? I didn’t see your car in the driveway,” he asked. I kissed him passionately. Oh, Joey. Forgive me. Your kiss was sweet, the kiss of a friend, but I need Kevin. He is alive and real, and I think...yes, I think we might have something together.