Jesse opened the envelope where a note written with spiky handwriting greeted him.
Dear Jesse,
Forgive me for being, as Ethan calls me, a hag last night. I wanted to remove what was left of the lake before it infected your lungs. The tea and ointment kept your lungs clear the rest of the night. Before I left, your lungs were free of that rattle. You were sleeping so soundly that I didn’t want to wake you.
Why was I here:
Father Simon called me. He was concerned about you being left to your own devices. It turns out his fears were justified. Please rest and let Ethan, Cid or Murph pamper you for a few days. If you feel feverish or have pain breathing, go to Green Ridge Hospital and ask for Dr. Walters. He’s seen handprints on hearts before. It may be a good idea to see him anyway. As he is fond of saying, “Mrs. Martin, you’re a healer not a doctor.”
Why I wasn’t here:
Jesse, I’d appreciate it if you don’t tell Cid I was here. I know you don’t like lying and neither do I, but Cid and I are on tenterhooks lately, and I don’t want him to think that I’m interfering with his life. Yes, his friends equal his life. He needs to feel that he can handle any situation he runs into. And he can, mostly. Since he didn’t ask for my help, I’m crossing the line here.
Thank you for understanding,
Mia Martin.
“Do you have a shredder?” Jesse asked.
“In the office. But Cid will wonder what’s shredded, since Ted’s not home, and put it back together. Here.” Ethan held out his hand. He pulled out a lighter, set the envelope on fire, and dropped it in the skillet already in the sink.
Cid walked in sniffing. “Did you burn breakfast?”
“Yes,” Ethan lied. “Would you like some of my burnt offerings?”
“No. Jesse, how would you like to go out to breakfast?”
“I’m a little worn out. I think I’ll take it easy for a few days,” Jesse said. “I may even have this doctor, Ethan was telling me about, take a gander at my heart.”
“Dr. Walters,” Ethan confirmed. “I’ll call and make you an appointment.”
“Did you see the fair Sally?” Jesse asked.
“Yes. She’s got a temporary job at the facility cooking.”
“That means she’s going to be around for a while,” Jesse said.
Cid beamed.
Ethan and Jesse exchanged looks.
“I’ll empty my stuff out of the trailer,” Cid said, getting up. “I have those books Daniel wanted to give to Faye. Where did she end up?”
“If Kiki remembered to remove Faye’s emerald pin, then she’s with Kiki. If not, I expect she’s in the trailer,” Jesse realized.
Cid paled. “Mia is going to kill me! I brought home another ghost!”
“I think she’ll be fine with Faye. Before you go, could you show me how to work the media equipment on the third floor?” Jesse asked.
“Sure.”
Jesse walked over to the little desk, grabbed a notepad, picked up a pen, and wrote down, Have Murphy make sure that Faye doesn’t spill the beans about Mia! “Ethan, could you see if the pharmacy has this muscle cream?” Jesse asked, handing him the notepad.
“I’ll see to it right away,” Ethan said reading the note.
~
Faye had just set down one of the books from the box when there was a frantic tapping on the door to the trailer.
“Come in,” she said.
Murphy moved into the trailer. He took off his hat. “Jesse sent me.”
“Is he okay?” Faye asked.
“Yes. Did you visit him last night?”
“Yes, but I didn’t wake him.”
“So…”
“I saw Mrs. Martin with him. She put her finger to her lips, and I vanished. They aren’t…”
“No!” Murphy told her the whole story, ending with a plea to keep the visit from Cid for the time being.
“I don’t see that he would have any problem with her taking care of Jesse unless she’s been meddling elsewhere,” Faye speculated and lifted an eyebrow.
“I don’t think so. I’m not sure. I don’t know.”
Faye smiled. Mr. Wonderful was wringing his hat in his hands. She had the mighty Stephen Murphy flustered. Then she remembered that this ghost saved Jesse’s life and helped them release Jon and Daniel into the light. She felt ashamed of herself. “Stephen, I won’t say a word, I promise.”
“Thank you. Miss Faye, would you like to go for a walk sometime?”
“No funny business,” Faye said.
Murphy put on his hat and tugged it low over his eyes and said through his teeth, “No funny business.”
“Then I’d love to take as stroll around your beautiful farm with you. Do you read?”
“I know how to read, but sometimes it’s hard to turn the pages.”
“I could read some of Daniel’s adventures to you.”
“I’d like that very much.”
Cid opened the door. He was surprised to see Murphy there.
Faye looked at him. “Surprise! Guess who’s stuck with me for a while?”
“Jesse,” Cid insisted. “You’re in Jesse’s trailer, you’re Jesse’s ghost.”
“Fine. So, Stephen, what does a ghost do for fun around here?” Faye asked.
“We could go and talk to Sally. She has lots of stories, most of them funny.”
“Sally! Is Sally here?” Faye asked.
“At the veterans hospital.”
“WAIT!” Cid shouted. “I don’t want you two bothering Sally.”
“But you were bothering Sally last night,” Murphy said, tipping his hat back with his axe. “Seems to me you didn’t come home last night either.”
Faye saw that Cid was more flustered than Stephen was earlier. She winked at Stephen and said, “I think we’ll leave Sally be for now. Give Cid a chance to mess this up on his own.”
“Would you care to go for that walk now? We could share our best Cid-screwed-up stories,” Murphy said,
