“I would have helped.”
“You’re not being paid to do the dishes,” Sally said.
“I’ll remember that when the grandkids visit. You’ll be standing there in your Betty Crocker apron, and I’ll be sitting on the couch in my grandpa pants.”
“What exactly are grandpa pants?” Sally asked.
“You know, the elastic-waisted ones with suspenders because my behind is too flat to keep the pants up below my tremendous round belly,” Cid explained. “They will be denim because I’ll still be a cool grandpa. You’ll be asking me to help with the dishes. And I’ll tell you I don’t get paid to do them.”
Sally laughed. “You don’t intend on living to see the great-grandkids, do you?”
“I guess not. The stew was wonderful. Once everyone got their appetite back, I was worried that I’d get mine stolen out from under me if I didn’t hang on to my bowl.”
“I didn’t have any leftovers,” Sally said contented. “Kiki eats as much as Carl does.”
“She works hard. I’m glad to see she’s got her head on straight.”
“Does she?” Sally challenged. “She seems to waver like a flag caught in a cross breeze.”
“I’ve been picking up that vibe. I do feel for her, being a woman in charge of six dopes, a temperamental ghost, and a fabulous cook.”
“I left before you guys settled in on a game plan,” Sally said to change the subject.
“The plan is to secure the plumbing and electrical first. Then we can attack each room together with the knowledge that the most dangerous area has already been taken care of.”
“So instead of working from the top down…”
“Up we go,” Cid finished.
“Please be careful,” Sally said.
Cid smiled. “I will. I learned a few hard lessons in the beginning of my ghost-hunting days. I’m an excellent student. I don’t tend to repeat my mistakes.”
“That’s good to know. I’m going to sit in on the refresher you’re going to give the guys tomorrow morning. All my knowledge comes from fiction.”
“You didn’t react when you first saw Faye.”
“Ah, you were watching.”
“Yes.”
“Carl warned me about Faye.”
“Was she your first ghost?”
“First active haunt.”
“You’ve been studying,” Cid said, taking Sally’s hand in his.
“I like to be prepared. Nothing will prepare you for battle though. The things I’ve seen still haunt me. Of course, that’s more on me than the paranormal world. I did see a line of hollow-eyed men walking on the road once when I was traveling in the Somme Valley with some other soldiers. You’d call that a residual haunt, I imagine.”
“You’re right.”
“What scares you?” Sally asked.
“Lots of things, but losing my eyesight again is the biggest. It wasn’t wearing the heavy lenses that were the biggest problem but the vulnerability of when my glasses were not at hand. I once got lost in a snowstorm when I tried to escape my captors without my glasses. Mia found me and sent help.”
“Why didn’t she just rescue you?”
“It’s a long complicated story…” Cid said and looked at Sally and made a leap. “Mia can travel out of her body. She calls it OOBing. Others would call it a state of bilocation. She moves faster than ghosts do. She has no solid form. And it was a miracle that I could hear her. She told me to stay still. She returned to her body and guided the deputies to me.”
“I’ve heard of bilocation and read a few accounts of out of body experiences,” Sally said. “You said you heard her…”
“Because of years of being near blind, my hearing is very strong. If I concentrate, I can tell you what Wayne and your brother are talking about down in the workroom.”
“You’re an amazing man, Cid.”
Cid blushed.
Sally took her free hand and gently touched his face. “Thank you for today. Thank you for forgiving my ignorance regarding your lifestyle. I can tell trust is very important to you, as it is to me. Your words and revelations will not be mocked by me. Well, not in public. I am a bit of a joker. It’s a defense mechanism.”
“I better get going. The men are headed upstairs, and I’m beat. I’m going to secure the trailer and get some sleep.”
Cid kissed Sally lightly on the lips and got up. He extended a hand. “Walk me out?”
“I’ll just grab my coat,” Sally said and moved quickly to the room she shared with Kiki.
“They’re not all crazy,” Faye said, materializing in front of Cid.
“Who?”
“The ghosts. I met one who is as sane as Mr. Wonderful, and he evidently has a friend of similar stability called Blue Daniel.”
“Does this sane ghost have a name?” Cid asked, pulling out his cellphone to take a note.
“Jon, spelt with no H, O’Connor.”
“I’ll have Audrey look him up.”
Faye sensed Sally approaching and disappeared. Cid finished his note and took Sally’s hand. The couple bore the jeers and teases from the four contractors as they passed them. Carl gave Cid a look that translated to, “I’ve got my eye on you.”
Outside, Cid stopped and turned and drew Sally into his arms. He kissed her, enjoying the feeling of being kissed back. Sally wasn’t aggressive but neither was she shy. She kissed with her eyes open as if she were afraid that he’d disappear.
“You better go in now. Until I know what may be crawling around these premises, I’d sleep better knowing you were inside.”
“Yes, General,” Sally said and walked inside and closed the door. She pressed her face against the high panes of the window and watched as Cid walked through the cold night to the trailer. The coolness of the glass stilled the heat that had built up. Once she
