Skellyman

by Rie Sheridan Rose

  Daisy began to sort through the frilly dresses with all the concentration of a girl looking for a prom dress. She finally pulled out a frothy red and gold creation with a detachable black cape.

  “This one. This one would be the perfectest.”

  Brenda was relieved. At least they had gotten past the skeletons…

  “Now we need a skelly head, Mama.”

  Brenda stared at her father.

  “Well, Brenda Elaine, I just suggested to her there would be a lot of skeletons trick-or-treating, but there wouldn’t be too many skeleton princesses.” He shrugged. “It was the best I could do.”

  With a groan of dismay, Brenda took Daisy over to the mask section, where they found a skull Daisy proclaimed was “Exactedly what I wanted!”

  It was much more realistic than the standard cartoon depiction, and Brenda shuddered.

  “I need a crown too, Mama.”

  “How about I let you borrow my tiara?”

  It was the one remnant of Mary’s vicarious pageant spree days—a relic of the one contest she had actually won—and Brenda knew Daisy coveted it.

  “Oh! That would be magnisifant!”

  “Well, we want you to be magnificent, don’t we?” Brenda couldn’t help but smile.

  Glancing down at her watch, Brenda exclaimed, “Darn—time really got away from me. It’s much later than I thought. We need to get over to Elise’s as soon as we can. Let’s go pay for your costume, sweetie.”

  Daisy skipped ahead of them, triumphantly holding her skull mask aloft.

  “Thank you for seeing us on such short notice, Elise,” Brenda murmured, smoothing Daisy’s curls. “I just…needed to discuss this new phase with you, and I thought seeing her might help.” She shrugged helplessly.

  “I don’t usually deal with children directly, Brenda,” Elise answered, “but I’ll see what I can do.”

  The therapist smiled down at the child. “How are you today, Daisy? My name is Dr. Fairbanks, but you can call me Elise.”

  Daisy looked up at her. “Are you the crazy doctor? My Grammy says Mama shouldn’t be wasting money on you.”

  “Daisy!” Brenda was mortified, but Elise just laughed.

  “I’m sure a lot of Grammys feel that way, honey, but we let the Mamas decide.” She winked at Brenda. “Now, you want to come sit over here and tell me a story?”

  Daisy hopped up onto one of Elise’s comfortable chairs. Brenda sank down on the couch.

  “What happened to your arm, Brenda?”

  The question startled Brenda out of her thoughts.

  “It’s nothing,” she answered sheepishly. “I’ll tell you all about it next time.”

  “I’ll hold you to that,” Elise said, shaking her finger at Brenda sternly. “Now, Daisy…I think you were going to tell me a story.”

  “What about?” asked Daisy quizzically, turning her skull mask in her hands. She had refused to leave it in the truck.

  “Whatever you want. How about you tell me about your mask there?”

  “This is my Hallyween mask. I’m going to be a skelly princess.”

  “Really? Why not a regular princess? Wouldn’t it be more fun playing with Mama’s makeup?”

  Daisy shook her head decisively. “Nope. I want to be a skellyman. Just like Robbie—only he can’t be a princess, because he’s a boy. No, wait…he’s not a skellyman, he’s a ghost!”

  Brenda stared at her daughter aghast.

  “Daisy, honey…Robbie can’t go trick-or-treating with you this year,” Elise said softly.

  “’Course not,” snorted the child, “he’s in the boneyard. But I wanted to be a skelly anyway. He just maded up my mind for sure.”

  Elise frowned.

  “What do you mean?”

  “He says being a skellyman is fun, though he likes being a ghost better.” She shrugged matter-of-factly.

  “When did he tell you that?” Elise prodded.

  “Last night.”

  Chapter 46

  He shouldn’t have visited Daisy at their grandparents’ house, but he couldn’t find Mom anywhere, and he’d hoped that the little girl would know where she was.

  When he appeared in Daisy’s guest bedroom, the little girl bounced on the bed with glee.

  “Robbie! I knoweded you’d come see me again.” She picked up the white puppy by the neck and held it up for him. “See my puppy? His name is Bones. He got hitted by a car…oh wait. You was there, wasn’t you?”

  He nodded, sinking down on the edge of the bed—or as close to it as he could manage. “I saw that man hit him. Is he okay?”

  She clutched the dog to her chest, despite its whimpering struggles. “He brokeded his leg.” She lifted the cast. “See?”

  “That must’ve hurt. Maybe you should let him get some sleep.”

  “Yeah. He just had his medishun. Prolly needs to sleep.”

  Nodding wisely, Daisy plopped the puppy down on the floor.

  It squeaked and Robbie winced. “That’s better for him.”

  Daisy came toward him on her knees. “What’re you gonna be for Hallyween, Robbie?”

  “I don’t get to go trick-or-treating anymore, squirt.”

  “’Cause you are in the boneyard, right?”

  “Uh…I guess you could say that.”

  “What’s it like there? Bein’ a skellyman?”

  Robbie frowned. She was being weird.

  “It’s okay, I guess. Nobody tells you what to do or anything…it’s kinda fun.”

  “I want to be a skellyman just like you!”

  “I’m not really a skeleton, Daisy. At least…not all the time. Do I look like a skeleton to you?”

  “Well, no. You look like Robbie…but see-fru.”

  “What would that make me?”

  Her little face screwed up in thought, and then brightened. “I remember. You’s a ghost!”

  “That’s right, squirt. I’m more of a ghost type.”

  He took an unnecessary breath. “Listen, do you know where Mom is? I really need to talk to her.”

  Daisy shook her head. “Just some hotel or something. She’s supposeded to let us know where.”

  “I’ll come back later then and see if you’ve found out.”

  “Do you got to go?”

  “You need to go to sleep. You’ve got school in the morning, don’t ya?”

  “I forgotted.” A huge yawn split her face in two.

  “You go to sleep. I’ll be back.”

  Daisy snuggled down under the covers. “Okay, Robbie. Next time you tell me all about the boneyard.”

  Robbie let himself shift back into the darkness. There was something really strange about his little sister…should he add that to the list of things to tell Mom?

  Chapter 47

  Daisy’s assertion that she was speaking to her dead brother—and fairly frequently from what she told Elise in subsequent answers—left Brenda shaken to the core, but Elise assured her this was still quite normal for a child who had sustained such a loss.

  It was the origin of more than one imaginary friend. Children sometimes need a period of adjustment to come to terms with loss in their own way. It shouldn’t be encouraged, but at the same time, it shouldn’t be stigmatized either.

  In other words, leave her alone and she’ll grow out of it.

  Brenda walked Daisy back to the truck.

  George looked up from the newspaper he was reading and folded it away. “How’d it go, honey?”

  “Dr. Fairbanks isn’t concerned,” Brenda sighed. “She thinks Daisy is being a perfectly normal little girl. I guess I was just over-reacting.”

  “You’re her mama. It’s only natural to be protective. You should’ve seen your mama tear into a teacher who held you after school one day for talking.”

  “I don’t remember that.”

  “Probably not. You were about the same age Daisy is now. Your mama gave that woman what for—it was something to see.”

  The thought of Mary coming
to her defense was new to her.

  “Did you talk to the doctor about…what happened at the house?”

  Brenda shook her head with a shudder. “I couldn’t. Not in front of Daisy.”

  “Maybe you should march back in there and talk about it.”

  “No…she had another patient coming in as we left. I’ll talk to her later. I couldn’t ask her to bump another appointment.”

  “I’m sure she would’ve understood, honey. Under the circumstances.”

  “That wouldn’t be fair to anyone. I-I’ll be okay, Papa.”

  “You coming with us to have supper?” George asked.

  Dropping in on Mary at meal time would lead to unnecessary acrimony. She was tempted to go, despite the inevitable confrontation, just so she could spend more time with Daisy…mother’s instinct, she supposed…but the thought of dealing with her own mother wearied her beyond belief.

  Brenda reluctantly shook her head.

  I want to protect my daughter, keep her safe—from what? Her imagination? Just not worth the fight. Papa will take care of her.

  It wasn’t terribly far from Elise’s office to the B&B, but Brenda didn’t feel safe walking, so she accepted George’s offer of a ride.

  “Thank you, Papa.”

  “anytime, Brenda Elaine. If you need anything, you just call us. Day or night.”

  Tears welled in her eyes as she kissed his stubbled cheek. “I will, Papa. I promise.”

  She kissed Daisy goodbye and sent her on home with George.

  She turned to walk up the steps into the B&B. Maybe she’d see if Penny had a spare bottle of wine she could borrow. Spending the evening pleasantly buzzed seemed like a heavenly idea right about now.As she reached for the door handle, her cell phone rang, and she worked it out of her purse.

  “Hello?”

  “Hi there,” Phillip’s voice sounded tired. “I’ve been thinking about you all day long.”

  “I was hoping you’d call. I’m sorry I wasn’t there if you came by the school this afternoon. I know you were going to take us shopping, but…something came up, and I got my father to drive.”

  “No problem. I’ve been stuck at the station all day anyway. How’re things going?”

  “Aside from my daughter talking about her dead brother telling her things, it’s been okay”

  “Must be rough on her.”

  “I never realized how rough,” said Brenda softly. “I’ve been far too wrapped up in my own pain to really deal with hers.”

  “You’re only human, sweetheart. Say…you free for dinner?”

  All thoughts of a bath and a solo date with a bottle disappeared. Dinner with Phillip would be much more therapeutic.

  “Sure. Can I have a half hour to get ready?”

  He chuckled, the sound warm and familiar over the cell line.

  “Just like a woman…wants to primp before she lets a fellow see her.”

  “It’s getting colder. I’d rather change into a pair of slacks if it’s okay with you.”

  “If you insist…but I’d love to see you in a dress sometime.”

  Brenda felt a thrill of pleasure ripple through her at the thought. It had been too long since anyone cared how she looked. If she were honest with herself, Ethan had stopped noticing what she wore years before his death.

  “Well, since you ask so nicely…but I would still like to clean up a bit.”

  “You look pretty clean to me.”

  “Wha—” She looked up to see Phillip leaning against his car parked across the street—grin on his face, and cell phone in hand.

  “Goodbye,” she said, sticking her tongue out at him.

  He laughed, flipping the phone closed and sticking it in his pocket. He stepped forward and gathered her into his arms.

  “You look fabulous,” he murmured, planting a kiss on her forehead. “Okay. Now I’ve seen you in a dress. You can go change if you want.”

  “How ’bout you just promise we’ll go somewhere warm, and I’ll be okay in the dress?”

  “Uncle Teo’s?”

  Brenda pretended to think about it. “That might do. If I can have Sangria.”

  “I think we can arrange that.”

  She pulled away from him.

  “Okay. Let me run upstairs and check on the kitten. I’ll be right back down.”

  “Take your time. I’ll chat with Penny while you’re getting ready.”

  Brenda hurried into the house, calling a greeting to Penny as she went upstairs.

  The kitten mewed piteously as she opened the door to her room.

  “Poor baby,” she murmured, picking up Mask and snuggling against her soft fur. “I’ve been neglecting you horribly, haven’t I?”

  Mask began to purr, rubbing her little nose against Brenda’s cheek and licking her face. Brenda chuckled. It felt good to have the unconditional love of something—even if it was only a cat.

  She set out half a can of food for the kitten, and filled the water bowl. Glancing at the litter box, she decided it would be okay until she got home from the date.

  This time it definitely was a date…and she felt like a teenager again, breathless and giddy about the fact she had one. For the moment, the horrors of the past week were pushed to the very back of her mind. She would ignore the skellyman tonight. After all, she’d be as safe as she could possibly be with Phillip.

  She checked her face in the mirror. The make-up she had put on for school that morning was in pretty good shape, except for the lipstick—which she re-applied. She made a moue at the mirror, pretending to be a beauty-queen again.

  God! Why did I ever let Mother talk me into those ridiculous pageants?

  She’d have to ask her mother where she’d put the tiara so Daisy could use it for Halloween. She knew Mary had kept track of it.

  Grabbing her sweater from the bed, Brenda hurried toward the stairs. As she clattered down them, she heard Penny call her name. She poked her head into the dining room.

  “Need something?”

  “Are you going to be here for dinner this evening?” Penny asked.

  Brenda felt her cheeks heat up. “No. I’m sorry for the late notice. Phillip was outside, and he asked me to go to Tu Familia for dinner.”

  Penny laughed. “I’m just teasing,” she said as Phillip stepped around the corner with a sheepish grin. “He told me all about it. It’s perfectly okay. I understand. Before you go, could you grab the paper for me? It should be on the doorstep.”

  “Sure.” Slipping into her sweater, she opened the front door and bent down to retrieve the newspaper from the porch.

  The screaming headline above the fold almost made her ill: HOOKER FOUND MURDERED IN LOCAL HOME

  The story gave the details of the murder in Brenda’s house. It was graphic for a news story, and the description of the blood-stained scene made her stomach turn—but something compelled her to keep reading. At the bottom of the article, scrawled in red on the newspaper were the words: “Sorry I Missed You—I Had Fun.”

  Brenda made a sound deep in her throat. It was midway between a scream and a moan.

  And then Phillip was there, arm around her waist, supporting her so she didn’t fall.

  “What is it, sweetheart?”

  Wordlessly, she handed him the paper.

  Phillip scanned it quickly, and his face turned dark.

  “This guy is really psychotic, Brenda. I’ve got to report this as soon as possible.”

  “Let’s skip dinner tonight, Phillip. I don’t think I’m hungry anymore.”

  “Sure, baby. I fully understand.” He gave her a hug. “We’ll catch this sonofabitch, Brenda. I promise you.”

  “Will it be too late?”

  “Not if I can help it.” He kissed her on the forehead. “Try and get some rest.”

  Brenda nodded miserably. She had really been looking forward to the dinner. Oh well, maybe that bath and bottle of wine wouldn’t be so bad after all.

  “Can I get you anything?” asked Penny sy
mpathetically.

  “You wouldn’t happen to have any Sangria, would you?” Brenda sighed wistfully.

  Penny nodded. “I think I can scare up a bottle. You want me to bring it upstairs?”

  “That would be great, sis,” Phillip broke in. “I’m putting her in your care. I’ve got to go to the station and make a report. Don’t let her out of the house.”

  “I won’t,” Penny promised, giving a Girl Scout salute.

  “And I’m taking your paper.”

  Penny looked confused, and Phillip turned it to show her the scrawled message.

  “Go right ahead,” she murmured, with a shudder.

  Phillip led Brenda to the stairs, and hugged her again.

  “I’m sorry about tonight, Sunshine. I’ll make it up to you. Go upstairs and lock yourself in. Don’t open the door for anyone but Penny. Take a nice, hot bath and try to forget about all this for now. I know that’ll be difficult, but try. You’re scared, and that’s perfectly understandable, but it’ll all be okay. We’ll just take a rain-check on that dinner.”

  Brenda nodded, sighing heavily. She hurried up the stairs as fast as she had come down them only minutes before. Stepping inside her bedroom, she slammed the door and threw her sweater across the room with a sob of frustration.

  Why is this happening to me? Why has someone decided to destroy my life?

  There was a knock on the door, and Penny’s voice outside, “Brenda?” The door opened a crack, and she peeped around it. “I found one.” She held up a bottle of Sangria and a wineglass. “I always keep a couple of these in the fridge for those days when they really come in handy. Enjoy.”

  “I’ll try.” Brenda managed a wobbly smile.

  “Don’t worry. Phillip would move heaven and earth to keep you safe. He really is smitten with you.”

  Brenda laughed despite herself. “‘Smitten’?”

  Penny shrugged. “I’m an old-fashioned girl, what can I say? Why don’t you take tomorrow off? I can handle the kids, and you could probably do with a good night’s sleep.”

  “Thanks,” Brenda murmured sincerely.

  “Oh, by the way—one mystery solved,” Penny said with a smile. “I asked the boys, and Benny admitted he wrote a message in soap on the mirror for his brother to find. It wouldn’t show up unless the mirror was foggy.