Rosemary's Ghosts (Tess Schafer-Medium)

by Deborah J. Hughes

  Kade got out of the way so Mary could give me a careful hug, then she sat on the bed, forcing Kade to go around the other side so he too could be next to me. "I was so worried about you."

  "I know. I'm sorry. But I'm fine now and that's all that matters." I glanced down at Mary's burgeoning belly. "The stress didn't bother you much did it?" I patted her baby bump gently. "Our little Mia is okay?"

  Mary's smile softened as she caressed her belly. "She's fine. I think she knew I was worried about you so she didn't kick so much and keep me awake all night."

  I was so glad about that for Mary's pregnancy was a complete surprise. Her two boys were fourteen and sixteen and she and her husband thought they were done with children. Considering her marriage was on the rocks when I first met her, things sure had changed over the past few months. All of it good and I didn't want my ghostly adventures to change that.

  "So you must tell me what happened." And then before I could say anything she added, "If you'd been wearing the necklace we made for you, I bet we would have found you sooner."

  Mary could be right about that. The necklace was made with Indian beads I found while investigating another supernatural mystery concerning a witches curse. They belonged to an Indian shaman who ended up being a distant relative of Mary's husband.

  And so for the second time, I told my story and when I finished, Mary stared at me in total silence. I knew she was trying to process it all and then she leaned forward and gave me another hug. "You really need to wear that necklace more often. I bet it would protect you from stuff like that. It must have been awful, Tess!"

  "But in the end, Rosemary was saved so it was worth it. And I got to thwart Cain again. That was an added benefit."

  But after Kade and Mary left for the evening and I lie in partial darkness, the events that happened on that island filtered through my thoughts and I knew my gift was growing, becoming more than I really understood. I just hoped I could learn to master it. And I hoped, no matter what challenges were ahead, I truly hoped I would learn the difference between the living and the dead. Seemed both sides had problems but learning to trust in what you believed in your heart ... that was the key.

  One thing for sure, as soon as I left this hospital, I was going back to that island. I needed to work it out in my head whether I dreamed it all or if it actually happened. I knew the answer of course but I still felt driven to go there. Maybe not tomorrow though the doctors said I could go home. But the next day for sure. Speaking of the doctors, they were quite surprised by my condition when I was brought in. They told me there was no indication of dehydration which, in their opinion, should have occurred since I lay there unconscious for three days. That's because Rosemary took good care of me, gave me all that tea! And that's why I had to go back. Soon.

  * * *

  Two days later, I was in Kade's boat headed for the island. He drove all the way up north to his place to get the boat the day before because he knew what I wanted to do and he said there was no way we were going by kayaks. Or a canoe for that matter. My friends Mary and Barbara had expressed concern about this trip, but I knew it was something I had to do. Although I was pretty sure Rosemary was now at peace, I had to be absolutely positive. Besides, it really nagged at me, the constant wondering if any of it really happened. Of course it did. Right?

  As we neared the island, my pulse rate increased and I clung to the edge of the boat, putting out my psychic feelers to determine if we had any sort of welcome committee. I got nothing.

  Kade cut the engine and eased his boat toward the rickety, sagging wharf. He knew it would hold up under our weight because they had used it during my rescue. The area around the wharf was relatively free of rocks which was unusual for most of Maine's shorelines were quite rocky. Kade surmised that Rosemary's grandfather probably cleared a lot of them away to get his fishing boat here. We docked at the end of the wharf and though my heart was pounding so hard it filled my ears, I stepped out onto the wobbling planks with a feeling of anticipation.

  "You okay?" Kade draped an arm across my shoulders and gave me a gentle squeeze. "You sure you want to do this?"

  I turned to press a kiss on his cheek then looked at the dilapidated cabin with determination. It looked like a strong wind could blow it down. I knew it wouldn't be safe to enter and that was fine. I didn't need to go inside. "Yes. I need to do this."

  Kade let me slip out from under his arm and I walked slowly along the wharf. It creaked and wobbled but held strong. The grass in front of the cabin was really overgrown, even more so than I remembered it. I looked to the area where we had our bonfire and was surprised to see a darkened ring. Giving a small gasp of wonder, I walked over to it and stared down at the blackened ground. Kade joined me but said nothing.

  "Rosemary and I had a bonfire. I was hoping someone from shore would see it and come investigate."

  Kade kicked at the ground. There were no remnants of a bonfire but the ground was definitely singed. "It really looks like a fire had been here at one time."

  I turned away and looked at the cabin. The porch was caved in, both support beams snapped in half, and the roof nearly gone. Most of it was lying in the porch rubble. The door was still hanging from one hinge and it caught a breeze every now and then banging against the outside wall. I walked around to the side of the cabin where the woodpile used to be and poked around on the ground. Kade joined me and though he didn't ask me what I was looking for, he knew he'd know if he saw it.

  Going on pure instinct, I knelt to the ground, pulling away the long dead grass until I felt something poking against my hand in a tangled clump of old shrub roots. Though I wasn't sure yet what it was, I knew it was going to be something I would be happy to see. Kade helped me pull tufts of grass and dried clumps of clay out of the way and then I held in my hand the diffuser Rosemary used to make my special tea.

  "What is that?"

  It was in remarkably good shape considering it had been here for years. The thick grass and clay soil must have protected it. "It's an infuser. Rosemary used it to make me a tea for my headache. It belonged to her grandmother."

  "How did you know it was here?" And then he waved off the question. "Never mind. You found it much like you do anything else."

  "Rosemary threw it out that window above us and I just had a hunch it would be here somewhere." I slipped the infuser into my jacket pocket and turned toward the hill. The rose bush was bare of leaves and the rock wall around it was not intact but remnants of it were still there. I walked up to it and stared down at the ground for a long quiet moment. It hurt my heart to know what happened here. "Angel is buried here."

  Kade stood beside me, his head bowed, and I figured he was saying a prayer for that sweet little baby whose time in life was so very brief. Even so, she'd left a lasting impression. With me. And now with Kade.

  A flood of peace washed through me making me smiled. They were together and happy now. All three of them. Though I couldn't see them, I knew Rosemary, Grace and Angel were near. I sent them blessings and knelt on the ground. It didn't take long to find the buried ceramic angel Rosemary had placed there. "Who owns the island now, Kade. Did anyone say?"

  "I don't think anyone really knew. We can find out at the town office. Why?"

  "I'd like to come back and fix up Angel's grave. And I'd like to find out where Grace and Rosemary are buried so we can visit their graves as well."

  The breeze grew stronger, blowing my hair in my face and I stood up with reluctance. It was a cold day and I had seen enough. Everything that happened to me here really happened. In another reality. One as real as this one.

  We started down the hill but I noticed the back door to the cabin was missing and walked over to peak in. Although the kitchen was now in shambles, it was just as I remembered it. Most of the cupboards were broken and the center island smashed to pieces. But the cast iron stove was still there, rusted, filthy and covered with debris, but intact. I tested the floor boards in front of me then inched my way
inside.

  "What are you doing, Tess? I don't think it's safe."

  "There's one more thing I need to find."

  We moved cautiously into the cabin and searched through the rubble. The mortar and pestle were actually pretty easy to find and I knew Rosemary was probably lending some assistance. I picked the heavy stone pieces up and cradled them in my hands. "I hope whoever owns the place won't mind if I take these."

  "I doubt it. They probably don't know they are even here or care if they did. It's not like anyone has tried to take care of the place."

  "No." It was such a shame to let the place go like this. It was a cute little cabin at one time. But it was quite beyond repair now.

  "Have you seen enough?"

  I nodded, unable to speak around the lump growing in my throat. I wanted to cry for all that was lost here. But then that comforting feeling of peace washed through me again and I drew in a fortifying breath. It ended well for the people connected to the place and that's all that really mattered.

  We walked to the wharf, my back crawling with the feeling of being watched. I turned quickly and thought I caught a glimpse of Mike and Tootsie, but a careful scan did not reveal them. No matter. I knew they were watching over me, and I found that quite comforting.

  "You see something?" Kade, too, scanned the area.

  "No. Let's go home. Everyone here is at peace and that's all I needed to know."

  As Kade pushed the boat away from the wharf and started the engine, I stared at the island and felt as if I was staring straight into Rosemary's contented soul. Tears blurred my vision and I closed my eyes. The infuser clutched in my hand felt warm with energy. I couldn't wait to go home and see if I could remember how to crochet. I'd make another doily. One just like Rosemary made. I'd put it on the table I intended for it when she offered to give me the one she was working on. If I could actually do it, and I was pretty sure that I could, then I would consider it Rosemary's gift. Speaking of which, she'd given me much more than a recipe for headaches and the know-how to crochet. I learned right along with her that the decisions in our life and in our death are always ours to make. It was a great lesson. I intended never to forget it.

  So as we made our way back to the shores of Silver Lake, I sent out blessings to all the spirits there...the Tomb Lady, whose mystery I hoped to one day learn, Elijah who I hoped to reunite with Isidora someday and to all the others I felt but had yet to meet. I was here in Bucksport to help those in spirit who needed it. And to move my own spiritual journey along. I couldn't wait to get to it.

  As we pulled up to the boat landing, I sent them all a silent promise. "Until we meet again, my friends. Rest now in peace."

  What a life I had. Could it get any better? Sure it could. All that happened before, it led to now and the fact my now included Bucksport's ghosts, well, there had to be a pretty good reason for it. So as I hopped into Kade's SUV all I could think was "Onward and upward. To new journeys and all that."

  The End!

  About the author

  Deborah Hughes has believed in ghosts ever since living in a haunted old farmhouse during seven years of her childhood. Since then she's been curious about the paranormal world and has sought to learn all she can about it. As a writer and avid reader, it was only natural for her to write the kind of books she likes to read. Her inspiration comes from spirit and from her own experiences. Visit her blog (address on title page!) and check out the various paranormal topics she likes to talk about. Share your own experiences with her for she loves to hear your stories! She also loves to hear what readers think of her book. Email her! Deborah.Hughes@rocketmail.com Friend her on Facebook! Deborah J. Hughes

  Books by Deborah J. Hughes

  Tess Schafer-Medium Series

  Be Still, My Love

  Hidden Voices

  Vanquishing Ghosts

  Rosemary's Ghosts

  Books not in a series:

  No Matter What

  Table of Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14