Ghost of a Chance Book 1 in Above the Grave Trilogy

by Kara Kirkendoll

Brendan reached down and pulled out the chair at the head of the table. “My Princess.” He said, holding his hand out as if to say, “Sit!”

  She obliged and with a nod of her head said, “Thank you.”

  “Everything really looks so wonderful. I wish that I would have dressed up a little more. I just noticed that even Liza has on a dress. She looks very stunning.”

  “Yes, she does, as do you. You have a glow about you. Drew, you look radiant, my love.” He said as he kissed her hand then sat in the chair to her right.

  “ You are looking quite handsome yourself; your new skin fits you well.” She said running her fingers over the back of his newly formed hand and smiling up at him.

  Brendan had to take in a deep breath. The feel of her fingertips against his knuckles made a shock shoot through him from head to toe.

  Just then Liza came in through the swinging door carrying a large bowl of pasta. Immediately Brendan’s stomach growled very loudly, helping to extinguish the fire that had started to burn in other parts of his body. “Excuse me. I haven’t heard that in a very long time.” He laughed.

  Drew and Liza laughed with him though in her gut she was feeling like something was wrong. Nothing made sense. How was it that he was here? It was a miracle that he had been there as a ghost in the first place. Now he was sitting at the dinner table with her obviously ready to devour some of Liza’s Crawfish Pasta.

  “Brendan, are you sure that is a good idea?” She whispered when she saw him scooping up some of the pasta into the fine china bowl that sat in front of him.

  “Well, I don’t think that it will kill me.” He laughed. Drew didn’t like that statement at all and he saw it on her face.

  “Besides,” He said in a soothing voice, “I have needed to put on some weight for quite some time. There are a few of life’s pleasures that we take for granted, one of them is eating, and I am afraid that this smells way too good to pass up.” He looked at Liza then and spoke up. “If this tastes as good as it looks and smells I may have to hire ye on as a cook.”

  “Why thank you!” Liza said blushing. “Drew is an amazing cook though when she isn’t being so lazy. You should try her gumbo sometime. It’s the best in the south!”

  “I don’t know about that!” Drew said laughing. “Besides, Brendan, the more appropriate compliment for our century would be that you would marry Liza for her cooking, not hire her as one of your servants.”

  “If you ladies don’t mind I would like to say a little prayer before we eat.” Brendan said reaching for Drew’s hand.

  “Of course.” Drew said blushing and reached for

  Liza’s on her other side. It had been a very long time since she had spoken to the Man upstairs. Since death had become a big part of her life recently however she didn’t find that it was a bad idea.

  The three of them closed their eyes and bowed their heads. For a moment all of the bad feelings that Drew had been stirring up in the pit of her stomach faded away. Everything felt so peaceful and right.

  She loved Brendan’s voice, and hearing it so openly in prayer gave her a feeling of calmness that she hadn’t felt in quite some time. He thanked God for the moment that they were sharing, for the newly discovered bond of friendship that he prayed would never go away and for the chance to feel human again, no matter how brief it may be.

  “Amen.” He said then Liza and Drew followed.

  Drew wiped the tears from her eyes. That very moment, that very prayer, had reminded her that her time with Brendan, the way that he was now, could be very brief. She had a lot to settle on, and she was pretty sure that she already knew the answer. She wanted to be with him. Even if it was just for one night, she wanted him to be hers.

  Brendan moaned and closed his eyes with every bite. The girls giggled at him. She realized that Brendan was right. One of the simple pleasures of life was eating, and her simple pleasure at the moment was watching him really enjoy himself, as she knew that he hadn’t gotten to do in such a very long time.

  Drew couldn’t help but watch his every mo ve. The man of her dreams was right before her and she was soaking every moment of it up. She remembered how he kissed her, how they danced, how they made love in her dreams and at one point was so deep into thought that she dropped her fork when Liza cleared her throat to get her attention. She had been staring, and possibly drooling. She wasn’t sure for how long.

  She knew that she had to get herself together. She felt like a love struck teenager who had just met their boy band idol. She felt giddy. She felt drugged. She felt like she was going to be sick from the nerves.

  When Brendan had finished his third bowl of pasta and felt as if he was going to have to unbutton his britches, Liza stood up to clear the table.

  “Let me help you.” Drew said as she rose from the table, fumbling everything that she touched. She grabbed her plate and Brendan’s in a death lock so as not to drop it and followed Liza to the kitchen.

  “Liza?” Drew said almost in tears.

  Liza dropped the bowl and plate that she was carrying into the sink and took Drew in her arms. “Sweetheart, I know that you have feelings for him. I can see it in your eyes. Not to mention your body language. Whatever is going on here, follow your heart!” She said as she pushed Drew away and shook her shoulders at arm’s length.

  “What happens when he leaves? Because you know that he can’t stay, Liza. Whatever I have been given with him is only temporary, I know it in my heart and it hurts so much!” Drew wept.

  “Is everything ok?” Brendan said as he walked into the kitchen. He saw the tears streaming down Drew’s face and rushed to her.

  “Are ye hurt, woman?” He asked taking Drew out of Liza’s hands and into his own.

  Liza just stared at them. She was so caught up in the emotions that were so obviously stirring between her friend and this very gorgeous man. The only emotion she had ever seen Drew show was annoyance.

  Drew just stared up at him in silence. She had no idea what to say or do. She was so new to the feelings that she was having and was completely lost for words.

  “You know what, Drew? I am really feeling quite tired all of a sudden. Would you mind if I went ahead and used that shower? I think I will be heading to bed soon.”

  Drew looked at Liza one last time. She had known her more than half of her life and thought that she could tell whatever was going on in her brain just by looking in her eyes. When she looked in her eyes this time she saw hope, love, and somehow pride.

  Liza was the most important person in Drew’s life. She had a mother that she loved very much no matter what the circumstances had been. Liza was her best friend, her soul sister. No matter what happened in her life, she would always know that Liza would be the one to stand by her side. She knew now what she wanted more than anything and the fact that Liza wanted the same thing for her, made it that much more special.

  Drew straightened up her shoulders, let out a breath that she felt like she must have been holding in her whole life and gave her friend a hug. “I love you.” She said to Liza.

  She felt Liza’s shoulders shake underneath her arms and thought that she must have made her cry. When she pulled away she saw that her friend was laughing.

  “I love you too.” and with a kiss on the cheek she strolled away with her head held high.

  “Is everything ok?” Brendan asked again much quieter this time.

  Drew turned to face him and smiled. “Everything is perfect. Do you think that we could take a walk? Get some fresh air?”

  Brendan looked down at his newly formed body and shrugged. “We could take a chance.” He said.

  “Hmm. Maybe we should just take a walk inside of the house. It is big enough. Maybe you could show me the upstairs?” Drew asked.

  “Alright.” He said jadedly.

  He took her arm as they headed towards the living room. Brendan wasn’t quite sure what was wrong but he could feel that Drew was very uneasy. He was quite sure that he had walked in on a girl moment
although he wasn’t quite sure what it was about.

  “Are you sure that everything is ok?” Brendan ask ed again. “You seem as though you could jump out of your sandals at any moment.”

  Drew smiled up at him again and laughed. “What is up stairs that you are so mysterious about anyway?” She asked.

  “Come. I will show you my bedroom.”

  They walked upstairs arm in arm. Drew almost felt as though she was floating even though she knew that this time her feet were really on the floor.

  She could feel the crispness of his coat on her arm. She felt the warmth of his body against hers. He took her hand and pressed it to his lips as they reached the top of the stairs and she wanted so badly to jump up in the air, into his arms but for some reason she was frozen. She was like a child she realized, she had no idea how to act.

  “Do you feel differently? Now that you have a body I mean?” She asked.

  “Aye, I feel alive, more now than ever, even when I was living.”

  He took her arm again and led her past the first door on the left. It had been the light that she had seen glowing before but this time the light was off. When she turned to look towards it he silently nudged her along.

  “This door here is the library. If ever ye would like to curl up and read a book, there are a million of them there.”

  He opened the door and switched on the light. He was right. There had to have been a million books lining the walls from floor to ceiling. “Knowledge.” She said then closed her eyes and took in the smell of the room.

  “Aye, and adventure. It is the chance to live in someone else’s boots, even if just for a moment. That is my favorite part of reading.”

  He turned the light off and led her to the next room. She was so beautiful. Watching her close her eyes made him want to kiss them open again.

  “This is my room.” He said as he reached the next door. He opened the door and asked her to stay where she was for a moment. He disappeared into the darkness.

  Drew stood above the living room area staring down over the balcony. It all looked so small from up there. She felt like she was standing above the world looking down. It was so weird seeing the world that she had been living in the last couple of weeks from a different angle. It looked so much different.

  He put his hand on her shoulder and stood behind her. She shivered. “Miss Drew, are youcold?” He asked.

  “No, I’m very warm thank you.” She replied then turned around to face him. He was carrying a candle that he had lit to light the way. She noticed that his Irish sprouted when he was nervous as well. At least she assumed he was nervous.

  “Come then. I shall show you a little bit of who I once was.”

  She knew that the lights probably worked in the bedroom just as they had in the library and in the rest of the house. She wasn’t sure why he chose to use the candle but she was glad. It gave the room a romantic glow. It was perfect. She saw the huge canopy bed and wanted so badly to just lay in it and let him take her. She knew that he would be gentle, just as he had said he would and she knew in her heart that she was ready for that.

  “The bedrooms back then were qui te different then they are now.” She said looking around at the room. The walls were pretty much bare except for a landscape painting, she was sure was of Ireland, and a large mirror that had been turned around. “I would imagine if you were from my time that you would have a few trophies on a shelf from some kind of high school or college team and posters of your favorite nude model hanging on the wall.”

  “Well, even in my time paintings of nudes were quite popular.” He said with a smile.

  He led her to sit on the edge of the bed and sat the candle down on a night stand. “Here is something ‘twas my parents. My da gave it to my ma on their anniversary.”

  He reached into a drawer and pulled out a wooden box and handed it to her. “After their death I put it away. I was going to give it to my sister as a wedding gift if ever she had found the right lad to be marrying.”

  “Oh!” Drew gasped as she opened the box that was lined with red satin. “That is the most beautiful necklace I have ever seen!”

  The necklace was a long gorgeous silver chain that had somehow kept its shine after so many years. At the end of the chain was a large emerald that was sheathed in a square Celtic knot made of very fine silver threads. She had never seen anything more lovely in her life and couldn’t stop staring.

  “I want you to wear it, Miss Drew. It is believed that a square Celtic knot will protect its wearer from evil spirits. I don’t know what is haunting ye Love, but maybe this will help keep ye safe.”

  “Brendan, are you sure?” Drew could feel her eyes well up. Maybe he was just trying to protect her and would want the necklace back once she was safe but it was the most wonderful gift she had ever been given, even if it was only temporary.

  “Of course I am sure.” He said sitting next to her. “Why do ye cry?”

  “It’s just so striking,” she said still staring, “, and very sweet of you.”

  Brendan reached down and took the necklace out of the box. He unhooked what looked like an ancient clasp and draped it around Drew’s neck. He let his fingers linger on the back of her neck for just a moment before he clasped it shut.

  “As are you.” He said kissing her neck and then standing up.

  Drew blushed. “You know Celtic knots also symbolize eternity?” She said, holding the emerald in her hand.

  “Aye, and the intertwining of two souls.” He added.

  “What did you do for entertainment?” She asked, letting the necklace fall to her breast. She was growing even more nervous all of a sudden, if that was possible, and small talk was the only thing that she could think of to calm her down.

  “What do you mean?” He asked, sitting down beside her.

  “Well, I mean, what did you do on a date? You couldn’t have gone to a movie or roller skating or anything like that.”

  He laughed, “You mean courting? When a man courted a woman they would go on walks together, sometimes a play or a picnic, that sort of thing. Never would ye be sitting on a gentleman’s bed alone.” He said the latter more seriously then stood up.

  “We should go back downstairs.” He said and held his hand out as if to help her up. “I shouldn’t have brought ye, here.” He corrected himself. His eyes looked sad as he looked towards the door.

  “I want to be here.” She said and held out her hand to him. “I know that you did things differently back then, but this is the twenty-first century after all. Times have changed even though I have never really had much experience with that sort of thing in your time or mine.”

  She wanted to go back downstairs as well, but not alone. She wanted him to come with her, to tuck her in, and to stay the night with her. She stood up and he took her arm again. As they passed the last room on the right again, she felt him shiver next to her. So, that was where he died she thought.

  The walk down the stairs seemed to last an eternity. She waited for him to say something, anything, but the words never came. She didn’t know what she was supposed to do and was feeling like she was losing him with every declining step. When they reached the hallway she felt like the walls were closing in on her. She couldn’t breathe.

  Brendan walked her to her door and cleared his throat. “Good night, sweet Drew. I had a most loving evening with you.” He kissed her cheek then turned to walk away.

  “Why are you so sad?” Drew asked, not wanting him to leave and especially not with such a somber look on his face.

  “I should not say, but I do not wish for this night to end. I do not wish to wake in the morning invisible again and without the warmth of you next to me. I wish that I could have more time to court you, to have ye learn about who I truly am. I am afraid though that my reappearing is only a cruel joke before the end of my time here.” He started to walk away again when she grabbed him by the arm.

  “Though I do thin k that it would be pretty cool for you to “c
ourt” me, I am more interested in you kissing me right now.”

  Brendan’s head shot up then. “I would not hurt ye like that, my love. As much as I want your lips to be against mine again, I can’t. I shouldn’t have kissed you in the first place. I shouldn’t have led you on that way. I’ve no idea how long I may be here.” She saw his eyes glitter in the light that came in through the opening of the hallway. She thought that they looked like a stream that was just about to over flow but being a man she supposed he had learned to hold back his tears.

  She lifted her hand and placed it on his cheek. “Whether it is for five minutes or for five hundred years, you are the only one that I have ever wanted and if I have to give that up tomorrow, I don’t want to wake up regretting that I never took a chance. Please, Brendan, I want to be with you tonight. Please stay!”

  Chapter 7 Death

  He knew better. He wanted her so bad though. To have Drew in his arms for just one night though could never be enough. He didn’t know what was to come, but he didn’t want to take everything that she had been holding onto in one night and then be gone the next day. If he was to leave, he would marry her first. At least then he would feel as though he had done the proper thing by her. He would talk to Liza about that. Surely she could arrange a preacher to come here and marry them.

  “Drew, I can’t make love to you. As much as…”

  There was a loud crashing noise from the living room that made them both jump. Liza came sprinting out of the bedroom with a towel still on her head and Brendan held out his hands asking them to stay put.

  He reached the living room and saw that the curtains had been lit with fire around the large window. The window had been busted out and lying on the floor in front of it was a stone with a piece of paper wrapped around it.

  He quickly ripped the curtains down and stomped on them. Once he was sure that the fire was out, he bent down and opened it. Drew, who had disobeyed and snuck in behind him, noticed that the writing was in the same symbols that had been spray painted on the walls.

  “What does it say?” Drew said over his shoulder.

  “It says to get out and that this is your last warning.” “Oh! Is that all?” She said sarcastically. “I thought that maybe it was an invitation to a party or something.”