3 The Ghost at the Farm

by SUE FINEMAN

  Cassie sniffed around the trunk and then walked back to the rug in front of the fireplace.

  Julie shoved the empty trunk into her office and put it under the front window. She peered out the window. The street had disappeared under a downy white blanket. No traffic at all. As if anyone could even find a road to drive on. She breathed a sigh of relief that Andy wouldn’t be driving in this mess. He didn’t have a car now anyway. Byron had destroyed Andy’s car.

  The second trunk looked a lot like the first one, and it held handmade toys, two jewelry boxes, and dented pots that looked like they’d been used over a campfire. The black soot on the outsides rubbed off on her hands. She threw the pots away and put the toys inside the empty trunk.

  After setting the two jewelry boxes on the living room coffee table, Julie pushed the empty trunk aside and opened the last trunk. It was smaller than the others and had a painting of a gypsy dancer on the side. Pretty. Looking closer, she saw the dancer was a little girl with long dark hair and bare feet. As she spun around, her hair and skirt flew out behind her. The picture gave the illusion the girl was actually moving.

  The top of the trunk held hand stitched baby clothes. They smelled musty, but she might be able to save them. In the bottom were the whips Otis told her about. His mother’s whips. The leather was stiff and dry, but maybe they could be restored. Andy would want to keep these at the farm, as a reminder of Otis and his family.

  Cassie stuck her nose in the trunk and sniffed. “Does it smell like mouse, Cassie?”

  She woofed and Julie smiled. Her mother had never allowed her to have a dog when she was a kid, and now she knew what she’d missed. How could anyone not love this sweet-natured collie?

  Julie put the baby clothes in the washer and returned to the living room to check out the jewelry boxes. The first one, a hand carved box painted with purple flowers, held a stack of tarnished silver bracelets. At least she thought they were silver. They were varying widths and designs, some braided with gold and others with etched designs. She pulled on the ribbon tab on the bottom of the box and found a layer of earrings underneath. They were mostly hoops of various sizes. No gemstones, only tarnished metal. She’d take them to a jeweler and have them cleaned. They could tell her what the jewelry was worth, if anything.

  After she put it all back the way she’d found it, Julie examined the smaller jewelry box. It looked like it had been carved of three different kinds of wood. There weren’t any painted flowers on this box, and the top wouldn’t open. Twisting the design on top in different ways, she heard something click, and the top opened.

  She gasped. “Look at the rings, Cassie.” The metal was tarnished, but the stones were beautiful. Only these weren’t ordinary rings.

  They were wedding rings.

  In spite of the treasures she’d found, a deep sense of sadness settled over her. Andy said he loved her, and she knew he did, but it could be a long time before his life was settled enough for marriage. He had a mortgage to pay, a new business to get up and running. Then there were the promises he’d made to Otis, a promise to build a new farmhouse and another to build Andrew’s inn.

  The Jefferson Inn.

  Those things were important to Andy, more important than building a life with her.

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  The clouds spit snow for three days, covering the city with a thick white blanket. It looked pretty, but Julie suffered from a bad case of cabin fever. The only people she saw were kids playing in the snow, making snow people or snow forts, and throwing snowballs. Cassie sat in the front window and watched them.

  Julie stayed home with Cassie, baking Christmas cookies and thinking about Andy. She missed him, but she knew he was busy getting his office set up and working on the condo designs for Billy’s apartments.

  The brokers open for that week was cancelled. Nobody wanted to venture out to look at property in this weather. She couldn’t get her car out anyway. The city plows had cleared the street, but her garage was behind the house, with a long driveway, and she’d forgotten to buy a snow shovel.

  Because the newspaper ads had to go in several days early, it was too late to cancel the Sunday open house, although she doubted anyone would come. Andy offered to dig her out and take her to the open house. He still didn’t have a car, but Charlie dropped him off at Julie’s house Sunday after lunch, and Andy used a snow blower to clear her driveway.

  Andy drove, and Julie put her signs up along the way. She was relieved to see that the condo parking lot had been cleared. If anyone came to the open house, they’d have a place to park.

  While Andy carried in the Christmas cookies and made a pot of coffee, Julie put out flyers, opened drapes, and turned on lights. The view of the snow-covered city with the shiny river running beside it made her smile. The condo was absolutely beautiful, but that view would undoubtedly sell the property.

  Andy packed up the last of the clothes he’d left in the bedroom and Julie ran her lambs wool duster over the furniture. And then they waited. And waited.

  Just when she thought no one would come, a young couple with a baby walked in. An older couple followed them a minute later. Julie introduced herself and Andy and left them alone to walk through the condo.

  The younger couple took a quick look and headed for the door. Julie knew when they walked in that they were just looking, that the condo wouldn’t suit the needs of a growing family. Handing them her business card, she said, “If I can help you find the house of your dreams, give me a call.”

  The older couple took their time looking at the condo, then stood in the living room window, admiring the view.

  Julie walked over. “Do you have any questions?”

  The man glanced at the flyer. “The condo fees. What do they cover?”

  “Maintenance of the outside of the building and the common areas, snow removal—”

  Andy said, “They keep the outside of the windows clean, too, so you’ll always have a dynamite view. It’s pretty at night, with the city all lit up.”

  The woman smiled. “Sounds like you lived here yourself.”

  “I did, for two years. The neighbors are friendly, but not intrusive, and I miss the gym already. You’ll like it here.”

  “Do you live here in the city?” Julie asked.

  “We’re from Cleveland. Our son lives here with his wife and three kids, and we want to live closer to them. He’s a doctor at Mercy Hospital.”

  Andy took them downstairs to show them the pool and gym, while Julie ushered another couple through the condo. Three couples on a frigid Sunday in December was a pretty good showing.

  The third couple informed her that they’d seen the condo before, with their agent, and they wanted to see it once more before they made an offer.

  In spite of the snow, it was the best open house she’d had in months.

  At five o’clock, they drove around and picked up the open house signs, then went to Sippin Sally’s to have dinner with Charlie. Andy hadn’t been there since the night of the fight with Brent. He parked and glanced at Julie. “Are you okay eating here?”

  “If they’ll let us in.”

  He shrugged. “Why wouldn’t they? Brent was the one who caused the trouble that night, and he won’t ever cause trouble again.”

  Charlie was already there, having a beer at the bar and talking to one of the waitresses. She turned and Andy saw her face. Gina.

  One look at Andy and her mouth dropped open. “You, like, cut your hair. Before you, like, looked like a rock star, and now you, like, don’t.”

  Julie made a little noise in her throat, and Andy knew she was trying not to laugh. “I’ll find us a table,” she said, then left him standing near the bar under Gina’s predatory gaze.

  Andy couldn’t resist asking, “What do I look like now?”

  “Like a movie star.” Gina had a touch of awe in her voice.

  Charlie gave Andy a disgusted look. “Yeah, yeah, my movie star brother.” He was accustomed to getting most
of the attention from women, and since Terri dumped him, he hadn’t found anyone else to warm his bed.

  Gina didn’t take her eyes off Andy. “Are you, like, still living with your grandfather?”

  “Uh, no, he died. I’m living with my parents now.”

  “Oh, that’s, like, too bad.” Gina’s voice sounded like a deflating balloon, complete with the irritating squeak.

  Andy joined Julie at the table. From the twinkle in her eyes, she’d enjoyed his conversation with Gina. “Poor Gina. She just can’t catch a break with you, Andy.”

  He rubbed the side of his head where his mother had taken the stitches out yesterday. It was healed and the lump gone along with the headache, but it still itched. “Don’t feel sorry for Gina. She probably found another guy to keep her. That’s what she needs. A keeper.”

  Julie nodded toward a man who’d just come in and waved to Gina. “Looks like she’s found one.” The man had longish streaked blond hair and a scruffy beard. He walked over and kissed Gina.

  Charlie carried his beer to the table, and then they ordered their meal.

  The sandwiches were thick, the fries salty, and the beer cold. A perfect combination. The woman sitting across the table looked good enough to eat, and Andy didn’t intend to go home with Charlie. Not tonight.

  Julie wiped her mouth with her napkin. “What are you thinking about, Andy?”

  He gazed deeply into her eyes. “Dessert.”

  Charlie shook his head. “How can you two talk about sex when I’m not getting any?”

  Julie looked from Charlie to Andy. “Who’s talking about sex?”

  Andy grinned, and Charlie took his dinner to the bar, where he’d no doubt get some sympathy from the pretty bartender.

  Julie pushed her chair back and stood. Shoving her arms into the sleeves of her coat, she said, “You can go home with Charlie tonight.”

  “Did I do something wrong?”

  “You assumed without asking.”

  “But you said you loved me.”

  “I do love you, but that doesn’t mean you can drift in and out of my life…” She lowered her voice. “…and my bed, whenever you please. Or without asking.” She walked away, leaving Andy sitting alone at the table.

  Andy heard Otis’s gruff laugh. Instead of attaching itself to the farm, Otis’s ghost had attached itself to Andy. He couldn’t see the ghost, but he could hear him.

  Charlie returned to the table and finished Julie’s sandwich. “You blew it, bro. I told you she’s not some bimbo you can use and throw away. If you don’t want to keep her forever, set her free to find another man.”

  “Like you?”

  “If I had a woman like Julie, I wouldn’t let her get away.”

  “Like hell,” Andy muttered mostly to himself, then he realized what Charlie was saying. “You’re in love with her, too?”

  “Doesn’t matter. You’re the one she wants.”

  “Then why did she walk out on me?”

  “Because she wants more than sex.”

  “I can’t give her more right now.”

  “Why not? She doesn’t need a man to support her, bro. She needs someone to love her, someone who’s not going to run out on her when things get tough. She needs you.”

  “I need some air.” Before Charlie could respond, Andy threw some money on the table and walked out the door, pulling his coat on while he walked. He needed to think, and he couldn’t do it with his woman-crazy brother nagging at him.

  The setting sun’s reflection on the snow nearly blinded him, but as Andy walked toward Livingston Avenue, breathing deeply of the cold, clear air, he thought about Julie. What was with her? She wasn’t normally so touchy. The only time she’d slept with him lately was those two nights after he was released from the hospital, but they didn’t have sex then. They hadn’t had sex in how long?

  It seemed like forever.

  As he walked, he watched the sun set over the city. The streetlights came on, and still he walked. His fingers and toes grew numb and he was only halfway home. He had his cell phone in his pocket, so he could call Charlie to come get him, but when he tried, his phone didn’t work. The battery was dead.

  He walked a block and jogged one, then walked another and jogged again, with some unseen force guiding him. Then he saw the street sign. Perch. Julie’s street.

  A minute later, he stood on the sidewalk in front of Julie’s house. He didn’t walk up and ring the bell, but Cassie barked, and Julie pulled the curtain back to look out.

  She opened the door. “What are you doing here?”

  “Freezing. Could I come in and warm up before I walk home?”

  “You’re walking? What happened to Charlie?”

  “I told him I needed some air. I didn’t realize it was so far.”

  Opening the door wider, she said, “Get in here before you freeze your nose off.”

  “Do I still have a nose?”

  “A bright red one.” She pointed to the chair beside the fireplace. “Sit down and warm up while I get you something hot to drink. Crazy man, walking how many miles in the freezing cold?”

  “It seemed closer in the car.”

  The tea kettle whistled and a minute later, she brought him a cup of tea. “Drink this slowly.” While he sipped the tea, she knelt in front of him, eased his shoes off, and rubbed his frozen feet.

  If he’d known he’d get this much attention, he would have come here on purpose. It was almost as if someone or something sent him here. Probably Otis. The old man wanted him to marry Julie, and his ghost would probably nag until Andy proposed. But that wouldn’t happen anytime soon.

  The feeling slowly returned to his toes and nose and ears. Cassie put her head on his knee, and Andy rubbed her head. “How is Cassie doing?”

  “She’s doing great, although she takes her half out of the middle of the bed. She likes to snuggle up close.”

  “So do I.” But she didn’t want him in her bed. He gazed into her eyes and asked, “Why?”

  “Why did I walk away tonight?”

  He nodded.

  “Because… Because your feelings begin and end with sex, and that’s not enough for me.”

  “You want a commitment? Promises?”

  “I want the whole man, not just the pieces you’re willing to share with me. I want you to talk to me when you lose your job, not shut me out. And I don’t want you to walk away when I have something important to say. I don’t want you in my bed only when you’re in the mood. I want you every night or I don’t want you at all.”

  “I told you no promises.”

  “I know, but things have changed. If you really loved me, you’d understand that.” She handed him a shoe. “Put your shoes on and I’ll drive you home.”

  He shoved his feet into his shoes, angry she was giving him an ultimatum. “I’ll walk.”

  Pulling on his coat, he yanked the door open and walked away.

  “Andy, come back here,” she yelled.

  He kept walking. It couldn’t be more than a half-mile or so to Livingston Avenue, and he needed to cool off before he said something he’d regret.

  He’d never stay with a woman who gave him an ultimatum.

  Not even this one.

  “Stupid fool,” said Otis.

  “Yeah, I’m stupid. Stupid for falling for a girl who doesn’t want me.”

  “She wants you. She wants marriage and babies. Are you going to throw that away?”

  “I’m not ready for marriage. I have to start earning a living and build a new house before I’m ready for a wife, and then there’s the inn.” The Jefferson Inn wasn’t just Andrew’s dream. It was Andy’s dream, too. He hadn’t just promised Otis he’d build it, he’d promised himself. If he started a family now, the chances were slim to none that the inn would ever get built.

  “Damn fool!”

  “That’s me.”

  Julie backed her car out of the garage and drove toward Livingston Avenue. She spotted Andy walking down the stre
et and hung back, lights off, watching until she was sure he could get home by himself. He wasn’t walking on the sidewalks, he was walking in the street and talking to himself like a crazy man. At least there was no traffic, no cars out to run over him.

  At this point, she wasn’t even sure he was Andy. Had he gone back to Andrew’s time again? Who was he talking with?

  Andy raised his arms and shook his fists. Whoever he was at that moment, he was angry. Had she pushed him too far? He didn’t want to make any promises, didn’t want a permanent commitment, but things had changed for her. The pregnancy test she took was negative, but the more she thought about it, the more she wanted Andy’s baby. Susan would trick him into getting her pregnant. Having a baby would keep Andy in her life for at least twenty years, but Julie didn’t want to trick him. And she didn’t want to be a single mother. Their baby deserved a whole family, a mother and father who wanted him, who loved him from the moment he was conceived.

  Andy walked around the corner toward his parents’ house, head down, hands stuffed in his pockets.

  Julie turned around and drove home.

  <>

  Andy bought himself a new car that week and finished the designs for Billy’s apartment conversions. He got his business license and talked with the accountant down the street about setting up a business accounting system. And he thought about Julie. He couldn’t stop thinking about her.

  The farmhouse design was finished. He hadn’t shown it to Julie, yet he couldn’t picture himself living there without her. And he couldn’t bring himself to get the county’s approval on the plan. What if she agreed to live there with him and didn’t like the layout?

  Live there? She probably wouldn’t even speak to him again. Didn’t she know he loved her? Didn’t she understand that he couldn’t take on more responsibility right now? Didn’t she care that he was going crazy without her?

  Tuesday evening, Billy called Andy. “Are you going to the brokers open house with Julie tomorrow?”

  “I thought she’d have the condo sold by now.”