by Tegan Maher
Tilting my head, I took my hand from TJ's arm, and the woman disappeared.
"TJ, reach across the table and take Moira's hand."
Now both women looked at me like I was crazy, and I rolled my eyes. "For the love of God, just do it."
As soon as they clasped hands and Moira gasped, I knew it wasn't just me. "You can see her now, can't you?" I asked, laying my hand on top of theirs. Ms. Ruth popped back into view just like one of those holograms when you turned it a certain way.
Moira nodded, her eyes wide with wonder. "Well, sugar, it looks like we just found your superpower."
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
"WAIT, WHAT?" TJ ASKED, pulling her hand back. Ms. Ruth disappeared.
I took a deep breath. "Sweetie, you need to put your hand back up here so we can see her, too. Apparently, physical contact with you allows us to see her. If we're not touching you, we're not seeing her."
She really didn't look good, and I was starting to get worried about her.
"It's okay, Ruth," Addy said. "We'll get you all sorted out—I promise."
Ms. Ruth must have been having a meltdown similar to the one TJ was having.
"This is a good thing," I said, trying to put a positive spin on it. "If you couldn't see her either, it would be hard for us to help her."
She put her hand back in the center of the table, and Moira reached for it. I, on the other hand, set my coffee down and stood. Walking around behind TJ, I laid my hand on her shoulder. Sure enough, Ms. Ruth popped into view.
"Okay," I said. "It doesn't seem to matter where we touch her, as long as we're in contact." I turned to the older woman. "Now that I can see you, Ms. Ruth, I apologize for my manners earlier. I'm Noelle, and this is Moira. It's nice to meet you."
She gave me a wobbly smile. "Likewise, I'm sure."
Moira, who wore her confidence like a cloak even when she wasn't feeling it, scooched closer to TJ so she didn't have to stretch to reach her and took the lead. "We understand you remember going into the theater in Eagle Gap but not much besides that, correct?"
"Yes," she said, her watery blue eyes full of worry. "But I lose track of time. Since meeting Janey, I'm getting better at it, but I still don't know who I am or anything else about myself."
"But you remember voting in the last local election, correct?"
"Yes," she said. "I remember because I voted for Sharon Waitright for city council. I've known her since she was a tot, and she comes from good stock."
Moira nodded. "Yes, ma'am. Sharon won. So we know it's been less than a year, and we know you're from Eagle Gap."
I tilted my head a bit so I could sneak a glance at TJ. I could only see her profile, but her color was returning.
I reached for my coffee cup, only to find it empty.
"Oh dear," Ms. Ruth said, flickering as her hand fluttering to her chest. "I'm interruptin' your morning coffee."
"No, no," I said. "It's fine, really."
She shook her head. "Go get a fresh cup. I can't"—her face fell—"couldn't get through my day without my morning coffee. We'll wait."
I picked up my cup and TJ's, and Moira stood with hers and went inside with me. TJ stayed planted, no doubt in shock.
As soon as we were in the kitchen and out of hearing range, I hissed, "What the hell? I've never heard of a ghost who couldn't be seen or a witch who can see ghosts others can't!"
Moira took a deep breath. "Calm down. Of course you have—think about it."
Having lived most of my life in Keyhole Lake, which wasn't exactly normal even by magical standards, post-life residents were a part of daily life. But that wasn't the case everywhere. In most other places, ghosts were different; they didn't—or couldn't—show themselves to just anybody.
I narrowed my eyes as the implications crashed over me. "So she's a medium. But that doesn't explain why we can't see Ruth. She's obviously trying to show herself to us. Does that mean there are other spirits hovering around that we can't see?"
Moira shook her head. "I doubt it."
When I shot her a disbelieving look, she backpedaled a little. "Okay, I'll stipulate that there aren't spirits hovering around that we can't see because Addy, Norma, and the rest of the crew can obviously see them and would call them out. In other places, they almost certainly exist."
"That makes more sense," I said. "Even here, they don't have to show themselves, and even if they do, if the living person doesn't believe, they won't be able to see."
My mind drifted back to the whole Max Wheeler situation. He'd come to Hunter and me when we were on vacation because he wasn't sure if Hunter would be able to see him on his own or not. And no matter how hard he tried, his widow couldn't see him because she didn't believe. Their daughter had to convince her first.
"My question then," I said as I hit the button for TJ's vanilla coffee, "is I've always been able to see ghosts. Why not Ruth?"
She shrugged, picking through my tea pods. "I have no idea. This is all new to me, too. I mean, maybe she's stuck or only part of her spirit is here."
I moved aside so she could make her tea. Pulling the half-and-half out of the fridge, I gave both cups a couple blurbs, then left it out for Moira.
I stirred sugar in mine and rinsed the spoon. "One thing we do know, though, is that if we're a little freaked out, imagine how TJ must be feeling. The poor girl just keeps gettin' things piled on her."
"Yeah," Moira said, doctoring her tea then picking it up. "She's gonna need some help." She froze in place.
"What is it?" The fear in her eyes rattled me.
"If TJ can see Ruth because she's troubled or stuck, what happens if she runs across one who isn't taking it nearly so well as Ruth is? An angry, displaced spirit that can only communicate through her? Oh, Noelle, this is so not good."
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
"DO not tell her that yet until we’ve had a chance to think about it," I said.
"Oh, hell no," she replied, slipping around me to open the door. "The last thing she needs is to be spooking at shadows and peering into dark corners before we even know what's going on. For that matter, this could be a one-off."
I took a deep breath, pasted on a lower-watt smile than my waitressy one, and followed her out.
The women were laughing, so that was a good sign. I set TJ's coffee on the table in front of her, then resumed my position behind her. Moira scooched her chair closer and put her hand on her arm.
"There," she said. "Now everybody's visible again."
Mel's warning flitted through my mind. "Ms. Ruth, does the name Misty sound familiar to you?"
She furrowed her brow in thought, then shook her head. "I don't think so, except for the Clint Eastwood movie." She fanned herself. "Now there is a man."
"Mmm-HM!" Addy and Janey said at the same time. I couldn't disagree.
Max came trotting around the side of the porch, smiling. I narrowed my gaze, remembering the movement at the back of the field that morning. His legs were muddy to the knees.
"Where have you been?" I asked as he flopped down beside me and belched.
He glanced up at the ghosts and ignored me. "Morning, Addy, Janey. I don't believe I've had the pleasure, ma'am."
"You can see me?" Ruth asked.
Max raised his bushy little eyebrows. "Of course I can see you. Why wouldn't I be able to?"
"No reason," I said, figuring I'd explain it later. "Max, this is Ms. Ruth. Ms. Ruth, Max."
She studied him for a few seconds. "I ain't never seen a talkin' donkey before."
That was a sticky point with him. He considered it rude, and I tended to agree, but I nudged him with my toe and shook my head before he could pop off with some smart-ass—pun intended—comment.
He gave his best donkey grin and said through gritted teeth, "No ma'am. They broke the mold after me."
"I'd reckon they did," she said. "Anyway, nice to meet you."
She wandered along the patio, admiring my flowers. "I just love petunias! Every spring, I used t
o—" She stopped, and I leaned forward.
"Did you remember something?" I asked, eager to keep the train of thought going. "You used to plant petunias?"
Her eyes moved back and forth, looking internally for a minute, but then she sighed and shook her head. "I thought I had something, but then it was like smoke. It just disappeared."
"Do you have any sense of whether you were a country girl or a city girl?" Moira asked.
Ruth pulled her housedress away from her leg. "I have to think country. This sure don't scream chic, and I'm more than comfortable in it. I like it, in fact."
Valid point. Addy and Janey talked to the others about our outing and just caught up in general, but I watched Ms. Ruth. She seemed so sad.
"What's up with her?" Max asked, nudging his nose in her direction.
"What's up with you?" I asked, turning the tables on him.
"Not a thing," he said, donkey-grinning and waggling his ears. "But it sure is fun watching you think there is. Don't hurt yourself there, Einstein."
"Keep it up," I said. "I saw a sale at the ABC store. Economy scotch, three bucks a bottle."
His eyes narrowed to slits. "You wouldn't."
I gave him my mean-girl smile. "Oh, but wouldn't I?"
Ms. Ruth cried out, interrupting us. She was standing next to the pool, gasping for breath and reaching upwards, her eyes staring wildly at something only she could see.
Addy and Janey zoomed over to her. Addy grasped her arm and gave her a gentle shake. "Ruth!"
Janey rubbed her back. "You're okay, honey. Look at me."
She continued to gasp and clutch her hands at something that wasn't there.
Addy gave her another shake, harder this time. "Ruth!" she barked.
That did it. She made eye contact with Addy, and recognition returned. She stopped with the frantic gasping, but her breathing was still a little labored.
"Oh, lordy, Addy. I think somebody drowned me."
We gathered round her, Moira and me holding hands with TJ so we didn't lose sight of Ruth.
"Why do you think that?" TJ asked, her voice soft.
Ms. Ruth's gaze slid to her. "Because I could see him," she said. "He was standin' above me, holdin' me under."
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
GREAT. THAT MADE TWO drownings we were dealing with. I mean, I know it was headin' toward summer and the risk of drowning was much greater, but c'mon.
Hunter stepped out onto the patio, barefoot with coffee cup in hand. He stopped when he saw all of us. Taking stock and assuming he couldn't see Ms. Ruth either, we probably did look a sight to him. Moira and I were holding hands with TJ at the edge of the pool, and the ghosts were talking to thin air.
"Should I just go back inside? Is this some witch thing?" He turned to reach for the doorknob.
"No," I called. "Seriously. C'mere." When he complied, I asked, "You know everybody here, right?"
"Of course," he said, giving me the stop being weird look.
"Actually, you don't, but don't freak out," I said, reaching for him with my free hand.
He slowed his pace before he got to me. "I hate it when you say that. It's almost a guarantee that there will be something to freak out about."
"Nah," I said. "Just one extra ghost, is all. Old hat for you."
"Hey!" Ms. Ruth said, offended. "Don't call me an old bat!"
Great. Her hearing was as awesome as Roberta's under the hair dryer. Hunter slipped his hand into mine and sucked in a breath.
"Oh," he said, relieved. "It's just a little old lady. I thought it was going to be something horrible."
"I told you not," I said, a little galled he'd thought I wasn't being straight with him.
"Yeah, but you have to admit that your idea of a freak-outable event is often vastly different than mine."
I had to give him that.
"Well, young man," Addy said, giving him her angry-aunt glare, "this little old lady as you so rudely called her needs your help."
"Mine?" he yelped, choking on his coffee, "How can I possibly—" I saw the minute Max Wheeler popped into his mind. "You gotta be kidding me," he said, resigned. "Somebody killed you, ma'am?"
"Probably," she said.
"What do you mean, probably? Did somebody kill you or not?"
She pinched her lips together and thought for a second, then gave a single sharp nod. "Yup. Pretty sure somebody drowned me."
"Do you have a name?" Hunter asked, and I bit my tongue. He really wasn't going to like this part.
"I do, but I can't remember it," she said.
"You can't remember who killed you, you mean?"
"Oh, heavens no." She flapped a hand. "I can't even remember my own name. How on earth do you expect me to remember the name of the person who killed me?"
He scrubbed a hand over his face and pulled me away from TJ. "We're going to sit down and have a cup of coffee before I dive head first into even the shallow end of the crazy pool today."
Turning back toward the group, he said, "I need caffeine before I can deal with any of this. Ma'am, if your situation changes in the next thirty minutes, feel free to tell me. Otherwise, I'll be right over there."
He pointed to the porch swing, and I followed, shooting an apologetic glance over my shoulder. I had to admit though, it was a bit much for me that early, too.
That thought made me feel guilty because of poor TJ. I started to explain what was going on as we sank onto the swing, but he put his finger to my lips. "Thirty minutes. That's all I'm asking."
I settled back and he put his arm around my shoulders, pulling me closer.
"Good morning," I said in an attempt to start over.
He snorted but kissed the top of my head. "Good morning."
We sat and sipped our coffee in silence, and though I tried to relax and just enjoy the moment, I couldn't help but feel like I was being a terrible hostess.
"Go," he said after a few minutes, but I could hear the smile in his voice. "I know you want to sit here with me, but you're feeling guilty for leaving them."
I let out a huge sigh. "And that's why I love you," I said, tilting my head back and giving him a kiss. "You get me."
He swatted me on the backside. "That's right. So make me french toast."
Matt and Anna Mae were strolling up the yard from Matt's apartment above the barn, holding hands.
"Did I hear french toast?" Matt said, grinning, "because I'll totally feed and do stalls if that's on the table."
"Deal," I said, smiling.
"I'll help," Hunter said, pushing up from the swing and draining his coffee cup. “But there better be some sausage links, too."
Making my way into the house, I couldn't help but feel as if things were moving forward, even if I didn't know where they were going.
Shelby rushed by me with a to-go cup of coffee in her hand. "I have to go help Cody and Will," she said. “There's a twin breach birth at the Wilsons’. The cow's in trouble, and they need smaller hands."
Before I could reply, she snapped her fingers and was gone, leaving only thin air in her place. I marveled again at how far she'd come both personally and magically, and my heart smiled.
I pulled out the makings for french toast—including my own fresh brioche bread—and got to work, bringing Anna Mae up to speed as I worked.
"I can't help but think this might not be so great for her," Anna Mae said, pulling both bacon and sausage from the fridge.
"What do you mean?" I asked, whisking the eggs and milk together.
"I mean ... " she paused, trying to find the right words. "Right after Hank died, before I knew about any of this stuff, I was still scared stiff he was going to come back and haunt me. He'd tortured me so long, I couldn't believe he was gone for good. Then at night, I'd start hearin' noises and seein' shadows, and of course when I'd turn on a light, he wouldn't be there."
We hadn't been much more than acquaintances then, and to think of her rambling around in the big old house worrying about Hank coming back
to haunt her about broke my heart. I'd never told a soul the details of Hank's final takedown, and it was a literal takedown, but I had assured her he wasn't coming back in any form.
"What does that have to do with TJ, though?"
"What if she starts seeing the bad ghosts?"
Ah, so she'd come to the same conclusion I had, but I'd been thinking about that. "I actually beat you to this point," I said. "As far as I can figure, nothing should really change for her like that. She's always seen them—she just didn't realize she was special and that she was the only one."
TJ had believed in ghosts way before she found out about herself, but it had been in a more abstract form. She said she'd seen ghosts before, but since she was from Richmond, a place full of ghosts, that was no surprise.
"Oh," she said, breathing a sigh of relief. "That makes me feel loads better, then."
It did me, too. The problem was, now that her secret was out in the ghost community, how long would it take for those without a voice to start pestering the crap out of her to speak for them?
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
AFTER WE FINISHED BREAKFAST and cleaned up, TJ and Moira left to go back to their place. The ghosts disappeared to make a game plan now that they realized Ruth's situation was unique, and Addy volunteered to act as translator between her and us if needed.
Hunter decided to try to track down the Lanes again. Peggy Sue had managed to dig up a phone number for them, but when he tried the number, it just rang.
"It's Sunday," I said. "If they're as religious as Mari Jo and Clara said, they're probably at church."
"Good point," he said. "They didn't by chance mention which church, did they?"
I shook my head. "But since most every church doesn't let out for at least a couple more hours, what say the four of us go for a ride?"
Anna Mae overheard me from the porch where she and Matt were enjoying the swing. "We heard that," she called. "We're ready when you are!"
Hunter laughed and flicked the dishtowel at me. "Who'da thunk when we first met, it would be you talking me into going for a ride?"