Abandoned Souls

by Marianne Spitzer

  Sue saw Dorie hurry across the yards and stood to face her. “What are you doing up so early? Go home and back to bed. I’m fine, just couldn’t sleep.”

  Dorie said, “It’s cold out here. Let’s at least go into the house.”

  “Okay,” Sue opened the front door and Dorie followed her into the living room.

  Dorie took the coffee cup, “Too much coffee in the middle of the night will keep you from sleeping.”

  “I can’t sleep. I’ll never sleep again.” Tears filled Sue’s eyes as she sat on the sofa.

  “Yes, you will.” Dorie hurried into Sue’s bedroom, retrieved a pillow and blanket, and returned. “Here, you’re at least going to lie down. I’m worried about you.”

  Sue relented. She lay on the couch pulling the blanket up around her neck. Dorie sat and spoke quietly to her for a few minutes until Sue fell asleep.

  Being close friends and neighbors, Dorie had a set of Sue’s keys. She turned off the lights, left through the front door, and locked it behind her. By the time she returned home, Hank was asleep and snoring. She hoped Sue would sleep for a few hours.

  #####

  Kellie woke and could tell from the light not peeking around the blinds that it was the middle of the night. Her room lit up as if it was noon, but she drew comfort from the light. Rufus was still on the bed sleeping soundly. She rolled over and saw she slept until nearly five. Having gone to bed at ten she should feel awake, but she still felt drained.

  I must have had bad dreams and tossed and turned. I shouldn’t be so tired. I guess I’m more stressed than I thought. She rolled over to go back to sleep when she heard a voice.

  “Hello, who’s there?”

  “It’s me. I came before to ask for help.”

  “Who are you? I can’t help anyone right now. I’ve had a terrible loss.” Kellie sat up and looked around the room. It was well lit and nowhere for anyone to hide. She knew it was the same spirit that spoke to her before.

  “We know you suffered a tragedy. Your handsome friend has gone into the light. He is at peace. I will come back when you have had time to deal with your grief. My name is Katrina May.” The room became so silent it was almost deafening.

  Kellie turned the radio on for sound and said, “How can I do this again? Another spirit is in trouble. How did she know Randy went into the light? She won’t be back until I deal with my grief. That gives me time. I wonder who Katrina May is and why she needs my help.”

  She mulled over what she had heard as she drifted off to sleep.

  #####

  A man dressed in black stood just inside the tree line watching Marilyn’s house. He grumbled to the trees, “Why do I have to watch this house in the middle of the night? Everyone’s asleep.”

  The night was cool, but he was shaky and sweaty. His head hurt, and the dark made him see shadows he didn’t think were real. His skin crawled as he spoke out loud. “Who cares what she does in the middle of the night?”

  Patting his pocket and feeling the syringe he said, “I’m not waiting until I get home. Who knows when I’ll be able to leave?” It was dark, but he had been doing it for years. Sliding the needle into his arm was easy, and he took a deep breath. With the syringe back in his pocket, he decided it was time to look in Marilyn’s windows.

  A strange sound woke Marilyn. Her hand trembled as she turned on the light. “I need to get a huge dog. That noise came from downstairs.”

  She walked to the top of the stairs and flipped on both light switches. The upper floor and the entire downstairs hall flooded with light. Standing and listening for another odd noise, all she heard was the clock ticking in the parlor. She hurried down the stairs and flipped on all the light switches near the front door. The exterior light went on along with the parlor light. She couldn’t see or hear anyone.

  She walked through the rest of the house turning all the lights on hoping to scare away anyone who might have caused the initial sound she heard. The last switch she flipped lit the backyard. Looking out the window, she caught her breath. Lying on the sidewalk leading to the greenhouse was a large man dressed completely in black including a black knit face mask. She grabbed the phone and dialed 911.

  #####

  Dorie’s phone rang at eleven in the morning. Caller ID let her know it was Sue.

  “Good morning, Sue.”

  “It’s eleven, how could I sleep so late? I have to be at church at two.”

  “You were up late and needed the sleep. Take a shower, get dressed, and come over here for lunch. After that we’ll go to church together. I promised to go along, remember.”

  “Yes, you’re the best friend anyone could want.”

  “I know,” Dorie smiled. “Come over whenever you’re ready. I’ll keep lunch warm.”

  #####

  Kellie slept until nine and had gone for a long run with Rufus. She tried to call Mrs. Jensen, but she reached her answering machine. She left a message and her number. Letting Mrs. Jensen know she was there if she needed her was all she could do. She had no idea if Randy called his mom and told her or if she thought they had still been a couple. If Mrs. Jensen called, she’d find out then.

  Taylor was worried Kellie wouldn’t eat and get sick. She and Andrea had insisted she meet them for lunch. After lunch, she would have to shop for a new black dress. The one she had wasn’t appropriate for a funeral. She’d also need some simple flats. Her heels had crystals on them and not appropriate either. She dreaded the shopping trip.

  #####

  Sheriff Korder asked Marilyn if she knew the dead man lying in her backyard.

  “No, I heard a noise, turned on the lights, looked outside, and saw him lying there.”

  Two men removed the body, and the sheriff was satisfied he must have been a burglar. It appeared someone tried to pick the lock on Marilyn’s back door. “We’ll check his fingerprints and see if we can identify him. I’m sure he’s just someone passing by looking for a quick buck. You’re fairly isolated out here. Have a good day. Call again if you need us.”

  Marilyn watched the sheriff walk to his cruiser, locked her door and double checked all the doors and windows. She left the outside lights on, a few inside on downstairs, and went back to bed hoping to get some sleep.

  #####

  Sue knocked on Dorie’s back door. The aroma of vegetable soup met Sue before Dorie could say a word. “That smell’s wonderful,” Sue said.

  “Come on in, I’m going to make grilled cheese, bacon, and tomato sandwiches. I know how much you love them, and you have to eat. Don’t argue.” Dorie smiled at Sue and gave her a hug.

  Sue nodded, hugged her back, and sat at the table while Dorie cooked. Sue couldn’t think what to say. Her thoughts made her cry. She let Dorie ramble. When Dorie set the bowls and plates on the table, Sue realized her stomach was growling.

  They ate in silence occasionally looking at each other. Twenty years of friendship had made it easy to know what the other was thinking without words.

  Sue kept glancing at the clock. The two o’clock appointment with Pastor John and the man from Walker’s loomed in front of her. It was a little after one, and she knew they would have to leave soon. Tears formed in her eyes, and she looked at Dorie.

  “Please try to relax. I’ll be with you and help you if you don’t know what decisions to make. Pastor John has officiated at many funerals and the man from Walker’s is a professional. Between the four of us, we’ll do the best for Randy. I promise.” She picked up the bowls and plates and placed them in the dishwasher.

  “I think we should leave. I’ll drive,” Dorie said. She touched Sue’s shoulder, and Sue slowly stood as if every movement was painfully difficult.

  #####

  Kellie hesitated in front of the dress shop. She walked past the shop and stared at the pictures in the framing shop next door. Not looking at anything in particular, she was killing time. Deciding she had to face buying a dress, she turned and walked toward the dress shop.

  As soon as
she entered a bubbly sales clerk greeted her. “Hi, I’m Chloe. May I help you find the perfect outfit?”

  “I need a simple, black dress for a funeral.” Kellie sighed.

  “I’m sorry. Please follow me. I have a few that I think would be appropriate.” Chloe took off toward the back of the store.

  Kellie followed and tried on three dresses. She chose a simple sheath style with three-quarter sleeves and a mock turtleneck. Perfect for a spring funeral, if there is anything perfect about dressing for a funeral, she thought.

  Walking out of the dressing room, Kellie said, “I’ll take this one.”

  Chloe rang up her purchase, wished her a good day, and told her again she was sorry for her loss. Kellie left the store and walked down two doors to the shoe store. Buying a simple pair of black flats was much easier than the dress. She hurried to the SUV and drove home.

  Shopping for Randy’s funeral brought back the memories of when she had to buy a dress for her parent’s funeral. Taylor helped her that day and Emma was still part of her life back then. She was also there giving Kellie moral support. Emma’s betrayal hurt more than Kellie admitted. She hoped Randy didn’t feel betrayed before he died. She fought the tears until she reached home.

  #####

  The church secretary greeted Sue and Dorie. “You have my sincere condolences, Mrs. Jensen. We all loved Randy.”

  “Thank you,” Sue muttered.

  The secretary led them into the pastor’s office. “Pastor John will be here in a few minutes. Please make yourself comfortable. Can I get you some coffee?”

  Both women declined.

  #####

  The door opened, and Pastor John entered followed by a man impeccably dressed in a black suit, white shirt, and black tie. Pastor John introduced him as Mr. Walker from Walker’s Funeral Home.

  Mr. Walker approached Sue and held out his hand. She took it and while he gently shook her hand he offered his sincerest condolences. His promise to assist her with the funeral arrangements at her pace and his compassion eased Sue’s mind a bit.

  He asked Sue to tell him about Randy while he jotted notes. Before Sue realized it, she had given Mr. Walker all of the information he would need to write a professional obituary.

  He opened his briefcase and removed several brochures. When he mentioned that she could choose a casket from the brochure rather than visiting the funeral home, she was both horrified and relieved. Her first glance at the brochure brought the image of Randy in it, and she broke down. Pastor John spoke with Sue as Mr. Walker waited.

  “I’m sorry. My emotions are a mess.” Sue wiped her face with the tissues Pastor John handed her.

  “I understand,” said Mr. Walker. “We’ll continue when you’re ready,”

  “I’m as ready as I’ll ever be.”

  Sue was able to choose a mahogany casket with brass hardware. Mr. Walker suggested satin lining and Sue nodded her head. Dorie helped her choose flowers. Sue wanted a lot of color. She didn’t want people to feel more depressed at Randy’s funeral than necessary.

  Pastor John and Mr. Walker both agreed to have a wake and funeral at the church. The wake would be held at seven in the evening the day after next with the funeral at eleven the following morning.

  Pastor John had contacted Springs Cemetery. Randy’s burial plot would be one row away from his father. Sue was happy they would be close.

  Mr. Walker stood and took Sue’s hand. “Don’t be concerned. You made all the arrangements needed. If you have photos of Randy’s life you would like to share, I’ll have a messenger pick them up tomorrow. Call my office and arrange a time. We’ll take good care of Randy. Get some rest. You’ll feel better if you’re well rested.” He smiled and hurried out the door.

  Pastor John helped Sue choose music for the wake and funeral. He said, “That takes care of everything. As I said before, if you need me day or night, please call. Is there anything I can do for you now?”

  Sue shook her head, shed a few more tears, thanked Pastor John for allowing her to use his office, and followed Dorie to her car.

  Chapter Four

  Kellie, exhausted after her day of shopping, went to bed early. She lay in bed staring at the ceiling. She wasn’t physically tired, but emotionally she was drained. Flashes of her parent’s funeral crossed her mind. A few years were not long enough to lessen the pain when the memories returned. Knowing her friends would be with her eased her mind when she thought of attending Randy’s funeral. She hoped it wouldn’t be at Walker’s. Kellie doubted she could ever enter that place again.

  Pushing the thoughts from her mind, she drifted off to sleep. She dreamed of her parents and their funeral. It turned into a nightmare, and Kellie tossed and turned. Her dream about Randy frightened her more. He was standing on top of a towering building in the clouds and walking near the edge. Randy turned and smiled at her. A spirit with vague features appeared and pushed Randy off the building. She watched Randy fall. The spirit looked at her and said, “Stay away. Heed my words.” The evil voice reverberated in her ears, and when she woke, she thought she could still hear it.

  “Was that what happened?” Kellie said aloud. “Am I to blame for Randy’s death? Who was the spirit? This one was evil, not soft-spoken like the other. Was it a warning, an omen, or a nightmare? Did Randy fall or was he pushed? What am I supposed to avoid?”

  Kellie did her best to fall back to sleep, but she was still staring at the ceiling when the sun rose.

  #####

  Andrea settled at her desk and read the paper with her coffee as she did every morning before her first client appointment. There was a nice story about Randy and his construction company on the front page. She turned to the obituaries, read Randy’s, and stammered “What?” She quickly called Kellie.

  “Hi, Andrea. What’s up? You’re calling early.” Kellie said when she heard Andrea’s voice on the other end of the line.

  “Have you seen the paper?”

  “No, I’m still in bed.”

  “I’m sorry. I didn’t want to wake you, but I thought you might want to read it.”

  “It sounds as if I won’t be too happy. Can you tell me?” Kellie shifted on her pillow.

  “Sure, it’s about Randy’s obituary.”

  “Okay, read it to me.”

  “It starts with his bio and that he owned a construction company. He passed due to a work related accident, etc. It goes on to say he joined his father, Joseph, his paternal grandparents David and Annette Jensen, and great-aunt Carole Hammond in eternal rest. He will be dearly missed by his mother, Susan, maternal grandparents Loren and Pam Hammond of Florida, his fiancée, Kellie Conley, and other friends. You’re his fiancée? I thought you two broke up”

  “Oh no,” Kellie said. “The night before we broke up and he died, I heard him whisper that he wanted to marry me. Maybe he confided in his mom before he whispered it to me or asked her for advice, and she just assumed. How do I get through it when everyone believes we’re engaged?”

  “I’m not sure, but I thought you should know.”

  “Thanks, Andrea. Talk later.”

  Kellie hung up, and her phone rang again. It was Taylor.

  “Yes, I heard. Andrea just called. What am I going to do, Taylor?”

  “Play along. I know how upset you are. People will notice that, too and when they tell you how sorry they are just accept the condolences. If they ask any personal questions, tell them you hadn’t picked out a ring or made any plans yet. By then you’ll be crying, and they’ll stop asking questions.”

  “Do you think so? Please stay close to me. It’s going to be harder than I thought. I wonder what Mrs. Jensen thought when she added that.”

  “I don’t know, but I’ll be right at your side.”

  “Thanks, I’ll talk to you later. You need to get back to work, and Rufus wants to go out.”

  #####

  Kellie watched Rufus chase the black birds in the back yard as she dialed the number of the local florist. “Good
Morning, I would like to order some flowers for a funeral. It’s for the Randall Jensen service, and I would like something elegant yet not frilly. No bows on the basket, etc. He was my boyfriend.”

  “I understand. You have my condolences. We can arrange some beautiful lilies, roses, along with daisies and carnations. Do you have colors in mind?”

  “I’d like it to be bright. No pink, but maybe yellow and orange carnations. If you add roses, please make them white.”

  “I can do that and I have some lilies that are yellow and some others that are orange. I can mix them with white roses, the carnations you mentioned, and daisies. Do you prefer a vase or a basket?”

  “A large white basket if you have one.”

  “I’ll take care of it. What would you like on the card?”

  “All my love, Kellie.”

  “Thank you Miss Conley, we’ll take care of everything.”

  Kellie slid her phone back into her pocket and wished her life was as carefree as Rufus. She thought I hoped I could avoid roses. They always spell trouble for me, but the trouble has already occurred. Randy is gone. White roses are the most appropriate. I can’t use red even if they mean love. They are my mother’s flowers, and I used them when I married Drew. White roses showed up at the Gotz Manor House, but they were part of Constance and Simon’s wedding. Both are at peace now. White is the best option.

  She opened the door and called Rufus. Glancing at her patio table, she remembered the perfect yellow rose that lay there on a cold morning. Kellie hoped she wouldn’t see any more yellow roses. She knew they would mean she’d have to face another mystery.

  #####

  The next day and a half passed quickly, too quickly for Kellie. She dressed in the black dress she had purchased, but hated. Pulling her blonde hair up and twisting it neatly into the bun she only wore when she had to dress for special occasions, she was ready. Kellie patted Rufus and walked out the front door headed for Taylor’s. She promised Hunter she wouldn’t drive and would go with them. Everyone was fussing over her. Cole had called and asked if she needed a ride. She told him they’d meet Andrea and him at the church.