by Mute80
“Tell us all about it.” Camille bounced up and down.
“Well, after we left you we headed out of town just as planned. Right before we got to Providence, Nick pulled off the interstate and stopped at one of those scenic overlooks. I was really confused, but he made me get out of the car and we walked to the lookout area. He got down on one knee—”
“Awwww.” Camille couldn’t contain herself.
“—and popped the question. It was really sweet. I had no idea he was going to do that.”
“What do you plan to do then?” I didn’t want to be a pessimist, but Sophia could finish her business any day and that would be the end of any wedding plans.
“Nick and I talked about it on the way here. We’ve been waiting forever to get married. If you guys are willing, we want to forget everything about the Goodwins and strange maps and our old life for one day and get married tomorrow.”
“Agghh! Yes we’re okay with that,” Camille answered immediately. I nodded in agreement.
“Good. It’s settled then. I’m getting married tomorrow.”
The three of us hugged and with our “girl moment” finished we left the bathroom. Peter had found Nick and the two of them resided on a couple of the uncomfortable chairs. They could almost be brothers the way they both lounged. We retrieved the luggage we’d checked—Sophia and Nick had sent their bags with us back in Boston so that they’d have clothes even if they didn’t catch the connecting flight—and headed to the rental car counter. Nick figured the oldest he could ever pass himself off as was 22, which is what his fake ID said. Car rental companies usually won’t rent to people under the age of 25 unless you pay extra. If they only knew his real age . . . Once the paperwork was finally finished we loaded the luggage into the rental car and headed for the hotel.
Sophia and Nick sprung for an upper class hotel. They were both so sure that they were about to finish their business that they felt like they should start spending some of the money they’d been saving and investing, not knowing how long they would be living as humans. Camille and I had a suite with two beds in one room and a living area and kitchenette in the other room. I assumed the boys’ room was similar. Sophia would most likely not be sleeping, but she stashed her bags in our room anyway.
“So what’s the plan for tomorrow?” I asked when we were all seated around a table at a café in the lobby that night.
“Well, in the morning, the girls are going to go dress shopping while the guys try to find something appropriate to wear. Apparently Mr. Secretive over here has already called ahead and found someone to officiate. I guess it’s a good thing I said yes,” she nudged Nick. “The officiator typically performs ceremonies for people who want to renew their vows. We don’t have time to get a marriage license and all that so we’re just going to have a commitment ceremony of sorts. It’s good enough for us. We’re told there’s a beautiful park overlooking the water near the hotel and we’re going to meet the officiator there tomorrow evening—just before sunset.”
“It sounds perfect. I’m so happy for you two.” I really meant it.
*****
The next morning was another beautiful summer day. Camille and I grabbed some fruit from the little market in the lobby of our hotel for breakfast before we headed out with Sophia in search of a wedding dress.
“There’s no way I’m going to find a traditional dress and still have time for alterations before this evening. I think we need to stick to department stores so we can buy something off the rack,” Sophia said as we rode in a taxi to the nearest mall. Peter and Nick had taken the rental car.
After not finding anything interesting in the three department stores anchoring the Patrick Henry Mall, we grabbed another taxi and headed for the nearest Nordstrom’s twenty-five miles away. Sophia chose a couple of white cocktail dresses and headed for the dressing room. She emerged looking absolutely radiant in a dress with a lace covered bodice and a skirt that flared slightly at her knees. There was a dainty white bow at her waist. We knew immediately that it was the one.
“Oh. I’m going to cry. That’s definitely the dress.” Camille beamed.
“You think so?” Sophia asked as she twirled in front of the three-way mirror.
“I agree with, Cam. It’s definitely the one.” I added.
“Great. That was easy. Let’s find something for you two. I saw a lavender dress on the other side of the store that I liked. Let’s go back and see if it will work.”
That time Camille and I were the ones to be oohed and aahed. I had to try on a couple of sizes before I found the perfect fit, but I agreed that the little lavender dresses with spaghetti straps and mini ruffles at the hem were cute. I didn’t usually feel very feminine and I blushed when I thought of Peter seeing me in it.
We made our way back to the hotel where Sophia proceeded to give us makeovers. She was subtle with the makeup she put on me. It was as if she’d known me my entire life. She pulled our hair up into curly twists on the backs of our heads and then went to work on herself. She looked amazing when she was finished, with her hair cascading down her back in soft golden curls. Instead of a veil she tied a white ribbon in her hair. A pair of simple pearl earrings was the only accessory she needed.
Camille excused herself to the restroom and I had Sophia all to myself for the first time in a long while.
“Sophia?”
“Yeah?”
“Are you having any second thoughts?”
“About marrying Nick?”
“No. About finishing your business. Jack and Rita don’t want to finish their business now that they’ve found each other. You and Nick have had so little time together, I just wondered if you were still as excited to go.”
She was quiet for a long time. “Honestly? The thought has definitely crossed my mind, but Jamie, I have faith that it will all work out. I don’t think we would have remained on earth to find each other again if we were just going to be separated once we got to heaven.”
“So you believe in heaven then?”
“I do. I believe Nick and I will be together there and I will finally be able to see my real family again. Nick will be with his mother and his sister, too. It will be a great reunion, Jamie. Besides, if we don’t go know, when we have the chance, we might never be able to leave. I’m not sure I want to stay around forever, watching the world at war and witnessing tragedy after tragedy. Do you realize that I’ve been here for both World Wars, the Great Depression, the Korean conflict, the so-called Cold War, the Vietnam War, the Gulf War, the tragedies of 9/11, and everything that’s happened since then?”
I nodded. I couldn’t imagine witnessing all of that. My parents had never taken me to church and I didn’t know whether I believed in God and heaven or not. I wanted to, but I didn’t think I’d ever seen any proof that either thing existed. Maybe Sophia was my proof. She’d lived a rotten life, but remained true to her values, and things were looking up for her. The Goodwins had led a life of crime and they still weren’t happy in their afterlife. Maybe there was some truth to everything churchgoers believed. It was something I was going to give deeper thought to in the future.
Camille came out of the bathroom and we slipped into our shoes before heading for the lobby. I was kind of nervous about walking in heels in the grass at the park. I’d only worn heels a couple of times before.
Sophia had called in a flower order earlier in the day and they were waiting at the hotel desk for us. She handed Camille and I each a single white daisy and then tied the remaining ones with a purple ribbon to make an impromptu bouquet. It couldn’t have been more perfect.
“Nick and Peter have already left and are just arriving at the park now,” she said as she read a text.
We emerged from the hotel and turned right. The park was supposedly only a block or two away and sure enough, there was a large green space with big shady trees just down the road.
Peter and Nick were standing in their tuxedos, talking with a man who I assumed was the officiant
, when we came up behind them. The look on Nick’s face when he turned and saw Sophia was priceless. It was a look of true love.
The ceremony was short and sweet. Nick and Sophia faced each other, holding hands under a leafy tree. The three of us who were attending stood behind them—there were no seats. Camille snapped about a million pictures with her phone in between wiping tears from the corners of her eyes. They exchanged vows they’d written themselves and the officiant pronounced them joined. They didn’t need an official paper and no witnesses needed to sign anything. It was just a sweet and magical moment where two people pledged their love to each other.
When the mini ceremony was over, Nick and Sophia kissed and he picked her up and twirled her around. She laughed and threw her head back. Camille had tears streaming down her face by that point. I looked away so the tears threatening to fall from my eyes wouldn’t be noticed. After congratulations and well wishes from the man performing the ceremony, he left and we were alone in the park. Sophia threw her bouquet and Camille grabbed it. She was ecstatic.
Peter offered to crash on the couch in the girls’ hotel room so that Nick and Sophia could be alone that night. The three of us stayed up watching late night comedy and eating junk we bought from the convenience store in the lobby. I wondered what Dad would think if he could see me then. I needed to break the junk food habit or I’d look like a blimp for my sophomore year. The next day would be business as usual and we were all keenly aware that it might be the last night all of us were still around.
CHAPTER 22
“Good morning, sleepyhead.” I woke with a start and found myself staring into Sophia’s big blue eyes. She was laying on her stomach on the other half of my bed, propped up on her elbows, her face just inches from mine.
“Sophia. You promised not to do that anymore.”
“I’m sorry, but I might not be a ghost for much longer and I’ve got to get my fill of scaring people while I still can.”
Suddenly realizing that Nick was a ghost and could very well be in the room too, I covered my head with my pillow. I was sure I looked scary that morning.
Embarrassed, I mumbled from beneath the pillow, “Is Nick in here?”
“He went to get some food for you guys. Why are you all still in bed?”
I pulled the pillow off my head, rubbed my eyes, and looked at the clock sitting on the bedside table. It was ten o’clock.
I groaned. “Sorry. I guess we stayed up too late last night. Cam!” I yelled and tossed a pillow at the sleeping body in the other bed. She pulled the covers over her head and rolled over.
“I guess I’ll shower first. Maybe she’ll be awake by the time I get out,” I told Sophia as I swung my legs over the edge of the bed and sat up.
“Okay, but before you get too far, I should warn you that Peter’s already in your shower.”
Crap. I’d forgotten he was still there. I looked in the mirror hanging over the dresser. My hair looked like a rat had made a nest in it. The curls Sophia had so carefully created the day before didn’t look so good on day two. I grabbed a hoodie, pulled the hood over my head, and sat back on the bed to wait.
“How was your night?” It was an awkward question to ask someone that was technically on their honeymoon and it slipped out before I could stop it.
She laughed. “It was nice. We talked all night and we’re definitely on the same page about finishing our business. I know you were worried about that.”
“Good. I wouldn’t want to waste a perfectly good trip to find a mysterious missing map.”
I heard the bathroom door squeak outside the bedroom door and footsteps retreat towards the living area of our suite. I waited a moment longer and, not hearing anything, opened the door a crack. I didn’t see anyone so I quickly ran across the hall to the bathroom, pushed the door open, and then slammed it shut behind me.
“Uhh . . . good morning.”
I looked up to see Peter still standing in the bathroom in front of the mirror.
“Oh my gosh. I’m so sorry. I thought you’d left.” Mortified, I kept my head down and pulled the strings of my hoodie even tighter.
Peter laughed. “I did leave, but then I came back. I forgot something and had to go get it out of my suitcase.” He stepped toward me with his hand out and I jumped back.
“Calm down—I’m just reaching for the doorknob. The bathroom’s all yours now.”
I locked the door behind Peter and sat on the floor with my back to the door, the hood of my jacket still covering my head. I wished I could crawl down the shower drain and never come out. I guess I had a new “most embarrassing moment” to share the next time the subject came up. I took a long shower letting the warm water wash away the sleepiness I still felt. It wasn’t until the water started to turn cold and I realized Camille would kill me that I shut it off. I dressed quickly, ran a comb through my hair, and then darted back across the hall. I could finish my morning primping in the bedroom and let Cam have a turn in the bathroom—if she was even awake.
“Is there any water left?” She was sitting cross-legged on her bed staring at the wall.
“There’s definitely water left, I just can’t guarantee it will be the temperature you’re used to.”
She rolled her eyes and crawled off the front of her bed to rummage through her suitcase for clothes.
“Where’d Sophia go?” I asked.
“I dunno.”
“She didn’t say where she was going?”
“I haven’t even seen her yet this morning. I think I heard voices in the living room a minute ago, but it might just be Peter watching TV.”
“Oh.”
She continued to sit on the floor in front of the suitcase, staring at me while I applied my makeup.
“What?” I snapped without thinking.
“Nothing,” she said defensively. “I just find it amusing that you’re suddenly so interested in your appearance. I’ve been trying for years to get you to care. Sophia comes along and all of a sudden you look like a prom queen.”
“What are you saying? You don’t think I look better?” I frowned into the mirror.
“That’s not it. You look great. I’m just surprised, that’s all. Was it Sophia that made you change, or Peter?”
I looked at her behind me through the mirror, but didn’t answer.
She smiled. “Are you guys together, then?”
“No. I mean, I don’t know. We haven’t talked about it.” It was hard to explain something that I didn’t completely know the answer to.
“I think you guys would make a cute couple if that helps.”
I turned and smiled at her. “Thanks. That means a lot coming from someone who can always find a date.”
She shrugged and left the room.
“I agree. You guys are really cute together.”
“Sophia. Stop doing that. I’m not going to be much help as a soul saver if you give me a heart attack before I can finish the job.” I looked in the mirror as Sophia reappeared. She was still lounging on my bed, right where she’d been when I’d first left for the bathroom.
“Have you been in here the whole time?” I asked.
“Yeah, pretty much.”
“Why didn’t you talk to Cam?”
“She looked like a zombie sitting on her bed and staring at the wall. I didn’t know if she was really awake or just on the verge of sleep walking so I decided to ignore her. Did you walk in on Peter a little while ago?”
“Maybe.”
She started laughing. “I thought I heard his voice in there after you slammed the door shut. You need to loosen up, sister. I’m going to go see if Nick’s back.” She left the room and I was finally alone.
Loosen up? What is that supposed to mean? I finished getting ready and opened the bedroom door. I would have to face Peter at some point and I figured I should just get it over with.
The three of them—two ghosts and one living soul—were sitting in the living area looking totally relaxed. Sophia and Nick were next
to each other on the couch and Peter was in a chair. Thankfully, he just smiled and nodded when I came out. I was grateful that he wasn’t going to make me relive my embarrassment.
Nick had bought a variety of doughnuts and juices. I grabbed a maple bar and an orange juice.
“I only had doughnuts a couple of times before I died, but I really miss them. I keep eating them, hoping I can remember the taste, but they just taste like everything else,” Nick commented as he took another bite of a chocolate and sprinkle covered doughnut.
“I’ll just have to eat them for you then, bro,” Peter said as he grabbed another one from the box and took a bite. Mmm . . . that’s good.”
Nick threw his half-eaten doughnut at Peter who stuck his arm out to deflect it. It ended up hitting me in the cheek.
I rolled my eyes and reached for a napkin. “What are we doing today?” I felt like I’d been asking that question a lot.
“Well, we thought we should try to find my old home and see if any of it still remains. Chances are it doesn’t, but we should check. I’m hoping that even if the structure of the old barn is gone we can still dig around in the dirt and see if anything is buried out there,” Sophia responded.
“What if something is built on top of the old site?” I asked.
“That’s a real possibility, but I’ve got to check. I can’t just wonder forever.”
“Does the city look anything like it did when you were here before?” Peter asked.
“Only geographically,” Nick answered. “We should be able to navigate fairly well just because the landmarks have stayed the same. It’s a good thing Jeremiah and Elsa lived so close to the waterfront. That will make it easier, too.”
“There are a lot of nice homes built near the water now. I hope you guys can get close enough to see anything without getting caught trespassing,” Sophia added.
“What do you mean by ‘you guys’? Won’t you be there?”
Nick and Sophia exchanged looks. They did that a lot.