Ghost Who Came for Christmas

by McIntyre, Anna J

  “Benevolent Charities? Isn’t that the organization you asked me about when you called to confirm your reservation?” Danielle asked.

  Patricia nodded. “Yes, I wanted to make sure it was legit. I called the Frederickport Chamber of Commerce, and they vouched for you. I asked you about the organization. I just figured you had some agreement with them to respect their anonymity.”

  “No,” Danielle shook her head. “Until you mentioned the group on the phone, I had never heard of them before.”

  Chapter Ten

  Danielle sat at a booth at Pier Café eating lunch with Adam Nichols. It was Sunday afternoon, four days until Christmas.

  “I was surprised you wanted to meet for lunch. Grandma tells me you have a full house.” Adam picked up his burger and took a bite, his eyes still on Danielle, who sat across the booth from him, absently stirring her iced tea with a straw.

  Danielle shrugged. “Everyone’s been fed. They’re all doing their own thing. Lily’s at the house.” And Walt.

  “So, what did you want to talk to me about? I don’t think you asked me out to lunch to simply enjoy my company.” Adam took another bite of his burger.

  Danielle dropped the straw back into the glass and looked up at Adam and smiled. Picking up the glass, she took a sip from the straw. Setting the glass back on the table she flashed Adam a smile. “Aw come on, you know your grandma would be thrilled if we surprised her with a Christmas wedding.”

  Startled by Danielle’s quip, Adam began choking on his food. Dropping his half eaten burger to the plate, he grabbed his glass and took a swig of water, while still struggling to breathe normally.

  When he finally stopped choking, he looked across the table and glared at Danielle, who clearly found humor in his discomfort. “Hell, I haven’t even seen you naked yet.”

  Danielle cringed. “Now you’re just being gross.”

  “Hey, you started it!” Adam reminded.

  “Well, yeah, but if we can’t find humor in your grandmother’s matchmaking attempts...and anyway, wouldn’t kissing come before getting naked? No wonder your grandmother is having such a hard time getting you married off. You don’t seem to know the order of things.”

  “So, are you saying you want to kiss me?” Adam asked with a grin.

  “Eww, you’re getting gross again.” Danielle picked up her sandwich and took a bite.

  “Okay, then tell me why you asked me to lunch today, or was it just to mock me? Destroy my fragile male ego?”

  “Now you’re almost making me feel guilty.” Danielle set her sandwich back down on its plate. “I say almost, because I know there’s nothing fragile about your male ego.”

  “I think I’ll take that as a compliment.” Adam took a sip of his beer.

  “Please do.” Danielle grinned and then got serious. “I wanted to ask you something about Isabella.”

  “Isabella? What about her?”

  “Did you get to know any of her friends from Earthbound Spirits?”

  “A couple, why?”

  “One of them is spending the Christmas holiday at Marlow House.”

  “Really?” Adam took another sip of beer.

  “His name is Richard Winston; I wondered if you knew him.”

  “Richard or Rick?” Adam asked.

  “He introduced himself as Richard, but he might go by the nickname Rick. Does it matter?”

  “I remember meeting a Rick and a Richard that belonged to the group. I don’t think I ever knew their last names. The group wasn’t big on last names. I doubt Isabella even knew what they were. It had something to do with distancing themselves from their previous lives.” Adam picked up his burger again and started eating.

  “Well, he knew her last name. But that might just be because of everything that was in the press when her body was found.”

  “Describe what your Richard looks like.”

  “Well, my Richard, looks about thirty-five. Nice looking, light blond hair, blue eyes, not quite six foot, on the thin side. Not the athletic type. Looks like he would be at home working on computers.”

  “Oh, you mean, nerdy looking?”

  “Nerdy? No, not at all. I said he was good looking. Dresses pretty nice too. On the expensive side.”

  Nodding, Adam picked up his napkin and wiped his mouth. “I know which one. He does go by Richard. From what I recall, he was from Bend, or maybe it was Grants Pass.” Adam shrugged. “Whatever. Just remember he wasn’t from Frederickport. Isabella used to drag me to some of their events—trying to convert me. I remember meeting him, if he’s the same one I’m thinking of. Sort of quiet, got the impression he came from a wealthy family, yet never found out which family exactly. Not that I bothered checking him out. So, what’s he doing staying at Marlow House?”

  “He came to stay for Christmas. According to him, Peter Morris recommended the place.”

  “If he’s a member of Earthbound Spirits, his reason for staying at Marlow House has nothing to do with Christmas,” Adam said.

  “Why do you say that?”

  “For one reason, they don’t celebrate Christmas.”

  “They don’t?”

  Adam shook his head. “Nope.”

  “That time I met Morris and his sidekick, they explained what they believed. Now that you mention it, there was no mention of God per se, and certainly no mention of Jesus. So, I don’t know why I’m surprised.”

  Adam shrugged. “I remember Isabella had a hard time with that.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Christmas was her favorite time of year, and having to give up Christmas for her new religion was a little rough on her."

  “Well, a lot of people who don’t identify as Christians celebrate Christmas. And some people who identify themselves as Christians don’t celebrate it. I suppose it means something different to everyone. So, why couldn’t she still have Christmas?”

  “With Earthbound Spirits, denying Christmas was almost a show of faith. And members like Isabella, those who were reluctant to leave behind Christmas trees and other holiday traditions, were instructed to donate the money they would normally spend on Christmas to Earthbound Spirits. The rationale being, that money was being spent on helping guide other souls to their ultimate destination.”

  “If that money helped feed the homeless or starving children, then maybe they have something,” Danielle said.

  Adam laughed. “Earthbound Spirits never fed any starving people. That’s not their gig. In fact, according to Morris, starving people are simply reaping what they sowed from their misdeeds in previous lives. And to interfere by feeding them—well, that spoils the lesson they are here to learn, and basically you would be interfering with their progress if you gave them food. Tsk tsk.”

  “Are you serious?” Danielle frowned.

  “Yep. Pretty much.” Adam pushed his now empty plate to the edge of the table.

  After a moment of silence Danielle asked, “Did you hear about Renton?”

  “Yeah, I heard about it on the news. Never saw Clarence as the type to take his own life.”

  “That’s pretty much what I thought too.”

  “Can’t say I felt all that bad when I heard the news. After all, he did try to frame me for your cousin’s murder. And I can’t imagine you cried any tears for him, yourself.”

  “No, but like you, I don’t see him as someone who’d take his own life. Did you know he got involved with Earthbound Spirits?”

  “Yeah, I remember hearing about that. I can’t remember if you told me or if Grandma did.”

  “Apparently, Renton left his estate—what’s left of it—to Earthbound Spirits.”

  “Interesting.” Adam finished the last of his beer and then set his glass back on the table. “Maybe he did kill himself.”

  “Why do you say that?”

  “Not only does Earthbound Spirits not believe in Christmas—they encourage suicide in some situations. Of course, that’s not widely known outside the group. Morris tries to keep t
hat little bit out of the press.”

  “They encourage suicide? In what situation? The terminally ill?”

  Adam shook his head. “No. They believe we’re here on this earth to learn lessons, and when we finally realize that’s the purpose of this life, when we die, then we move onto the ultimate, more perfect life to live out our eternity. If we die without realizing that, we get reborn and do it all over again.”

  “Like the movie Groundhog Day?” Danielle asked.

  “Pretty much.”

  “So, once someone embraces Earthbound Spirts, they’re encouraged to just end it, and move on?”

  “Yes…and no. They’re taught that once they’ve embraced the truth they have a responsibility to guide others to the same realization.”

  “Like Missionaries?”

  Adam nodded. “Of course, they’re encouraged—quite rigorously—to leave whatever they have to Earthbound Spirits, so the group can then go on to help more people discover the—as they call it—eternal truth.”

  “So what is this about suicide?”

  “In certain situations, primarily when they can no longer help convert more people to Earthbound Spirits, they’re free to move on. With Renton, locked up in prison, there wasn’t much he could do to help the group. So perhaps—if he sincerely believed—he figured it was his way of breaking out of prison and moving onto paradise.”

  “Why does that make me think of suicide bombers?”

  “I suppose it’s the same mentality.”

  “So what reason does Peter Morris have for sticking around? If he truly believes this, why doesn’t he just call it a day and move onto the next world?”

  Adam laughed. “Because Peter Morris, according to his devoted followers, is making the ultimate sacrifice. He’s postponing moving onto paradise—something he could do by simply ending his own life here—but he chooses to stay in this imperfect world. I believe Isabella compared him once to the captain of a ship who makes sure all of the passengers gets on the lifeboat before he does.”

  “I can’t believe Isabella once fell for that.” Danielle shook her head.

  “You would have had to known Isabella to understand.”

  I did know Isabella. Danielle picked up her tea and took a sip. Of course, that was after she died.

  “If Richard didn’t come to Marlow House to spend Christmas, why do you think he came? There are plenty of places to stay in Frederickport this time of year, without choosing one decked out for the holidays.”

  “Did he mention why he’s in town? Visiting family, friends? Maybe some Earthbound Sprits function going on?” Adam asked.

  “He said he didn’t have any family in town. And he didn’t mention doing anything specific while here.”

  “Didn’t you say Peter Morris recommended Marlow House?”

  “Yes, that’s what he said.”

  Adam considered the question for a moment and then looked up at Danielle and smiled. “I can only think of one reason why he’s here.”

  “Why?”

  “He’s here for you.”

  “For me?” Danielle frowned.

  “If I’m not mistaken, Danielle Boatman, I believe you’re about to get recruited by Earthbound Spirits.”

  “Recruited? Are you telling me Richard intends to convert me to his wackadoodle religion?”

  “I would be sorely disappointed in you, Danielle, if he actually succeeded. But yes, I believe that’s exactly what he intends to do. After all, you said yourself, Peter Morris recommended Marlow House. Morris doesn’t go around giving travel tips unless there’s something in it for him.”

  “Uggg…” Danielle slumped down in her seat.

  “Richard admitted being friends with Isabella?”

  “Yes, when I brought up the issue of the will. Of course, I didn’t mention any names, but he knew who I was talking about.”

  “What did he think about that? The fact that his beloved leader tried to cash in on Isabella’s death and fraudulently claim her estate.”

  “He obviously believes what Morris sold the court—that he didn’t realize Isabella had made a new will, leaving everything to her uncle.”

  “Whatever you do, don’t say anything to Grandma about one of your guests being a member of Earthbound Spirits.”

  “Why?”

  Adam chuckled. “Grandma would have an absolute fit. She’s grown very fond of you, and it she thought you were in danger of being sucked in by that cult, she’d probably insist I drive her over to Marlow House so she could personally evict this Richard character. Trust me, you do not want to rile the protective mother side of Grandma.”

  Danielle grinned at the thought.

  Adam frowned. “Why are you smiling like that? I was serious.”

  “Oh, I know you were.” It’s just sort of a nice feeling to know there’s someone out there—someone beyond Marlow House—who actually cares what happens to me.

  Chapter Eleven

  Lily was about to step out of the kitchen when she heard Jessica tell her mother, “but I’m hungry Mom.”

  “I know sweetie, but I don’t want you to have any more cookies.”

  Jessica groaned. “But I didn’t have any lunch. Can’t we at least go get a hamburger?”

  “That’s why I wanted you to eat all your breakfast. I told you, we only get breakfast and dinner here. We have to be careful with our money. But if you’re hungry, I’ll go to the store and pick up a loaf of bread and some peanut butter. I should probably do that anyway. That way I’ll have something to give you for lunches.”

  “Mom, I’m sick of peanut butter!”

  Lily stepped back from the kitchen door, and then began whistling a Christmas tune, before taking a step back toward the door again and bursting into the hallway.

  “Hi!” Lily greeted cheerfully, pretending to be surprised to find Patricia and Jessica standing in the hallway. “Have you seen Danielle?”

  “I don’t think she’s back yet,” Patricia told her. “She mentioned something about meeting someone for lunch.”

  “Oh darn,” Lily groaned. “I forgot about that. I was hoping she’d want to split a sandwich with me.” Lily then paused a moment and looked from Patricia to Jessica. “Hey, would one of you want to share a sandwich? I’m not really hungry enough to eat a whole one.”

  Jessica perked up. “What kind of sandwich?”

  “Well, what’s your favorite?” Lily asked.

  “Grilled cheese.”

  “Wow, what a coincidence! That’s what I was going to have. You want to have one with me?”

  “Sure!” Jessica paused a moment and then looked up at her mother. “Can I, Mom?”

  Patricia smiled. “Yes. But why don’t you go wash your hands first.”

  Without another word, Jessica raced for the downstairs powder room to wash her hands.

  “Thank you,” Patricia told Lily when they were alone. “You heard us, didn’t you?”

  Lily shrugged. “No big deal. I was going to have lunch anyway. But you know, you’re more than welcome to make Jessica sandwiches for lunch while you’re here. We have plenty of cold cuts in the fridge, and Danielle doesn’t mind. Honest.”

  Neither woman noticed Richard, who stood in the shadows of the hallway, listening to their conversation. Before Jessica returned from the powder room, he silently made his way back up the stairs.

  An hour later, Jessica, who was no longer hungry, crouched down and peered under the Christmas tree. All she could see of Max was his golden eyes, staring back at her.

  “Here kitty, kitty…” Jessica said for the third time, determined to coax the cat out from his hiding place.

  “Come on Max, be a sport. The kid just wants to say hello, she’s not going to hurt you,” Walt called out from where he lounged against the sofa, keeping an eye on Marlow House’s holiday guests.

  Max responded with a loud meow.

  “Oh come on Max,” Walt scoffed. “Don’t exaggerate.”

  “Jessica, leave the poor c
at alone. He’ll come out when he wants to,” Patricia scolded. She sat in a chair next to Anna, while Chris lounged silently on the sofa, flipping through a magazine, seemingly oblivious to his surroundings. When no one was looking, he would peek over the top of the magazine and look over at Walt, and then at the women.

  Anna stared at Jessica. “Your daughter has such beautiful hair.”

  “Thank you. She gets that from her father.”

  Anna reached out, leaned toward Patricia, and patted her knee, and then leaned back in the chair again. “It must be difficult for you, raising the child all alone.”

  Patricia shifted uncomfortably in her chair. She looked over at Anna. “Jessica is a good girl, I’m very blessed. But yeah, it’s rough sometimes. And I hate knowing as each day goes by she forgets more and more about her father. He was such a good father.”

  “I didn’t mean to pry.” Anna glanced over to Chris who looked at her and rolled his eyes, before turning his attention back to the magazine.

  Walt, who had moved to the other side of the room caught the exchange and frowned. He turned to Chris and then looked over to Anna.

  “What is with you two?” Walt asked. “Is there something going on?”

  “I just understand how difficult it is to raise a child on your own. It’s not easy, especially if you don’t have any family support,” Anna said.

  Patricia tilted her head slightly as she studied Anna. “Do you have children?”

  “Oh me?” Anna shook her head. “I was thinking of my mother. She raised me and my brother alone—after our father was killed in an accident. It wasn’t easy on her—and when she died—well—there was no family to step up and help.”

  Patricia abruptly stood. “I think I’ll go to my room for a while. I’ve a little bit of a headache coming on.”

  “I’m sorry, perhaps if you take an aspirin?” Anna suggested.

  “Yes, I think I’ll do that. Jessica, come.”

  Jessica looked up from her place on the floor. “I wanna stay down here.”