“I can’t do ghost things, like move objects or make sounds, so if you were thinking you could use that in advertising, don’t.”
“I’d never do that to you.”
“Unless I asked?”
“Of course. If you wanted, I’d take out front page ads in every paper in Illinois.”
Stella tittered. It was high and delicate, and not Lu.
I inhaled. Exhaled. Started the countdown from one hundred.
“I’ll be waiting for you. When you pass, I’ll be right here for you. We’ll step into that light together. And if anyone else passes before you, I’ll be there for them. You let them know that, okay? That Stella is here, knitting, happy, and waiting to help them through the light.”
“I’ll tell them.” Dot wasn’t even trying to stop the tears now. They rolled in a constant stream, blotching her face with red, turning her nose pink.
“And I want you to know I had a book once. It was magic. Real magic. I hid it in the shed. I tried to give it to Lu and Brogan in exchange for this conversation. That man stole it from Lu. She’s the rightful owner now. But I don’t want you to get mixed up in all that. I do want you to know that magic is real. And dangerous. And sometimes wonderful.
“But you should stay away from it, okay?”
“Sure,” Dot said. “I never even thought it was real, and I stayed away from it. It won’t be hard to stay away from it now.”
“We owe a big thank you to Lu and Brogan.”
“Yes,” she agreed.
“Maybe give her a few bucks off her bill?”
Dot huffed a laugh again. “Oh, she’s staying for free. Anytime. As long as I own the house. And I’ll book her in this room so you can talk to…Brogan.”
“Unless there’s a hot guy who wants to stay. Then you book the hot guy.”
“Hot guy gets the room, then Lu, then everyone else. Promise.”
Lu jerked, and her eyes fluttered shut before opening again.
“That’s it,” I said. “Time to leave, Stella.”
“What? No,” she said. “It can’t be so soon. Just a minute. Just a little more, please.”
Lu shuddered again, and Dot clenched her hands tighter steadying her through the tremor.
“What is it?” Dot asked. “Are you okay?”
“Stella,” I warned.
“I love you, Dotty. I’m proud of you. I’m waiting for you. But don’t come see me for a long, long time, okay? I want to see you become a great-great-great grandma at least.”
“I’ll do my best. I think Summer Stella might be thinking about kids in the next couple years.”
“Oh, she’s been doing more than thinking about them.”
“Is she pregnant?” Dot asked, then she shook her head. “No. Don’t tell me. If she wants me to know, when she wants me to know, she’ll tell me. I love you, Stella. I wish we’d had forever together.”
“We will,” Stella said, as another hard tremor shook Lu. “Just not yet.”
“Now, Stella,” I said. “Or I’m reaching in there and pulling you out by your teeth.”
“I need to go. But remember, I’ll be right here. If you want to talk, or just want someone to listen, I’ll be here.”
