~I am terribly sorry,~he said apologetically, standing on the spot on the deck where he’d apparently just magically appeared out of nowhere – just like ghosts tended to do, Ethan guessed. And always at the worst possible time.~I didn’t mean to frighten anyone.~
Chloe turned to Ethan. “Does he just do that?”
He nodded. “Yeah. Sorry, I should’ve warned you.”
“No, no, it’s okay.” She turned back to Curtis, clearly struggling to keep the frustration from her face – had she been wanting to kiss him just as badly as Ethan had been wanting to kiss her, when they were unwittingly interrupted? “What’s up, Curtis? Did you find anything useful? Do you know why you’re here?”
Curtis wrung his spectral hands together.~I’m afraid not, Miss Chloe. Miss Margot did find some old maps, and it was all very interesting to see how things had changed, but I’m afraid that we are no closer to working out why I am here.~
He went on,~Though we did at least solve one mystery. Miss Chloe, it seems your business is on the land where I used to live, but my old house was knocked down many years ago and replaced with a new one. I can only guess that that is why I was drawn to that place, but I fear the information will not help us further.~
“My clinic is where your house used to be?” said Chloe thoughtfully. “That explains a lot. I’m sorry your house is gone, Curtis.”
~It’s not your fault,~Curtis said.~It happened long before you were born. Think no more upon it.~
His downcast expression changed to one of mild annoyance.~After we looked at the maps, Miss Margot put on her moving picture box and showed me some pictures called ‘Survivor’, but I do not believe that any of those people would have actually survived in the wilderness. I don’t understand why anyone would watch such things. Are people in this time so bored that they must seek out unnecessary dangers?~
“Well, I’m sorry that you didn’t get the answers you were looking for,” Ethan said honestly, as his heart more or less resumed its regular rhythm after Curtis’s surprise entrance. Hewasn’t quite sure how to respond to Curtis’s discovery of reality TV, and decided to just let it pass without comment. “It feels a bit like we’re back at square one.”
“I’m sorry too, Curtis,” Chloe said. “I was really hoping that this would be the breakthrough you were looking for.”
~Yes, I as well,~Curtis said forlornly, and Ethan couldn’t help but feel sorry for him, despite all the trouble he’d caused. He really did look miserable.
Chloe shivered suddenly, and Ethan realized that the sun was just starting to sink below the horizon. He opened up his mouth, ready to suggest that they move inside and start up the fireplace, but Chloe spoke first.
“You know what, I think maybe we should call it a day,” Chloe said, though Ethan could hear the regret in her voice. “It’s been a really long and, uh, reallyeventfulday, and I think maybe we should all just get some sleep so that we can approach this with fresh minds in the morning.”
Before Ethan could respond, she went on, “And… I’m going to head home now – I was supposed to spend today getting things ready so I can actually open the clinic on Monday. They still need doing, and then I… I think I’m going to have a shower and crash.”
As she spoke she pulled out her phone and brought up her Contacts list, then handed the phone over to Ethan. “If you give me your number, I’ll call you in the morning and we can work out what we’re going to do next.”
Ethan quickly typed in his number and then handed the phone back to her, even as his pegasus screamed at him to convince her to stay.
Quiet. I’d love for her to stay the night as well, but she obviously needs some space, and ithasbeen a pretty insane day for her. Let her rest in her own home. We don’t want her to regret anything in the morning.
When the pegasus still seemed inclined to argue, he added pointedly,Do you really want her to spend the night while Curtis is still hanging around, watching YouTube videos and appearing at the least opportune moments?
The pegasus harrumphed, but gave in.
“Thanks,” Chloe said. She fiddled with the phone, and a moment later his phone buzzed. A text sayingChloepopped up, and he felt heartened to know that she trusted him with her number.
“Would you like a ride back into town?” he asked, and Chloe nodded gratefully.
“Thanks,” she said. “I really appreciate it. See you tomorrow, Curtis – I hope you have a good evening.”
~Good night, Miss Chloe,~Curtis said with a wave.~Sweet dreams.~
“Thanks, Curtis,” she said with a smile. “Sorry that I didn’t believe in you at first.”
~Think on it no further. I would have done the same.~
A huge yawn split Chloe’s face in two. “Oh my God. Okay, I need to get going.”
The two of them walked back to Ethan’s car, Chloe almost asleep on her feet; when they got there, she practically collapsed into her seat, eyes sliding closed. A moment later, and the smallest, most adorable of snores slipped from between her perfect pink lips. It really had been a long day.
Ethan buckled her in and closed the passenger door gently, then slid into the driver’s seat and began the drive back into town.
Chapter 8
