Polly gave him a knowing smile. ‘So I was, and yes, I do. Well, what it is, you see, is that some of us ghosts want to give Callie and Brodie an engagement present, so we’re canvassing everyone for suggestions of what we can give them.’ She chuckled. ‘Bearing in mind we can’t actually touch anything, have no money, and Brodie can’t see or hear us, which does narrow things down a bit.’
‘Hmm. You could say that,’ Brooke agreed. ‘Are the living residents getting them something, do you know?’
‘Lots of things,’ Polly said with a sigh. ‘Obviously, our Shona and Max are making them a cake, and Jasper Edgecumbe has offered to do them an engagement portrait at his photographic studio. The girls at the salon are giving Callie a free hairdo and manicure and all that malarkey for her party, and?—’
‘Yes, okay,’ Danny said. ‘We get it. But I don’t see what we’re supposed to do. It’s not like we have a lot of options, is it?’
‘Not many at all,’ Polly said. ‘That’s why we’re asking everyone to put on their thinking caps. Walter’s already offered to write them a poem and we can’t inflict that on the poor sods, can we? We need to find something better than that or Callie and Brodie will never forgive us.’ She laughed again, and Brooke laughed, too, imagining poor Callie having to sit through verse after verse of Walter’s dreadful literary efforts.
‘Maybe we could arrange a screening of a romantic film for Callie and Brodie at The Magic Lantern?’ Danny suggested. ‘You could mention it to Shona, and she could ask Robyn and Curtis to give them their own private showing.’
‘I could,’ Polly said doubtfully, ‘but then that would really be a present from Robyn and Curtis, wouldn’t it? They’re the managers of the cinema, after all. It wouldn’t really be a present from us at all.’
The three of them sighed heavily, aware that this was going to be a lot trickier than even they’d realised.
‘Maybe they won’t expect anything from us anyway,’ Danny said.
‘Oh, I’m sure they won’t,’ Polly agreed, ‘but that’s not the point, is it? Wewantto give them a present. They’ve both been so good to us, always thinking of us and including us in everything they can. And they deserve something nice, don’t they?’
‘I suppose…’ Danny didn’t sound too convinced, which made Brooke cross.
‘You’re always so negative! Polly’s right. They do. Love should be celebrated, shouldn’t it, Poll?’
‘Definitely. And those two are perfect for each other. Don’t you remember how lost and sad Brodie used to be before Callie arrived in the village? Practically worked himself to death trying to prove that he had a purpose, even though he couldn’t see us ghosts. Bless him, he felt like such a failure because he didn’t have his grandad’s gift. It was Callie who turned that around and made him see his own worth, wasn’t it? She made him feel needed and valuable in his own right. He’s been so much happier since.’
‘And didn’t Callie have a bad time, too?’ Brooke asked. ‘I happened to hear Shona and Clara talking once about Callie’s ex. You know, Immi’s dad, and?—’
‘Youhappenedto hear that, did you?’ Danny said suspiciously.
‘These things happen,’ Brooke said with indignation. ‘Not my fault if they can’t see me, is it? I can’t avoid everyone!’
‘Quite right, love,’ Polly said with feeling.
Since everyone knew that Polly liked to hang around the teashop where she’d once been manager and eavesdrop on the customers’ conversations, it was no wonder she agreed with Brooke on this one. Brooke gave Danny a smug grin.
‘Callie’s ex was horrible. And from what I’ve heard,’ Polly added, nodding her head furiously, ‘her life before she even methimwas blooming awful, too. Her mum died when she was little and her dad didn’t want her, and she was passed from pillar to post. Bless her cotton socks. I don’t think she felt really loved and secure till she met Brodie, and being a single mum with no family backup all them years must have been so hard. Now she and Immi have someone they can rely on at last. Someone who’ll always put them first.’ She gave a heartfelt sigh. ‘I think it’s lovely. They saved each other. I do love a good love story, don’t you?’
Danny got up and walked out of the room.
Polly looked at Brooke in surprise. ‘Something I said?’
Brooke wrapped her arms around herself, that familiar sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach.
‘Just Danny being Danny.’
‘Hmm. Not the most cheerful soul in the world, is he?’ Polly agreed. ‘Bar the shouting and ranting, I’d say he’s as miserable as Silas Alexander in his own way.’
Since Silas Alexander – or The Reverend Silas Alexander to give him his full title – was a grouchy old man who seemed to loathe the world and everyone in it, Brooke didn’t feel that was very fair.
‘He wasn’t always like this,’ Brooke protested. ‘He used to be such fun. He was so happy and outgoing. He’s changed.’
‘Life can do that to a person,’ Polly agreed.
‘Not life,’ Brooke said sadly. ‘Afterlife. He wants to go back to his old home and have things just the way they used to be, and that can never happen. I try so hard to make him smile but it feels like he’s been depressed ever since the accident. I don’t know what I can do to bring back the old Danny again. I’d give anything to have him the way he was then. Anything.’
Polly reached out and took Brooke’s hand. ‘Does he have any inkling how you feel about him?’
Brooke gave her a startled look. ‘Wh-what do you mean?’
