“That’s not what I wanted to talk about though,” Joseph said, changing the subject. “Carolina, do you realize you were off of the manor property?”
Carolina looked up and an odd expression fell over her face.
“I was, wasn’t I?”
“So youcanleave the property?”
Carolina thought for a moment, then hugged her arms to her chest.
“There’s usually a great gray wall of smoke that surrounds the perimeter of the property,” she explained, her eyes cast toward the floor. “It binds me to the manor. For whatever reason, yesterday it wasn’t present.”
Joseph thought for a moment.
“Why do you think that was?”
Carolina shook her head.
“I couldn’t say,” she said. “The few times I’ve tried to get near it before have been a disaster. I was alone then though.”
Joseph scratched at his beard in thought.
“Maybe you need to have someone act as your chaperone?” he said. “Maybe the wall of mist or whatever wasn’t there because you were with River?”
Carolina gave him a half smile, half frown.
“That certainly sounds possible.”
“Maybe we can try again some time?” Joseph said. “I would like for you to be able to come see your art opening. I think it would be good for you to hear what positive things the public has to say about your work.”
“Oh, I couldn’t possibly, Joseph,” she said, returning to her spot at the chaise lounge. “It’s truly terrifying. I feel such awful dread whenever I even look at the gray mist.”
“Well, just give it a thought,” Joseph said. “I’d be willing to go with you and test out the theory. Imagine the possibilities if you were able to leave the property. You could go to the beach again. To the mountains even. Anywhere at all.”
You could go anywhere with me, Joseph thought to himself, though he did not say it out loud. The truth was that he had become fond of Carolina. Despite her sometimes wicked tongue and lighting quick retorts, it made him happy to see her interact with River. He also had to admit that he would have been clueless when it came to updating the house if it wasn’t for her guidance. Not to mention the fact that he stood to become a semi-wealthy man after the new year thanks to her generously showing him and offering up her paintings. He owed Carolina a lot. The least he could do was to help her return to the world.
“I do miss the sunrise on the ocean at dawn,” she said, a sad smile returning to her lips. She nodded. “Very well. After Christmas we’ll give it a go.”
Joseph smiled and sat down next to her.
“Carolina, I’m very glad that River and I got to meet you,” he said. “I wish there was something that I could give you for a Christmas gift.”
“Oh, you’ve already given me a great gift,” Carolina said, looking around the room. “Jacaranda Manor will be beautiful again. I’ll have my own art show. It’s all that I could ask for.”
Joseph smiled as he looked upon her mouth, and for a moment, wondered what it might be like to kiss a ghost. Would her lips be stiff and cold? Would it feel like a shock of electricity? Would he be able to reach up and caress her cheek or run his fingers through her hair? He sucked in a deep breath and blinked back the notion.
“There was one other thing I wanted to mention,” he said, looking down at his forearm. His skin still tingled now and then from where her hand had touched him the day before.
“Yesterday, when you came to tell me about River’s accident... you were able to touch me.”
Carolina looked up from her hands clasped firmly in her lap. Her face brightened and glowed, as though her whole body were blushing, and a sweet, playful smile crept in at the corner of her lips.
“I know. I’m sorry.”
“You said that sort of thing never happened,” Joseph ventured. “But the beer bottle in the kitchen. The paintings upstairs. Your hand around my wrist. You can make contact with the physical world, can’t you?”
Carolina’s silhouette seemed to shimmer and sigh as she paused for a moment, then answered him.
“Only sometimes,” she admitted. “I’ve been practicing making contact with objects, but it doesn’t always work.”
