Carolina shook her head. Her eyes trailed up over the fireplace where Joseph had hung her painting of Jacaranda Manor. Next to her mothers mantle clock was the framed photo of the Moore family, just like before, but a few new photos had been added to the collection. A framed school portrait of River, now with both of his front teeth missing. A framed photo of Boomer the dog. And at the end, in an ornate silver frame, was a blown-up photograph of Carolina on her twenty-first birthday.
“No,” she said, suppressing a sob. “I’m still here.”
“River and I have missed you,” he said, moving closer.
“I’ve missed you too,” she said, looking around the room. There, over the chaise lounge on the wall adjacent to the picture window was the portrait of her mother.
“You hung my artwork on the wall?”
Joseph nodded and shoved his hands down deep in his pockets.
“It only felt right,” he said. “Besides, I’m starting to appreciate art a little more these days.”
Carolina smiled.
“The house looks nice,” she said. “You’ve gotten quite a bit of work done.”
Joseph nodded again.
“Painters will be here next week to begin working on the exterior,” he said. “The payments have also started to come in from the art gallery.”
“Really?” she said. “That’s wonderful.”
“I’ve started a savings account for River,” he said. “I also sent an anonymous check to your great-nieces and nephews. I hope you don’t mind, but I sent some to Richard’s family as well.”
Carolina felt that familiar pressure build up behind her eyes again. How she wished she could just cry and release it.
“Thank you,” she managed. “Well, I’ll leave you alone again...”
“Wait!”
Joseph’s hand shot out through the air and landed on Carolina’s shoulder. This time there was no crackle of electricity; no shift of emotions or heightened sensation. Only his hand and her shoulder, connecting easily and effortlessly as though there were no unnatural barrier between them. Their eyes met and Carolina knew that it had been a mistake to come down and see Joseph, even if only to satisfy her curiosity. Leaving him now would be nearly impossible.
“Joseph, it’s better for you and River if I’m not around,” she said, clasping her hands firmly in front of her.
“How?”
This time Carolina felt something hot and wet roll down her cheek. She wiped it away and tried to ignore it just the same.
“River doesn’t need to grow up with a ghost for a friend,” she said. “My presence here will only confuse him.”
Joseph frowned and hugged his arms across his chest.
“My sister-in-law has been getting on my case about that,” he sighed. “She says that he talks to his cousins about you all the time. I tell her he’s just got a wild imagination...”
“See?” Carolina said, bitterly. “I love him, I really do. That’s why I need to go away.”
Joseph’s forehead creased and his eyes grew dark.
“Well what about me?” he said, looking back up again. “I’m a big boy. I can handle the fact that a ghost lives in my house.”
“Your house?” she said. “I thought you were going to sell it when you were finished remodeling?”
Joseph shook his head.
“I kind of like it here,” he said, his face relaxing a bit. “Besides, I’m pretty set for cash for a while thanks to your paintings. I won’t have to return to teaching for a few years if I don’t want to. Maybe I never will.”
Carolina straightened her spine and regarded him with a cool, narrow-eyed gaze.
