Don’t want to, but you probably need to hear it.
Jason took a deep breath. “Okay… Let’s have it.” He flinched, thinking he could have worded that a little better.
Your girl is going through some heavy shit. She was there for you, man. Now it’s your turn. Don’t be uncool.
Too stunned to speak, he simply nodded his head.
A knock at the door provided a welcome interruption.
He hoped it was Merry. This “heavy shit” Chad spoke of had him intensely curious and feeling more than a little protective.
When he opened the door to find Dottie standing there, his hopes crashed, but he was still glad for the distraction.
“Hi, Aunt Dottie.” He almost asked how everything was in his absence, but figured she’d tell him anyway. Part of him didn’t even want to know.
“Hello, Jason, dear. Welcome home. How was your trip? How’s your father?”
“Much better. They have him on a special diet and exercise program, and he’s already—”
“Yes, that’s nice. Good to hear. Now, about that ghost of ours… I made the appointment with the private detective. I’d like to be part of the meeting, if you don’t mind.”
Jason’s warning bell sounded, but agreeing to it would get her out of his hair faster.
“Sure. When is it?”
“Friday. Ten a.m. You should be able to make that, right?”
Since his schedule was flexible, consisting of working out in the early morning and seeing Merry after she woke up at ten most mornings, it was perfect. “That’s fine. I’ll come down for you at about nine-thirty.”
“Oh, no. The meeting is going to be held here. Chad wants to attend. Morgaine will be there too since she seems to be able to communicate with him but I don’t want that nasty Nathan fellow involved.”
“The guy from 1A who works in a morgue?”
“Yes, there’s something about him I don’t like. I can’t put a finger on it. Can you do anything about him?”
He almost groaned aloud. “Doanything? Like what?”
She shrugged. “Talk to him?”
“About changing his personality?” Jason shook his head. “I honestly don’t think you can ask someone to be something they’re not.”
Dottie jammed one hand on her hip. “Well, does he have to be an asshole?”
“Aunt Dottie!” He laughed. “I’ve never heard you talk like that.”
“Oh, you may hear me use even more colorful language if I continue to feel insulted and disrespected around here. I honestly don’t know why people don’t like me. I’m such a nice person. And I’ve never done anything to them…”
The elevator whirred behind her.Oh, please be Merry!
“But you’re right,” she said. “First things first. And the most important thing is getting rid of that damn ghost.”
“Uh, Aunt Dottie. You might want to lower your voice. I’m pretty sure he’s here.”
She gasped. “Here? Now? How do you know? Is Morgaine around?”
“No, it’s just you, me, and Chad. He typed a message while I was on the computer.”
Her face scrunched and she bit out, “Oh, sure. He finds a way to talk to you.” She stormed over to his computer, but Jason beat her to it and turned it off. “What did he say? He talks to everyone except me. Me, he attacks!”
