The Ghoul Next Door

chapter Three

I made my way back down the stairs with Mr. Fine breathing in my ear.

When I reached the bottom step, Callahan and Mindy rushed over.

“What happened?” Mindy asked.

“Okay. Try to remain calm…” I said.

That was like telling her to try and not eat a piece of chocolate. It wasn’t happening—we loved our chocolate. There was no way to break this to her gently. Her eyes couldn’t get any wider.

I continued, “There was someone in your attic.”

“Oh my God. A living person?” she screeched.

Callahan started up the stairs, but I grabbed his arm to stop him.

“No, no. It was a spirit, but he disappeared. I’m pretty sure he’s gone.” I crossed my fingers behind my back.

Okay, I hated lying to her, but there was no need to cause her any more stress right now. She’d been through so much lately.

I quickly added, “I just think he was in the wrong house. It happens from time to time… nothing to worry about.”

Mindy scowled. She didn’t look convinced.

“Do you want to spend the night with me?” I asked the question, but I secretly didn’t want her to take the offer. I was a terrible best friend, I know. But I wanted alone time with Callahan. If Mindy really needed me though, I’d drop everything to help her, and she knew that.

Mindy looked around the room, then back at me and Callahan.

Her shoulders slumped as she exhaled. “I guess I’ll be okay here. If you’re sure the spirit is gone?”

I glanced to my side. Unfortunately, I was all too sure that the spirit was no longer in the attic because he was invading my personal space at that moment. Mr. Fine winked at me, then took another puff from his cigarette. Maybe all those cigarettes were the reason for his passing. I had to get rid of him soon so that I wouldn’t have the constant cigarette smell following me around like a dark cloud. I was allergic to the smoke.

“Did the ghost say anything to you?” Mindy asked.

“Like I said, I think he was just a little confused and didn’t know why he was here.”

Mindy nodded.

Mr. Fine snorted. “Yeah, that’s it. Why don’t you lie to her some more? You’re not a very good friend, are you?”

What a mean and nasty ghost. That comment was so uncalled for, but by his smug expression, I knew he didn’t care.

“You call me if you need anything,” I said.

I hugged Mindy tight, then Callahan kissed her on the cheek.

Mindy folded her arms in front of her chest. “If that ghost comes back I’ll be at your front door again before you can say annoying best friend.”

I laughed. “Don’t knock next time, just use your key and come on in.”

***

Mr. Fine made the trip home with us. No big surprise there. He sat in the middle of the backseat, but it wasn’t as if he had a choice. Callahan had made it to the passenger side before Mr. Fine had a chance to call shotgun. Unfortunately, Mr. Fine didn’t remain quiet, but honestly, had I really expected him to shut his trap? None of them ever did. He started off with the coughing—I knew he was only pretending to have something stuck in his throat, because really, he was dead. How sick could he be? Then he started with the humming, which turned into whistling. The noise was getting on my very last nerve. I had precious few nerves to spare at this point. An endless stream of annoying ghosts had made me zip through every single nerve I had.

My little farmhouse on the outskirts of town sat under a canopy of tall oak trees. It was just the right size for me with three bedrooms, two baths, and a cozy fireplace in every room. I loved opening the windows in every room and listening to the rustle of the leaves. The house was barely visible under the cover of night as we drove up the gravel drive. Nighttime had hidden the bright orange, yellow, purple and green leaves that filled every tree too. The smell of sweet apples, fallen leaves and pumpkin still hung in the air though.

We’d barely pulled up to my front door when my new ghost friend jumped out from the backseat, as if I’d invited him in or something. “Make yourself at home,” I wanted to yell sarcastically. But I didn’t want Callahan to think I was totally nasty to the ghosts though, so I refrained.

Mr. Fine didn’t even wait for me to open the front door. When Callahan and I entered the foyer, he was already making his way up the stairs. The hardwood floors creaked as we stepped across the threshold. Thankfully I’d remembered to leave the little lamp on the table next to the door turned on because otherwise the house was pitch black. I’d stubbed my toe one to many times before I finally decided to do something about it.

“Hey, where do you think you’re going?” I yelled.

Callahan froze in his tracks.

“Oh, sorry, I wasn’t talking to you. I was talking to the ghost.” I pointed toward the stairs.

Callahan looked, but, of course, saw nothing. I could only imagine how it was for others who didn’t see the spirits like I did. A wee bit confusing.

“Right. The ghost.” Callahan nodded.

I pointed at Mr. Fine and gave him a warning glare. I’d chase him up those stairs if I had to.

“You are not hiding in my attic. That’s just weird. So knock it off.”

What was with ghosts and attics? Callahan frowned in utter confusion.

“Get down here and act like you’re alive right now or I will drag out my sage and cleanse your butt into the light right now. Do you understand me?” I pointed to the spot on the floor beside me.

Callahan chuckled. “I take it we have a testy ghost with us?”

“Unfortunately, yes, we do.”

Mr. Fine stood midway up the stairs with a scowl across his face.

After a couple seconds, he finally said, “I’ll come down there, but don’t think because you’re some fancy psychic that you’re going to bully me and tell me what to do all the time.”

“Well, I think as long as you’re hanging out in my house that I have the right to tell you what to do,” I said.

Callahan stood beside me staring straight ahead as if he didn’t know what to say or do.

Callahan turned to me. “Larue, I don’t want you to think you have to keep secrets from me. When there are ghosts around us, just tell me. I can handle it. Give me some more credit, okay?”

I answered with a nod. “I guess it just takes some time for me to get used to the idea that you know I talk to the dead.”

After keeping my special talent a secret for so long, it was hard to let it be out in the open like that.

Callahan stepped closer and wrapped his arms around my waist. “If it’s a part of your life, then I love it.”

That was the first time he’d mentioned the ‘l’ word. Was it too soon? Okay, he hadn’t said he loved me, but was he headed in that direction? How did I feel about him? I couldn’t deny that what I was feeling might be love. Thankfully, Mr. Fine had left us alone at this special moment. Well, at least I thought he had. I hadn’t seen him since Callahan had pulled me closer. He was probably hiding out in the attic. That was so weird.

Giving up on trying to control my new ghost guest for the night, I left him to entertain himself while Callahan and I slipped off to the bedroom. It was like sneaking your boyfriend into your room when your parents were home. It was ridiculous that I had to hide from a ghost like a teenager. Mr. Fine could sneak off to the attic if he wanted, as long as he left us alone tonight.

Callahan started the fireplace, warming the room and casting a soft glow across the butter-colored walls. I waited for him by the bed.

When Callahan neared, he pulled me into his arms, then glanced around. “Are we alone?”

I wanted to say: define alone. But that wouldn’t have been the answer he wanted, so instead I said, “Yes. We’re completely alone.”

I didn’t have the heart to explain that ghosts could pop up at any moment or even make themselves invisible.

With those words, he pulled me against his hard body and placed his lips against mine. He gently traced the contour of my lips with his tongue until I couldn’t stand it any longer and I had to kiss him with full force. I ran my hands down his shoulders and along his arms, relishing in the feel of his hard muscles. He threaded his hands through my hair, then held my face with his powerful hands.

Callahan lifted his lips from mine, and then stared into my eyes. “You make it hard to catch my breath.”

Yeah, the feeling was mutual.

I slowly unbuttoned Callahan’s shirt, taking a little time on each button. When his muscular chest was fully exposed, I pressed my lips against his hot skin. A soft moan escaped his lips. I took my time kissing and licking, but my desire for him was almost too much to handle. I felt his yearning as he pressed against me. Without wasting another second, I unfastened his belt, and then slowly lowered the zipper, releasing him from the confines of the denim. He stepped out of his jeans and set his sights on my clothing. Callahan gently pulled off my shirt, then cupped my breasts in his hands. He caressed with his fingers, sending a jolt through my body.

My body temperature was rising by the second. He lowered his lips to mine again and our tongues mingled together with a new urgency. I could wait no longer. I had to have him. Stepping out of my pants, Callahan pulled me toward his body again. His hard muscles sent a tremble from my head to my toes. As my legs weakened, Callahan lowered me onto the bed, the down comforter soft against my skin. The candlelight flickered across his handsome face and I ran my hands across his hard chest again. He made it easy to forget all my problems. Callahan lowered himself over me. My hands moved to his tight butt as he moved against my body. In that moment, I wasn’t sure if I would have noticed if the room had been on fire. The world only consisted of the two of us at that moment—or maybe not.

Just when things had heated up, a loud thud echoed out. It sounded as if the crash had come from the front porch. It was probably just the ghost trying to get my attention. But what if it was an intruder? Someone trying to break in and steal my valuables? Okay, I had no valuables other than a string of pearls my mother had given me for my sixteenth birthday, but whatever.

“What was that?” Callahan asked.

“I don’t know.” I sat up in bed, the air raising chills on my arms.

Once the heat from Callahan’s body was gone, it was icy cold.

“I’m going to check it out.”

He sounded as if he’d had it with the crazy antics. Callahan jumped up and grabbed his pants. This was not how I’d envisioned this scene playing out.

I grabbed my robe and padded into the hallway behind him. He was hopping into his shoes when I made it out into the hallway.

“What are you going to do?” I asked.

“I’m going to check it out. You stay here, okay?”

My hero. It was nice to have a strong man around once in a while to check out the spooky noises. I got tired of having to do it myself all the time. But what was the noise? Had the same thing started all over again? I thought the black magic had gone for good. Stupid me.