The Ghoul Next Door

chapter Eight

“What did he say? What did he say?” Mindy asked while pulling at my sleeve.

“He said yes,” I said through a giant smile.

“So you managed to solve my ghost problem in five minutes flat? I’m impressed.” Callahan pulled me into an embrace. “You’re good, but then again, I knew that from the moment I met you.”

He knew exactly the right words to say. Before I could respond, Callahan pressed his soft lips to mine and I nearly stopped breathing for a few seconds. Whew. His lips made my body tingle in all the right places. I opened my eyes and glanced at the ghosts. Yes, they watched us. Mindy, however, was helping herself to one of the pastries behind the glass display case. Her fitness classes burned a ton of calories. She could eat whatever her heart desired without gaining an ounce.

After I somewhat recovered from the kiss, I pulled Callahan to the side. “By the way, did you leave that package this morning?”

He furrowed his brow. “What package?”

“I found it on the front porch this morning. I thought you might have left it.”

“No. What was it?” he asked.

How did I explain this to him without sounding weird? Okay, weirder. “It’s a pretty glass ornament. You hang it up kind of like a sun-catcher. The story goes that it collects bad spirits. They become trapped in the glass.”

He winked. “Well, maybe someone thought you needed something to help with keeping the spirits away.”

I didn’t tell him that I thought it would be cruel punishment to trap a spirit in a glass ball. But that was neither here nor there. I didn’t believe the thing worked anyway.

I shrugged. “It was probably my mother. She’s always sending little things like that.”

But why would my mother not hand-deliver it if she had been at my house? Who had really left it there? It had been too early for the mail-man. Regardless, I wouldn’t worry Callahan with the small details. He’d had enough stress over the last few days.

“Anyway, I guess someone will eventually come forward and tell me that they sent it.”

He wrapped his arms around me again. “Maybe you have a secret admirer.”

I snorted. “That’s the last thing I need.”

“You two do a whole lot of those public displays of affection. Don’t you think you’re grossing everyone out?” Mr. Fine tapped his cigarette ashes on my feet.

If he’d been standing any closer, he’d be on top of us. Personal space. Personal space.

“I don’t think we asked for your opinion,” I snapped.

Callahan smiled. “I take it someone said something you don’t agree with?”

I nodded. “I’m ignoring him from this point forward.”

Of course I knew that was a lie and would never be possible. I was a little testy with Mr. Fine though. My nerves still hadn’t recovered from the past events.

“Are you ready, Mindy?” I asked.

She licked the icing from her fingers, then said, “If Elvis is going, then I’m going.”

After leaving Callahan in his shop, Mindy and I marched back to Book Nook with the ghosts following closely behind. I opened the door and flipped the sign letting everyone know I was ready for business. I had thought the ghosts were still following behind me, but when I reached the register, Elvis and Mr. Fine were already standing next to it.

Mindy looked around the room. “So what does this Mr. Fine guy want?” After all this time, she still thought she’d see the ghosts. So adorable.

“He’s being tight-lipped. Well, I take that back, when it comes to his reason for being here he won’t talk, but he won’t stop butting in with his opinion when it’s not wanted.” I glared at him.

He shrugged and gave me an ‘I don’t care’ look.

“No offense, but I’m glad he’s following you around instead of me,” Mindy said.

“None taken, sweetie. I know what a pain in the ass they can be. I’ll take care of him. Whether he likes it or not, he’ll eventually tell me why he’s here. They always do.” I smirked in his direction.

Mr. Fine stood beside Mindy, invading her personal space. She hated having her personal space invaded as much as I did. “I had no idea how much she didn’t want me around. Maybe I’ll go harass her again.”

“You’ll do no such thing,” I warned.

“What? What did he say?” Mindy’s big brown eyes grew wider.

“Nothing. It’s not important.” I stacked books on the counter.

She quirked a suspicious eyebrow.

“Okay. I have to teach a class, but as soon as it’s over I’ll be right back here and I want all the Elvis details. Don’t you leave out a thing.” She grabbed a pad of paper and pen from the counter. “Here, write down everything he says.”

I took the items from her outstretched hand. “I’ll make sure to do that.”

Elvis laughed.

***

What was left of the day went by in a blur. Not because it was busy, but because, well, I had Elvis to keep me entertained. This was without a doubt the craziest thing that had ever happened to me. And I thought when the local coven had asked me to be their leader that was the craziest. This topped that by a long stretch.

I’d caught Elvis in the biography section. Yes, he’d noticed the unusual number of Elvis books. What could he expect, I was a fan. Elvis was looking at a book that featured his many performances.

“Do you miss being on stage?” I asked.

He nodded softly. “I do miss it. But I stay busy with helping others. It’s the same reason I loved performing. Making people happy.”

I smiled. “That makes sense. Many people loved you then and they still love you now.”

The bell on the door chimed and broke our conversation. True to her word, Mindy had returned at the end of the work day.

“I have one last class, but I had to pop back in real quick before it starts. I have to know what’s been going on.” She rushed over to where I stood.

“It’s been a very uneventful day,” I said nonchalantly and walked back to the counter.

Mindy hurried along behind me. She quirked a brow. “Why do I not believe you?”

“It’s true.” I shut off the computer.

“Are they still here?” she whispered and looked around.

“Yes.” I nodded. “Elvis is in the corner and Mr. Fine is standing behind you mocking you.” I gestured with a tilt of my head.

She whirled around and swung her arm through the air. “Take that, you jerk.”

He chortled, then disappeared.

“He’s not there now.” I handed her a piece of paper.

“What’s this?” she asked.

“Notes. What Elvis said today.” I pushed the page toward her again.

Her mouth dropped open, then she burst out in laughter. “I can’t believe you actually did that.”

“What are friends for?” I laughed.

She glanced at her watch. “I’m going to be late. I’ll read this while I wait for the ladies to prepare for class.” Her eyes were lit up with excitement as she glanced over the page.

“I guess I’ll be on my way home now,” I said, gathering up my things.

Mindy stared at me with her mouth agape. “You’re going home with Elvis?”

“Well, yeah. He’s following my every move now. Kind of pointless not to take him with me since he knows I can talk to him and Callahan is with me so much anyway.”

She let out a snort. “Lucky. You know you love it that he has to talk to you.”

I shrugged. “I won’t lie. I’m not hating it.”

“Well, I’m off to teach my last class for the evening. Hey, why don’t you come—”

“Let me stop you right there because if you think I’m pole dancing in front of Elvis, then you’ve got another think coming. There is no way.” I waved my hands through the air. “I draw the line.”

“You had Abraham Lincoln wait in the car while you did it, why can’t Elvis wait in the car?”

“Because it’s different.” I lowered my voice. “He’s Elvis.”

She stared for several seconds without saying a word. “You’re crushing on a ghost.”

“Okay, I’ll admit I want him to hang around him for a little bit. But I am not crushing.” I felt the heat rush to my cheeks.

“He’s a dead ghost,” she said.

“That’s a redundant statement. If he’s a ghost, then you don’t need to say he’s dead because he couldn’t be a ghost if he wasn’t dead.”

She rolled her eyes. “Okay. I’ll let you off the hook for tonight, but don’t think you can get by with that lame excuse every night. ‘Oh, I can’t come to class because I have to hang out with Elvis.’” Mindy imitated my voice as she walked toward the door.

“Love you too, Mindy.” I snorted.

If I knew her, and trust me I knew her because we’d been friends since dinosaurs roamed the earth, then I knew she wouldn’t ease up on the fitness class thing. She was determined to whip me into shape.

“It’s time to close.” I called out to the ghosts. “I guess you all will be coming with me.” I made my way toward the front door and flipped the sign to Closed.

I had no problem with Elvis coming home with me. That was one ghost I actually liked having around.