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“Mams never actually owned it, she only inherited the right to live out her life here. At her death, the estate reverted back to an attorney who was the overseer of Nara’s original will.”
“How bizarre that a woman who was believed to be a ghost, would leave her home to a caregiver and not a family member. Sounds like the makings of horror movie.”
“Don’t let your imagination run away with you,” Lisa said, wiping at spider webs atop the dining room door. “People do strange things and I guess Nara, who never married didn’t want to be alone, so she bartered the house to have a companion. I’m just thankful we could pull it off.”
“Pull what off?” Donja asked.
“Buying the house with fifty acres,” Lisa blurted. “It needs a lot of work, but even then, it wasn’t cheap.”
Donja scrunched her forehead. “Okay, I can’t get this ghost woman out of my head. Any idea how this woman got this estate in the first place?”
“Lisa shook her head. “I have no idea, but I don’t want any more mention of ghosts, Frankie will be scared.”
“Donja glanced around and noticed that her brother was gone. Her eyes widened. “What happened to him?”
“Would you stop already? He’s with Carson.”
Donja met her gaze. “Well thanks a lot, Mom,” she exaggerated the word. “You’re worried about Frankie being scared but not me?”
Lisa scowled. “You don’t seriously believe in ghost, do you?”
“I don’t know…maybe,” she mumbled. “And like I said, where there’s smoke there’s fire and you gotta admit, this place is spooky.”
“Enough,” Lisa said with a hug. “It’s not eerie, it’s not haunted and there is, No—Such—Thing—As—Ghosts!”
“So, I suppose asking to go back and live with Grandma because I’m scared of this house, is out of the question.”
Lisa’s demeanor shifted dramatically. “Donja Marie Bellanger, that’s not an option. We’re a family and we’re sticking together.”
Donja dropped her head.
“Now, the day’s slipping away,” Lisa said as her arm slid across Donja’s shoulder. She kissed her head. “Let’s get the Suburban unpacked and then, you and I need to take a run to town for groceries.”
“And dog food,” Donja whispered. “I packed it, but it’s in the moving van, which will be here, when?” she asked with questioning eyes.
“Tomorrow.”
“Bummer,” Donja smiled, no humor intended.
Lisa gripped her arms and turned her. They faced off. “Honey, are you okay with all this?”
Donja just stared.
Lisa’s demeanor softened. “I didn’t mean to be so blunt about your grandma, but I can’t lose you, there’s already been too much loss in this family. Won’t you give this a chance, for me…for our family.”
Donja stalled.
“Talk to me, Donja, I can see the battle in you,” Lisa whispered. “My God, I can all but hear the drums of war.” She exhaled. “You’re so much like your father, he could never hide his feelings.”
The ‘just like your father’ hit a cord and Donja raised her head. They shared a look of some intensity. “Maybe I am like him,” Donja mumbled, “but what do you expect of me?”
“That you would adjust to—”
“Why am I the one that has to change and adjust?” Donja chided. “I didn’t want this, I didn’t.”
“There was no other way. I’m not a young woman anymore, Donja. I want security, love and support not only for me but you and Frankie.”
“We were just fine.”