Page 124 of Ghost

“Yeah.”

“Where is he?”

“Over under the balcony sitting down.He didn’t look so good,” Mason said softly, not to be overheard.

“That damn man.”Patty looked about for something.“There in that green cooler.”

She and Mason went towards it at the same time.“Let me put it towards the front,” Mason said.He got the cooler and put it more in the shade and got one of the soft drinks out.Patty took it out of his hands.

“Okay, old man, and yes I am calling you old.”Patty put the drink in Nick’s hand.“You are going to take it easy for the rest of the day.No one expects you to be twenty or even thirty years old.”

“You’re just as old as I am,” Nick said, after a long gulp of his drink.“And I’m not above admitting my age, woman.How about you?”

Patty’s eyes narrowed.“You just try that and see what that gets you.”She took the towel she had stuffed in her back pocket and wiped his face.“I’m going to get you some ice to put on your head.Cool you off.”She trotted off not waiting for a response.

“I do love that woman,” Nick said with a little smile pulling at one corner of his mouth.

“I’d suggest you do as she says, Nick.”Mason chuckled.“That’s one woman I wouldn’t want to spar with.”

Nick laughed heartily.“You know what?She’s all bark and no bite really.She sounds mean but she’s sweet as pie.”

“I’ll not try not to test your theory there, Nick, if you don’t mind.”

“You don’t have anything to worry about, Mason.She really likes you.Took to you right off.”

“I like both of you, too.”Mason looked around.“I should probably go and find out what’s going on.I don’t have a clue about what’s happening in my own house.”

Nick laughed again.“You go on then.Here comes Patty.I’ll be fine.”

“Okay.If you need anything, just send for me or holler.”

Nick nodded.

“Here, put this around your neck,” Patty said, placing the wet towel with ice in it around Nick’s neck.“Now you just sit there and behave.I gotta go and knock some heads together.If people would just follow directions....”

“Orders, you mean,” Nick said smirking at his wife, his eyes alight and sparkling.

“Oh, hush up.”Patty shook her head and marched off, arms pumping.

“Yeah, all bark andsomebite is more like it,” Mason said, laughing.“I’ll catch you later, Nick.”

Mason went through the backdoor of the basement where he now lived.It was hard to believe that it had only been a week since he moved into his own house.A house that was a dream he’d never thought possible.

He stopped for a moment and listened to all the footsteps overhead.How many people are up there?And where has the day gone?I feel like I’ve been chasing my tail all day long.He turned towards the back door, seeing the scurrying people and the sun beginning to slip lower into the sky.

Mason was about to climb the stairs to find out when Francis appeared right before him.Mason jumped and in doing so, fell from the first step and landed on his ass.

“Mason,” Francis yelled out and was immediately by his side.“Are you alright.Are you hurt?”

“What have I told you about doing that?”Mason stood up, rubbing his behind.“That hurt, ya know?”

“I am truly sorry.Are you all right?”Francis asked again, looking very concerned.

“Yeah, yeah, no thanks to you.”Mason huffed at Francis.“Want to fill me in on what the hell’s going on here?Do I not have any say so?This ismyhouse, after all.”

Francis grinned.“Ellen has been very busy, and I think you will be quite pleased.I think that she has gone to all this trouble for us both.”He stopped for a moment.“I hope she has not overdone it.She looks a little tired to me.”Francis looked at Mason.“You tell me your opinion and make her stop...if possible.”

Mason smiled.“Yeah, that’s iffy at best.I don’t know of anyone, alive or dead, who could stop that woman.”