Page 131 of Ghost

“Myfuneral.I shouldn’t have to curb myself for my own funeral!”

“Can you do it for Ellen?”

Francis slumped.“I will do it for my dear cousin.”

“Thank you.”Mason headed up the stairs to answer the door.On his way to the door, he heard a distinct knock.

When he opened the door there was a delivery man for the florist Ellen must have told him about.“Hi, how are you?”Mason asked.He could see Ellen and Gerald coming down the street.

“Fine, thank you.”He looked down at a yellow sheet of paper he was holding.“I’m looking for a Mr.Montgomery.”

“That would be me,” Mason answered.Ellen was almost to the stoop.

“I have a delivery for you.”He pointed to his van with his thumb, over his shoulder.

“Hello, Mason, how are you this morning?Did you get some rest?”

“Good morning, Ellen.”He nodded to Gerald, acknowledging his presence.

“I’ll get started then,” the delivery man said.He stood aside, tipped his hat to Ellen and went down the steps.

Ellen reached up and patted Mason’s cheek.“You don’t look any worse for wear.”

Mason stood aside to let Ellen pass.Gerald was already inside greeting Francis.I wonder if ghosts can shake hands?

Ellen had gone into the large parlor, scrutinizing the room.“What about there?”she asked Francis, pointing to the spot in front of the swan back sofa.

Francis rubbed his chin a moment and pointed to the fireplace.“I would rather be there.That way there is a place to sit and I would have a view of the window and my books.”

“As you wish, but you do realize you won’t actually be lying in there, right?”Ellen stood back and looked.“Ah yes, I see what you mean.”She looked at Francis and nodded.

“Here’s some of them?”The delivery man said as he set down an enormous standing flower arrangement featuring tropical blooms.“Just point to where you’d like ‘em and I’ll move ‘em for you.They’re really heavy.”

Ellen pointed to the left of the fireplace.“You may place the other one on the right side, thank you.”He nodded and left the room.

“Yes, I think you are right, Francis.”She turned to Mason.“Do you think you can scoot that sofa down a little bit, so it’s not so covered up by the floral arrangements?”

Mason shrugged.“Yeah, I can manage that.”

Ellen shook her head.“I am sure you meant to say, ‘Yes, I can do that.’”

Mason rolled his eyes as he bent over to get a good grip on the sofa.As he was starting to pull, Ellen gave him a good swat on the butt.

“What’s that for?”Mason stood up quickly and rubbed the spot where she’d hit him.

“How are you supposed to run a successful business if you speak like an ill-bred, redneck cracker?”Ellen’s head was cocked to her right side, one eyebrow raised.

Francis and Gerald roared with laughter.Mason squinted at Ellen.“Paybacks can be paid with interest, ya know.”

Ellen cackled.She put her hands on her hips.“What?Are you planning on spanking me?”

Mason pulled the sofa along the floor, avoiding the edge of the rug as much as possible.When done, he stood up and faced Ellen.“Do not tempt me.”He wagged his forefinger at Ellen.“You never know how or when a payback will come, but you may count on the interest.”

This sobered Gerald up.He stood in front of his wife, or former wife.“You wouldn’t dare hit a lady!”

Mason snorted and winked at Francis.“I’ll let you know.I am all for women’s rights.If they can dish it out, then they damn well better expect for it to be returned!”

Ellen actually guffawed at that as she walked through Gerald.“That might be entertaining.”