Page 132 of Ghost

Gerald huffed, looking quite insulted.

They were saved by the delivery man bringing in a second, identical arrangement.“There’s a few more,” he huffed and wiped his brow with the sleeve of his shirt.

“Anyone ta home?”A second later Fred’s face appeared around the doorway from the hall.

“Oh, Fred, yes, we are all here.”Ellen hurried toward him.“Would you mind catching the florist delivery man and ask him to wait until Francis is brought in?”

“Martin has already done it,” he answered.

“I am already present, thank you very much,” Francis interjected, looking somewhat bored.

“I’ll go and help Martin bring in the dearly departed.”Fred turned quickly and hurried into the hall, and then out the front door.

Ellen turned towards Francis.“I know you’re here, but they do not and it would be odd if I were to start talking to you, and you know that.You’re pulling my leg and I find it most amusing.However, I would not like to spend what’s left of my life in the loony-bin wing of a nursing home.”

Gerald scowled at Francis and then they both started laughing again.

Ellen shook her head and looked at Mason.“I’m starting to think I’m glad that they never got to spend too much time together.I doubt I’d been able to deal with both of them together.”

“I agree.”Mason wiped the sweat from his forehead.“I need some water.Ellen would you like a lemonade?”

“Oh yes.That would be heavenly.”

Francis and Gerald had moved out into the hallway and were deep in discussion.Mason looked at Ellen and nodded his head towards the two ghosts.“What do you think they’re talking about?”he whispered.

“I’d wager they are talking business and it would be about Hobonny,” Ellen whispered back.

“I’ll be back with some drinks in just a moment.”Mason left the room, dodged the two men...ghosts...and hurried down the stairs.

When he returned, the casket had been placed in front of the fireplace.The two large standing floral arrangements at the head and foot, two smaller versions under each of them, and then a row of ferns along the front it.The mahogany gleamed with the light coming from the two windows in the room.

Mason stopped and starred.“It’s all so...beautiful.”

“Yes, it is,” Ellen spoke softly.She had a lace handkerchief and dabbed at her eyes.“So beautiful.”

Gerald was standing to her right and Francis to her left.Francis looked over his shoulder at Mason.“Thank you,” he said softly.“No one could have done a better job than you and Ellen.”

Mason looked down and realized he was holding Ellen’s lemonade in one hand and a five-gallon bucket full of soft drinks with ice that was left over from the party the previous night.

“Ellen, here’s your lemonade.”

She took it from Mason and made her way to the sofa, sitting with perfect posture, and her legs crossed at the ankles.I need to ask how she does that, Mason thought.

The two Royale men each took a Dr.Pepper and the delivery guy guzzled down a Coke.They all said thank you and moved out into the hallway.A moment later Mason heard the florist’s man leave.

“Mz Ellen, is there anything else you’d like us to do?”asked Martin.

“Yes.”Ellen sat up straighter if that was even possible.“Would you please stop calling me Miss Ellen.If we’re kin, there’s no reason for any formalities.”

The two large men looked down and chuckled.“Yes ma’am,” Martin answered for the both of them.“Um...There is a favor you could do for us, though.”

“Yes, what is it?”Ellen answered curiously.

“Our mothers, grandmother andgreat-grandmother would like to pay their respects,” Martin explained.

“Our great-grandmother actually knew your cousin Francis and my grandmother said she could remember Mrs.Watson as a young lady,” Fred added.

Francis’ mouth had fallen open.He pointed towards Fred.“Why didn’t I see it?That’s Lizzie’s boy or grandson.”