Page 158 of Ghost

Ellen stood.“Please, let me know when you’re ready for lunch.Nothing fancy mind you, only soup and sandwiches.”

“Sounds good.”Arthur was already back into his work.

Mason and Ellen settled in the front parlor, each sipping on a cup of tea.

“Is Debra still planning on a big Thanksgiving luncheon?”Ellen asked.

“She is going to skin you alive if you keep calling her Debra.She hates it.”

“Is that not her name?”Ellen looked over the rim of her teacup.

“Yeah, but it was also her aunt’s name, and she can’t stand the woman.She prefers just being called Deb.”

Ellen scrunched up her nose.“So undignified.I will honour her wishes, however.”

“I hope you come to Thanksgiving lunch, but will understand if you don’t.That group can get a bit rowdy, especially with all the kids there.”

Ellen laughed.“That’s just the way it should be.Family should be themselves with family.”Ellen smiled.“There were days in my childhood where things got quite rowdy.There was a time when Francis’ father and my father got into a fight almost every time they got together.Complete opposite personalities but both good men, and they genuinely cared for one another.”

“I have a question.”Mason took a moment to gather his thoughts.“If Francis’ brother was older, why didn’t he inherit Hobonny?”

“He didn’t want it.”Ellen set her cup down.“He actually hated farming and everything that went with it and Francis loved it, and Uncle Colin understood that.You have to love running a large farm and Francis loved Hobonny more than anything in the world.Well...with the exception of you.”

Mason looked into his cup of tea.“I still miss him.”He met Ellen’s gaze.“Every single day.”

Ellen nodded her head.“I know.I am the same.There are days where it’s easy and then there are days, like today, where I would rather just go to bed and stay there.”Ellen dabbed at her eyes with her ever present handkerchief.“I adored Francis.He always made time to play with me.Show me things and of course tease me unmercifully.”Ellen smiled.“He was also one of the best-looking men around.So easy to be around.Made everyone seem special.”Ellen looked at Mason.“He loved you very much, Mason.”

Mason turned to look out the window.“I’d like to go to bed and just stay there.He could hear Paul and Mitch walking on the sidewalk.They were talking about what they were going to have for lunch at Nick’s deli.

“They are your chosen family.”Ellen smiled warmly.“There is family you are born to and then there is family you choose.”

“Speaking of family, how’s my sister doing running Hobonny?”Mason asked, having turned back around to face Ellen.

“She’s brilliant.”Ellen set her empty teacup on the table next to her.“She sends me detailed reports weekly via computer, which Arthur prints out for me.This computer age makes things happen so much faster.”

“I’m still trying to figure things out.Thankfully, I’ve got Deb to help me out.I didn’t know she knew so much about computers.I think I’m going to hand over all the bookkeeping to her.She’s much better at it than I am.”

“How does she know so much?”Ellen rang her little bell.

“From her last job with that construction company she worked for.”Mason grinned.“That’s how she and Paul met.”

“And how are you liking your new mobile phone?”Ellen asked as Sharon came into the room.“Be a dear, Sharon, and go and ask if Arthur is ready for lunch, please?I’m starting to feel a bit peckish.They’ve been in there for over two hours now.”

Sharon nodded and left towards the small office.

“There are times I’m glad to have it and then there are times when I hate it.”Mason rolled his eyes skyward.“Mitch thinks it’s funny to call me from across the room just to see me dig it out of my pocket.”

Ellen laughed.“I can actually see how that would be entertaining.”

“Ha!Let’s see how entertained he is when I dock his pay for all the minuets he’s used up.”

Ellen laughed.“Please, let me be there when you do that.I would love to see the look on his face.”

“Deal.”

“Ellen, Arthur said he was good to go ahead and have lunch.Said he would have about another hour afterwards before he is done.”Sharon chuckled.“He looks a little flabbergasted if I’m to be honest.I don’t think I’ve ever seen him so agitated.”

“Agitated?”Ellen looked at Mason.“There’s going to be some very interesting conversation over lunch, I’d say.”