Page 45 of Ghost

Mason woke up with the sun in his eyes. He coughed once and then sat up. “Damn, it’s bright.”

“Yes,” Francis said, still lying down. “I do not think my dear cousin took that into account. I am not sure if she knows where the draperies have gone. I shall enquire if she knows.”

“Okay,” Mason said clearing his throat. “I need coffee.”

Francis grinned. “I’ll race you to the kitchen!” He disappeared.

“I hate it when you do that,” Mason yelled.

Francis was standing next to the sink in the apartment downstairs when Mason hurried through to the bathroom. Mason flushed the toilet and came out smirking at Francis. “You could have at least put on the coffee.”

Francis scowled at him. “I would have if I could.”

Mason waved his hand asking him to move from in front of the sink. “I know you would have. I’d also give you a big kiss if I could.”

Francis only nodded and looked away. “I have so many emotions at this moment.” He looked back to Mason.

“I am very sad knowing that our time together is quickly running out. I am also quite excited to see my family home. I am glad that I will be returning there for all of eternity. Then there is the satisfaction that my mother got her just rewards and I am sad at the same time. I am ecstatic that I was able to reconnect with my dear sweet cousin and meet the man she chose to spend her life with. Why on earth she chose such a man baffles me.”

Mason burst out laughing. “He told me that he was glad to have met you, and has admiration for you, while asking why anyone wouldn’t like him.”

Francis frowned. “Why would anyone like him is my opinion.”

“He did say that it was obvious that you were a good businessman,” Mason pointed out.

“I do not know much of Gerald but from the small amount of time we have been together, I could say the same of him.” The look on Francis’ face looked like he’d just bit into a lemon.

“How’d that taste?” Mason asked laughing.

“Like a bad pickle.”

“You are so adorable,” Mason said. He took a big sip of his coffee. “Why don’t I turn the TV on for you while I take a shower.”

“Thank you. I will try not to watch you,” Francis said sexily, with a smoldering look in his eyes.

“And what if I want you to... watch?” Mason waggled his eyebrows, while rubbing his chest.

“Do not tease me, Mason,” Francis approached him slowly.

The phone rang, making Mason and Francis jump. “Saved by the bell.”

“Hello?” Mason answered, a little breathless

“Good morning, Mason. It’s Ellen. I’m sorry for ringing so early, but I absolutely forgot to let you know that the florist will be there this morning. I am so very sorry to have forgotten.”

“Oh. Flowers? Right.” Mason responded. “Why?”

“Mason, sometimes you are such a bore. Have you ever been to a funeral where there were no flowers?”

“First off, I didn’t think this was a funeral to be frank, and yes, I have been to funerals where there were no flowers. There are many people who ask money to be given to a charity in lieu of flowers.”

Ellen sighed heavily. “Of course, you are right. Anyway, I ordered flowers and that’s that.”

“Do you know when they’ll arrive?”

“I was informed...” Mason heard some papers, “They should be there by nine a.m.”

“I’d better get a move on then. I was just about to jump into the shower.”

“I will try and be there shortly before the florist arrives, then. I can sneak in another cup of coffee if Gerald doesn’t try and stop me.”

Mason chuckled. “I sincerely doubt that he has ever stopped you from doing anything you set your mind to.”

“Well, you may be right about that, but there is no sense in dragging up old business.”

Mason laughed heartily. “I’ll see you shortly, Ellen. Bye.” Mason hung up the phone. He looked at Francis. “You’re getting flowers.”

Francis smiled while shaking his head. “So I have gathered. This may prove to be quite interesting.”

“How so?” Mason asked as he made his way to the shower.

“If I know Ellen, which I think that I do, she will have a few more surprises up her sleeve.”

“Oh, Lord, help me.”

* * * * *

“Ellen has arrived,” Francis announced as Mason washed his coffee mug and cereal bowl.

“I didn’t hear a knock on the door.” Mason quickly dried his hand.

“I can hear Gerald.” Francis had a sour look on his face.

Mason stopped and turned to look at Francis. “Can you please just try to be civil? It is a funeral, after all.”

“ My funeral. 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.”

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.