Page 53 of Ghost

"How much do you think they got?” Mason asked before popping a cool green grape into his mouth.

“I have no idea,” Ellen sighed. “From the deposit slips in the back of the ledger, I’d say quite a bit.”

Gerald popped into the room. “They are going to search the cellar. They have found some cables that have been run through the floor behind her desk. I’d say they are for the surveillance cameras they set up.” He then disappeared.

Francis slowly appeared next to Mason. “It is quite fascinating to watch the police of this age. One thing is for certain, they are very thorough. From what I have been able to understand, there is no doubt that the two of them are guilty.”

“Have the cameras been turned off?” Ellen asked.

“They have not, but the listening devices have been disabled,” Francis answered. “Unfortunately, I do not understand such technology or the jargon they use. I wish....” he trailed off. “I will return if I learn of anything else.” He smiled at Mason affectionately before quickly fading away.

“Why would they not disable the cameras as well?” Ellen asked.

“Because, my dear,” Gerald said suddenly appearing.

“They are for insurance purposes. I am sure that you will find that it gives us a nice discount on all the insurance policies. I am also quite positive that only microphones were in the bedrooms because the camera surveillance is very expensive and not deductible for tax or insurance reasons.”

Mason pushed himself away from the table. “If you’ll excuse me, I think I need to lie down for a bit.” He rubbed his stomach with one hand and wiped his brow with the other hand. “I think the heat’s getting to me.”

When Mason entered his... their bedroom, Gerald was there waiting for him.

“I need to speak with you, Mason.” Gerald had a gentle look on his face that Mason had not seen before. “You can’t ask Francis to stay again. He won’t be able to say no to you, especially now that he has returned to his beloved home.”

Mason looked around the room, the very room that Francis had grown up in. He looked at Gerald. “I don’t know if I can just let him go. I’m not sure I can.”

“You must , Mason.” Gerald walked towards him. “We have all discussed this and it cannot be. Please tell me that you will not try and make him stay.”

“Where is Francis?”

Gerald turned towards the window. “He and Ellen are in the rose garden. She is having the same talk with him as I am with you.” Gerald turned back to Mason.

“You must let him go.” He shoved his hands into his pockets.

“I regret not leaving soon after my own death. It was not fair to Ellen, and you know how much I love that woman. I was terribly wrong. So very wrong and selfish.” Gerald looked into Mason’s eyes.

Mason could see that Gerald’s eyes were shiny, as if were about to cry. He could only nod, otherwise he would start to cry himself.

Gerald also nodded and then slowly faded away.

* * * * *

Mason was lying in the bed, staring at the ceiling, the bed clothes pushed all the way down. There was a light breeze causing the curtains to flutter slightly making the moonlight dance across the floor.

“You know I can’t look at you, right?”

“And yet, I can see nothing but you,” Francis whispered.

“I promised Gerald something.”

“I am sure it is a promise that is similar to the one I made to Ellen.”

“Why is this so hard?” Mason quickly wiped away a tear that had escaped.

“Life, and death are sometimes hard, my love.” Francis let out a long breath, or what would have been a breath had he been a living being. “This is hard for me as well, Mason, but it must be this way. You have a very long life ahead of you and you must be free to live it.”

“But....” Mason started.

“Shh, please do not ask me, Mason. I beg of you, for I cannot resist you again.”

Mason turned to look at Francis. Their eyes locked. They stayed like that for several moments.

“Now, you must try and sleep. I am going to roam about my family home and property. I will return.”

It took Mason a moment to collect himself. “Promise?”

“Yes, my love. I promise I will be here when you awake.”

Francis slowly disappeared.

* * * * *

As he had promised, Francis was lying next to Mason when he opened his eyes, a gentle smile on his lips.

“Good morning,” Francis said. “You did not sleep much.”

“You were spying on me?” Mason croaked, his mouth and throat dry.

“I checked in on you throughout the night.”

Mason looked at Francis and noticed that he was nude. “I gotta say, I do like waking up to a handsome naked man in my bed.”

“This was my bed first, I must point out,” Francis said, chuckling.

“I don’t care whose bed it is, it’s nice and that’s all I’m saying.”

Francis looked down Mason’s body slowly. “Yes, I can see that you do approve.” He moved closer to Mason and leaned over as if he were going to kiss Mason but instead, he lowered his entire being into Mason.

Mason’s eyes opened wide, his mouth opened, and he gasped. Then his whole body shuddered as he had the most intense orgasm that he could ever remember having.

Moments passed. Mason’s eyes had closed at some point. When he opened them, Francis was leaning over him, a big grin on his face.

“I take it that you found that pleasurable?”

Mason groaned. “I’ve never....”

Francis’ eyebrows arched up. “Never?”

“Not like that, I haven’t.” Mason sighed. “I don’t know if I can even move.”

“I hate to be the harbinger of bad news, but you must.” Francis stood up, his body on full display. “Sharon is about to knock on the door.”

“Oh, crap.” Mason reached down and pulled the sheet and blanket over himself.

Sure enough, there was a knock on the door. “Mason are you awake?” Sharon asked through the door.

“Yeah, I’m about to get up. I’m gonna have a quick shower then I’ll be down.”

“Okay,” Sharon’s voice muffled. “Ellen is already having breakfast. She wanted me to come up and check on you.”

Francis, still naked, began dancing about the room.

Sharon giggled. “Morning, Francis.”

Francis suddenly stopped, an odd look on his face. “Uh... Good morning to you, Sharon.

* * * * *

“Morning all,” Mason said as he entered the dining room. “I hope everyone slept well.”

Ellen’s eyes locked onto Mason. “Well then, someone is quite chipper.”

Sharon lifted her napkin from her lap and covered her mouth as she laughed. “I’ll say.”

Mason frowned. “What?”

“There are only two reasons why a man is so happy before a cup of coffee first thing in the morning.” Ellen pursed her lips after speaking, her head slightly tilted, her eyebrows slightly lifted.

Mason could feel his face turn hot. “Hush, you.”

He went to the buffet and poured himself a cup of coffee. When he turned around, he saw Gerald standing behind Ellen, a big shit-eating grin on his face.

“I’ll have nothing from you either, Gerald, so you can just wipe that grin off your face.” Mason sat his coffee down on the table and turned again and began filling up his plate with eggs, bacon and hash-browns. “Where’s the ketchup?”

The cook suddenly appeared with a bottle of the condiment. She handed it to Mason. “Sorry, I forgot.” She turned and left just as quickly as she’d appeared.

Ellen laughed. “Sharon, make a note that if we ever serve Mason potatoes, he must have his ketchup.”

Sharon pointed to her temple, closed her eyes. “Got it.”

“What is this?” Mason sat down. “Pick on Mason Day?”

“If only,” Sharon laughed.

“Eat, Mason.” Ellen dabbed at her mouth with her napkin. “The Royales will be here within half an hour.”

Mason had only had two mouthfuls of food and suddenly he wasn’t hungry anymore. He pushed the plate away.

“Mason, you must eat,” Francis said kindly, without appearing.

Mason looked for him. “I... I can’t.”