Page 67 of Ghost

“Hi, I’m Sharon.I work for Mrs.Trudeau.”She held out an envelope.“She’s asked me to bring you this.It’s a dinner invitation for tonight.”

Mason took the envelope and opened it.“Oh, right.Sure thing.I’ll be there.”He looked at the young woman.“It’s not formal or anything, is it?I don’t really have those types of clothes.”

Sharon chuckled.“I hate to tell you, but Mrs.Trudeau hates jeans.If you have a pair of slacks and a button up shirt, that would work.”

“I’ll have to see what I can dig up.I’ve hardly unpacked anything.I’ll figure it out.”

“And don’t be late.”Sharon started down the steps.“Shereallyhates that,” she laughed.“I’ll see you tonight then.”

Mason looked at the notecard.The handwriting was almost a work of art.

Dear Mr.Montgomery,

Please join me for dinner tonight at 6:30

I will look forward to your company.

Sincerely,

Mrs.Ellen Watson Trudeau

“I should prob’ly think of taking something,” Mason said under his breath.

“Ellen loves white roses,”Francis said from beyond.

Mason looked around.“I kinda wish you wouldn’t do that.If you want to talk to me, you can at least show up.”

Like turning on a light switch, Francis appeared in front of him.“As you wish.”

Mason jumped straight up.“Come on now, give me a break.You don’t have to scare me half to death doing it!”

Francis laughed.“I am sorry.I could not help myself.”

“Well, cut it out.”Mason thumped his chest.“You’ll give me a heart attack one of these times.”

“I will promise to try and not scare you, Mason.I do apologize.”

“It’s okay.”Mason couldn’t help but smile.“White roses, huh?”

Francis nodded.“We grew them on the plantation, and I always made sure to bring Ellen a large bouquet when they were in bloom.Even as a child she adored them.”

Mason sighed.“Somethin’ else to add to my list of things to do today.”He shrugged.“I guess I better get started then.”

“I will bid you a good morning then.”Francis slowly faded away, a smirk on his face.

“Oh, sheesh.”

Mason went back down the stairs.He left the dinner invitation on the breakfast bar, gathered his keys and notepad then left.

* * * * *

Mason had to set severalbags down while he got his back door open.He’d managed to get everything on his list done, saving getting groceries till last.As it was, he was going to have to make at least two, if not three or more trips to get everything that he’d bought today into the house.He didn’t particularly care for shopping, but today, he’d realized that it wasn’t such a chore when you didn’t have to worry so much about the cost.Hell, he even enjoyed it a bit.

He had managed to pick up a nice bath set that included a couple of towel racks, a place to hang a hand towel and toilet paper holder, and they all matched.Even when he redid the house in Cabbagetown, not everything had matched exactly.Mason had spent a little more but he was satisfied that it was a good investment.There was no sense in having such an upscale bathroom and then going cheap on the smaller details.

Since he didn’t have time to go looking for a decent pair of pants in the boxes that he hadn’t had a chance to unpack, he found a Rich’s department store and bought himself a nice pair of trousers, a good dress shirt, socks and a pair of boat shoes that he really liked.He hoped he’d be able to wear them for more than this one occasion.

Mason put his groceries away, stripped off his clothes and rushed through the shower.“I can’t be late,” he muttered, as he turned on the water in the shower.