Page 93 of Ghost

Ellen sat completely upright.“Now you can maybe understand what I went through as a child.Ididthink I was crazy.”

Chapter Thirty-Three

Ellen insisted on comingin and seeing the photos that Mason had taken at Hobonny.Mason didn’t say no out of politeness, but he wanted to.What he really wanted was to curl up in bed with Francis beside him and cry his eyes out.

When Mason opened the back door to the basement, he could hear Gerald speaking in the new living room.He couldn’t make out what he was saying, but he could sure hear Francis’ response.

“And who are you to speak to me as if I were a child!I think that I am quite capable of making my own damn decisions!”

Ellen scurried quickly towards the two ghosts, with Mason right on her heels.

“What is going on here, if I may be so bold as to ask?”She stood in the doorway with her hands on her hips, her small black handbag dangling from her wrist “There is no need for shouting.”

Francis turned towards his cousin, and Mason took a deep breath.He’d never seen Francis angry, and he hoped he never would again.

Francis took a step towards Ellen and pointed his forefinger at her, his arm fully extended.“I will ask that you please keep your husbandandyourself out of my affairs, dear cousin.I have no need for anyone to tell me what to do or when I may do it!”

With that, he disappeared.

Ellen glowered at Gerald.“What did you say?I remember distinctly telling you to be gentle.”

“Balderdash!”Gerald began pacing.“I was.”

“Obviously, not very.”Ellen sat on the sofa, straight as an arrow.“Francis, I know you can hear me.Please come back so that we can discuss this.”She waited a few seconds.“Please?”

“I have nothing to say to you, Ellen.”It was his far-away voice, from somewhere inside the house.

“But I have things to say to you, Francis.Please, come back and talk to me.Please?”

When nothing happened, Ellen began to weep, her hands over her face.

“You know I could never resist you when you wept,” Francis said gently, as he slowly materialized next to her.“I feel you are not playing fair, dear cousin.”

Ellen’s hands didn’t leave her face.“You have no idea how hard this is for me.”She let her hands slowly drop into her lap, her eyes moist.“Or for Mason either.”She looked at Mason, who had tears streaming down his face, frantically trying to wipe them away with each hand.

Francis looked at Mason and then back to Ellen.“For that, I am truly sorry.”He looked at Gerald and glared.“However, I do take great offense when I am commanded to leave what I still consider my own home!”