Page 95 of Ghost

Mason blinked a few times.“Yeah, sure.Be right back.”

Mason had the distinct feeling that he was being asked to leave so that Ellen could talk to Francis alone.He wasn’t so sure he was okay with that, but he didn’t want to be rude either.He frowned.Ellen had a way about her that made you not dare refuse her.

When he returned with the bottle of premade lemonade, he poured some for Ellen and went into the living room.Francis was sitting next to Ellen, elbows on knees, face in hands and his shoulders hunched forward.

“What’s going on?”Mason asked, not handing Ellen the glass, but standing in the doorway.

Francis looked up, and it was obvious that he’d been crying.“My dear cousin has most eloquently made her case, with which I cannot find fault.”

“What do you mean?”Mason asked, feeling a bit angry.

Ellen let her gaze fall from Mason towards the floor.

Francis stood up and slowly approached Mason.“She is correct in pointing out that you have a long full life ahead of you and you deserve to be loved by a real man.Not someone who has had a life and no longer does.A man who is...not dead.”

Mason could feel the tears stinging his eyes.

“She is also correct in saying that I have been very fortunate to have been able to spend the time with you that I have.It has been like a great gift and one that I will always and forever treasure.”

“I don’t want you to go, though,” Mason choked out.

“Please, Mason, do not make this any more difficult than it already is.”Francis glanced over his shoulders at Ellen.“I am in between two worlds, not belonging in one, and being summoned to another.Ellen has made me see what the right thing to do is, and that is for me to go into the light and onto the next world.”

Mason glared at Ellen.“Don’t I get a say in this?”

Ellen looked sad.“Unfortunately, no.You don’t, Mason.As hard as it is to say that to you, it is a fact.I hope in the end, you can forgive me.”

“I think I’d like you to leave now.”Mason turned and walked back into the kitchen and dumped the lemonade down the sink.

“Mason, do you not think that is the right thing?”Francis asked quietly from over his shoulder.“Ellen is truly looking out for your well-being.”

Mason turned.“Yes, I do.You were right.No one has the right to tell either of us what to do!”

Francis looked so sad it was tearing Mason’s heart out.

“We can make this work, Francis.I know we can.”

Francis shook his head and slowly disappeared.

Mason watched as Ellen, followed by Gerald, emerge from the living room.They walked towards the door.

“Mason, I just –”

“Please, just leave.”Mason said quietly.

Ellen nodded and they both left.

Mason let himself slide down to the floor and hugged his knees, resting his head on them.“Why?For once in my life everything seemed to be falling into place, and now...this.Why?”

“My dear, Mason.If there is one thing I can be certain of, it is that life will always be changing and challenging.”

Mason looked up to see Francis squatted down in front of him.He looked sad but had a slight smile on his face.

“I don’t want you to go.”

“I know.”Francis looked up and took a deep breath.“I would rather not leave you, but staying is not the right thing to do.”He looked back at Mason.“It would be unfair to you and myself.Ellen made that very clear to me, and she is right, Mason.She is most certainly right.”

“Now what?”Mason rubbed his nose with the back of his hand.