Page 98 of Ghost

Mason got to the door and opened it to see Sharon, Ellen’s housekeeper/cook.“Hi, Sharon.What can I do for you?”

“May I come in for a moment and speak to you two?”

“What?You can see ghosts?”Mason was completely surprised.

“No, but I can feel them and sometimes I can hear them sort of.”

Mason stood aside so she could enter the foyer.

“I’m sorry for coming so early but it was the only time I could sneak out of the house without Ellen or Gerald noticing.”

“Okay.So, what’s up?”Mason glanced at Francis who was standing off to the side.

“Ellen and Gerald both are really upset at how things played out.Actually, Gerald is the one I’m most concerned about and his pacing is driving me nuts.”

“I think that Gerald should have thought of that before telling me I needed to leave in no uncertain terms.”Francis was beginning to get angry again.

Sharon turned towards Francis.“He regrets how he said that.He realizes now how it must have sounded to you, and he’s very, very sorry.”

“You can hear Francis?”Mason asked.

“Yes, but it’s a bit like he’s at the end of a very long tunnel.Only reason I can hear him I think is because he’s so close.”She turned her attention back to Mason.“And Ellen is so distraught she hasn’t even gotten out of bed yet, which is making Gerald even more agitated.”

Mason sighed.“What do you want from me then?”

“Could you please come over?See if you can’t work this out?”Sharon was pleading and it was plain to see that she was under duress from everything going on around her.

“I don’t know, Sharon.”Mason drew in a long breath.

“Please.She thinks so highly of you, and that in itself is unusual, but to do so, so quickly, is practically unheard of.She doesn’t trust easily.”

Francis paced for a moment while Mason watched.

“Well?What do you think?”Mason asked.

“I feel terrible to cause my dear, sweet cousin such anguish.”Francis stepped closer to Sharon.“If Gerald will pay me a visit and let us discuss matters, perhaps I can forgive him.”He turned to face Mason.“You must go to Ellen.She is old and frail and does not need to have such a heavy burden upon her.Please, Mason, do this for me.Do this for us.In the end, we both know the outcome, even though neither of us is happy with the end result.”

Mason could feel the tears welling up again.The night before, after showing Francis all the photos of Francis’ family home, they had had a long talk and it was decided that when the time came Francis would go into the light and leave this world for the next.Neither of them was happy about it, but they knew that in the long run it would be for the best.

“Okay.I’ll come over.I need a shower and something to eat first,” Mason said to Sharon.“I’m not exactly happy about it, but I’ll come.”

“Oh, thank you, Mason.”Sharon turned a bit.“And thank you, Francis.I’m also sorry about your mother.I could hear her sometimes as I walked by that house and she sounded just awful.”

Francis had a sour look on his face.“Thank you, kind lady.As in all things, the universe will eventually find its own balance.”

* * * * *

Sharon opened to doorto the Trudeau home, allowing Mason to enter.“Thank you, Mason.”Sharon leaned forward and kissed him on the check.

“What in blue blazes areyoudoing here,” Gerald hissed, appearing right behind Sharon.

“Gerald, please.”Sharon tilted her head slightly.“He is here to make amends, so please calm down.”

“I suppose now is the time for me to go and grovel to Francis.”Mason noticed that Gerald was indeed sorry for what he’d said to Francis but didn’t seem to relish the apologizing part of it.

“Yes, it is,” Sharon stated emphatically.“If you want to see Ellen happy again, I’d say that would be the smart thing to do.”

Gerald grumbled under his breath before disappearing.