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It was wishful thinking, though. Like she could just ask him to be her receptionist!

It’d be insulting – he was a high-flying corporate lawyer, even if she hadn’t known when she met him that high flying could be taken quite so literally.

Becoming a receptionist for a small-town vet was the kind of step-down she couldn’t ask him to make.

Even if he was moving away from the city, he could surely do his work remotely. Or maybe he just wanted to take some time off, and not do any kind of work at all. She doubted he’d ever had a proper holiday in his life.

“What’s up?” Ethan asked. “You look worried.”

Chloe held out the phone to him, and he took it from her gently, his brow creasing as he read the message. She watched, fascinated, as his expression changed to one of resolve.

“May I…?” he asked, indicating the phone. “I won’t hit send.”

“Be my guest,” Chloe said. She was definitely curious about what he was going to say.

Ethan tapped away at the screen, and Chloe watched with mounting interest.

After what felt like an eternity, he held the phone up to Chloe.

She read:

Dear Keisha,

Thank you for your email. I very much appreciate the extra time that you have been putting into sourcing a receptionist for me.

However, I’m pleased to be able to say that I have found someone who is able to accept the role from next Monday. As such, please don’t worry about searching further, and instead enjoy the rest of your weekend.

Thank you again for your assistance.

Kind regards,

Chloe.

Chloe stared down at the message.

All kinds of emotions were coursing through her chest.

Part of her was touched that he would help her write an email that she clearly didn’t feel like writing.

Part of her was amused that even in his obvious attempts to write a friendly message, he still couldn’t quite manage to nail a more casual tone.

But most of her was just overwhelmed at the implications of what he was saying.

Because he was saying that, wasn’t he?

Wasn’t he?

She really had to check with him, because the uncertainty was driving her crazy.

Trembling, she looked up at him. His eyes met hers, intense.

“Are… are you saying you’d like to work with me?” she asked. She felt a giggle trying to force its way up her throat. “You’re accepting my job offer after all?”

He nodded. “If you’ll have me.”

“If I’ll – of course I’ll have you!” she exclaimed. “Why would I not?!”

“Well,” he drawled, “I don’t actually have any receptionist experience.”

“You filled in the other day,” Chloe said, even as her heart felt like it would explode out of her chest with happiness. “That’s good enough for me. And I’m sure Diana would give you a good reference.”

“And I do know my way around a spreadsheet,” Ethan added. “If there was any need for assistance with the business side of things, then I’m sure my skillset would be up to the challenge.”

“You’d help me out with all of that?” Chloe asked, feeling overwhelmed. She knew that the business side of things was essential, and she could do it, but really, she just wanted to dedicate as much of her energy as possible to the veterinary care side of things.

Ethan looked surprised. “Of course I would. I’d do anything to help you.”

Chloe let out a deep sigh, tension draining out of her body. To have Ethan working with her – and helping her with the worst parts of the job – well, it was like a dream come true.

“As long as we make sure we’re not getting in each other’s hair,” she said. “I would hate for us to step on each other’s toes, or get sick of each other.”

Even as she said it, though, she knew it wouldn’t happen. She could spend every second of the rest of her life in Ethan’s company, and it still wouldn’t be enough.

Ethan nodded, his expression serious. “We’ll make sure we have procedures in place so that we each know exactly what our roles and duties are. And it’s not like this has to be permanent – if we find it’s not working out, then we can always call Keisha and get her to find someone else.”

Chloe wanted to protest, but she knew he was right. Ethan’s practicality was one of the things she loved most about him. If the set-up didn’t work out, then she trusted him to be honest about it and help her fix it before it got out of hand.

“Okay,” she said, nodding, feeling her excitement simmering in her stomach.

Before she could think about it for a moment longer, she hit Send on the text – no, it didn’t exactly sound like her, but Keisha would probably be too relieved at not having to work as her receptionist that she wouldn’t give it a second thought.

“Done,” Chloe said, and she was smiling so big that her face was starting to hurt. She was opening her own clinic in a beautiful mountain town, she’d found the love of her life, and he was going to help run her clinic!

I can’t believe everything is working out so well…

“All’s well that ends well,” she said – before suddenly it hit her like a gut punch.

“Oh my God,” she exclaimed. “I can’t believe I forgot – Curtis! What’s happened with him?”

“It’s okay,” Ethan reassured her. “He’s been enjoying the time with Eula and Janie.”

“Oh. That’s nice,” Chloe said – before another thought suddenly occurred, and fear jolted through her.

Why hasn’t Curtis returned to his… his own realm yet?

“Where’s the locket?” she asked worriedly. “We didn’t lose it at the bottom of the gorge again, right?”

“Don’t worry, it made it out safe and sound,” Ethan said. “It was still in your jeans pocket, and now it’s on the bedside table. Hang on.”

He jumped up and went to the bedroom, appearing moments later with the locket on its long silvery chain.

Chloe reached out for it, feeling its weight. It really was lovely.

“You didn’t give it back to him yet?” she asked, as she turned it over in her palm.

Ethan shook his head. “No. We talked about it, but since we weren’t sure of the nature of Janie’s wish, we thought we’d keep the locket away from him – and from Eula – until he’d had the chance to thank you personally. Curtis insisted on it.”

Chloe felt genuinely touched. “That’s so sweet of him.”

I never imagined I’d make friends with a ghost…

“It’s such a shame we couldn’t get it open,” she mused, before brightening. “Maybe I have something here we could use to open it up?”

She hopped up and dug around in the cutlery drawer for a minute, before locating a knife with a thin blade.

Returning to the table, she slid the tip of the blade ever so carefully along the seam of the locket, wiggling it gently back and forth, slowly removing the grime of decades. As she worked, Ethan watched intently.

After a couple of minutes, she pulled gently at the two halves of the locket once more, holding her breath as she attempted to pry them apart.

And then…

The locket opened slowly, protesting all the way.

Inside were two pictures: one of Curtis, and one of Alice.

But they weren’t photographs. Instead, they were tiny sketched portraits, each one full of life and personality, etched into the metal of the locket.

It’s beautiful…

You could truly see the love Curtis had had for his wife in every tiny line he’d carved. It was a testament to the kind of love that lasted a lifetime – and beyond.

Chloe looked up at Ethan, smiling, even as she felt a few sentimental tears gathering at the corners of her eyes.

Ethan smiled back. “Curtis really was just a thwarted creative type, wasn’t he?”

“He was certainly a romantic. I think this is what people refer to as relationship goals .” Examining the tiny portraits, she sighed. “I suppose we should take this to him, and let him reunite with her. I know it’s for the best, but I’ll miss him.”

“So will I,” Ethan said. “Though I won’t miss him messing with my electronics. He’d probably crash the clinic’s systems before the end of the first day.”

“That’s true,” Chloe laughed, finishing off her coffee. “Okay. Let’s get dressed, and then get going. We’ve got a restless spirit to return home.”