Chapter 4
It was after eleven pm, and Lucy was outside on the patio of Meade’s Tavern closing up the restaurant for the night. She was wiping down tables and shutting the huge umbrellas above the tables when Avery came walking toward her.
Lucy looked up and gasped slightly when she saw him standing just outside the railing that separated the restaurant tables from the street.
She glanced at his Confederate uniform, and Avery figured she was trying to determine if he was dead or alive.
He knew from Jesse that Lucy used to be terrified of ghosts, but now she was quite comfortable with them.
Avery realized she would probably be more afraid of a living, breathing strange man standing here watching her late at night than a spirit.
Lucy looked frightened, and he felt awful for scaring her.
“Hello. I-I’m Avery O’Rorke. I—”
“Avery!” Lucy cried with delight, her brown eyes lighting up with recognition. She dropped what she was doing and walked over to greet him. “It’s so wonderful to finally meet you!”
Avery smiled at Lucy. She was just as Jesse had described—long, flowing brown hair and gentle brown eyes. She had such a sweet, friendly smile, and it was easy to picture her with Jesse.
“I should have realized it was you. Jesse’s told me so much about you that I feel like I know you,” Lucy said.
“I can say the same about you. He talks about you all the time. I must say, you’re every bit as beautiful as he described.”
Lucy blushed and looked down shyly. “Thank you. That’s very sweet of you.”
Avery chuckled softly. “He also said how lovely you are when you blush.”
Lucy let out a short sigh. She tried to look irritated with Jesse, but Avery could see the love in her eyes.
“I don’t want to disturb you here at work. It’s late, and I’m sure you’ll be wantin’ to get home, but I just wanted to stop by and say hello.”
“Oh, I’m so glad you did, Avery!” Lucy said with a smile.
Jesse had told him Lucy was usually quite shy around new people, but she seemed to be at ease with him. She probably did feel like she knew him already from all Jesse had told her about him.
“And Lucy, I know you didn’t want me meetin’ up with Remy, but—”
“Oh, Avery, I didn’t mean anything by that,” Lucy said, blushing deeply. Now she did look uncomfortable with him, which was the last thing he wanted. “It was nothing personal.”
“No, I know that,” Avery said gently. “I just wanted to tell ye I think it’s so nice of ye to be worryin’ about her and lookin’ after her. Makes me feel so much better knowin’ she’s got such good friends around her. But I want you to know I would never do anything to hurt her.”
“I know you wouldn’t,” Lucy said. “I just can’t help but worry about her. I know what it feels like to care for someone you can’t even touch. It’s very painful.”
“I know,” Avery said softly.
“Of course you do,” Lucy said with a sad smile.
“I just wanted a chance to talk with her, and I’m so happy I did.”
“I don’t blame you. She’s such a sweet girl, and I understand what you see in her. From what Jesse says, Remy was quite taken with you.”
Lucy smiled, but Avery could see the worry in her eyes.
“Oh, I don’t know about that,” Avery said. “I’m hopin’ we can at least be friends. I could use all the friends I can get.”
“I know. Well, you have Jesse. And you have me.”
“Thank ye, Lucy. I guess I’d better let you get back to work. I don’t like you being out here after dark.”
Lucy laughed. “You sound like Jesse. Take care, Avery. I’ll see you soon.”
“I hope so!”
* * *
Lucy watched Avery walk a short way down the street and then disappear. She wondered if he was planning to vanish for the night and then come back the next day when he could see Remy again.
Lucy finished up her work outside and then headed back into the tavern.
The manager was in her office tallying up the day’s receipts while the cooks and busboys were finishing up in the kitchen.
That left Lucy alone to clean up the two dining rooms and prepare them for the next day. She thought about Avery as she worked.
He was handsome and broad-shouldered, and had kind, gentle gray eyes.
She loved hearing him speak, and it wasn’t just the accent.
Avery had a deep, masculine voice that was pleasant to listen to.
Lucy had felt at ease with him rather quickly, which was unusual for her.
Jesse had told her all about him and what a good guy he was.
Now that she’d met him, she had a good feeling about him as well.
Lucy could see the passion in Avery’s eyes when he spoke about Remy.
Though Lucy was happy to have met Avery, she was more worried than ever that Remy might get hurt.
Avery was a kind, handsome, and passionate man with pretty eyes and a sexy accent. How could Remy not fall for him?
Lucy was lost in thought for a few moments when she suddenly felt a presence, like someone was watching her.
The feeling of being watched wasn’t unusual for her.
She had always been quite sensitive to the paranormal and frequently sensed when there was a presence nearby.
That sensation used to terrify her, but that was before she met and fell in love with Jesse.
Now she had lots of ghost friends, and she wasn’t afraid anymore.
Lucy looked around and didn’t see anyone, but she knew someone was there.
“Hello?” Lucy called out. “It’s okay to let me see you. I’m not afraid.”
And she wasn’t afraid. At least, she wasn’t at first. A sudden chill ran through her, and a strange feeling of dread washed over her.
Lucy knew she was being watched, and it felt like whoever was watching was someone to be feared.
“Who’s there?” Lucy asked, her voice shaky.
She realized she was trembling. It had been a long time since she had been afraid around spirits.
Jesse and Joel had been careful with her once she discovered their secret, and went to great lengths to keep her from being frightened.
They initially kept their distance and eased her into a comfortable friendship with them.
It wasn’t until later that Lucy realized Jesse had been in love with her the whole time.
“I said, who’s there?” she called out again, trying to sound more confident.
There was no response, but now she felt like the presence was standing right beside her. She slowly turned to look where she was almost certain someone was standing, even though she couldn’t see him or her.
Lucy froze for a moment. There was complete silence in the dining room area.
She was far enough away from the kitchen and the manager’s office that she couldn’t hear the sound of her co-workers finishing up their tasks.
She felt utterly alone. Suddenly, all her old fears of ghosts came crashing down on her.
She used to be terrified during this time of day when it was silent and she was alone.
She had found it creepy to be alone at night so close to the battlefields where thousands of people had died.
After meeting and falling in love with Jesse, Lucy had thought she would never be afraid of ghosts again.
Lucy still felt the presence, but whoever it was obviously had no plans to become visible. She tried to distract herself by wiping down the table in front of her, rushing her work so she could finish and get out of there.
Then she felt an unseen hand drag right across her breasts.
Lucy gasped and hugged her arms around her chest. After a moment of sheer fright, she managed to pull herself together enough to run out of the dining room. When she got to the door, she turned around for one last look.
Finally, she saw a flash of the spirit who had been torturing her.
He turned visible just long enough for her to catch a glimpse of him.
He was a Union soldier. He wore a blue uniform and a large black hat.
He had a beard and a mustache, and had cruel, dark eyes. He sneered at her, then disappeared.
Lucy stared after him before running off to be among the living again.