Chapter 5
Jesse was almost always asleep by the time Lucy got home from working the late shift at the restaurant.
However, when she climbed into bed next to him, he usually woke up enough to murmur that he loved her and to wrap his arms around her before falling back asleep.
That was what Lucy needed more than anything right now.
Lucy was surprised—and grateful—to find that Jesse was still awake when she got home.
“What are you still doing up?” Lucy asked him when she found him in their bed watching TV.
Jesse gestured toward the television. “I’m… What is it you young kids call it these days…binge watching Game of Thrones,” he said with a smile.
Lucy laughed. Jesse often commented about “kids” and “young-uns.” He was so handsome and youthful-looking that she often forgot he was technically well over two hundred years old. He was still a kid at heart, though, and she hoped he would never grow up.
“You all right?” Jesse asked, his smile fading. He picked up on her mood immediately, as she’d known he would.
“Not really.” Lucy went over to the bed and sat down. “Something happened to me at the restaurant tonight.”
Jesse jumped up and was next to her in a flash. “What happened? Are you all right?”
“Yes, I’m okay,” Lucy said. “It’s okay.”
Jesse wrapped his arm around her, his blue-gray eyes full of worry.
“It was so strange. I was cleaning up at the restaurant like always, and I felt this presence. I knew for sure there was someone in the room with me.”
Jesse nodded. He knew how sensitive Lucy was and wasn’t surprised at her words.
“Ever since I met you and Joel and I figured out, you know, what was going on with you guys, I haven’t been afraid of ghosts. I know so many now and they’re all my friends, but this felt different somehow.”
“What do you mean, darlin’?”
“It was scary. Like I felt like whoever was there might try to hurt me.”
“Oh, Lucy,” Jesse said, pulling her close. “I hate that you’re there all by yourself at night. Wasn’t Craig or anybody around?”
“Yeah, I mean Craig and Mandy were around but not close by.” Lucy glanced at Jesse, knowing how angry he was going to get when she told him the rest. “You have to promise not to flip out.”
Jesse’s eyes opened wide. “Whut?”
Lucy sighed. He was already starting to flip out. She could feel his muscles tighten as he held onto her.
“He…whoever he is…he managed to touch me.” Lucy looked away, not wanting to tell him the rest but she knew she had to. He was going to get angry and want to defend her honor, but there was nothing he could possibly do.
“Where?” he asked, his voice hard.
Lucy swallowed, then gestured at her chest.
“I will kill him!” Jesse roared.
Lucy laughed ruefully and threw up her hands. “He’s already dead! There’s nothing we can do.”
Jesse’s eyes flashed with fury. Lucy winced, and Jesse realized he had tightened his grip on her and was hurting her. He released his grip, then gently rubbed her arm where he had been squeezing her too tight.
“Honey, I know you’re upset, but there’s nothing we can do. It’s not like you can beat him up or anything,” Lucy said.
“Did you ever see him?” Jesse asked, his teeth clenched.
“Yes! He was a Union soldier and wore a big black hat. He had a beard and mustache and creepy dark eyes. I’ve never seen him before. You?”
Jesse shook his head. “Don’t think so.” Lucy could see the wheels turning in Jesse’s head. He was trying to figure out who this creep was and how he could manage to kick his dead ass.
“I’m all right, Jesse. I didn’t want to worry you, but I figured I’d better tell you what happened.”
“I’m glad you did, darlin’.”
Jesse pulled her into a tender embrace, and she let out a sigh of relief. She felt safe in his arms.
“Oh! And at least something good did happen tonight,” Lucy said to Jesse’s back as he was holding her. He released her so he could face her as she spoke. “Someone else came to visit me earlier. When I was outside closing up.”
“Who?”
“Avery,” Lucy said with a smile.
“Really?” Jesse said, finally brightening a bit. “He’s been sayin’ he’s been wantin’ to meet you.”
“He’s so sweet, Jesse.”
“Told ya.”
“He’s sweet and he’s handsome and my God, that voice,” Lucy said, putting a hand over her heart.
“You always were a sucker for accents, my rose,” Jesse said, kissing her on the cheek. “Thank God.”
“Well, yours is my favorite,” Lucy said, stroking his face. She sighed. “Remy’s gonna love him.”
Jesse didn’t seem too sure of what to say to that. Lucy kissed his lips, then she sighed again. “He did look lonely.”
Jesse nodded and seemed grateful that Lucy understood his reasons for trying to get Remy and Avery together.
“I’m gonna get ready for bed,” Lucy said.
After washing her face and brushing her teeth, she put on her nightgown and slid into bed beside Jesse. He put his strong arms around her, and she felt comforted and safe. Still, his muscles felt rigid and tense.
“I’m gonna found out who that asshole is, darlin’” Jesse said.
Wow. Jesse only cursed around her when he was extremely pissed off. It was rare.
“And I’m not lettin’ him get away with hurtin’ you.”
* * *
The next day at Little Round Top, Jesse jogged up to Avery, who looked up with surprise to see him in such a hurry.
“Avery!” Jesse called, slightly out of breath.
“Hey there, Jesse!” Avery said. “Everything all right?”
“Yeah. Yeah, kind of. Listen, I need your help.”
“Of course,” Avery said. “Anything I can do, just name it.”
Jesse had been such a wonderful friend to Avery and he felt a strong sense of loyalty to him. Avery was willing to help out in any way he could, but he couldn’t fathom what he could possibly do. It was hard to be of much use to anyone when you couldn’t touch anything.
Jesse looked around, then lowered his voice. “There was some strange ghost harassing Lucy at work last night.”
Avery’s eyes opened wide. “She said that? Jesse, last night I came to see—”
“No, no, no,” Jesse said, laughing and waving him off.
“Lucy told me you came to visit her and you had a nice talk. That was real nice of you to go and see her. No, this was somebody else. It must have happened after you left. She was cleanin’ up the dining room all by herself when she felt a presence. ”
“That’s strange,” Avery said.
“Not for her, it’s not. She’s real sensitive to that kind of thing. Always has been. She usually knows when spirits are nearby even when she can’t see ‘em. She used to be real scared of ghosts but, you know, not anymore.”
Avery smiled. “No, I suppose you cured her of that.”
“Yeah, ‘zactly. Well, ‘til now. Usually ghosts don’t bother her, but this time she was scared. She said it felt different. Creepy.” Jesse’s expression darkened. “He touched her.”
“He did? How is that possible?” Avery had never been able to touch anything since he’d died.
“It’s not easy, but you can do it. Ya gotta concentrate real hard.
Some ghosts like to play around with folks on the ghost tours, ya know?
Grab their arms or ankles or whatnot. Some ghosts are better at it than others.
Lotta times if you’re feelin’ real strong emotions, like fear or anger, then you can do it. ”
“Ah. I didn’t know that,” Avery said. He wondered if he just concentrated enough, could he ever touch Remy? He realized that was far too much of a risk. If it didn’t work, his hand would pass right through her body. He couldn’t bear the thought of her terrified screams.
Gritting his teeth with fury, Jesse said, “He touched her breasts.”
“Oh, my God!” Avery said with disgust. His anger flared on Jesse’s behalf, knowing how much he loved Lucy and how upset he must be. Avery pictured Lucy the way he saw her last night, those gentle brown eyes and tender smile. The idea of anyone molesting that sweet girl like that was unbearable.
“Lucy said he was a Union guy with a beard and a mustache and had a big, black hat. You know him?”
Avery thought for a moment. “No. No, I don’t believe I’ve seen him around.”
“Okay. Well, can you keep an eye out, let me know if you see him? Or mebbe you can find out somethin’ about him by askin’ around?”
“Aye, indeed I will.” Avery had become friendly with several other ghosts since he’d returned from vanishing. He figured somebody around here must know something about this guy. “I’ll see what I can find out.”
“Thank you, Avery,” Jesse said, his eyes still full of anger. “I don’t know what I’m gonna do when I find him. Not like I can punch his lights out.”
“Yeah. Too bad. I’d be right behind ya, fists raised, if it were possible for me to knock him out.”
“Thanks,” Jesse said. “Really appreciate that.”
Avery nodded, then glanced up toward where the buses had parked. His ghost heart lurched as he saw a smiling Remy walking toward them. Panic shot through him. He was excited to see her, but hadn’t thought about what to say. He didn’t feel ready!
“Avery!” Remy called warmly to him. “Top of the mornin’ to ye!”
“And the rest of the day to yerself,” he responded reflexively.
Remy laughed as she walked up to them. She stood next to Jesse but looked at Avery. “I like that! I’ll have to remember that one. How are you? ”
Avery smiled at her and calmed down a bit. “I’m doing well. It’s lovely to see you again.”
“You too,” Remy said, tucking her soft brown hair behind her ear.
Hair tuck again. That’s a good sign, right?
“And how are the ghosts treatin’ ya these days?” he asked.
“Quiet. They’re very quiet,” Remy responded with a wry smile.
Good thing, he thought. He was angry enough about that awful spirit mistreating Lucy. He didn’t know what he would do if anyone dared to touch Remy like that.
“So you do these tours here all day and then work again at night?” Avery asked.
Remy nodded.
“Don’t you get tired from working so much?” Avery could hear the sadness and concern in his voice that he couldn’t hide.
“Yes, but I gotta do it. I have lots of bills to pay. Rent, food, car insurance, not to mention my college loan. It won’t be forever. I just need to pay off school and try to save up for the future.”
Remy smiled as she spoke, but she looked sad. Empathy tugged at Avery’s heart. He knew Remy’s family was no help to her, and she was all alone in handling all those bills.
“And just what are you plannin’ for the future?” Avery asked.
“You really want to know?”
“More than anything in the whole world.”
Remy laughed softly and looked enchanted with him.
Her eyes lit up when she spoke about her plans.
“I want to travel all over. All over the country and the world. And for my work, I want to work with people, tourists, you know. Kinda like I do now. Maybe at a resort somewhere. I love talking to people, answering their questions. It’s nice being a part of their vacations, their memories. ”
“That’s lovely, Remy,” Avery told her. “You’re wonderful with the tourists.”
She laughed and waved him off, dismissing his compliment.
“I mean it! You have this way of talkin’ to people. Makin’ ‘em feel good by the way you talk to them, look at ‘em. Especially me.”
Remy looked at him curiously. She seemed surprised, yet pleased, at his words.
“I was so nervous the first time I spoke to you. You’re so pretty,” Avery said with a nervous laugh.
“I’m nothing to be afraid of,” she said warmly.
Avery smiled at her fondly. “You remind me of Jesse’s girlfriend. She’s pretty, too, and doesn’t know it.”
“Oh, you’re so right about Lucy!” Remy exclaimed. He could hear the fondness in her voice. “She’s so sweet, and she has no idea how beautiful she is. She’s such a great friend. I’m so glad I know her and Jesse. I didn’t know a lot of people around here ‘til I met them.”
“Well, I hope you consider me your friend, too.”
“Yes,” Remy said. Avery could also hear the loneliness in her voice, and it pained him. “Yes, I’d like that, Avery.”
Avery nodded, relieved that thus far he hadn’t made a fool of himself in talking to her. She seemed to like him.
“I feel awful. All I’ve done is talk about myself! I’m sorry,” Remy said.
“Don’t be sorry. I like talking about you. You’re one of my favorite topics of conversation.”
Remy looked into his eyes, which gave him a huge thrill. Her pretty blue eyes sparkled. “Thanks, Avery. You’re so nice.”
Remy looked at the tourists milling around. It would soon be time to get back on the bus.
“Well, I guess I better start herding everyone together,” she said.
Was that reluctance he heard in her voice? Like maybe she’d have preferred to stay here and talk with him?
“Yes, I b’lieve I best go find all my folks as well,” Avery said. He figured he needed to start acting the part of a tour guide, lest she get suspicious.
Remy nodded. “Maybe we’ll talk again soon?”
“I’ll think of nothing else ‘til then.”
Remy giggled. Hair tuck.
* * *
Remy’s legs trembled as she walked away.
She was acutely aware that Avery was watching her, so she took careful steps over the rocky terrain on the hill.
The last thing she wanted was to trip and fall flat on her face in front of him.
He was just so damned cute. And that voice of his!
Deep, sexy, and with that accent. He should be on the radio or do audiobooks or something.
Jesse and Remy got the guests back onto the tour bus as they prepared to head to the next stop on the tour.
Remy looked at Jesse curiously. She was debating about whether or not to ask him if Avery was seeing anyone.
Avery certainly seemed to be interested in her, but she would be so embarrassed if she turned out to be wrong.
She’d barely dated anyone in high school, mostly because of the turmoil at home in dealing with an alcoholic mother.
Throughout college, Remy had had to work a lot between school and holding down part-time jobs to pay for her classes, so she never had time to date.
Not that anyone had asked her anyway. Avery was really the first man who took an interest in her.
He seemed to look at her with a sense of admiration. It was strange and exciting.
She kept staring at Jesse, lost in her thoughts. What if Jesse asked Avery about her and it turned out he wasn’t interested in her after all? Then she would have to face him every day on tour with him knowing she liked him. It would be horrible.
“You okay?” Jesse asked with concern.
Yeah. There was no way she was gonna tell Jesse she liked his friend.
Remy shook her head to clear her thoughts. She nodded. “Yeah. I’m fine.”