Chapter 29
Jesse found Fillis sitting, invisible to the living, on the steps of Farnsworth House Inn. Known for being one of the most haunted places in the entire world, Farnsworthwas a popular tourist spot in Gettysburg. It was haunted, of course, but no more than anyplace else in town. Farnsworthconsisted of an old brick building that housed the restaurant and had tavern rooms upstairs where you could stay overnight. Fillis was friendly with all the ghostly inhabitants of the house. She was particularly fond of Mary, who was a motherly type much like Fillis, and Jeremy, a small child who was killed in a carriage accident before the war.
Mary sat beside Fillis on the steps. She got up when she saw Jesse, offering him a friendly wave before disappearing into the tavern, leaving Fillis and Jesse alone to talk.
Jesse looked down at Fillis, a huge, silly grin on his face.
“What you up to, boy?” Fillis asked, pleased to see that Jesse was excited about something. He’d looked so drawn and worried ever since Lucy’s traumatic experience on the battlefield.
“Lucy said she loved me. She loves me, Second Mama.”
A wide smile broke out across her face. “Now o’ course she does! That’s wunnerful, Jesse, just wunnerful. So you finally told her how you felt about her!”
“No, she told me first!” Jesse said.
“You’re kiddin’! That shy little thing came right out and told you she loves you?”
“Well, she had a little help.”
“From who?”
“Oh-Be-Joyful,” Jesse quipped.
“Oh!” Fillis’s eyes opened wide. “Sit your ass down, boy, and tell me everything!”
Jesse chuckled and sat down next to Fillis.
“It was kind of sad at first, actually,” Jesse said, turning a bit somber as he recalled how upset Lucy had been. “She’d been cryin’, ya know, over what happened earlier that day.”
Fillis nodded, sad to see that worried look back on his face. She knew Jesse would never be able to forget that nightmarish experience.
“So her friend Theresa took her out for a few drinks. Joel and me were waitin’ outside to see ’em when they came out. Lucy’d had way too much to drink. She saw me, ya know, and started cryin’ again. She kinda poured her heart out. She told me she would do it all over again for me. She said she’d…you know…experience my death all over again if it would somehow help me.”
“I believe she would,” Fillis said, deeply touched. It was obvious now that the two of them would do anything for each other. That was what made their love so tragic. It was doomed from the start. Fillis tried not to think about it for the moment. Right now she wanted to celebrate Jesse’s happiness.
Jesse spied Joel walking down the street toward them.
“I swear. Can’t get away from that guy,” Jesse grumbled. He tried to look annoyed, but Fillis knew better. It was tough for either guy to admit, but they had started to like each other. For decades, Jesse’s eyes had been full of white-hot fury whenever he saw Joel, but now? Now the usual gentleness remained in his face even when his former archenemy was around. He simply wasn’t angry with him anymore.
“You can’t hide from meeee,” Joel said in a singsong voice as he taunted Jesse. Fillis smiled up at him.
“Apparently not. Lucy’s workin’ all night, so I ’spose I got nothin’ better to do than talk to you anyways,” Jesse said.
Joel grinned mischievously, and Fillis wondered what he was up to.
The two soldiers chatted and exchanged friendly insults for a while. Joel kept glancing down the road as if looking for someone. Joel had been joking about how Jesse had somehow suckered Lucy into falling for him when Fillis saw her approaching.
“Well, well, well. Speak of the devil. Or angel, as the case may be,” Fillis said when she spotted Lucy walking toward them. She relished the look of pure delight on Jesse’s face as he whirled around and saw her coming.
The three of them watched as she walked up to the steps. She stopped right in front of Farnsworth House Inn and looked around.
“Oh, shit,” Joel said. “She got off work early and wanted to surprise you, but I forgot she can’t see us.” All this time he’d eagerly been awaiting her arrival, but he’d completely forgotten that they were all invisible.
There were people milling around all over. On the street, dining in the open garden area, driving by in cars. Jesse looked around frantically for a place to turn visible, like Superman looking for a place to change.
Lucy looked down right at the spot where Jesse was sitting. “You’re here, aren’t you Jesse? I think…I think I can feel you…” She spoke softly so passersby wouldn’t think she was completely nuts.
Joel grinned at Jesse, who looked up at Lucy with wonder. It was fascinating that she not only sensed a ghostly presence, but she knew it was him. Jesse jumped to his feet, then touched Lucy on her arm.
She jumped in surprise, then laughed. “I knew it,” she whispered.
Jesse quickly ducked around to the side of the Farnsworth building. Joel watched, mesmerized, as Lucy looked in the direction where Jesse headed. She knew when he’d left her side and even knew the direction he went. Incredible.
Jesse turned visible, out of sight of the tourists, then walked back to the front of the building. Lucy greeted him with a joyful smile.
“I thought you had to work!” Jesse exclaimed.
“Someone else needed the hours, and I wanted to see you more than I wanted the money.”
Jesse glanced around. “Fillis and Joel are here, too.” He didn’t want Lucy to say anything that was meant to be private without knowing the others were close by.
Lucy nodded and smiled. She clearly didn’t mind that they were near.
Fillis and Joel followed Jesse’s lead and became visible by discreetly ducking behind the building and then walking back to the front. They both walked toward Lucy.
“So,” Fillis said. “You finally made your choice. You love my Jesse boy, now do you?”
“Fillis…” Jesse moaned, sounding like a teenage boy who was embarrassed by his mother.
Lucy smiled. “Yes, ma’am. I love him very much.”
Fillis laughed, the sound almost a girlish giggle. She was so happy for both of them she could burst. It took a very special girl to love a ghost. Jesse had absolutely nothing to give her. He couldn’t buy her flowers, take her on a date, or make love to her. But she loved him anyway. She loved him for the very essence of who he was, the most selfless kind of devotion Fillis could imagine.
“It was the accent, wasn’t it?” Joel asked glumly.
“Oh, yeah,” Lucy said, a seductive lilt to her voice. “That accent, that smile, that handsome face…”
Jesse smiled shyly and looked down. Fillis suspected he would have blushed if he still had a beating heart to pump blood to his face.
Lucy knew Joel was joking, but she didn’t want to leave him out. “I love you, too, you know,” she told him sincerely. “Just in a different way.”
“Friend-zoned!” Jesse said with great zeal.
Lucy laughed. “Well, sort of…”
“Feeling’s mutual, sweetheart,” Joel said with great affection. “I hope you know that.”
“Well! The fair Lucy has made her choice! For some crazy reason, she chose the raggedly ol’ cowpoke from Texas,” Jesse said gleefully.
Joel rolled his eyes and shook his head. “Yeah, yeah, yeah…”
“For what it’s worth, I never thought she’d pick me over you,” Jesse said, trying not to rub it in too much, given their newly brokered peace. “But she did. So it’s time for you to pay the piper, Billy Yank!”
“What?” Joel asked, eyes wide.
“We had a deal,” Jesse said, a mischievous glint in his eye.
“Are you serious?”
“Time to pay up, Lincoln Boy!” He whistled for a few seconds, then said, “And I ain’t just whistlin’ Dixie!”
Joel looked over at Lucy for help. She threw up her hands as if to say, This is between you two. Leave me out of it!
Jesse jabbed a finger at Joel, “And don’t you sit there and act like you wouldn’t make me do it if you’da won!”
Joel had no retort for that. Everyone knew he would have done the same thing to Jesse.
“All right, all right. I’m a man of my word.”
Jesse cackled. “No time like the present! Friday night, too. Boy, Lincoln Square will be crowded!”
Joel closed his eyes and moaned.
* * *
The square was crowded.It was a Friday night in May, and the weather was beautiful. Lincoln Square was a popular spot among tourists, especially late in the evening or at night when the battlefields and museums were all closed. The square was right in the heart of the town and contained a roundabout on the street where there was usually heavy traffic. The historic Gettysburg Hotel was located in the square, as were several bars, restaurants, and shops.
Joel looked around nervously at all the parents, kids, older tourists, and young people out on dates. This was going to be humiliating. He knew he had to be a man and suck it up. Jesse had won the bet, and that was putting it mildly. Neither one of them could have imagined that the sweet, pretty girl they had chosen for their wager would have fallen in love with him.
Even now, Joel was glad that she had. Jesse had been robbed of a chance at love because he’d sacrificed his life for his home and family. He deserved a wonderful woman like Lucy.
Jesse cleared his throat and spoke loudly, “Attention, everyone!”
“Oh, Jesse,” Lucy moaned, and shot a sympathetic look at Joel. Joel chuckled and shook his head.
“Let’s get this over with.”
Fillis was invisible, but she was there to watch.
“My buddy and I here had a friendly wager…” Jesse’s voice traveled across the square. The man in the Confederate uniform easily captured the attention of the people milling around. A hush fell, as people were curious to see what was going on. “If I lost, I would have had to stand here in the square and sing ‘The Battle Hymn of the Republic.’”
Murmurs and laughter came up from the crowd.
“However! Since I won the bet, my pal from the Union side now has to pay up. Take it away, Joel!” He gestured grandly toward Joel, who was resplendent as always in his blue Union uniform.
Joel looked over at Lucy, who blew him a kiss. She was supportive, but she was still laughing.
Joel mentally took a deep breath since he couldn’t take an actual one. If he had to do this, he might as well do it right. He sang out, loud and strong, “Oh, I wish I was in the land of cotton! Old times there are not forgotten. Look away! Look away! Look away! Dixie land…”
Laughter erupted from the crowd as they realized what Joel had to do to settle the bet. Joel was surprised to find the whole experience wasn’t as embarrassing as he had thought. He found the happy laughter of the crowd invigorating. It almost made him feel alive again. Joel was never one to take himself too seriously, so it wasn’t that big of a deal.
“In Dixie land, where I was born,” Joel made a face after singing that part, which elicited even more laughter. He looked over at Jesse, who offered him a cheerful thumbs up. Joel would have given him another finger, if not for the kids in the crowd. “Early on one frosty morn, look away! Look away! Look away! Dixie land. Oh, I wish I was in Dixie,” Joel rolled his eyes as he sang, “Hooray! Hooray! In Dixie land I’ll take my stand, to live and die in Dixie. Hooray, hooray, away down South in Dixie!”
Joel threw up his hands, and took a theatrical bow to the delight of everyone watching. There were cheers and whistles from all around, and Joel laughed good-naturedly.
When the laughter and noise died down, Jesse stood before the crowd again. Lucy looked at him curiously, then looked over at Joel, who shrugged. The crowd hushed again, eager to see what would happen next.
“Ah, what the hell!” Jesse said with enthusiasm. He suddenly dropped to one knee and dramatically threw up his right hand in the air. In his loudest and best Elvis impersonation, he sang out, “Glory, glory hallelu-u-u-u-u-jah! Glory, glory hallelu-lu-jah… Come on, Joel!”
Jesse beckoned to Joel, who went to his side and dropped down right next to him in the same position. Both on one knee, arms in the air, the two sang loudly, “Glory, glory, halleulu-lu-lu-jaaaaah! His truuuuuth isssss marchinnnnnng ONNNNNNN!”
The crowd went wild. Jesse looked over at Lucy, who was laughing so hard she was wiping tears from her eyes. That made it worth it right there. He’d gladly make a fool of himself anytime if it made her smile.
“Good job, Bluebelly,” Jesse said to Joel, bowing slightly. Had they been alive, Jesse would have given him a hearty handshake.
Joel looked him in the eye and said sincerely, “Congratulations.”
Lucy walked up to the boys. The crowd dispersed, sensing the show was over. Joel and Jesse offered smiles and waves to those who shouted “Good job!” and “Nice singing!” but were careful not to make too much eye contact, lest anyone try to clap them on the back or try to shake their hands.
“That was great, guys,” Lucy said, laughing.
“Thanks, sweetheart,” Joel said. “You chose wisely. He’s a good man.”
Lucy looked into Joel’s eyes and smiled warmly. It was amazing to see how far the two had come in the short time she’d known them. She also noticed a deep sadness in Joel’s expression.
“What is it, Joel?” she asked. Lucy felt another presence and turned to her right.
“Fillis is here, too,” Jesse explained.
Lucy smiled at where she now knew Fillis was standing, then turned back to Joel.
Joel looked around and saw three pairs of supportive eyes looking at him. Even Jesse looked concerned. Joel knew the time was finally right.
“I…I know why I’m still here. Why I haven’t crossed over yet. I’ve always known. And I think I’m finally ready to talk about it.”
Lucy nodded, offering him a sad but encouraging smile. Whatever it was, it was hard for him to talk about.
“It’s something nobody knows about. I’ve never told anyone and…well, because of you, Lucy, I’m ready to finally try to deal with it. You’ve given me hope again that I really can cross over and be with my family. Your friendship has meant everything to me.”
Lucy placed her hand over her heart.
“Anything I can do, Joel. Just name it.”
“I think we should meet somewhere private. All of us,” Joel said. He looked at Lucy, at Fillis, and tentatively at Jesse.
“Anything you need,” Jesse said solemnly. His tone and expression made it clear that there would be no jokes, no insults at Joel’s expense. He was willing to help, too.
“Not tonight. It’ll be dark soon, and I don’t want Lucy out by herself late at night,” Joel said.
“Agreed,” Jesse said.
“How about tomorrow morning?” Lucy offered. “I don’t have to be in to work until eleven.”
“Okay,” Joel said. “We need to go somewhere private. Lucy can’t be invisible, after all. We could meet on one of the battlefields. They’re usually pretty quiet in the morning.”
“No,” Jesse said firmly. “No battlefields. Lucy’s getting more sensitive by the minute. She could have had relatives that died in the war. I don’t want her anywhere near where any fightin’ took place.”
“Good thinking,” Fillis said.
Lucy turned her head toward where Fillis stood. She couldn’t hear the words, but she sensed something. Joel noticed Lucy’s perception, and nodded grimly at Jesse.
“What about the Eternal Peace Memorial? Where we met before?”
“No,” Jesse said. “It’s on a battlefield. Absolutely not.”
Lucy smiled gratefully at him. She loved how protective he was of her. Lucy turned her head again. She knew Fillis had said something, and she looked at Jesse to translate. Jesse nodded at Fillis, then turned to Lucy.
“That playground that’s not far from the college. There’s plenty of open space there, and it’s not near the battlegrounds.”
“Yeah. I know exactly where you mean. We can meet there tomorrow. Around nine o’clock?”
Joel nodded, nervous but also somewhat relieved.
“And you want all of us there?” Lucy asked gently. Joel always confided in Fillis, and he’d said he specifically wanted to talk to Lucy. She just wanted to make sure that he was comfortable with Jesse’s presence during such a personal conversation.
Jesse looked at Joel. “Whatever you want. No pressure, okay?”
Joel searched Jesse’s eyes and saw only support. Not judgment. Not hate.
“Yeah. Yeah, I’d like you to be there, too,” Joel said.