Chapter 38
Theresa, Lucy, and Jesse headed out to find Fillis and tell her everything that had happened. She smiled serenely when she saw Lucy and Jesse headed toward her, holding hands. Worry pulled at her heart as it always did when she thought about how much Lucy loved Jesse. She’d be destroyed if he crossed over and had to leave her behind.
“Fillis!” Lucy said excitedly. “You won’t believe it. I get to keep him!”
“What am I, a golden retriever?” Jesse said.
“Down, boy,” Theresa said.
“What do you mean?” Fillis asked.
“He was given a choice to cross over or stay with me. And he chose to stay,” Lucy said, looking at Jesse with adoration and gratitude.
Theresa held up her palm toward Jesse. “Stay…stay…there’s a good soldier.”
“That’s wunnerful, Lucy. Jus’ wunnerful!” Fillis said, feeling a surge of relief flow all the way through her ghostly form. Lucy wouldn’t be heartbroken, and Jesse would lead a happy, contented life with her to take care of him. It was a dream come true. Fillis could see it so clearly. Jesse would spend the rest of his life loving Lucy. Her motherly heart filled to the brim with joy for her beloved adopted son.
Lucy sat down next to Fillis and spoke gently. “Joel made it, Fillis.”
“He did?” Her eyes were filled with joy tinged with sadness.
“Oh, Fillis,” Lucy put her hand over her heart. “I wish you could have seen his face when he saw her. He’s at peace now, I promise you that.”
“Thank you, child,” Fillis said. She still looked a bit sad, but she also looked more at peace herself. Two more of her soldiers were taken care of now. “Oh, I’ll miss my baby, but I’m so glad he’s home with Emma and the chillren.”
“Me, too,” Jesse said.
“Speaking of your babies, Fillis,” Theresa said. “I go to school at the college with Lucy, and I’m studying psychology. I think I want to concentrate on helping soldiers after I graduate. You know, especially the ones with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder—PTSD?”
Fillis nodded. She knew all about PTSD, both from what she heard on the news and from seeing herself from some of her boys. All her soldiers were traumatized one way or the other, but she definitely knew a few who suffered with full-blown PTSD.
“I was thinking…maybe I could start helping soldiers even before I graduate. I want to start a support group for the spirits who are still stuck here. Maybe counsel them and help them work out their issues and help them cross over. What do you think?”
“Oh, honey. I think that’s lovely. Just lovely. Do it. Please! Many have made it over the years, but there’s still a lot left.”
“I”m glad you like the idea. Think about who needs help, and you can help recruit them.”
“You got it, honey,” Fillis said, looking at the two girls with great fondness.
“And I still haven’t given up on helping you, Fillis,” Lucy told her. “You’re so busy worrying about everyone else, you need someone to look after you!”
Fillis waved her off. She didn’t want Lucy wasting her time fretting over her.
“I want to get started right away. I’m gonna do some PTSD research and read up on counseling soldiers.” Theresa said. She stood up, then looked down at Jesse and Lucy. “Hey, I’ll stop at the store to get some more food. Jesse, tell Lucy what you want and she can text it to me. Luce, we need to get your man a cell phone.”
Lucy nodded. “You’re right.”
There were probably a lot of things Jesse needed now that he was alive. Now they could start planning for their future. Jesse was here to stay.
* * *
It waswonderful for Jesse to be alive again and to be able to treat Lucy the way she deserved to be treated. He loved being the one to walk her safely to her car at night, and then be able to open the car door for her. He really wanted to learn how to drive, so she could relax after working a long shift.
He felt awful about living in her apartment rent-free and eating food that she and Theresa had to pay for. It wasn’t right. He desperately needed a job, a way to provide for his woman.
Jesse was sitting on the couch staring into space when Lucy got home from work. She could see he was worrying about something.
“What’s the matter, Rebel-of-my-Heart?” she asked, sitting next to him on the couch.
“Your boyfriend is a deadbeat, that’s what’s the matter.”
Lucy lovingly stroked his hair. “What are you talking about?”
“I can’t have you doing all the work. I have to get a job to pay the bills.”
“You will, Jesse. Give it time. You have a lot to catch up on. Theresa and I are fine with money for now.”
“But it ain’t right! I’m supposed to be a man. It’s my job to provide for you.”
“Jesse,” she said tenderly. “I love that you’re such a gentleman. I love that you kiss my hand, open doors for me, take your hat off when I’m around. I adore you and your irresistible Southern charms…”
With that, she pushed him onto his back on the couch. She looked down at his body, then back up into his eyes. She had the look of desire that told him he was about to get laid.
“But let me make something perfectly clear, cowboy…” Lucy said, unbuttoning his shirt as she straddled him. “It’s the 21st century. You don’t provide for me. We take care of each other.”
Jesse grinned up at her. He knew she was right. He would work hard to find a job and help pull his weight, but he had to be patient. Right now, his number one priority was sexually satisfying his woman.
“Oh, yes, ma’am,” he said as he reached for her.
* * *
Theresa walked down the street,observing the crowd. She still thought of Joel often. It saddened her to think of so many dead soldiers like him wandering around Gettysburg, and she was more eager than ever to help them find peace. She paid extra attention to “reeanactors” on the street, because you just never knew who was alive and who was dead. Even the dead couldn’t recognize other dead people for sure, except when they were invisible to the living when their images were more transparent. When they walked down the street in broad daylight, it was tough to know for sure.
Theresa caught sight of a tall, handsome man in a blue Union uniform. He had that big, muscular, sexy kind of build that Joel had. She felt a twinge of sadness. She really missed her friend.
Theresa could tell this guy was dead by the haunted look on his face. Only a real soldier looked like that. He had the look of a man who’d seen and done too many awful things. The man looked lost in thought as he walked near Theresa on the sidewalk. He caught her eye, and her heartbeat quickened.
Damn, he’s even finer up close.
Theresa boldly looked into his eyes and smiled. The blue soldier’s sorrowful expression eased a bit as he smiled back at her.
He winked at her as he walked past.
Theresa turned and watched him walk away. Even his walk was sexy.
Hmmm,Theresa thought. I wonder if I could help him…
* * *
Beloved Reader,
Thanks for coming along on Jesse”s journey to find true love with his beautiful rose, Lucy.
I hope you”ll continue with Jesse”s return to the land of the living, as well as Theresa”s path to find her happy ever after.
Theresa counsels the weary soldiers to help them cross over, and she falls for a dashing Union soldier in the process.
Jesse is the only ghost in Gettysburg to have returned from the grave. Could it happen again, or will Theresa lose her love when Sean”s soul finds peace?
If he does make a miraculous return, it would mean Theresa would discover his secret…
Return to Gettysburg now with Darling Soldiers.
If you enjoy the full Gettysburg Ghost Series trilogy, you can also check out the Williamsburg Ghost Series!