Epilogue.
Ernest
I smiled as they sat down to eat a full Christmas dinner, even though it was the beginning of July. I didn’t understand this newfangled idea of Christmas in July, but I did understand the idea of Christmas.
“We did it, Poppy,” young Janie said with a smile.
“Certainly did, child,” I agreed.
“He’ll not forget what Christmas is again,” Margaret stated as she appeared next to me.
“No, I’m glad we managed to agree with the young ones,” I muttered to her.
“Go play, children.” Margaret playfully swatted some butts, and the surrounding children ran off laughing.
“I am too. I feared they’d try to send us away. But I like the idea of the memorial for the children that Simon and Fiona mentioned. Our children shouldn’t be forgotten; this whole town is now a paradise for them. They missed out on this, born too early and in a different time,” I said.
“The children have a home, and between us we can entertain them until they wish to pass over.”
I took Margaret’s hand. “And we’ll be here until the last one does.”
Margaret smiled. “Indeed, we will, Ernie.”
Callie
Fiona and Simon seemed much more relaxed now that an agreement had been reached with the ghosts. Understanding had been achieved, and we’d even managed to set up a communication system using the adapted Ovilus.
Sunny relaxed next to me, laughing as he pulled a cracker with Cherry.
Overnight, he’d changed his attitude and become the man I’d fallen in love with.
I’d been worried and afraid that the Scrooge persona that had overtaken him might have stayed.
Sunny was surly and curt, but he was also kind and lovable.
I smiled as Sunny slung an arm around Liv, who leaned into him.
Thank God for the ghosts who’d decided Sunny needed a harsh lesson.
He’d told me when we had a quiet moment, at first I thought he’d been joking.
But he insisted it happened! Real life had turned into A Christmas Carol for Sunny, and once again Scrooge had seen the error of his ways.
Hopefully, Sunny wouldn’t ever turn into the Grinch again.
Tomorrow, we’ll be heading back to New York State and taking a couple of days’ rest. After that, we’d be heading to one of the most haunted cemeteries in the country and a house that spawned a legendary horror movie.
But today we’d celebrate Christmas in July and thank our lucky stars that this was a successful haunting.
And I’d celebrate having overcome another obstacle that had been put in my path.
Together, Sunny and I were stronger than apart.
And we did have genuine love between us. That was worth fighting for—any day.