Vanquishing Ghosts (Tess Schafer-Medium) Read online

  Vanquishing Ghosts

  By

  Deborah J. Hughes

  Copyright © 2013 by Deborah J. Hughes

  www.DeborahJHughes.com

  [email protected]

  These stories are works of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either products of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this publication can be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without permission in writing from Deborah J. Hughes.

  Cover art by Anya Kelleye

  www.AnyaKelleye.com

  For my mother Judith Patten

  Her love for my stories means so very much. The sometimes insecure writer in me appreciates it more than she'll ever know.

  Chapter 1

  It sure felt strange to be home again. Six weeks, in fact, since I pulled out of this driveway and truly began my life anew. One that did not include heartfelt pain when thinking about my husband Mike. I had finally, after two long years, reached a point where I could think of him with loving nostalgia and yet maintain a modicum of detachment while doing so. Although I would always be sad that his life ended so soon, such thoughts were soon outshined by the knowledge that he is quite happy and enjoying new adventures in the afterlife. I wished him well. As for myself, well I am experiencing new adventures too and looking forward to even more.

  A surge of well-being flooded through me as I looked upon the home Mike and I once shared. Soon it would be mine no more. At least I hoped that would be the case for I planned to sell it as soon as possible. I did not doubt it would attract buyers and whoever was lucky enough to get it, I truly hoped they found longer lasting happiness within those walls than what I had done. But I was not going to dwell on that … how it all ended. No. Instead I would think of it as a place where I once enjoyed a part of my life. A life that ended tragically to be sure but those things happen and there is nothing to be done but to come to peace with it and move on. Tragedy is as much a part of life as happiness and like it or not, we must learn to accept that one undeniable fact. Although I was sounding somewhat glib about that, it took me two years to find my peace and boy did it feel good to be okay again!

  Though my life was thrown into a tailspin when Mike died, I was stabilized and happy again. And if I wanted to be honest with myself, I was happier now than I've ever been before. That alone was quite a revelation for me and a twinge of remorse tugged at my conscience for feeling that way. Such thinking was not totally fair or loyal to Mike and he deserved no less. But I'd been through an emotional wringer and one gets stronger after overcoming adversity. What doesn’t destroy you strengthens you. I fought my personal demons of disbelief, anger and depression and came out of it a better person. Better in the sense that I knew who I was and what I wanted to be and I would let no one hinder me from continuing along this path. From here on out, there was no looking back. No, I had too much to look forward to.

  It amazed me the drastic measures I was about to make with my life. Was it only a week ago when I found a house of an unusual Queen Anne design that I knew on sight would be mine? It was perfect for me and it was haunted. What more could a medium looking for a new place to live ask for?

  To say I was excited about getting acquainted with the spirits inhabiting my new home would be an understatement. However, I was also a little apprehensive. Negative forces were at work there as well and my first order of business was to clear out that situation but quick. First, of course, I would have to learn their story. Once I understood why they were haunting my house the better my chances for helping them move on. It wasn't going to be easy though. Negative entities were never that. Thankfully, I also detected a protective spirit and hoped to nurture those energies while clearing the house of the tragedies that brought about its current unsettled state.

  Before I could get back to that, though, I needed to get this house sold. Although the housing market was not at its best, I was fortunate to be in an area of New York that enjoyed moderate growth and a higher than usual demand for homes. I did not doubt that it would attract buyers.

  The other thing I needed to do, and the one I was dreading the most, was tell my friends of my plans. Just the thought of leaving Marly and Fran caused a little sting in my heart. But it wasn't just them I would miss. I had other close friendships as well, Charlene and Traci, Jack the mailman (we always chatted when he brought the mail by), Lisa my massage and Reiki therapist, Donna who owned the corner market where Mike spent his last minutes alive. Why I had to toss that in there, I don't know. Sometimes, when I thought about that fateful day, everything about it seemed important. All those final minutes of Mike's and Tootsie's lives. Of course I had to think of my dog Tootsie when I thought of him. She was as much a part of my life as any close family member can be and I had loved her very much.

  Yes, I was going to miss all the people that made up my life here. They were such good friends and I was sad to leave them but this was the right thing to do. Besides, I already had some pretty good friends waiting for me back in Maine. Also, it was easier in today's world to maintain long-distance friendships and I did not doubt that my friends here would remain so throughout the rest of my life. Still, they weren't going to like it and I wasn't looking forward to telling them.

  But enough woolgathering, it was time to enter the house and begin the process of letting go. Eager though I was to return to Bucksport and my new home, there was a lot to be done here and I needed to focus. The sooner I got things straightened out on this end, the sooner I could get back to Kade. Only two days apart and I missed him like crazy.

  As if on cue to my thoughts, my cell phone began to play Kade's ringtone, the Marine's Hymn, and I quickly answered it, a smile spreading wide as I did so. "Hi!"

  "Hey there. Have you made it home yet?"

  His soft, deep voice rumbled low into my ear and I clutched the phone in response. Closing my eyes to better visualize him, I again went through an internal fuss about our separation. "Just pulled into the driveway."

  "How are you?"

  "Better now." Having him on the phone only solidified for me what I needed to do and suddenly I was quite impatient to get on with it. "It's not as hard as I thought it might be." I opened my car door and stepped out. The late summer weather was currently in a sultry state and beads of sweat formed on my skin as I headed for the front door.

  Marly knew I was due home today and I half expected her to come rushing out of the house. But she didn't and the front door was locked. A small twinge of disappointment fluttered through me as I selected the key on my keychain and unlocked the door. "I wish you could have come with me." I stepped into the hall and stood for a moment in quiet reflection. The grandfather clock that had once belonged to my grandparents ticked loudly into the silence. Everything was as I'd left it. Thankfully, no twinges of sorrow twisted at my heart like it had done prior to my trip to Maine.

  Kade was quiet, letting me adjust and being patient in the process. Did I mention how special he was? "I'm okay. I thought it was going to be hard but it isn't. Not anymore."

  I heard his sigh of relief, quiet though it was, and smiled. His concern for me was touching. But then, everything about Kade was endearing. Having him in my life definitely helped to enrich it. Even so, I knew better than to pin all my happiness on him. I'd learned over the past two years to get along on my own and I wanted to go through the rest of my life knowing that I could do it alone. If I had to. But it sure was nice to have someone special in my life to share it
with. "I thought maybe Marly would be waiting on me but she might have thought I would need some time alone to…"

  "Surprise!"

  The shout of voices coming from the small crowd gathered in my living room made me stop mid-step and stare in open-mouthed astonishment. Someone snapped the lights on at the same moment they all made themselves known to me and I couldn't believe I didn't detect their presence as soon as I entered the house. Even more surprising was who stood assembled before me. Not just my closest friends but also my family. There they stood with ear-splitting grins on their "we sure fooled you" faces.

  "Kade, I'll call you later."

  "Glad you have a welcome committee." There was a slight pause and then, "Call when you have some free time. I miss you."

  My heart started a hard pound at that slight hesitation. For a moment there, I thought he was going to say the words we had both avoided saying thus far. Though unspoken, the feeling was clearly in our eyes whenever we looked at each other. Why I hadn't told him I loved him, I wasn't sure. Perhaps I was waiting to get my old life settled and out of the way before forging on with my new one. "I will, promise." And then there was no time to think about him for I was getting pulled into Marly's excited embrace.

  "Tess, it's so good to have you home!" She held her infant son tucked under one arm while her other held me tight and he looked at me with big blue eyes that immediately caught my heart. Marly pulled away and smiled at me, her own blue eyes misting with tears. "I missed you so much."

  "You look great, Tess!" Fran slipped around Marly and nudged in for a quick hug before moving out of the way so my family could have their turn.

  Marly I expected. Fran I thought as a possibility but my family being here was a total shock. "Mom! Dad! This is quite the surprise." After accepting bear hugs and kisses, I glanced over their shoulders to smile at my older brother. How, I wondered, had they managed to arrange simultaneous time off from their busy schedules in order to be here for my home-coming? "Ryan, it's been awhile." Over a year in fact since I last saw him. It was a bit overwhelming to have them here and yet fitting. Now I could break the news all at once.

  "I think I'm happier than Marly to have you home, Tess." Marly's husband Mitchell bent down from his great height and delivered a bone-crushing hug. I bore it without complaint. He'd gone many a night without his wife those first few months after Mike was killed. Never did he complain about Marly's devotion to me during those dark days.

  "It's great to see you all again. I've missed every one of you." My eyes then caught movement toward the back of the room near the fireplace and that's when I saw that Charlene was here as well. Seeing she had caught my eye, she smiled and stood up from the easy chair she'd been sitting in. I nearly made it to her when I saw what was in her arms. That's when I froze, my steps instantly gluing to the floor and refusing to budge another inch. A puppy. A small Springer Spaniel with the same exact markings as Tootsie. And though I thought I was over it, the very sight of that puppy brought a rush of tears to my eyes. The ache in my heart over Tootsie's loss suddenly sprang to life. I closed my eyes then managed somehow to turn around. I couldn't do it. If Charlene was here to offer me that puppy, I couldn't do it.

  Tootsie came to me through Charlene and Traci. Mike and I enjoyed her for two wonderful years. And then on the day a drunk driver plowed into my husband's car, Tootsie followed him into the afterlife. I knew dogs had souls and that Tootsie was happy but I couldn't handle having another dog in my life that reminded me so much of the one I lost. I wasn't even sure I wanted another dog again. Ever.

  Without another word, I high-tailed it for the kitchen. Charlene followed close on my heels. When she called my name, I could only stiffen with unease.

  "The puppy is not with me. I'm sorry, Tess. It was probably a shock to see Morgana but she reminds me so much of Tootsie, I wanted you to meet her."

  I swiped my tears away and swung around to give Charlene a wobbly smile. "Morgana?"

  Charlene laughed. "Yes, well, she's bewitched me. Traci and I love her dearly. We couldn't part with her."

  So the puppy was not a gift offering. Thank God. As some of my anxiety melted away, I was at once embarrassed by my response and my assumption that the puppy might be offered to me. "Is she from the same lineage as Tootsie then?"

  Charlene nodded. "Yes. And get this, Tess, she was born on the anniversary of Tootsie's death. You do remember me telling you that Letty was preggars again don’t you?"

  I did remember but at the time I didn't want to know anything about it. Charlene and Traci both honored my desire not to discuss the pending puppy arrival and so it sort of slipped my mind. They had offered once, a few months after Tootsie's death, to give me another dog. I was rather ashamed now by my vehement response. But the idea of it was beyond my ability to cope. I knew it was probably strange to feel that way … me being a medium and all, but I learned I didn't do loss well. Not initially anyway. "So Letty had her litter before I even went on my trip."

  "Yes. She had only four this time and we've since spayed her so she won't be having any more puppies. The other three are spoken for. Morgana is ours." She hesitated a moment, then said softly, "I didn't figure you'd want one so I didn't ask."

  Before I could answer, Fran, Marly and my mother came into the kitchen to join us. Morgana was clutched in Fran's precarious hold, her small body squirming wildly to get free. I went straight to her and held out my hands. Fran gratefully handed her over and I buried my face against the puppy's silken body.

  "She does the prancing thing that Tootsie used to do," Charlene said.

  I set Morgana on the floor and stepped back. She watched me curiously with her gentle brown eyes, looking eager to play. I motioned with my hand for her to come to me and Morgana immediately came prancing across the floor, alternately lifting her front paws into a high exaggerated step. Tootsie did the same at that age and I thought of it as a quirky, endearing trait that belonged just to her. And now Morgana was doing it. She could have been Tootsie all over again. And maybe she was.

  I knelt down and held my arms open. Morgana pranced into them and nudged my chin. My heart swelled at that one little act. Oh God. It was just exactly like Tootsie used to do! I pulled her close and put my mouth to her ear then whispered ever so softly, "Tootsie?"

  Morgana whined then turned to lick my face. The tears came then and gathering the puppy close, I sat right there on the floor and cried. No one said a word or interfered. After a few moments, the tears stopped and I knew I was done grieving. Taking a deep breath and feeling much better, I stood up and handed Morgana to Charlene. "She's lovely. You are a lucky woman to have her."

  Everyone let out smiles of relief and began speaking at once. My father and brother and Mitchell soon joined the fray while Fran, I noticed, stood in the background and gave covert glances toward my older sibling. She was divorced and only a year younger than him and it crossed my mind that the two of them would be perfect for each other. But I couldn't concentrate on that situation because I was getting questions fired at me faster than I could answer them.

  "So tell us about this Kade guy."

  "Are they really digging up an Indian burial ground that you helped discover?"

  "Was it spooky at the resort?"

  And finally from my mother, "So what now?"

  Seeing that I was slightly overwhelmed, Fran stepped forward and took charge. "Marly, Charlene and I have been planning this welcome home party since before you even left. Luckily you gave us enough notice to give your parents and your brother time to arrange a trip up here together." She shooed us back to the living room while motioning for Charlene to stay. "You all go have a seat while Charlene and I gather the drinks and snacks and then we can sit in rapt attention while Tess tells us of her ghostly adventures."

  A half hour later, I was facing the moment I'd been both excited to share and dreading to tell. It was time to make my announcement. It wouldn't be right to drag it out and spring it on them later. So after poli
shing off a slice of Marly's delicious chocolate cake and Fran's one-glass-is-not-enough Champagne punch, I set my plate down and folded my hands on my lap. It must have clued the others in that some sort of announcement was to be made for the room went quiet.

  I glanced at Marly, smiled at her sleeping son, then raised my eyes and kept them locked with hers when I said quietly, "I've decided to sell the house."

  A flash of sadness sprinted through Marly's eyes and then she nodded as if it was exactly what she'd been expecting. "You want to be closer to Kade, don't you?"

  I shook my head. "Though that's a perk, it wasn't the deciding factor for me. I took one look at this house in Bucksport and I knew it had to be mine. It's tailor made for me."

  My mother's steady gaze drew me to her and when I met her eyes, I knew what was going through her mind and hastened to reassure her. "It's not that much further away, Mom, and I'll be able to take more trips now."

  In the past, during my time with Mike, I would never go anywhere without him and he hardly ever had time off work so family visits were few and far between. Basically, if my parents wanted to see me, they had to come to us. Though my mother was a retired editor for a popular women's magazine, she didn't let the job go until shortly after Mike's death. Since she wasn't even at retirement age, I figured she left her job so she could be free to visit me as often as she had.

  Since my father was an Electronics Engineer, he wasn't a free as she was to visit as often. He worked at the Naval Air Station in Norfolk, Virginia. His fingers were in many developmental pots and I didn't understand any of it. I just knew it involved boats … or as he often corrected me … ships.

  My brother I saw even less than him. He was a pilot for a commuter service and had hopes to fly bigger jets one day. I couldn't comprehend why he would want to fly so high in the air but someone had to do it and he did love his job. After receiving his pilot certification, he flew my mother - and on rare occasions my father as well - up periodically after Mike's death to spend time with me. I hadn't really wanted their visits back then for I felt I had to pretend that all was well in order to keep them from worrying. It hadn't worked, they'd seen clear through my ruse and it worried them even more. But now all that was behind me. No more sadness, regrets or remorse. No.