The Ghoul Next Door

chapter Twenty-One

Mindy, Cooper, and the television crew were set to pick me up within the hour. I’d already dressed in the nicest pair of black pants I owned and a silk turquoise blouse. I’d taken an hour on my makeup compared to my usual two minutes only to realize the show would have a hair and makeup person to do it for me.

It was a strange feeling to be hanging out with Elvis at my kitchen table. He sat across from me while I drank my morning coffee and enjoyed blueberry waffles. Mr. Fine leaned against the counter as if he was thoroughly bored with the whole scene. I wasn’t sure where evil Candy was, but I knew she was in the house somewhere—I sensed her. I thought she was in my bedroom looking around. She was the nosiest ghost I’d ever encountered. Maybe she’d been a kleptomaniac when she had been alive.

“So, tell me,” I said stuffing a forkful of food into my mouth. I chewed, swallowed, then continued the sentence. “What do you think of today’s music? I bet you visit your daughter a lot and your grandchildren.”

Hmm. I wondered if he popped in on Priscilla occasionally. That would be a bit awkward, seeing the ex. He probably couldn’t resist a visit every now and then. I wouldn’t ask; that was just too personal. I didn’t want to seem like a crazed fan. Oh, who was I kidding? I already looked like a crazed fan.

“Well, you know, I’m not really here to talk about me. I came here to help Callahan and you.”

So Elvis Presley was my guardian angel? Finally my luck was turning around. Maybe I should buy a lottery ticket. On second thought, if my luck was changing I wouldn’t have crazy ghosts lingering around and a shadow person stalking me. Scratch that lottery ticket idea.

“What do you want to help with?” I drizzled more syrup over the waffles. I needed calories to fuel my long day ahead.

I had a laundry list of things Elvis could choose from that I needed serious help with, so there wasn’t any problem there. But what did Callahan need help with? He’d managed to make it through two bad magic spells. What else could possibly happen to him?

“I’m concerned with everything that’s been going on with Callahan. He needed my help sooner, but I came as soon as I could.”

“Things have been tough, but I’m sure we have things under control now.” I sipped my orange juice.

I wasn’t sure if Elvis was buying my assertion. I decided to try a subject change, steering the topic back to him.

I speared another piece of waffle. “You know, I used to tell my mother I wanted to marry you. Fortunately, that wasn’t possible, so now I have Callahan.”

“Things have a way of working out, don’t they?” He winked.

I rinsed my plate and placed it in the sink. “My mother always said, ‘You can’t, dear, he’s dead.’ My mother’s blunt like that.”

He smiled. “At least she’s to the point.”

I laughed. “That’s one way to look at it.”

“Maybe there’ll be wedding bells in the future for you and Callahan.” He studied my face.

Heat formed in my cheeks and I shrugged. “Who knows what the future holds? We haven’t known each other long and we’re just taking one day at a time and enjoying each other.”

“That’s all you can do,” Elvis said.

My cell rang and I excused myself for a second. For some reason, Mr. Fine followed me. I couldn’t breathe without him listening.

“Are you on your way?” I asked when I picked up Mindy’s call.

“We’ll be there in a few. What’s going on now?” she asked.

Translation: what was Elvis doing?

“I’m just chatting with Elvis while I wait.” I was being devilish lately.

She sighed. “Lucky. Can you tell him that I’ve watched all his movies a million times? I think my favorite is Blue Hawaii, but it’s really hard to decide. My favorite song is It’s Now or Never, or maybe Don’t Be Cruel.” Mindy let out a quick breath and continued. “I sure do like mama’s boys.” Mindy barely stopped to catch her breath.

Hmm. That wasn’t what she’d always told me about liking mama’s boys. I guessed she’d changed her mind as far as Elvis Presley was concerned.

“I’ll make sure to do that,” I said before hanging up.

My chat with Elvis had been a rare opportunity to ask questions though. So many people would do anything to have a chance like I that. I had no idea what was causing my celebrity ghost visits, but I hoped it didn’t stop anytime soon. Unless the famous ghosts were bad… then they could stay away.

When I looked at Elvis sitting in the kitchen all alone, his haunting eyes became more apparent. It was the look that had apparently captivated everyone who came into contact with him. Fame surely had come with a price for him and I wasn’t positive he’d ever asked for it. His voice was so pure and the southern charm mesmerizing that I could barely take my eyes off him. There was nothing like a good ol’ Southern boy—those full lips, the high cheekbones. Callahan took after his cousin in the looks department too.

Loud bangs sounded from my bedroom and my mischievous ghost was nowhere in sight. I knew she was up to no good. Following the sound, I walked into my bedroom to find the contents of my underwear drawer thrown across the floor.

“What the hell are you doing?” I yelled.

She turned and smirked. “I’m bored. I thought I’d check out your room.”

She moved over to the bookshelf and began tossing books onto the floor.

“I command you to stop right this minute.”

She whipped around and glared at me, then began laughing hysterically. “You’re cute,” she said in between snorts.

Before I had a chance to yell at her more, she vanished, leaving me to pick up the mess around my room. If she wasn’t already dead, I’d kill her. I grabbed the contents of my drawer and shoved them back in.

“Do you need any help?” Elvis asked.

I whirled around, and unfortunately, had a pair of underwear in my hand. I shoved them into my pocket. “No, no. It would use too much of your energy to help. You need to save up your strength.”

I’d get her back for this.

***

I didn’t bother to say goodbye to the ghosts when I walked out the front door. I knew they’d be coming along with me anyway. With any luck, they’d help me out. Sometimes ghosts could reason with other ghosts when the living couldn’t get through to them. Okay, Candy Cherry probably wouldn’t help, but what could I do?

While I waited for the crew to pick me up, I wandered out to the mailbox to place a letter inside. My bills still had to be paid. When I opened the box, I spotted an envelope. That was odd. I’d checked my mail yesterday and nothing had been in there but a few advertisements. I pulled the envelope out, flipped it over and looked at the front. It was addressed to me, but there was no return address. My stomach turned. Memories of Brianna Garrett flashed through my mind. It reminded me of the time she had sent me chocolates and tricked me with her magic into thinking they were from my mother. I’d eaten them and become deathly ill. I’d never eat anything someone sent me again.

Without me noticing, the crew had pulled up in front of my house. They honked the horn, so I stuffed the envelope into my bag and hurried over. I’d have to read it once I got in the SUV.

Matt approached and Cooper followed along behind me. “Okay. We’re all set. You all will follow me in the SUV. A cameraman is in the vehicle. He’ll be taping from this moment on. So watch what you say. Things start now, gang.” He clapped his hands.

“Don’t worry, we’ve got manners. Our mamas didn’t raise heathens,” I said as I made my way toward the vehicle. “Well, some of us aren’t heathens.” I looked at Cooper and grinned.

“Cooper, you’ll be in the van with Larue, okay?” Matt looked at Cooper, who nodded while staring at me.

Mindy had rolled her window down, straining to hear the conversation.

“I’m not sure if there’s room,” I said.

“Um, it is a small van,” Mindy said, trying to help me out.

Matt frowned. “We need him with you, Larue, he is your co-host.”

“Yeah. Okay, I guess we have room,” I said reluctantly.

It wasn’t as if I had a choice, unless Cooper wanted to walk. But far could it be? Fifty miles? The exercise would be good for him.

“I tried,” Mindy mouthed.

“Okay, so you’re ready then?” Matt asked again.

“Yeah, I guess I’m as ready as I’ll ever be. At least we’re not in front of a live audience. I’m not sure I could handle that.”

Maybe I should have been more enthusiastic? But that strange, irritated feeling had returned right after I’d finished my morning waffles. Could Mindy tell that something was on my mind? Probably. She knew me too well. I really wanted to know what the letter said.

I hopped in the backseat of the SUV. Unfortunately, Mindy had taken the front seat leaving me to sit next to Cooper in the back seat. How would I get a chance to read the letter with him watching? I didn’t want him to know any of my business. Plus, the darn camera was on us. Cooper gave me a funny look when Elvis sat between us, but he didn’t mention it in front of the camera. I shrugged but didn’t offer an explanation. It was the type of situation that words just couldn’t explain.