“Not that I can find. She did give birth at the hospital in town, and was seen twice more there before she disappeared. But as far as we can tell, as there were not any cameras like there are now, she left on her own. Where she went after that, I have no idea, but I’m looking.”
“You’re thinking that opening this house with her name will bring her around?” Steele nodded. “Good thinking. It might help her to know that those monsters are no longer here too. She didn’t deserve this, none of it.”
“No. None of them did. Neither did Aster, nor I. But there are some things you can help me with. Well, Kari and I with. She has it in her head to have you be her helpmate, like I have.”
Billy felt honored until he remembered that he couldn’t leave there. “I can’t leave.” Steele nodded. “I can’t. I’ve tried before and all I came up with was pain, and ended up here.”
“Kari said she summoned you. She felt really badly about that, but she knows how to do it now.” Billy nodded, not really liking where this was going. “She’s going to try it again, if you don’t mind.”
“It’ll hurt me.” Steele stood up and pulled out his phone. “All right, but if this doesn’t work, I don’t want her to be disappointed when she has to come out here and visit me. She’s a fine girl, that one is. Reminds me of your mother somewhat.”
He spoke in the little gadget, and Billy felt the pull. He closed his eyes against what he knew was going to be a great deal of pain and opened them when someone laughed. He looked at Kari, who was sitting on the deck surrounding the big house. And he was right there with her.
“You should have more faith in me than that.” He nodded and moved to the table and chairs, completely forgetting that he couldn’t sit on them. “Are you willing to be my helper?”
“I am, my lady.” He eyed the chair and then her. “You think it’s possible as well? I’ve not had a proper sit down in a coon’s age.”
“Then I would say do it.” He moved to the little thing and wondered if it would hold his weight. In his later years, he’d put on a great deal of it and was ashamed to say that he’d let it kill him off. Instead of watching things as his lovely missus had always told him when she was alive, he’d let himself go. “I’m thinking you’ll have better luck sitting down if you actually do it.”
His hand touched the chair, and he looked at her. Pulling it out, he moved cautiously to it and was surprised and thrilled that he was able to do it. Billy smiled at her.
“I’m supposed to tell you that as long and you and I are together, you can touch things. Small things, but you can do it. Also, we will be able to speak even when you’re not close to me. You’ll be able to move about as well. As much as you like.” He nodded, almost too giddy to take it all in. “I’m so glad it worked for us.”
“I am as well. Did you know that I’d be able to sit in this chair?” She shook her head at him. “I’m going to believe you. I would have hated to have you laugh at me when I fell on my bottom, considerable as it is. So, my dear lady, how will I serve you?”
“Be my friend.” He stared at her for several seconds. Billy had thought she’d have a list of things for him to do. There would have been no stopping him from doing them either, but to simply be her friend was almost overwhelming in how it made him feel.
“I’m already your friend.” She nodded and looked out over the field. Billy turned and looked at the man coming toward them. Steele, his grandson.
“He said that because I died out there that day, I can see you all now.” Billy looked at her. “I can too. A lot of ghosts. Steele said that he calls them clients. But he thinks he should change that now. I’m going to think of something to call them as well. So that others, people who don’t believe in us, won’t have us committed.”
“You’re going to help him then?” Kari nodded. “That will be good for the lot of you. Those other boys, some of them need a break. That young man Drew, I think that man needs to find him something else besides talking to us. And Nick…Nick is sad.”
“I believe they all need a break. Including Ray. Did you know that he talks with his wife?” Billy nodded. He talked with his own as well some days. “We’re going to make arrangements to have all of them live here on a permanent basis. Most of them—Nick, Landon, Hugh, and Mitch—all live elsewhere but are alone despite having a lot of people in their buildings, and only come here when they are going to help someone. Drew and Landon also work together when they aren’t here. They are burning themselves out by working a great deal.”
“You’re going to help them.” She told him with his help. “How do you expect me to help you with other humans? I’m only able to when you summon me, right?”