“Thank you, Mr. Mercer. You are very kind.” I nod.
“Well hon, I have a room ready for you,” Ginger says, as she rounds the counter.
“Big surprise. She only has one other occupant,” Ike snorts, and I have to fight not to smile.
Ginger leads me to room thirteen, which is the farthest room from her office. I guess she likes her privacy. “Now, you be sure to lock your door when I leave, and if you need anything just dial zero on the phone and it’ll send you to me.”
“Thank you, ma’am.” I smile appreciatively.
“When is the last time you ate, hon? You look like a light breeze would just blow you right over. I made fried chicken for dinner and have a few pieces left over. I could warm them up for you.”
“You are so kind, but I think a hot shower and a nice bed is what I really need right now. Thank you, though.” I nod.
“Okay, dear. Night.” Once she closes the door, I plop back on the bed. Ike takes a seat in the yellow, pleather arm chair by the door.
“Is this the only motel in town?”
He laughs. “Well, this county has a shit-ton of bed and breakfasts and there’s also The Plantation, which is pretty much your rich people resort. This motel is lower scale, obviously, but in the next few weeks I have no doubt she’ll be at maximum occupancy.”
“Why’s that?”
“Because fall is our tourist season. People come from all over to enjoy the springs and see the leaves change,” he explains. As I listen to him, I shiver, still cold and wet in my drenched clothes.
“You need to get out of those clothes and take a hot shower,” Ike observes.
“Yes, mother,” I sigh loudly before standing. I stare at him a moment and he just stares back.
“Are you planning on giving me some privacy?”
“Don’t mind me. I’m dead.” He beams a perfect grin that makes my belly flutter.
“I’m not undressing in front of you, soldier boy,” I inform him.
“A fallen soldier, dead and in limbo, can’t even get a little peek? That’s just cruel, Charlotte,” he jests, clenching his eyes closed in mock pain.
I can’t help laughing a little as I start digging through my bag and warn, “You better not watch me in the shower, either.”
He laughs loudly. His laugh is so rich and deep, it makes me laugh some more. “Come on. What good is being dead if I can’t watch a girl shower without her knowing?”
“But I would know,” I remind him. “Shit!” I groan as I dump my clothes on the bed.
“What’s wrong?”
“All of my shit is soaked,” I whine.
“You’ve got a dirty little mouth on you,” he remarks with a smirk.
“And?”
“I like it,” he shrugs.
“Guess I’m sleeping naked tonight,” I sigh.
“There is a god,” Ike stares up at the ceiling, hands clasped in praise.
“You’re not sleeping here,” I point out.
“It was worth a try,” he huffs in defeat. As I head toward the bathroom, I turn and see Ike staring at the floor. “You okay?”
His gaze meets mine and he shakes his head. “You don’t know what it’s like to walk around for months and months and have no one see you or hear you.” He’s not the first dead person to tell me this. I try to sympathize and remember that every time I get frustrated about a new soul popping up, but it’s hard sometimes.
We stare at each other a long while before he stands. “I’m going to go check on my brother and let you have a bit of peace. I’ll be back before you wake up.” His dog tags jingle as he stands.
“Okay,” I swallow, oddly saddened that he’s leaving. Normally, this would be a time of celebration. Alone time. But for some reason, I want to get to know him. He’s the first soul I’ve met that’s actually put me first. “I’ll see you in the morning.”
“Good night, Charlotte,” he offers, and then he vanishes.
I check on George. He’s passed out with Misty by his side, her tits out for the world to see. But he’s breathing. That’s been my biggest fear; that he will kill himself by overdosing. In the ten months since I passed, George has lost a lot of weight and looks half-dead himself. He blames himself for my death, like he could’ve stopped me from joining the military, or if he’d been there, he could’ve saved me. Joining was my choice. It’s what I wanted and I have no regrets, except for what my death is doing to him.
But there is hope now. There is Charlotte. The wild and beautiful creature may just be the answer. But she needs saving, too, that I can see. To think, if I had been just a few minutes later appearing on that bridge, I may have never met her. I only need to figure out how I can help her while she helps George. I’ll need to figure out how to save her, and my brother, from killing themselves.