Page 58 of Tanner

CHAPTER24

“Ihate men,” she said, pulling out her suitcases from under the bed. “All men. Even dead men. One dies and leaves me alone and the other is the biggest coward on the planet.”

Opening the luggage on the bed, she started throwing her clothes inside. Tears hovered behind her eyelids. She was done. Finished.

Why had he done this?

Why?

What happened to have him suddenly withdraw completely from her? To decide that she was not the one he wanted to spend forever with? They had agreed to take it a day at a time, and she felt confident that eventually they would marry.

But suddenly everything was wrong.

And why didn’t his aunt Rose want them to be together? She remembered her appointment with her and thought to hell with it. The old witch could learn like everyone else that she wouldn’t be there. She would be fired, and right now, she didn’t care.

All she could think about was getting out of here.

Never seeing Tanner again.

Never getting involved with a military man ever again.

She yanked open the drawers to the chest and pulled out her underclothes. Quickly she threw them in the suitcase. She just wanted to get out of here before someone tried to stop her. Anyone.

The smell of lavender filled the air.

“No,” she cried. “Go away. You’ve caused enough trouble.”

Eugenia shimmered into view and Emily turned away from her. Never again could she think of a ghost without remembering this apparition. And she no longer feared them.

“Dear, what’s wrong? What are you doing?”

“I’m leaving,” she cried. “You can have your grandson. I hope you get all those babies you want, but it’s not going to be with me.”

There was a moment of silence and then a puff of lavender was aimed in her direction.

“Stop and take a deep breath,” Eugenia said. “Tell me what’s happened.”

Emily whirled around, thinking she would hate the smell of lavender from here on. “Where should I begin? Aunt Rose suspended Tanner for spending time with me, so he came to the kitchen and he broke up with me. Told me to leave. That I was nothing more than a one-night stand that had lasted way too long. So I quit. I’m packing and I should be out of here within the hour.”

The ghost floated up and hovered right in front of her. “Rose has been a problem since her boyfriend broke up with her fifty years ago. The woman is a crazy old maid who doesn’t believe in love. She thinks she’s a career woman, whatever that is.”

A chuckle escaped from Emily. She could see Rose believing that, but these people were all crazy and she feared if she stayed, she’d become just like them. Irrational.

“Well, good for her. I think she’s onto something,” Emily said, going into the bathroom and getting her things. “She suspended Tanner for two weeks.”

The ghost made a growling noise. “She’s not going to get any rest until my grandson returns. But you can’t leave, dear. Don’t you realize he cares for you? He’s reacting because he’s scared. Something sent him over the edge today.”

“Well, he has kicked me to the curb and I’m going.”

She snapped the suitcase closed and sat it on the floor. Then she picked up another bag and began to fill it with her personal items. The cookbooks she loved, her phone charger, and even a few novels she’d brought to read. Everything that was of any importance, she threw in the bag.

For a second, she wondered if that job in New York was still available. Not the quiet life she’d imagined, but they had a great reputation. And she wouldn’t have to worry about being accused of sexual harassment or have to deal with a relationship with PTSD.

“Yes, I know he’s reacting because he’s scared. This has not been a walk in the park for me either. I understand, and believe me, I feared getting involved with someone who had the same disease as John. But I did. I fell in love with him and look where that got me: a one-way ticket out of here. Thank you, Aunt Rose.”

Eugenia’s wings spread wide. “You can’t leave him if you love him.”

“Sometimes love is not enough,” Emily said. “Sometimes the person you love has to be willing and able to accept your feelings. And if they can’t reciprocate, then there is no point in continuing.”