Page 59 of All Your Tomorrows
“What?” I asked him point blank.
Everyone looked at me.
“Whata coincidence that we meet again,” I said, hoping that got the attention off me.
“It’s my boyfriend’s house. I’m always here,” Melanie said.
“I thought you were heading to Boston for the holiday?” Mrs. Fletcher asked.
“I’m leaving in the morning,” Melanie explained. “I needed to see Kyler before I left. And, have one more of your amazing dinners.”
The old man behind her cocked his head as if trying to convey a message.
I needed to speak with him. I couldn’t leave until I understood his message. “Now that you mention it, I’m pretty hungry myself. Will you be eating soon?” I asked Mrs. Fletcher.
“Oh, I…sure,” she said confused by my sudden decision to stay.
“Great!” I said, way too excited over a meal.
Irritation flittered across Melanie’s face. “I’m going to sit with Kyler.” She spun away from us and walked down the hallway with her spirit in tow.
I looked quickly to Mrs. Fletcher and whispered, “I’m sorry to invite myself to dinner like that, but she’s got a spirit with her who is trying to tell me something.”
“Oh, dear,” she said.
“I just need more time with her spirit,” I explained.
“Well then, let me go make some dinner,” Mrs. Fletcher said loudly enough for Melanie to hear before whispering to me, “Do whatever you need to do.” She grasped her husband’s arm and they walked into the kitchen.
“He’s back?” Kyler asked me.
“You can’t see him?”
He shook his head. “Is he talking?”
“He said the same thing,” I whispered.
“Go in there. Tell Melanie you can see me. Tell herIsaid she’s keeping a secret,” Kyler urged.
“That could work,” I agreed.
“It has to work,” he said.
I turned toward the room, but he didn’t move. “Are you coming?”
Uncertainty filled his face. “I don’t think I should go back in there just yet.”
“Yeah, I understand. I can handle it alone.” I moved down the hallway and found Melanie in the chair at Kyler’s bedside holding his hand.
“Why are you here?” she asked before I even stepped into the room.
“Because I had a message for the Fletchers,” I said from the doorway.
She glanced over her shoulder at me. “Do you have a message for me too?” she asked condescendingly.
“Actually, Kyler is here,” I said.
A small huff of laughter spilled out of her. “And let me guess. He’s the ghost of Christmas past?”