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“I wanted to tell you that your parents are happy and together,” she said quietly. Casey stared at her, tears filling her eyes.
“They are?”
“Yes. It’s as if no time has passed at all. They see one another in the image they remember. It’s quite lovely. They’re very proud of you and happy that you’ve found Rett. He’s quite a man,” she smirked.
“Claudette! Have you been spying on us?”
“No! No, I don’t do that anymore. But when he was younger, I accidentally saw him in the pond. He took my breath away, and that’s saying a lot, considering I’m dead.”
Casey laughed, shaking her head at the young woman.
“Oh, Claudette, you really are wonderful. I know we would have been great friends if we had been alive together.”
“We can still be great friends,” she smiled. “I love having girl time with the women. I learn something new every time I’m around all of you. Irene and Ruby really tell me a lot of wonderful things. It’s remarkable what a man and woman can do. Mother once said a wife was supposed to lie on her back, bend her knees, and let them fall to the sides. She also said a lady never looks. She should turn her head to the side.”
“I’m sure your mother meant well. She was just from a very different era.” Claudette nodded, a sad smile on her face. “Are you okay?”
“I don’t even remember what she looks like any longer,” she whispered. “I can look at the paintings, but that’s not the same.”
“I can understand that. My mother has only been gone a few years, and sometimes, I forget her voice. I can’t hear it any longer, and that scares me.”
“I wonder why I was chosen to stay?” asked Claudette. “Why didn’t my parents get to stay or my brothers? Why just Martha and Franklin?”
“That’s not a question I can answer,” said Casey. “I’d like to believe that you were chosen to be here for a reason. Maybe to help save Liz. Or maybe you were chosen to stay to help Tony.”
“He is quite lost without me,” she grinned. Casey laughed, nodding at the ghost. “I do love him, though. He accepted me for all my quirks and strange behavior. He’s brilliant, and I’ve learned so much from him.”
“I’m glad you’ve found love, Claudette. I’m glad I’ve found love,” she smiled. “I think I can go back to sleep now. You can stay if you like.” Claudette nodded at her.
“I’ll just watch over you until Rett returns. Goodnight, Casey.”
“Goodnight, Claudette.”
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Casey didn’t even feel Rett come to bed. When she awoke in the morning, his hot flesh was plastered against her own, his hands securely around her middle, holding her to him. Smiling, she rolled toward him, hugging him tightly.
“Is everything okay?”
“All good, baby. We got them, and they’re on their way to see someone who hopefully can get some more answers from them.”
“Did they want me?” she whispered. He kissed her forehead, hugging her tighter.
“No, babe. They wanted me or one of my brothers. We’re not entirely sure. Did you have a good night?” he asked, quickly changing the subject.
“I did,” she smiled. “I woke up in the middle of the night, and Claudette the ghost stayed with me. I really like her.” Rett nodded, smiling to himself.
“Before she and Tony got together, she used to have a bad habit of watching all the males get undressed or handle their business in the shower,” chuckled Rett. “I don’t think she does that anymore.”
“She said she doesn’t,” said Casey. “She’s sad, though. She said that she couldn’t remember what her mother looked like any longer. I guess there’s a painting at the island mansion, but that’s all she has. At least I have photographs.”
“Maybe there’s a way for us to help her,” said Rett. “I mean, people can create paintings from photographs. Why can’t we create a photograph from a painting? I’m sure Mama Irene has other paintings of her.”
“That’s a great idea,” smiled Casey. She leaned on one elbow, bending over his chest to kiss him. He surprised her by wrapping her up and rolling over, trapping her beneath him. He ran his tongue along her neck, up around her jaw, finally covering her lips. Just as he was about to get started, his phone started to buzz.
“Shit,” he muttered. Casey laughed, leaping from the bed.
“I’ll get the coffee on.”
