Page 11 of Ghosted

He chuckled, a ghostly laugh that somehow filled the room. “Go ahead, I don’t mind. Given the circumstances, I’d say you’ve earned a glass or two.”

I took a long, indulgent sip, enjoying the smoothness of the cabernet as I settled deeper into the cushions. Casper, ever curious, leaned over to glance at the TV as I scrolled through movie options.

I paused on a Hallmark rom-com, something light and sweet to round off the night. Casper made a noise that could only be described as an unimpressed scoff.

“Really?” he asked, eyebrow raised. “Of all the movies, we’re going with that? What about a murder mystery or something more... thrilling?”

I snorted, elbowing him gently. “Given your recent life—or death—experiences, I thought we’d keep it low-key.”

A look of realization crossed his face, and he nodded. “Yeah…on second thought, Hallmark is just fine.”

Satisfied, I hit play, letting the saccharine world of small-town love stories and predictable plot twists fill the room. Casper watched with mild interest, occasionally glancing my way, and for a few moments, it felt like we were just two regular people unwinding after a long day. By the time the movie ended, I felt an odd, almost comforting sense of normalcy that I hadn’t expected.

I set my empty glass on the table and stood, stretching. “Well, I think I’m ready to turn in for the night. Big day tomorrow.”

He gave me an exaggerated bow, stepping—or floating—aside as I made my way to the bedroom. “Sleep well, and don’t let the ghostly boyfriend haunt you,” he teased.

I rolled my eyes but couldn’t suppress the smile that crept up. “Goodnight, Casper.”

The following morning, Casper was already waiting by the window as I stumbled into the living room, coffee in hand, and tried to remember how to function. We had an unusual mission ahead: visit the women he’d ghosted and offer some form of apology. Not exactly a typical day in Sweetberry Hollow.

“Alright, so… who’s first?” I asked, mentally steeling myself for the task.

Casper scratched the back of his neck, looking uncharacteristically sheepish. “Well… the first one I thought of was Ashley. She works as a vet tech, so we should be able to catch her at the clinic.”

“Wait a second,” I said. “You’re an apparition now, remember? Not everyone can see you. What should we do if you aren’t able to communicate with Ashley directly?”

“Hm,” he replied, frowning. “Good point. Maybe you could tell her you’re a medium and that you’re there to deliver a message to her from me?”

I nodded, as it seemed sort of true. “It’s worth a try,” I agreed, grabbing my coat.

A short drive later, I found myself at Sweetberry Animal Clinic, my heart beating a little too quickly as I approached the front desk, Casper floating at my side. After asking for Ashley, I waited until a cheerful woman in blue scrubs with dark curls appeared, wiping her hands on a towel.

“Oh, hi there! Are you Ashley?” I asked, giving her my most polite smile.

She tilted her head, curiosity in her eyes. “Yep, that’s me! I don’t think I recognize you though—do you have a pet with us?”

I glanced towards Casper, who waved in her direction.

Ashley didn’t blink.

“Crap,” muttered Casper. “Nothing. We’ll have to go to Plan B.”

I cleared my throat, nerves making my voice waver slightly. “Um—sorry, I don’t have a pet. I’m actually…a medium, and I’m here to pass along a message to you from Casper Thorne.”

At the mention of his name, Ashley’s smile vanished like a puff of smoke, her eyes narrowing. “Casper? You’re joking, right?”

“No, I’m…I’m afraid not. He asked me to tell you that he’s very sorry for ghosting you. He regrets his actions and hopes you can forgive him.”

Ashley folded her arms, the irritation on her face unmistakable. “Tell him I don’t care about his so-called ‘apology.’ I’m engaged now, happily so.” She held up her hand, flashing an impressive diamond ring in my face before crossing her arms. “Honestly, if you’re not here with a pet in need, don’t let the door hit you on the way out.”

Before I could even respond, she spun on her heel and disappeared into the back, leaving me standing awkwardly in the lobby.

Hurrying out of the clinic and back out onto the sidewalk, Casper winced. “I can’t say I blame her for her reaction. That was worse than I expected, though.”

I nodded, thinking we’d need a different approach for our next attempt.

“How about if I compose a letter to be from you?” I suggested as we drove east on Pine. “We’re close toThe Lantern and Lore, so we can stop in there and I’ll use the computer in my office to type and print it out. That way, we don’t have to worry about trying to have me copy your handwriting. Drawing was never in my wheelhouse.”

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