Page 6 of Madly Deeply

The server arrived with a steaming meat pie, golden brown and fragrant, with a side of pickled onions. Alexandra's stomach growled, surprising her. When was the last time she'd actually been hungry?

"Thank you," she managed, and the smiling waitress winked and turned away.

"Eat," Spreag commanded softly.

Alex broke through the crust with her fork, releasing more savory steam. "So you can't show yourself to anyone else?"

"Best not to try." He settled back in his chair, and for a moment looked so solid she could almost believe other diners could see him. Almost. "Even if I had the strength for it, can ye imagine how our friends would react?"

Alexandra paused with her fork halfway to her mouth. "They'd call a meeting."

"Wyndham would want to test my limits."

"Wickham's sisters would try to... I don't know. But I'm sure it would involve tea."

"Aye." His form flickered again. "This is just for us."

She took a bite and savored the rich gravy and tender meat. A burst of thyme reminded her of meals they'd shared back when he could actually eat, when he’d been a living, breathing, hungry man.

"Dinnae do it," he said quietly.

She looked up. "Don't do what?"

"Dinnae go down that path. I can see it in yer face when ye start to remember. Nary a negative thought today, which includes regrets."

She added another bit of pie to her fork. "Fine. Then explain more about how this works. Why can’t other people be haunted by the ones they love? Do you think it’s because you were a seer? Or because you were brought back to life once before?”

"How can I know when there is literally no one I can ask. We’ll must simply be grateful for whatever we’re granted." His expression softened. "And Iamgrateful, my own, if ye cannae tell.”

Alexandra's free hand went to Spreag's silver band she wore on a chain around her neck. It was too big to wear, but she couldn't stand to set it aside. With him near, however, holding onto it no longer seemed like life or death. Having the man sheloved with her was a hundred times better than clinging to some artifact.

She set her fork aside to reach across the table to lay her hand on his, then caught herself. The movement knocked over her water glass.

"Sorry," she mumbled, then mopped up the water with her napkin.

His mouth turned down at the corners. "Forgive me, my love. I do want to reach out to ye, but each time I touch ye, it weakens me. Makes it harder to stay visible."

“And just now?"

"Nay, not that." He leaned forward. "It's the actual touching that drains me. Ye'll have noticed I've kept my distance."

"I thought you were just being careful not to upset me."

"There's that as well. But mostly, I'm conserving energy." He worried his lip with his teeth for a moment, likely holding something back. "Let's just say I'd rather use what strength I have to stay visible. To talk with ye."

The server appeared to check on her meal. Alexandra waited until the woman had replaced her water and was gone again. "So you're saying no ghost tricks? No moving objects or writing messages in the steam on mirrors?"

"Writing in steam?" He laughed. "Ye've been watching too many American films."

"Not since we were in the States." She smiled and took another bite. "And I don’t need messages on the mirror. I just need you. Visible or not, I just…need you.”

"Aye, well. I'd rather speak than scrawl messages."

“Will you have the energy to come to dinner?"

"Oh, I'll be there whether or not ye can see me. It takes no energy to haunt yer lovely arse." He winked, then dropped his smile. "Though ye might want to avoid looking my directiontoo often. Wouldnae want anyone thinking ye're tetched in the heed."

"Or seeing ghosts?"

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