Page 42 of Baking With A Ghost

Even though he was okay with where he is now, he never got to mourn Ronald. How could he when he died first? It was another step in trying to bring him along and find closure on his old life and accept the new. He still struggles with meeting new people, which is why I fill up his mug for now. Mary and Ivy are the only ones he's comfortable with. They both know how he got here and never mention it, which is why he bakes for Mary and agrees to her visits.

Before I can bring his coffee back to him, a familiar face enters the store front and I'm grinning from ear to ear.

"Mike! How the heck are you? I was wondering when we'd ever see you again."

"Sorry for vanishing for a bit. I had to deal with a few things that got messy. Is now a good time to visit or would you like me to come back when you're closed?"

Stepping behind him, I flip the sign around to say back in ten minutes and turn the lock.

"Come back to the kitchen, we've got ten uninterrupted minutes."

Mike follows me around the corner and into the back and Simon immediately wraps his arms around him in a hug. They hug tight for a moment before letting go and Simon blinks back his tears.

"Glad you're doing well, Simon. I'm sorry I haven't been around for a while, but you know how it is. Ghosts always needing help, it's hard to say no."

"Thanks for being there for them." I hand Simon his coffee and drop a kiss to his forehead.

"It's what I was made to do, but I've come with some news I have to share with you both."

Mike rummages in his bag and I move closer to Simon, lacing my fingers through his and pulling him closer. Mike has been his rock these past few months as he works through everything about being alive again. I can only do so much since I can't even begin to understand what it must have been like for Simon. But when he cries out in his sleep and needs reassurance, I'm there, I always hold him close and calm him down until he falls back into what I hope is a dreamless sleep.

Mike hands me an envelope. "These are documents for Simon. His birth certificate, a social insurance number and a baptismal certificate. They all line up and can be found in the various databases. When you add him to your life insurance or if he becomes your partner, you'll need some identification. If you need other IDs you should be able to apply with these as well."

"As far as anyone knows, I was always a person, never a dead person then a soul. I didn't think of needing all this stuff."

"It's my job to worry about that for you. I'm really happy you two are doing well. What are your plans with life now, Simon?"

He glances at me and I squeeze his hand.

"Well, I love the bakery and together John and I are going to work at it. I don't like the early mornings much — "

"You hate mornings, be honest."

He laughs. "Okay, I hate mornings, so John gets up early and works the front, but I do the prep and some baking late morning and early afternoon so he doesn't have to work so hard. Obviously I live here with him, but other than that, I don't know."

"That's enough to go on. I'm just glad you're happy. I don't get to see a lot of soul matches, so when I do I cherish them." He stuffs his hands in his pockets. "You both know I listen to the calls and move from place to place, it's time for me to move on. So this is my goodbye to you both."

"What? Why? What if… what if I still need you?"

Simon steps to Mike and Mike takes his hands.

"You have someone to help you now, Simon. John is the guy for you. He's never going to steer you wrong. I've done my part here."

"But, we can still be friends and stay in touch can't we?"

Mike chews his lip. "You don't have the ability to reach me like you did before. You're human now and that's not how it works. If I ever find my way back to these parts again, I'll be sure to look you both up though."

My poor Simon is conflicted. Mike is the only comfort he knew for so long and without him he wouldn't have me. The three of us have a special bond that can never be replicated, but I understand why Mike has to leave. I'll miss him and I know Simon is only barely holding it together.

Simon nods and launches himself at Mike and I let the two of them have a private moment, especially since I need to hide my own tears. I'm going to miss him, too. If I didn't take a chance to listen to a stranger talk about ghosts over a latte and a carrot muffin, I never would have met the love of my life.

When they part, I get the same hug, and Mike shoulders his bag to leave.

"Sorry to be a downer, but it was going to happen sooner or later. Take care of each other."

Simon follows me out to the front to see Mike off, and with a final hug we watch as he walks down the block and… simply disappears.

"The fuck? Did he just like, go invisible? Did I just see that?"

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