Page 36 of Ghostly Bother
Readying himself for a speech, he set his bag down and smiled. "Lance is home. I'm going to stay here for a while if that's okay with you and Dad."
"Why?" She frowned. "Did you two have a fight?"
"Not really." He sighed. He was going to have to tell her everything. "Where's Dad? I don't want to tell this story twice."
"He ran to the store to get ice cream. He should be back anytime." She nodded to his bag. "Go put your stuff in your room. Do I need to send Betty over to check on Lance?" She glanced to her side.
Angus was sure that her mother's best friend, who just happened to be a ghost, was standing there, just as worried as his mother was about what was going on. "Not yet. Maybe later, once I explain everything. Lance is fine. We didn't really fight, but there are a few issues we have to work out. "It's a ghost issue." He leaned down and grabbed his bag. "So, it's okay if I stay a few days?"
"There's pot in the house," his mother warned him.
"When isn't there?" Angus was more than aware of his parents' recreational habits. "Just don't smoke it around me. I don't want to go into the station smelling like that shit." He wasn't in the mood to tease them about breaking the law and arresting them for drugs, which is what he usually did. "I'll be back in a few." He headed down the hall to his old bedroom. It hadn't changed much. He'd cleaned out his things years ago, but it still held the same full-sized bed and the old soccer ball lamp he'd used as a teenager.
Being in his old room was calming. He'd spent so many years in this room. It was his first sanctuary. It still felt that way. Like he could come in here and let his emotions out and focus on all the problems in his life. It wasn't the first time he'd been back since moving out so many years ago. He'd stayed for a few weeks after being shot once, then again after breaking his leg. His mother had insisted on taking care of him, and he knew if he hadn't stayed here, she would have invaded his place. It was easier to let her have her way. This time was different. He didn't need anyone to take care of him. He wasn't really sure what he needed. Maybe to give Lance a chance at a little peace and quiet. Hell, he wasn't even sure his plan would work. Eden might still bother him since he was the only living soul who could hear him, at least that she knew of. Lance hadn't been happy about his decision, but he had to do something to try and help. He noticed Lance sleeping less at night and figured it had to be because Eden was keeping him awake. Unable to hear her himself, he could only guess because Lance had stopped complaining and telling him everything Eden got up to.
He had plenty of time to think about what was going on with Lance, but first, he had to deal with his parents. He wasn't sure how much to tell his mother about things. If he told her a ghost was following Lance around, causing problems, she and Bettywould make it their job to get involved and try and put a stop to it. Normally, he'd support that, but he feared if Eden found out his mother could see and talk to her just like Lance, his mother would end up just as frustrated with Eden as Lance was. In the past, his mother had dealt with annoying ghosts. This wouldn't be his mother's first rodeo, but he really hated to risk having her involved.
Leaving his duffle to unpack later, he headed back to the dining room. His mother glanced up from her puzzle. "Your father just pulled in the driveway. We'll get ice cream, and you can explain why you’re here instead of with my future son-in-law."
Angus smiled at the term his mother often used. The thought of being married to Lance didn't scare him at all. He wanted that future for them. He just wasn't sure when it would happen. He liked the slow pace they were setting. Moving in together recently was a big step, and he wanted to get used to that before taking the next step, which would be marriage. That didn't mean he wasn't always thinking about creative ways to propose. He just hoped he did it before Lance did. Either way, the answer would be yes. "Just promise me that for tonight, you won't rush over to Lance's. Let him have the night alone to rest and hopefully get some sleep."
His mother raised a brow. "Is he not sleeping when you're there?"
"All part of the story." Angus turned as his father pushed through the door. Angus took the grocery bags from his dad and smiled. "Hey, Dad."
"This is an unexpected visit." His father hung his car keys on the hook they had on the wall. "Is there a reason you're honoring us with your presence this evening?"
"He brought a bag and is staying a few days." His mother leaned against the door frame of the kitchen as Angus emptied the bags, setting the ice cream on the counter.
"Are you and Lance fighting?" his father asked, a look of surprise and concern on his face.
"Let's all get ice cream and sit. It's nothing serious as of now." Angus pulled three bowls down from the cupboard.
"Betty wants to know if Ray and Bethany are with Lance," his mother asked.
Angus didn't look up from where he was now scooping ice cream into the bowls. He didn't know where Betty was standing so he just spoke. "I don't think they were home when I got there. I didn't hear Lance talk to them, but we were in the bedroom the whole time. They could have been out back, but I have a feeling if they were home, they would have come to see what was going on. Betty, don't rush over there tonight to get information. Let me explain everything first before you get involved. There's a ghost I need to tell you about before you jump into the middle of things."
"This is all because of a ghost?" His mother narrowed her eyes.
"Yep." Angus handed each of his parents a bowl of ice cream then took his own. "Let's go sit down and I'll tell you everything."
Twenty minutes later, Angus had explained the situation and told them all about Eden. Everyone knew of her since she'd been the mayor, and like many in the community, few liked her. His parents were no different.
"So, she's stalking Lance to try and force him to push you for information you don't have. Won't share any of her own information, and is making life a living hell for Lance?"
"Pretty much. The first few days he complained to me she would sing all night to keep him up. The last few days he quit telling me what she was up to, but I can tell he isn't sleeping welland is stressed. Tonight, he admitted she follows him around at work and won't leave him alone." Angus sighed. "He told her he was done acknowledging her, and I decided that if I wasn't around talking to Lance, she couldn't expect information from me, so I came here until we get things cleared up."
His mother stared at him. "You left? This wasn't something you and Lance planned together?"
"No, but he'll understand." Angus's chest tightened. "It's better this way. If I'm not there, maybe she'll leave him alone."
His mother slapped the top of his head. "You're an idiot."
"What? Why?" Angus rubbed his head.
His mother turned away and started talking to Betty. "I think you should go check things out. Just see what's going on. Don't bother Lance tonight but stay hidden and see what Eden gets up to while he's in bed. See if Ray or Bethany know anything if they're around. I spoke to them earlier today and they were going dancing tonight, but they should be back in an hour or two at the latest."
"Betty, don't bother Lance. If you get into it with Eden, Lance will hear. She'll love waking him up if she isn't already keeping him awake. He needs sleep more than anything. If she's keeping him up, then have at her. Maybe you can get through to her because Lance and the other ghosts she's talked to haven't been able to get her to back off." Angus sighed. "I don't get why she's bothering him. I get she was never a nice person, but Lance didn't do anything to her. He's tried to help her. You'd think she'd be nice to him to get more help, not abuse him and make him hate her."
