End of the Road (Ghost Stories Trilogy #1) (34 page)

Chapter Seventy-Five

Eric slowly traced
invisible lines down the center of my back with his finger. I was lying on my
stomach half asleep. He wasn’t at my apartment when I got back from Adele’s and
the buzz from the tea had worn off. Sometime during my nap he had come home and
crawled into bed. I turned my head so I was facing him and opened my eyes.

“Hi.”

He smiled and leaned
forward, kissing my forehead. “We need to stop meeting like this,” he said.

“In bed? It’s a good
meeting place.” I wiggled closer to him, closing the gap between our bodies. He
laughed and rested his hand on the curve of my hip.

“How did it go today?”

“Strange, but good. I met
Adele’s identical twin sister who died over eight years ago.”

Eric made a choking sound
and his eyes widened. “What?”

“And she served me tea
and petit fours.”

He laughed until he realized
I was serious. “Okay, this I have to experience.”

I rolled over onto my
side, propping myself up on an elbow, and filled him in on my meeting and how I
was able to see Amelia. “Do you think you’ve seen other ghosts, but didn’t
know?” Eric asked.

“It’s possible.”

“I think you would have
realized, but what do I know.” He shook his head as if trying to shake the
dazed expression off of his face. “What happens next?”

I explained that Adele
wanted to come up and meet with all of us before she went to see the ghosts.
She needed to get a feel, actually a “temperature” of our group to make sure we
were going to work well together. She said any negative energy could inhibit
the process.

“So when is she coming
up?”

“Next Sunday. Oh, by the
way, can you get Saturday off?”

“I don’t know. Why?”

“It’s my mom’s birthday
and we’re going out for a big family dinner.” Eric didn’t blanch easily, but he
tank skin took on greenish hue at the prospect of dinner with my family. The
last time he saw my parents, I was in the hospital. “It’ll be fine,” I said and
kissed him, pressing my body against his. “They need to get used to seeing us
together.”

**** 

So maybe Eric was right
to be concerned. While my parents gave me a warm welcome when we arrived at the
restaurant, the reception was an arctic one for Eric. They made a modest effort
during dinner with small talk, but I’d occasionally glance across the table at
my mom and catch her glaring at Eric. I reached under the table and squeezed
his knee reassuringly. Thankfully Cruz sat on the other side of Eric and was
friendly. They talked about football and baseball, eventually pulling my dad
into the conversation. I smiled at my dad, encouraging him to continue. He
shook his head, but the corners of his mouth hitched up before launching into a
rant about the latest trade.

As we ate our dinner the
tension seemed to mellow a bit. My mom became more engrossed with what was on
her plate than shooting Eric the death stare. I relaxed, finally able to start
enjoying the evening. Eric nudged me with his elbow and I glanced up at him. He
winked before feeding me a bite if his steak. Apparently he was relaxing too.

Afterwards, as we waited
for the valet to bring our cars around, my mom pulled me aside.

“Elena, I know I told you
to open your heart again, but I didn’t mean to Eric. Are you sure about this?”

I glanced over at Eric
talking to Cruz and my dad. He had his hands in the pockets of his khaki’s and
he leaned against one of the stucco pillars outside the restaurant. My dad said
something, causing Eric to laugh. Cruz just shook his head and my dad smiled at
Eric. I knew he was pleased that one of his jokes was being appreciated.

“Yes, mom, I’m sure,” I
answered, looking directly at her and not blinking.

“I can tell,” she said
with a resigned sigh. “His expression softens when he looks at you and that makes
me think he feels the same way, which is some consolation. Just be careful – I
love you.”

“I love you too mom and
happy birthday.” We hugged and when we separated, I glanced away so she didn’t
see the tears that had unexpectedly surfaced.

“I think it went well,”
Eric said on our way home. “Better than I thought it was going to. Your mom can
be feisty…like her daughter.” He reached over and lightly squeezed my knee.

“It was a little tense at
first, but everyone loosened up.” I told him what my mom said.

“She’s very observant,”
he said with a smile and merged onto the Interstate.

“Still, I’m glad it’s
over…so I can get out of these pantyhose.” I pulled at the nylons, annoyed that
my mother’s rule of always wearing them with a dress or skirt had become
engrained. If I opted not to wear them, the disappointment on her face combined
with the pointed “look” that only mothers possessed, guaranteed a more
stressful evening.

As we approached the spot
on I-17 we were all too familiar with, Eric slowed down. We rounded the last
bend and I shrieked, grabbing onto Eric’s arm, almost forcing us off the road.

“Jesus Christ, Elena!
What the hell is wrong?” He slowed down a little bit more, but continued
driving.

Of course Eric didn’t see
Bob and had no idea he just drove through him. I felt the chill and familiar pull
of energy, even caught the slight flicker of the lights on the dash when we
passed through him. Eric was too distracted by my reaction to notice.

“Bob was playing in
traffic again,” I explained. “He surprised me and it took a few seconds to
recognize him.” At first I mistook Bob for a real person standing in the middle
of our lane, that’s how visible he was. His arms were outstretched with his
head tilted back like he was staring at the sky. Only when we were right up on
him did I recognize his faded Doobie Brothers t-shirt. The one he died in and
was stuck wearing every day.

“You scared the shit out
of me.” Eric shook his head and let out a nervous laugh.

We were both wide awake
after that and the rest of our drive to Prescott was uneventful - fortunately.
No antelopes, coyotes or thrill seeking spirits crossed our path and when we
got back to my apartment, Eric was more than willing to help remove my
pantyhose.

***

We woke the next morning
in a tangle of sheets, but didn’t have time to sleep in and be lazy. Gavin was
bringing Adele up to meet as a group. I nervously flitted about my apartment
dusting furniture that didn’t need to be dusted. When I started to alphabetize
the books on the small bookshelf in the living room, Eric pulled me close and
kissed my neck.

“You’re getting so worked
up, everything will be fine. You and Adele have already met so you know what
she’s like,” he whispered.

“I know. I just really
want this to work.”

I leaned into Eric and
let him hold me for a few minutes. Reluctantly, I stepped out of his embrace to
get the coffee ready. I had purchased some tea and a tea kettle just for Adele,
so I set the kettle on the stove and turned the burner on. After that I set out
a plate of cookies and a plate of cheese and crackers plus a bowl of red
grapes.

“Expecting the queen?”
Eric joked. He was kicking back on the sofa watching ESPN. I flipped him off
and threw a grape at him. He laughed before leaning forward and catching the
errant fruit in his mouth. I probably went overboard with the snacks, but I
wasn’t used to having people over.

Moments later there was a
knock on the door and I rushed over to answer it. Gavin and Adele stood on the other
side. Gavin had his bag of equipment and judging by the wrinkles he had slept
in his jeans and t-shirt the night before or pulled them out of a hamper. Adele
wore another neutral outfit. This time khakis and a light pink sweater set. I
stepped aside to let them in, introducing Adele to Eric. After I shut the door
Amelia materialized through the hard wood, causing me to jump. She waved and
smiled at me before going to stand next to her sister. Gavin and Eric were
oblivious to the fact that we had another guest.

“Um, I guess we should
get started,” I gestured toward the table with the food and we all sat down.
“Oh wait,” I said, jumping back up. “I have coffee or tea, which do you prefer?”

A cold heaviness pressed
on my shoulder and I turned my head to see Amelia standing behind me, her hand
touching me. “Sit down, Elena, I can help.”

Dumbfounded, I dropped
back into my seat. Eric and Gavin’s eyes grew so wide I thought they’d pop out
when mugs traveled through the air on their own to be placed in front of them.
Next she brought the coffee pot and tea kettle over, a cloud of steam wafted
out of the pour spout, making her appear even more solid compared to the vapor.

Eric and Gavin were too
stunned to say anything…or even move. Adele laughed and clasped her hands
together.

“Sorry about springing
that on you. My sister Amelia came along today. We don’t like to be apart. I
hope you don’t mind?”

Eric and Gavin were
seemingly unable to respond so I said, “We should probably give them a minute,”
and passed her the box of assorted tea.

I reached underneath the
table and squeezed Eric’s knee. He stopped staring at the mug Amelia had placed
in front of him and looked at me. “You okay?” I whispered.

“Yeah, um, I’m fine. Just
wasn’t expecting that.” He reached for the pot of coffee and filled his mug.
“Good one, Adele,” he winked across the table at her and she chuckled. Amelia
was laughing too from where she stood next to her sister.

“It’s not like you’re
strangers to the phenomenon. Elena told me how she and Gavin have been
documenting your highway ghosts and that you witnessed how they communicate.”

“Right,” Gavin finally
broke out of his spell and spoke up. “I was wondering why your sister’s ghost
can move so freely while ours can’t. Do you know?”

“Oh that’s simple. The
desert up here is riddled with vortices. Most people assume they’re just located
in Sedona, but that’s just marketing. There’s a magnetic vortex in the location
where your ghosts died. It created a Bermuda Triangle of sorts for spirits. In
fact, I-17 cuts right across. Gavin pointed out the spot when we drove by and
it’s practically dead center of the vortex.”

“Fucking vortices,” Eric
muttered and I laughed. We, along with others at the Sheriff’s Department, poked
fun at those the locals called “Woo Woos” or “Crystal Crunchers”; people who believed
in the therapeutic and mystical powers of the vortices trapped within the red
rocks of Sedona.

“It makes sense,” Gavin
said, “Except my brother was able to cross over.”

“As well as Peggy and Juanita,”
I added.

“The vortex doesn’t
retain every spirit. Some are anchored on earth for other reasons or are able
to crossover right away. There isn’t a magic formula; it’s like a case by case
basis,” Adele said.

“Like unfinished
business?” Gavin asked.

“Not all the time, but
that’s a common theory. In my experience, sometimes the spirit is their own
worst enemy, which is preventing them from moving on. That combined with the
pull of vortex keeps them earthbound. Based on what you told me about your
brother, his concern over the welfare of his wife and son kept him here, but
Amelia is going to attempt to locate him to confirm.”

“Today?” Gavin asked and
his eyes widened with surprise.

“Yes. I want to get a
sense of our strength as a group and your brother, Tobin, correct?” Gavin
nodded. “Tobin can provide some insight on his former companions before I meet
them.”

Amelia, who had been
standing next to Adele, leaned over and whispered in her sister’s ear. When she
did, her hair fell forward and she impatiently brushed it back over her
shoulder, a perfectly normal and human response. Adele glanced around the table
at us and said, “She’s ready to try now, if you all are?”

I didn’t expect us to
jump right in like this and I could tell by Gavin’s and Eric’s expressions that
they hadn’t either. Gavin’s face was paler than usual and I felt sorry for him.
Adele should have prepared him for the prospect of possibly communicating with
his brother.

“Gavin, are you okay with
this?” I asked, feeling the same overprotectiveness as with my brother. “Say
the word if you’re not.”

“No, I’m okay. What do we
have to do?”

Adele leaned forward, resting
her elbows on the edge of the table. “I will call him up and Amelia will cross
over to verify he’s there. Do you have a picture of Tobin?”

“Uh yeah, hold on,” Gavin
dug around in the pockets of his baggy jeans and pulled out his phone. After
messing around with some of the buttons, he passed it to Adele.

“Perfect!” Adele handed
the phone to her sister and once again, Eric and Gavin’s jaws went slack. I
could see Amelia just fine, but for them to see inanimate objects suspended in
mid-air must be insane. “Now, come over here and sit next to me.” She patted
the empty chair to her left and Gavin complied. “Okay, now everyone close your
eyes and breathe with me, really listen to the sound of the air leaving my
lungs and think of this as a meditation of sorts.”

I closed my eyes and
focused on Adele’s breathing as she instructed. Slowly all other background
noises faded. I no longer heard the low hum of the refrigerator or the hiss of
cold air blowing out of the vents when the central air kicked on. My breathing
grew heavy and deep along with Adele’s. When she spoke next, it was in the
softest whisper. “Keep breathing and concentrate on Tobin. Follow along as I
chant his name.”

Adele grabbed my hand and
I jumped, not in surprise at the contact, but at the power surging from her
fingertips. “Breathe, Elena,” she whispered and it was easy to slip back into
relaxation mode as she began the chant. I became accustomed to the pulse of
energy coming from her.