The Calling: A Paranormal Mystery Vol. I (14 page)

Jennifer had been raised Catholic and like many Catholics had pulled away from the Church after feeling judged.  Her spiritual core and devotion was strong. 

“All right, when or if I have something come up, I will call you and Janet and we’ll see what we can see, and do what we can do,” said Lizzy.

“Wow, you’re profound,” Jennifer said with a snicker. “I’ve gotta go.  Good luck with Officer Dan tomorrow.”

“Don’t remind me!”

The idea of squeezing into the little black dress and making small talk all night with a cop sounded like as much fun as slamming her hand in a door at the moment. 

What should I do if he asks about Karen’s incident?  What in the world am I supposed to tell him? I was at my friend’s side to help her through a ghostly encounter.  Sounds ridiculous, no wonder no one talks about their experiences, they think everyone will think they are crazy.
Lizzy forced herself to think of something else before she went crazy.

A couple of minutes before 7:00 p.m. Lizzy thought maybe she would luck out and Dan wouldn’t show.  It wasn’t like she hadn’t been stood up before.  In her early 20’s it became a game it got so bad.  She always had secondary plans.  Just when she was thinking she might be in the clear, Dan pulled up in a black Chevy Camaro. 

Really?
she thought,
I love that car!

Dan stood about 5’ 11” with light brown hair and big brown eyes.  Yes, Lizzy had noticed the day she met him at Karen’s house.  She was sure he whitened his teeth because when he smiled he glowed; not in a bad way, but a little bit in a ‘let me kiss your baby’ political kind of way.  He was built like a brick.  She had to admit, she liked it.  Suddenly, her stomach leapt up and did a summersault.

“Shit,” she whispered to herself as she watched the hunk of Dan walk up to her door, “now I’m nervous.”

She opened the door, Dan stood on the other side with a big white shining grin, holding out a single yellow rose.

“My Lady,” Dan said with a silly English accent. 

“Oh, thank you. It’s beautiful.”

“You look beautiful!  Yellow is for a new beginning and happiness, I thought it was appropriate,” Dan motioned her to the car.

Lizzy fumbled around as she locked her front door.  She felt completely self-conscious, stomach in a knot, Lizzy turned and walked to the car pretending to be confident. 

“You look very gallant yourself by the way,” she said as she grabbed his arm.

The dark charcoal suit with a red silk tie set off Dan’s tan skin and blond hair.  Dan opened Lizzy’s door and she slid inside. 

“Your car makes me giddy,” Lizzy blurted out.

“How so?”

“This is my favorite car, although I would want a white one.  I go online sometimes and fantasize about it,” Lizzy caught herself talking really fast. 
Whoa Nellie, slow it down he’s just a guy
, she said to herself as she patted the side of her leg.

“I love it too, that’s why I bought it! Lizzy, you look very nice.  Thank you for accepting my invitation.  I didn’t think you would call to be completely honest,” he looked over at Lizzy with his big brown eyes. “I asked you to call me the first day we met but you didn’t.”

“Well, you said to call if we heard anything or figured out who was in Karen’s house and we didn’t hear anything.  I mean, we kind of did, but it wasn’t phone call worthy.”

“Wait a minute, you know who was in the house?” Dan’s head whipped around and Lizzy could see he was concerned. 

“Uhm, wait a minute, let’s not talk about that just yet,” Lizzy said.  “I mean, I didn’t realize you were interested in me and that’s why I didn’t call.”

“Huh, I gave out all the signals.  Your friend Karen got it.”

“I’m not Karen,” Lizzy said in a very staccato rhythm.

“I didn’t mean anything by it. I just meant, I was giving out the signals and I had hoped you would call.”

“Dan, where it comes to men and dating I’ll just lay my cards on the table, I’m thick. So it’s best to be very clear with me about what you want, because if you are being coy there is a good chance I’ll miss it.”

“Hmmm, as intense and detailed as you were at your friend’s house I’m a little surprised that you missed the clues.” 

“I was a little surprised by all of this.  I looked a wreck that day and of course, my charm became obvious, I’m sure, when you noticed my shirt was inside out! Lord help me!”

“You were very sweet. It was clear you had rushed over there.   I watched you take care of your friend and I could just tell you had a good heart and I just liked what I saw,” Dan said.

“It’s weird,” Lizzy said rolling her eyes.

“Well dear, you clean up pretty nice anyway,” Dan laughed and patted her on the knee and then left his hand there for the rest of the trip to the restaurant.

Lizzy’s heart pounded under her little black dress.  She could hear its rhythm in her own ears. 

“Now tell me what you heard about your friend’s intruder,” Dan nudged back to the subject Lizzy was trying so hard to avoid.

“Dan, this is a first date and if I go into it you’re going to think I’m off balance,” Lizzy sighed and felt she could see the date ending before it even started.

“Nonsense!  Tell me what you know little lady.”

“How about I tell you over dinner since we are almost there.”

The host, dressed in a tuxedo, seated the couple at a lovely table by a window overlooking the mountains.  The Royal Crown sat on top of one of the taller hillsides in the county.  It overlooked the valley and the mountains.  The setting sun cast brilliant colors across the valley.  The restaurant planted a Royal Garden on the grounds around the building.  Lizzy thought it looked like something out of the renaissance.  As the weather got warmer, local musicians played on the large stone patio.  “This place is lovely,” Lizzy said admiring the whole package.

Lizzy could see Dan, the cop, waiting for the rundown on Karen and Lizzy’s discovery of who had been in the house.  

“All right Dan, buckle up it’s going to be a bumpy ride,” she said with a slight grin on her face.  She slowly began the story of Sunday Stewart, the hitchhiking ghost. 

Dan listened intently.  Lizzy couldn’t tell if he believed her or wanted to cancel dinner and take her straight home. 

“It’s a very interesting story, Lizzy and it is clear you believe that it happened.”

“So you don’t believe me?” Lizzy tried not to be disappointed. 

“It’s not that I don’t believe you, I just don’t believe in that kind of stuff.  I believe there is a logical explanation for all of it and it doesn’t include ghosts.”

“Really? You think there is a logical explanation” Lizzy said obviously annoyed. “You believe that some kids broke into Karen’s house, turned all the water on, took all the pictures off the walls and put her chairs in the living room in the symbol of a cross?  This is logical to you?” Lizzy did not hide her
exasperation
.

“Lizzy, the answer is yes.  That could have happened. They may have been trying to make it look ‘ghostly’.”

“So, you think the same kids beat us over to Tina’s house?  Then, they motored on over to Tom and Deanna Hoskins before we got there too?  Dan, I know what I experienced when we were at Josh’s office. I also know that no one is having any more paranormal trouble since we helped move Sunday into the light. That’s what I know.”

“Lizzy, I don’t think you’re crazy, ok.  I just don’t believe in ghosts. I am sure many of the things that have happened have a perfectly logical explanation.   Is this difference of opinion going to ruin my chances for a second date?”

Lizzy wasn’t sure, but she could have sworn that Dan actually batted his thick lashed brown eyes at her.  She had to admit, it did kind of melt her inside.  This was not anything she wanted to get in the way of a potential relationship.

“You want a second date?” asked Lizzy.

“I’d like it to be an option,” Dan replied.

“I would like to see you again” said Lizzy. “That said, I want to be completely upfront, I plan to pursue this Ghost Investigation and House Cleansing endeavor. If it is going to bother you we should probably go our separate ways, don’t you think?” asked Lizzy. 

“You can ghost hunt all you want Lizzy, it is neither here nor there to me,” Dan said with a shrug.  “I don’t see any reason for it to impede us getting to know each other better.”

Lizzy felt relieved when hearing it.  As much as she wanted to avoid the whole date, she now found herself, of course, liking him after all.

Lizzy thought she heard someone calling her name.  She looked up as Josh Stewart approached the table with a tall, beautiful blond woman.  His dark blue suit set off his black hair and blue eyes.  ‘
Eye candy’,
flitted through Lizzy’s thoughts.   They both looked sharp.  Of course, everyone at the Royal Crown looked great, as they were dressed to the nines.  

“Lizzy, I thought that was you. I can’t believe I’ve run into you here!” Josh said as he strode up to the table smiling ear to ear. “I’m sorry to interrupt.   I’m Josh Stewart and this is my wife Cynthia.”  He reached out and shook Dan’s hand.

“Hello,” said Cynthia politely and then took a step back.  Her jaw set and not looking pleased.

That’s his wife?  Oh my God, she’s beautiful!
Lizzy thought and felt immediately like an ugly stepsister. 

“I’m Dan.”

“You’ve got quite a girl here Dan, but I’m sure you know that already.”

“You’re a little far from home aren’t you?” Lizzy said, breaking in quickly to what could become an awkward conversation. “You live over an hour away. I’m surprised to see you here.”

“I know and what a lucky coincidence!” Josh said loudly.

It appeared to Lizzy that Josh was a little buzzed.

Josh kept smiling and looked directly into Lizzy’s eyes. “Cynthia and I looove this place so we try to make the trek at least once a month.” He slid his card over to Lizzy, “Did you get my message today?” 

“Message? No, when did you leave it,” asked Lizzy.

“Oh, just before we left for dinner.”

Lizzy took the card and put it into her purse.  She caught the look of irritation on Dan’s face.

“It is so weird you’re here...” Josh trailed off for a moment. “Anyway, please call me tomorrow, if it’s convenient. I have a client I need to discuss with you and I feel it is an urgent matter.” 

“Sure, I’ll call you in the morning.”  There it was, an awkward pause Lizzy had been attempting to circumvent.  Josh reached his hand back searching for Cynthia. “All right, you two have a lovely dinner.” 

“Who was that?” Dan asked once they were out of range.

“That is Sunday’s brother, Josh, who I was just telling you about.”

“The therapist?” Dan asked, his face softening.

“Yes, the therapist.  That’s enough of all this Dan, how about you tell me a little about yourself.  I’ve dominated the conversation with tales of ghosts, life after death and paranormal activity.  Let’s bring it back down to earth.  So, you’re a cop…”

Dan smiled and launched into an hour report about his journey as a police officer and his plans to move up the ranks and hopefully make Chief someday. 

The rest of the evening clicked by smoothly.  Lizzy relaxed and ended up having fun in spite of herself.  Dan politely walked her to her door and there they were.  This is the most awkward part of a date and Lizzy hated it.  Lizzy felt like she was 14 again.  All she wanted to do was run into the house.  Dan reached over guided Lizzy’s chin up and gave her a soft kiss.  “Thank you for a very nice evening.” 

“It was nice, Dan, thank you as well.” 

“May I have your number?” Dan finally asked. 

“My number? Oh, of course!” Lizzy had forgotten that all the communication had been passed through Karen and she had called him.  Lizzy scribbled her personal cell number on her business card and handed it to Dan. 

“All right my dear, I’ll be calling. Now in you go, safe and sound,” the silly British accent was back with a smile.

“Good night Dan,” Lizzy curtsied and slowly shut the door. 
Was it too late to call Karen?
 
Yes, but it’s not too late to send her a quick text.
  Lizzy fumbled around on her phone and sent Karen a quick message. “I had a wonderful time, thanks for lending me the dress.  Call me in the morning.”

Lizzy crawled into bed and ran the night's events through her mind. 
Would he call? 
She doubted it.
  Did I do anything stupid? 
She didn’t think she had.
What client could Josh want to speak about?  Wouldn’t that a breach of confidentiality? What is the meaning of Life?
She cracked herself up and began laughing.

“Yeah, what
is
the meaning of life?” she said into her empty room.

Lizzy could feel change coming.  She knew she would not stop the Ghost Investigation endeavor. She didn’t feel she was ‘chasing ghosts’.  Lizzy felt she was ushering spirits to a better place and helping the families who were living with them.  Other than that, she didn’t know what the future held.  Who does?  She decided she would call Josh first thing in the morning.  She said a prayer of thanks and protection for herself, friends and family.  She drifted off to sleep thinking about Dan’s ultra-bright smile and big brown eyes.