Ghost Granny (12 page)

They now had good friends and a beautiful
place to live. At least for one year she told herself. That was the
deal, house and cat sit for one year. She had never asked, but now
wondered what kind of deal Sebastian and Isabel had with Thelma or
Luna, as far as how long they were going to stay.

Cody was doing well in school and loved it
here. Catherine did not know why she felt as if there was something
she was waiting for. She was happy for her friend Isabel. Since the
night of the Halloween party she and zombie Nick had become a
couple and were very happy together.

Was that it?
She couldn’t help but
wonder. While Sebastian and her had become good friends, that is
where things seemed to be stuck, in the friend zone. She knew that
he needed time to get over losing Max, a boy he, by his own
admission, thought of as his own son.

Isabel had been teaching Catherine how to
decorate the candies and Catherine was able to take on more of the
design work on the goods they sold. She felt safe enough now to let
Cody go home on his own after checking in with her when the school
bell signaled the end of the school day. Things were clicking into
place, but not so much for her, just around her. At least that is
how Catherine felt.

She took a bottle of water and sat at the
table near the window. It was a beautiful day outside and even
though all of the Halloween decorations had been taken down and put
away for next year, the citizens of Enchantment still walked around
with a smile and a friendly hello to offer.

Catherine wasn’t sure when it had happened,
she hadn’t been looking for it and even tried to reject it when she
finally realized that somewhere along the line, she had fallen in
love with Sebastian. He was such a good, kind man. He and his
sister were always ready to help anyone and both were very talented
with their carvings and organizational skills. Everyone knew what a
benefactor Luna was to the village and Sebastian had even said that
Cindy was the heart and soul of the school.

All I do is take. I have nothing to
offer.

Luna and Thelma sat on the porch swing. “Now
what?” Thelma asked. “I don’t really know.” Luna answered her
sister. “I guess we have a lot to think about.”

“Can’t you just dump a box of your special
blue glitter over their heads?” Thelma asked.

“You know it does not work that way, Thelma.
Max needed to be here to keep Sebastian around until Catherine and
Cody showed up, and he did. He also proved to Sebastian that he can
be a father and a good one at that. Ashley needed that time to heal
and get her life in order as well. Although Max does not know it
yet, he will be back as an adult and find his happiness here as
well. I am not worried about Isabel and Nick. Isabel loves her
work.”

“Do you think that is it? That Catherine
does not like working at the Chocolate Shop?” Thelma asked.

“We put her there for a reason, remember.
Being that close to the school gave her a sense of being close to
her son. Both of them needed that. They have been together and
alone for most of Cody’s life. They needed to be separated a little
bit at a time. Catherine was holding on so tight to Cody, that she
put any life outside of being a mother behind her.”

“I can see the way Catherine looks at
Sebastian and I used to think he was looking at her in the same
way. But now, I don’t know. It will take time for him to get used
to not having Max around. You would think having Cody around would
have solved that problem.” Luna reasoned.

“Maybe not. Maybe he is afraid to get close
to Cody and his mom, afraid he might lose them one day as well.”
Thelma said.

“You might be on to something there, Thelma.
Men are so complicated.”

“We are, huh?” Hugo said, coming up the
porch stairs. “What can I do to help?”

“Nothing really. Winter is coming soon and I
don’t want to be still hanging around here when it does. Last
winter we were stuck until February, not this year. I am anxious to
get home. Still, I would hate for us to leave and have things be
unresolved here.” Luna said.

“It is just Catherine, right?”

“Maybe we are forgetting about one other
person.” Thelma said, and then explained her plan to Hugo and
Luna.

That afternoon as Catherine was washing the
sheets from the display case the bell above the door rang. When
Catherine walked back into the front she saw a nice looking man
with blond hair and blue eyes. The smile on her face was real when
she said “Welcome to Thelma’s Chocolates. What can I help you with
today?”

“Hi. My name is Tom, I just got into town
and was wondering if you knew of any job openings around here.”

“Welcome to our village, Tom, I am Catherine
and I only work here, but I will be happy to ask the owner if she
needs any help with anything.”

“Not necessarily in here, just in the town.
I am good with my hands and can fix cars. Although I don’t see very
many vehicles on the street.”

“We are rather self-contained here.
Everything we need is within walking distance. Are you staying at
the hotel?”

“I will if I can get a job. I had car
trouble on the expressway and just rolled into town. I am just out
of the military and just looking for a new start.”

“You have come to the right place then.”
Catherine said. “Oh, here is the owner now. Luna, this is Tom and
he is looking for a job. Do you know anyone who could help this
x-military man out?”

“Hello Tom, thank you for your service.”
Luna smiled at the young man. “As a matter of fact, I was thinking
that Sebastian is overloaded with the work I have him doing, he
could use a couple of strong hands to help him.”

“What kind of work would that be? As I was
telling Catherine here, I am good with my hands.”

“Sebastian takes care of the maintenance of
quite a few things here in town and all of the repairs at mine and
my sister’s homes over the hill.”

“How far is over the hill? I’m afraid my car
broke down and it will be some time before I can get it going
again.”

“Not to worry. Have you eaten lunch yet,
Tom?” Luna asked.

“No, not yet.”

“Why don’t you come across the street with
me and have lunch, my treat. We can talk more about how we can help
you.”

Catherine had continued smiling after Tom
and Luna had walked across the street.
Nice guy.
Sebastian
walked into the shop. “You look like you have taken your happy pill
today.” He laughed.

“Happy chocolate coffee. Care to join me in
a cup?”

“Can’t right now. Luna asked me to meet her
here. “

“Luna and Tom just left here a moment ago to
go across the street to have lunch. Are you sure she wanted you to
meet her here? She does not seem like the type to forget something
like that.” Catherine said, motioning to the coffee machine.

Sebastian nodded his wish for the coffee
after all and sat down at one of the tables. “Who is Tom?”

“A young man who is new in town. He is
looking for a job and Luna mentioned that you were over worked and
perhaps could use Tom’s help.” Catherine said, putting out a couple
of muffins for them as well as squirting a little bit of whipped
cream on top of the coffee.

“I would be happy for the help. I guess that
is why Luna wanted to meet with me, but I am surprised she didn’t
wait here for me to meet Tom.”

“Couldn’t have been that, Luna and I only
just met Tom ourselves about a half hour ago.”

“I hope he is good with his hands.”
Sebastian said. Catherine took a drink of her chocolate coffee “He
certainly looks like he is.” She said, licking her lips because of
the whipped cream.

Sebastian didn’t know why, but Catherine’s
remark irked him. “Listen, these muffins aren’t doing it for me and
it’s almost noon. Want to go across and get some lunch ourselves
and meet up with those two?”

“Sure.” Catherine said, jumping up and
grabbing the keys to the shop to lock up and put the clock sign on
the door.

I never saw Catherine move so quickly. I
have to get a look at this Tom guy.

Catherine and Sebastian walked into the
restaurant and immediately saw Luna waving them over to their
table.

“Sebastian, this is Tom, he will be helping
you.” Tom and Sebastian shook hands and Sebastian found himself
gripping the handshake a bit firmer than he usually did.

“Join us.” Luna said. Catherine sat down
next to Tom, leaving the seat next to Luna open for Sebastian. She
was having a bit of fun. She was not a flirt, but she was enjoying
the look on Sebastian’s face.

“Catherine’s husband, he is deceased, he was
in the military. Marine I think you said?” Luna said, looking at
Catherine.

Tom looked at Catherine “I am, or was, also
in the Marines. I am very sorry about your husband. Was his death
recently?”

“No, he died while in Iran. It has been
several years. My son, Cody is ten now and his dad was killed when
Cody was almost three.” Catherine answered, looking into Tom’s
beautiful blue eyes.

“I have a nephew named Cody.” Tom said.

“So, Tom, what kind of work are you looking
for?” Sebastian said, looking to break up the mutual admiration
society that seemed to be going on across the table.

Luna spoke up before Tom could answer. “Oh
we have gone over all of that, Sebastian. Tom will help you out
with all of your duties, but I want him to stick close to the house
at least for the next couple of months. We might have a problem
with the roof on the big house.”

“I haven’t noticed any problems with the
roof.” Sebastian said.

“It hasn’t rained lately either.” Luna said,
patting Sebastian’s hand.

The four of them were finishing up their
meals. “So we are all set, Tom. I am glad you found your way into
town just at the right time.” Luna said.

“Actually, Tom, you should have been here a
little over a week ago. We had a fantastic Halloween party here.
The entire town really outdid themselves and I am sure Sebastian
would have loved to have had your help then. He worked around the
clock to make sure everything was extra special.”

Luna saw one of the restaurants employees
coming in the back door. “Sebastian, I need you to walk over to the
hill with me, I have some things I need to go over with you.”

“Would you like me to come as well?” Tom
asked. “

Oh no, Sebastian will meet you at Thelma’s
Chocolate Shop tomorrow morning when it opens about ten a.m. and
get you started then. You and Catherine sit and enjoy your meal, no
need to rush. It was nice meeting you Tom. I am very happy the way
things are working out.” Luna said, almost rushing Sebastian out of
the restaurant.

A moment later Jill came to their table.
“Hi, I got in late today. Your server had to run an errand, can I
get you two any desert?”

Jill thought her heart would stop when Tom
looked up and their eyes met.
Wow oh wow and just like, wow!
She was very flustered. For his part, Tom graced her with a big
smile. “Hi there, I am new in town, my name is Tom.”

“Oh, I am sorry, Tom, this is Jill. Jill,
Tom is going to be helping out Sebastian with everything he does.
Tom is an x-marine and just got into town.” Catherine said. Seeing
the unmissable sparks flying between Jill and Tom Catherine added.
“Luna has already taken care of the bill, oh, she left enough tip
for you and the other server to share it seems. I have to get back
to the shop. Tom, I will leave you in good hands here then. Jill,
would you mind keeping Tom company and maybe showing him around
town a bit?”

“Not at all. Nice to meet you, Tom.”

Catherine smiled and said her goodbyes, not
that either of them noticed. Catherine was glad that Jill and Tom
had found each other. It gave her a lift even though her own love
life was non-existent.

Catherine worked through the rest of the
day, stopping only for a moment when Cody and Isabel came in after
school for a chocolate milk and a piece of cream cake on their way
home.

Isabel asked if she would mind if she took
Cody over to the Rec Center with her. She wanted to show him where
Luna had been standing under the stage when it had opened up at the
Halloween party.

“I was thinking too that Cody might want to
help me with the senior bingo game afterwards. We should be home by
about seven. We can grab something to eat here in town if that is
O.K. with you, Catherine.”

“Oh sure, have fun.” Catherine said. “See
you both at home later.”

On the other side of the hill Luna, Hugo and
Thelma were standing in front of the big house. “Are you sure we
are O.K. to leave now?” Hugo asked his wife.

“Everything will work out fine, my love.
Thelma, did you put the white cat in the house?”

“Sure did, although Catherine will be sure
to notice that this one isn’t as smart as the one leaving.” She
smiled.

“Good-bye house – see you next year.”
Good-bye Caramel, Zippy and Ace, watch over everything for us until
we get back. They all said. With that, Hugo changed form back into
the massive buck deer and Thelma and Luna got on his back. None of
them looked behind them as the deer walked behind the little house
and into the woods.

Catherine had gotten to the hill and was
just about to ring the bell for her ride back to the house when
Sebastian walked up to her. “Oh, Sebastian, you startled me. I was
just about to ring for you. Are you ready to go back to the house,
or did you have something else on this side you need to do first? I
can wait, or I can go by myself if one of the ponies are at the
hill.” Catherine said.

“I thought maybe we could take a walk around
the lake. That is, if you are not too tired.” Sebastian said.
Catherine was shocked, but pleasantly so. “That sounds like you are
trying to keep me from the house, what is going on?” She said, more
teasing than not.