scared. I lost her, and now I feel like I’m gonna lose you, too.”
“It’s okay, Gram,” I promised. “I’m right here. I’m going to tell you a few things that I learned—not sure I believe them yet, but that’s where you come in.”
“I’m puttin’ on my big girl panties,” Gram said, holding her chin high. “Not that I change my panties anymore.”
Despite the serious nature of what I was about to share, I couldn’t help myself and grinned. “That’s kind of gross,” I pointed out.
“Darlin’, it’s a perk of being dead,” she informed me with a wink.
She was relaxed and more herself. I needed her to stay that way.
“I love you, Gram.”
“Love you more, sweetheart.”
“You going to stay with me?” I asked cautiously.
She nodded. “If I freak, just yank me out of the air and slap me upside the head.”
“Mmmkay,” I said with a small smile. “I don’t think my mother is in the darkness.”
Gram eyes lit up with joy for the briefest of moments and then dilated strangely. Her body jerked and trembled. The reaction was bizarre.
“Can’t be, Daisy girl,” she whispered woodenly. “Your mama killed herself to follow her lover into the darkness. Suicide. Guaranteed ticket to Hell.”
“Can I see the note she left?”
“What note?” Gram asked, confused and still sounding robotic.
“Her suicide note,” I clarified. “She had to have left one or you wouldn’t have known the circumstances of how she died.”
“Your mama killed herself to follow her lover into the darkness. Suicide. Guaranteed ticket to Hell,” she repeated like a broken record.
“You met her lover?” I pressed.
“No,” Gram said, tilting her head to the side and squinting at me. “Did you?”
“No, I couldn’t see the dead when I was little,” I reminded her. “Ohhh, of course you didn’t meet her lover. You couldn’t see the dead then, either. Right?”
“Yep,” Gram said. “Once your mama took over, the dead went away just like they did when you took over. Your mama never brought her beaus around.”
“Right,” I said, nodding slowly. “So, you don’t even know for sure if she had a lover who went to the darkness.”
“Your mama killed herself to follow her lover into the darkness. Suicide. Guaranteed ticket to Hell,” Gram said in a monotone, growing agitated and paler.
If she wasn’t already deceased, I would think I was killing her.
Something clicked in my brain. What if getting her to admit she might be wrong could destroy her?
The thought was horrendous, but it was possible.
Anything was possible…
Change of plans. One where Gram would stay safe and I could possibly find out the truth. Which meant speaking to Heather was on the top of my list.
“You’re right, Gram. I guess it’s just wishful thinking on my part,” I said, squeezing her hands gently. “I’m so sorry. I don’t know what I was thinking.”
Her relief made me want to cry. “No worries, Daisy child. Everyone gets confused.”
“How about we watch a marathon of The Price Is Right?” I suggested as her eyes went back to normal and a bit of color came back to her papery cheeks.
“That sounds like a right fine idea,” she said with a grin. “Haven’t spent any time with my boyfriend Bob in a few days.
“Jimmy Joe Johnson isn’t jealous of Bob?” I asked with a smile of relief that she was no longer in a robotic state.
“Nah,” Gram said with a cackle. “Jimmy Joe has him a crush on Vanna White. Works out just fine.”
“I’m sure it does,” I said with a tiny eye roll and a laugh as I followed Gram into the house.
“Price Is Right in Daisy’s bedroom,” Gram hollered to the ghosts as she flew around the living room and headed for the stairs. “You comin’ darlin’?”
“Go on up,” I said. “I’ll be there in a few.”
I felt Gideon’s eyes on me as I paced the living room and muttered to myself.
“You okay?” he asked warily as Steve floated next to him, equally concerned.
“Can you call a meeting together while I watch an episode of The Price Is Right with Gram?” I asked.
Gideon nodded.
“Great,” I said, giving him a quick kiss then starting up the stairs.
“Daisy?” Gideon asked.
“Yes?” I looked back at him.
“You want to give me a few more details?”
Smacking myself in the forehead, I groaned. “That would probably be helpful.”
“It might,” Gideon agreed with a grin.
“I need Tim, Candy Vargo, Charlie, Heather, you and Darth Vader to be here.” I checked my watch and debated if I should wait till tomorrow.
Nope. The ball was rolling and I wasn’t