"Ghost?" Mother asked. "You never told me you had a ghost."
Oh, for crying out loud. "I don't have a ghost."
"You most certainly do." Aunt Vi abandoned Carmella to join us. Carmella crossed herself. "And that ghost is not hundreds of years old. Her clothes are all wrong for that -- much more modern, probably from the nineteen-twenties era."
"The skeleton under the rhody was not female," Paul said, stepping away from Mother. He slid a quick glance at me. Either he was grateful I'd managed to change the subject, or wondering if he was going to have to debate his "Christmas decision" with me, yet again. Probably the latter, since a hint of a wince accompanied the quick look.
Dave moved away from Andrea and became suddenly articulate. "You have a body in your backyard?"
"Had a body," Paul corrected.
"Had?"
"Someone took it," I said, and a bell chimed as if indicating I’d given the right answer.
"Oh, everyone!" Andrea waved a hand in the air like she was flagging a taxi. "Dinner's ready."
If Andrea thought she diverted the conversation by feeding us, she was mistaken. Aunt Vi kicked the debate over the supposed ghost in my house back into play the minute the salads were served. The loud, chattering discussion and laughter around the table was probably a new experience for this house. I knew, from past personal experience, that noisy behavior was rare. Even rude behavior had generally happened one person at a time.
With the exception of Richard, who kept a close eye on the evening's hired help, everyone voiced an opinion. Even Uncle Henry. Unsurprisingly, he came down firmly on the "nay" side. Carmella crossed herself each time before she spoke. Eric's uncharacteristic dark mood had him more critical of Juliet than I'd seen him. Juliet, seated next to him and with plenty to say, never responded to his remarks. Having struck up a friendship with Heidi, she remained slightly turned away from him even when she ate. I'd get him aside later and find out what my sister had done this time. Then I'd clock her upside the head -- or manage the verbal equivalent.
Paul didn't debate the presence of the ghost as much as he vehemently asserted the bones were male and not female. I don't think he cared if we had a ghost or not. He took umbrage over the fact his expertise on bone identification was being questioned.
"If the bones are missing now," Andrea said, "then there really isn't any way to prove the sex of the body one way or the other."
A chorus of agreement, disagreement and "maybe some bones are still there" followed.
"Yeah," Juliet chimed in louder than everyone else. "You guys can argue until your throats are sore for all the good it will do you."
"I took pictures. They're on my cell phone," Paul stated as if pronouncing the final verdict.
"So?" Juliet said.
He leveled a narrow stare at her.
"They're probably not very clear," Aunt Vi said.
He dug around in the pocket of his sport coat, pulled it out and began punching buttons.
"We're eating a meal, not playing with toys," Mother snapped. "Put that thing away."
Paul straightened and glowered. "No. I'm making a point, not -- as you put it -- playing with a toy."
My breathing seized and my gaze labored between Mother and Paul. For a moment of thunderous silence, both had identical stubborn sets to their jaws. Finally, Mother huffed and returned to her meal. My ability to exhale returned.
Paul passed his cell phone across the table to Aunt Vi. She adjusted her glasses, sniffed and peered closely, paging though the various shots he'd taken.
"As I said, not very clear." She handed the phone back.
"I'll download it onto the computer. I've got some software that can sharpen the image. The facts are there. The skeleton is male."
"Since you don't have a picture of the pelvis that would be a waste of time."
"No, it wouldn't. There wasn't any ambiguity in the remains I photographed."
Mother cleared her throat and raised her eyebrows at him. Aimed at Juliet or me that combination always meant "watch your mouth." Paul ignored her.
Aunt Vi didn't miss it. A little smile grew. I knew what that look meant, too. She welcomed the challenge to defend herself. "I have a better idea. We can put this to rest once and for all. We'll have a séance and ask the ghost."
Not quite what I was expecting. Paul either, apparently. He guffawed and the entire table erupted in opinions. Aunt Vi's voice, in triumphant glee, rose above the clamor.
"We'll do it at Thea's house, day after tomorrow."
"Go ahead," Paul said, wiping at the corners of his eyes. The belly laugh hadn't quite settled. "Prove I'm right any way you'd like."
Mother and I were the only two not laughing.