Doreen didn't know what to think or how to act. "You honestly expect me to believe all this?"
"Actually, no."
"Then I guess I'd better leave."
"OK, nice meeting you." Jack looked out to sea again and put his feet back up on the railing of the gallery. He took out his tobacco and started to stuff his pipe.
Doreen didn't move.
And she waited as he continued to light his pipe and look out to sea again. Waited until the silence became unbearable.
"So you really meant, I don't have a choice and neither do you."
"Oh you have a choice," Jack said between puffs. He finally took the pipe out of his mouth and turned to her. "But you're right that it's not much of one, as I've found out. But you don't have to believe me. For all you know I'm crazy. But then, why did you come all the way out here just to talk to a man everyone tells you is nuts and lives in a haunted lighthouse in the booney-nowhere of the East Coast?" Jack turned back to the seascape again.
Doreen considered this. And she knew in her heart that there was some truth to what he said. She took her amulet and looked at it for a long while. Then gracefully looped its thong back over her head and dropped it down her front again. For all that time out in the weather, it was still warm against her skin as it settled back in place.
"So what's my job in getting rid of this jinx?" She sighed.
"Well, I don't know precisely. You'll have to ask the ghosts."
"Whaaat?"
"Be back at sunset. Bring some rum. Julian likes the cheap cigars, just get the longest ones you can. And don't forget the flowers. There's a shop next to your bed and breakfast - they'll know what to give you." The doctor took his feet from the railing and tapped out his pipe on the heel of one boot. He rose at that point and said, "Well this is where you go to town for your nap. I'd offer you to stay here, but there's only one bed and the ghosts won't talk unless you bribe them. So we aren't going to find anything out unless you go to town."
Doreen didn't know if she should be miffed at this candor. "Why don't you just go?"
"Because I'm not the one who can ask them. It's you they've been waiting for. Me, they already know everything there is to know. You're fresh news.”
With that he turned and picked up the coffee pot and plate, along with the napkins and jam jar. He moved around Doreen and headed down the stairs. "Have a nice nap!" Jack called from the stairs.
Doreen sat there perplexed. Of course she had nothing to lose by doing what he said. But no real reason to, either. And then she thought of her dreams. It wouldn't hurt to humor him to see if that would help ease her nights.
She rose, stretched, and then made her way back downstairs and outside to her car.
It started easily, just as it was supposed to.