You would think that a dead person would be satisfied to be hanging out.
No.
Tommie wanted more.
When JimDaddy and Momma came in to tell me good night, Tommie popped right up, wide-eyed, went straight over to her daddy, and slipped her arms around him. He started. Like he knew she was there. Then he leaned over and kissed me on the forehead.
“Night, girl,” he said.
“That’s what he used to say to me,” Tommie said. She stood beside her father, watching him. “Look at me, Daddy,” she whispered. And then, “He can’t see me.”
Momma plopped onto the bed where Tommie had lain. “You sleep good, sugar,” she said.
“Okay.” Maybe I would. If Tommie stopped her crying and went to sleep. Or whatever it was she did.
“Tell Daddy good night,” Tommie said.
“I said sleep good,” Momma said just as Tommie said, “Tell him!”
“No!” I said. Momma laughed and Tommie harrumphed.
“I mean, Momma,” I said, sitting up in bed, “I mean yes, ma’am, I will.”
Tommie got right in my face. “Do it,” she whispered. “Do it.” I could feel her breath on my ear. Sort of damp. Could smell that sour odor. “Please.”
“Ummmm,” I said.
JimDaddy stared at me. Ran his hands over his mouth. “For a minute you reminded me of my Tommie girl.”
“Oh, Jim,” Momma said. Only she didn’t seem sad for him. She seemed, what? Frustrated?
Tommie was gone. Shimmered away and then back again, like a lightbulb deciding it had more strength than it thought.
In her room down the hall, Baby Lucy let out a sharp cry. A long, heartbroken wail followed. My heart stopped beating altogether, and when it started again, it felt like a pounding fist.
Momma, still looking unhappy with JimDaddy, patted my cheek. “I gotta get,” she said. “See you in the morning.”
“What did you do?” I said, leaping to my feet.
JimDaddy raised his hands.
“Nothing,” he said. “It was just for a second. You reminded me of my little girl.” He went to the door. “I better help your momma with the baby. She might be more than one grown woman can take care of.”
I wasn’t sure if he meant Momma or Baby Lucy.
“Tell him!”
I spun around to face Tommie, then swung back to JimDaddy.
But he was gone.