“There are many stories of ghosts interacting with the living. We honor our dead ancestors. Communicate with them.” Teresa Mendez was an able-bodied woman in her late fifty’s. She spoke in a precise way as she cleared lunch dishes from the table. “Jacqueline and I visit her father on the day of his death every year.”
“We do,” Jackie agreed. “We take a picnic.”
“But those are ancestral spirits,” Richard said. “What about nonancestral spirits?”
“Has a spirit tried to communicate with you?” Mrs. Mendez asked.
Richard hesitated. “I don’t know. I’m not even saying that there isn’t a logical answer—” He stopped and ran a hand through his hair. “Something odd happened during one of my sessions. Something that seems to be localized around a particular patient. Involving a…spirit, if you will.”
“Do you think this spirit feels wronged in some way?” Mrs. Mendez asked.
“My patient is being treated for schizophrenia.”
“Is she schizophrenic?”
He opened his mouth to answer and caught Jackie’s raised eyebrows.
“Ignore my daughter.” Mrs. Mendez sat beside him and took his hand. “What does your gut tell you?” She sized him up briefly. “Your gut is telling you she isn’t schizophrenic. I’ve been a mid-wife for over thirty years, Richard. I never ignore my gut instinct and it’s never proven me wrong.” She patted his hand. “Do you think this spirit feels wronged in some way?”
“She says there are two spirits.” Richard took a deep breath. “Let’s just say that what she says is true. In that case, yes. One may feel wronged in some way, she died young. The other…I’m not sure what happened yet, but I have my suspicions.”
“If they feel wronged, they will cause trouble,” Mrs. Mendez said. “Until they are dealt with.”
“What kind of trouble?”
“If they are powerful and angry enough, they can cause the person to make very poor choices.” She gave him a serious look. “They can even cause death.”
“I won’t let that happen.” The thought was out of his mouth before he had a chance to catch himself.
Uncomfortable silence filled the air.
Jackie cleared her throat. “So, anyways. I think we should go window shopping at the mall. There’s this darling little bracelet I want to show you guys. We could grab some coffee, what do you say?”
Teresa waved her away. “You two go ahead, I have some reading to do.”
“Richard?”
“I have some work to catch up on, Jackie.”
“Seriously? It’s Sunday.” She stood, hands on hips.
“I know but—”
“Sometimes, I think you keep busy just to avoid anything resembling a social life.” Seeing his look, Jackie sighed loudly. “Fine. But we’re still on for tomorrow, right?”
“Monday, um…sure.” Richard stood and gave Jackie’s mother a kiss on the cheek. “Thank you for lunch, Mrs. Mendez.”
“You’re welcome any time, Richard.”
“I’ll walk out with you,” Jackie said.
A decided chill hung in the air. The neighborhood was quiet, save for a dog barking in the distance. A little girl bicycled past them, her braids blowing in the breeze. Richard found himself wondering if Moira had worn her hair in braids when she was that age.
“How about if I rent a movie tomorrow night?” Jackie said.
“Sounds good.”
“Oh! There’s that romantic comedy I wanted to see with you a couple of months ago.”
“Which one?” Richard chuckled. “You always pick a romantic comedy.”
“The one about those two friends that fall in love?”
“There’s no science fiction movies out?”
“Oh, probably. You know I’m not a fan, but I’ll check.”
“Anything is fine,” Richard recanted, seeing her look of disappointment. He unlocked his car door. “See you tomorrow, Jackie.” She hugged him, pressing her body against his. He returned her hug awkwardly.
Richard drove away, feeling uncomfortable.