Ghosts
The next morning, she woke to chattering. Sun rays beamed across her eyelids through the curtains. Before she even opened her eyes, she could tell it was a freezing cold but bright and sunny day.
Then she realized the chattering voice was Nicole’s, though still hoarse. She sat up quickly and four sets of eyes landed on her. “Nicole, Mae?”
Both girls smiled at her.
“They’re fine, Mom,” Wren said.
“Well, they’re better but not out of the woods,” Kent said.
She couldn’t help herself; she cried. “Why didn’t you wake me?” she asked as she scrambled over to them. Kent had them sitting side by side against the couch, bundled in dry blankets and sipping water while nibbling on soda crackers.
Wren looked to Kent and smiled. “Mom, no one could wake you up.” She laughed, and Sloane hadn’t seen her daughter this relaxed in a very long time.
“You’re a hard sleeper. We’ve been sitting here for hours getting to know one another.”
“He puts people to sleep for a living,” Mae said. “Isn’t that weird?” She giggled.
He’d charmed them, Sloane thought. He healed them but he charmed them too. She wasn’t sure she liked that.
He looked at her silently and seriously for a time. Then he said, “I think you guys are good for a few hours. Why don’t I go back to my place and take a nap, get cleaned up and I’ll come back and check on you? Does that sound okay?”
Her first thought was that he was probably running from them. He’d probably disappear. It didn’t bother her. She and the girls were a lot of responsibility in a time like this and she didn’t want him around anyway; she didn’t need him. She smiled and agreed, “Sure, thank you Kent. I don’t know what I would have done without you.”
He stood and she shook his outstretched hand. It looked like goodbye to her. He had no responsibility to her and the girls; she couldn’t blame him for running away. They were too much of a responsibility for anyone to take on.
“They’ll need more ibuprofen in another hour but the fever is staying relatively low now. Keep drinking water and take little bites,” he said to them without really meeting Sloane’s eyes again.
“No running up and down the stairs,” he said to them, “and mind the ghost.” The girls giggled again.
“I’m not kidding.” He acted incredulous. “No one believes me.”
She watched him put on his jacket and tie his boots, and then he left. She was sure that was goodbye and they’d never see his handsome and charming face again but it didn’t matter; he’d helped them when they truly needed someone the most and she’d be forever grateful.
She smiled at the girls laughing around her. She thanked God for him, bringing her this peace when she needed help the most.