Honor was surprised to learn that she had slept for only a few hours. It didn’t seem possible that she had seen so much of Darcy’s life in such a short time. Once she was calm and the room had warmed up, Josh ventured, “I suppose you’re wondering why I was at your door when you woke up.”
“I’m glad you were there, but yes, the thought did cross my mind.”
“I know I was supposed to wait for you to call me, but after you left your Mom’s house, I told James why you were upset and then I sort of spilled my guts to him about everything. He made me realize how much I stood to lose if you decided to end our relationship. He offered to watch Cody for a while, so I could come over and talk things out with you.”
“And here you are.”
“Yep. And here I am.”
“Okay… talk.”
“Well, the most important thing I want to tell you is that I haven’t changed my mind about us. I just figured you’ve got a lot to do when you get back to Chicago, so instead of being underfoot, Cody and I could stay here with my family and I could oversee the renovations on your Mom’s house.” He bit his lip. “James said I was stupid to tell him my plans before talking them over with you. I’m really sorry about that. This is new to me, but I’m learning. So, if you need me to go to Chicago with you, I’m there.”
Honor considered his apology. “I was hurt when I learned you changed your plans. I mean, Chicago would be easier if I knew I was coming home to you every night, but you’re right. We need to take things more slowly and have faith everything will work out.”
Josh nodded and smiled hopefully. “So, we’re okay then? We’ve made it through our first fight unscathed?”
Honor returned his smile. “Yeah… we’re okay for now, but you better stay on your toes. You never know how many gorgeous guys are out there, secretly hoping to meet a divorcee who’s being haunted.”
Josh laughed. “Sure, but how many of those guys can offer you a huge, instant family like Cody and the Js?”
“Yeah, I guess that does make you special.”
Josh chuckled, but then his smile faded. “It scared the hell out of me when I came to the door and heard you screaming.”
Honor shuddered, remembering Darcy’s agony. “I’m sorry I scared you. But can you imagine the pain she was going through; hearing the man she love died and not even being able to react to the news? It was horrible. And it made me realize no one knows how many precious moments they’ll get.” Honor paused. “Do we have enough time to move the rest of your things into my suite before we go back and pick up Cody?”
Josh whooped, “Oh yeah… we’ll make time for that!”
***
After settling in and notifying the front desk of the change, they drove back to her mother’s house to rejoin James and Cody.
James was reviewing paperwork in the kitchen, while Cody watched a DVD in the living room. When Cody spied them walking through the door, he ran to them, hugging first his father and then Honor. “I’m glad you’re back. We were so worried about you!”
Josh glanced at James, his eyebrows raised in an unspoken question.
James put up his hands and shook his head. “Don’t look at me. I didn’t say anything. He came up with that all on his own.” Then he teased, “I actually thought you might be gone a while longer, but I guess some of us take more time making up with their women than others.” He smiled at Honor. “You were too easy on him… you should have made him suffer a while longer. Otherwise, he’ll think he can get away with anything.”
She giggled. “Thanks, coach… I’ll remember that next time.”
With mock panic, Josh gasped, “Next time? You really think there’s going to be a next time?”
When their laughter died down, James told them he had been working on a few ideas for the remodel and thought he had come up with a way to add some modern features to the kitchen without losing its antique charm.
While the brothers huddled over the new sketches at the kitchen counter, Cody pulled Honor with him into the living room. His coloring materials were scattered on the floor in front of the DVD player. He picked up his latest drawing and showed it to her. Honor couldn’t make it out, so he patiently explained it was a picture of her, sleeping in bed with a web above her. “I colored you safe so you don’t have to be scared when you sleep anymore.”
Honor marveled over the boy’s intuition. “Thanks, Cody. This is beautiful. It’s definitely refrigerator quality artwork.”
They showed the drawing to Josh and James, who were duly impressed, and then Honor proceeded to tape it to the refrigerator.
“Grandma says you need to stop worrying so much,” Cody admonished Honor.
James had already turned his attention back to his design sketches, but Josh overheard Cody’s comment and stared at his son in disbelief. Honor shook her head at Josh, signaling him to stay quiet.
She smiled at the boy. “She said that, did she? Well, I guess she’s right. It isn’t good to worry too much. Did she say anything else, Cody?”
Cody thought about it. “She said she’s going away soon.”
Josh remained stone quiet, listening intently, as Honor questioned, “She’s going away?”
Cody nodded. “Yep, but she said not to be sad because she’s like a snowman.”
Honor wasn’t sure she had heard him correctly. “A snowman?”
“Uh-huh. She’s gonna melt, but she won’t really be gone because snowmen melt into water, and water makes carrots grow and then when it snows, you use the carrot to make a nose on a new snowman and everything just keeps on going.”
Josh glanced at James, who was still absorbed in his work and completely oblivious to the conversation. He returned his attention to his son.
“Anything else?” Honor asked.
“Nope,” Cody shrugged. “But I’m hungry!”
Honor laughed. “You know, I’m hungry, too. How about you guys?”
She caught Josh’s attention and mouthed the word, “later.”
He nodded his understanding.
James looked at his watch, surprised to find the day had evaporated so quickly. “Wow…nothing for me, thanks. I have to get home. James Junior has tee-ball tonight and I don’t want to miss it. You guys want to come?”
Josh answered for the three of them. “Maybe next time.”
“Okay, but you don’t know what you’re missing! Those games are a riot.” James picked up his sketches. “I’ll take these over to John in the morning to get his architectural input.”
“That would be great. Thanks.” Josh bumped his shoulder against James in what passed for a hug goodbye. “Have fun at JJ’s game.”
Once James left, Honor suggested, “Why don’t go we to Clearwater Beach for dinner? There’s a little place I know called Frenchy’s and I have been dying for one of their grouper sandwiches.”
Cody put out his lip and pouted. “I don’t like grouper!” Then he turned to Josh and asked, “What’s grouper?”
Josh laughed. “You don’t know what it is but you’re still sure you don’t like it? Don’t worry about it, buddy. I’ll bet they have fried shrimp for you little guys.”
“They sure do,” Honor agreed, “and they have fried Oreos, too.”
Now it was Josh’s turn to ask, “What’s a fried Oreo?”
Honor grinned. “About a billion calories - and worth every one of them! Trust me, you’ll both love this place.”
***
They decided to take in a Clearwater Beach sunset before dinner. Honor and Josh sat on an abandoned cabana bench, pulled off their shoes and let their toes play in the bone white sugar sand, while Cody ran down to the shallow water’s edge to play. Mesmerized, they gazed at the horizon, enjoying the salty breeze as the sun turned into an orange ball, painting the sky with streaks of pink and purple.
Josh noticed Cody was talking to himself.
“He’s not just pretending someone’s there, is he?”
Honor shook her head.
“It’s not an imaginary playmate. He’s talking to a real somebody that I just can’t see.” Josh watched his son closely, then asked, “Can you see spirits when you’re awake like he can?”
“No, but there was that time in the closet. I mean, I didn’t see anyone, but I heard a voice. And even though I haven’t actually seen or heard my mom, I sometimes feel her presence when I’m at her house.” Honor buried her toes in the sand. “Don’t forget, this is all new to me, too.”
“Yeah, but you know more than I do, and I want to learn.”
“Well, according to Margaret, sensitive children can see lots of spirits, but adults usually block them out unless the spirits share a bloodline, or they experienced similar life-altering events. Even then, adults have to be asleep before a spirit can connect long enough to share an important memory. Margaret says spirits hope the living can benefit from their experiences.”
Honor frowned. “But so far, I don’t know what connection I have with Margaret or Darcy, let alone what they’re trying to teach me. It’s so frustrating! Sometimes I want to go to sleep and not wake up until I figure everything out, but other times I’m sort of afraid of what I might learn.”
Josh listened while keeping an eye on Cody. He nodded at Honor to let her know he understood her quandary; then turned and called out, “Stay out of the water, Cody. Don’t get your clothes wet!” Without missing a beat, he returned his attention to Honor. “Why don’t you just ask them to answer your questions?”
Honor smiled, admiring Josh’s ability to pay attention to her and Cody at the same time. “It doesn’t work that way. To share a memory, the spirits first have to pull as much energy from the environment as possible and then focus really hard. If I talk, it shatters their concentration and the memory is lost.”
Josh nodded thoughtfully. “So that’s why it’s always so cold when they’re around… they absorb all the heat energy from the room!”
Honor nodded. “I think that’s exactly right.”
“Well, they better hurry up or you’ll have to go back to Chicago without learning what they want to teach you.”
Honor winced at the reminder. Soon, she would be miles and miles away from Josh and Cody. She changed the subject.
“Look… the sun is just about gone. Watch very carefully and we might get lucky enough to see a green flash for a second just before it disappears.”
Although the sunset was beautiful and the purple afterglow sky was exquisite, there was no green flash. While they were collecting Cody and their belongings, Josh commented, “I think the whole green flash thing is just a myth.”
“No it’s not. I’ve seen it,” Honor insisted.
“First you get me to believe in spirits and now a green flash? What’s next?” Josh teased.