Lady Belle growled as Jaymes looked over at her. Her head was up, her ears raised a little as she stood, barking at the door, almost growling.
“What is it Belle?” Jaymes asked. Then, a cold chill filled the room. The warmth of the fire was not able to compete with the chilling temperature as Jaymes got up from the rocking chair. Slowly, he moved toward the cabin’s door and opened it up. Looking out into the darkness, he could see nothing, but there was something there as he closed the door. Belle this time was growling toward the bed as Jaymes looked. Sitting on the edge of the bed, he could see the ghostly apparition.
“El!” he said, walking up to where Lady Belle was. Holding the dog close, hugging her, he whispered to Lady Belle, his hand holding onto her collar as he soothed her, patting her chest. “It’s okay Belle.” He then looked to see where Ellyn was sitting.
“I wanted to come see you, Jay,” she said, leaning back a little, her ghostly arms behind her, supporting her. “I wanted to come and see if you are here to forget me…” She trailed off. Jaymes never did believe in the supernatural or paranormal, but lately he was beginning to loose his skeptical edge, especially now.
“El, I didn’t come here to forget about you.” He was still holding Belle by the collar.
“She is a beautiful animal, Jay.” Ellyn said looking to Lady Belle. “I know what you are probably thinking, Jay.” She stood this time, moving to where Jaymes had left open the journal Dakota gave him. He spent most of his time just writing down thoughts, memories of Ellyn, and his life. “I know you don’t want to believe that I’m really here right now with you.” She moved past him, Belle backing up as the room began to warm a bit. “You have long searched for meaning and hope in your life. And you found that, you found that in me Jaymes.” She walked over to the fireplace. “This place brings back so many memories.” She turned, her hands behind her back. She was wearing nothing but a button down shirt with a pair of bobby socks covering her feet, just like she was wearing the morning of their anniversary.
“El, I don’t know if I’m dreaming or not,” he began, still taking in the ghostly sight of her. “I don’t know if my wanting to see you so bad is causing this hallucination or what.” He relaxed his grip on Lady’s collar.
“Jay, whether it is a dream or not, I’m here. I am here because you are hurting. I understand and can feel your pain, I always have felt your pain.” She smiled at him, that wonderful smile he loves so much. That smile he missed seeing every day. “We never got to spend our anniversary together, Jay.”
“I know El, I know…I had it all planned out,” he began, closing his eyes for a moment, hoping that when he reopened them, this was really just a dream. He opened his eyes slowly as he could see her kneeling before him, keeping her distance from him and Lady Belle.
“Jay, I have something to tell you. Something that I’ve wanted to tell you for so long,” she said, sitting back on the edge of the bed.
“What is that baby girl?” he asked, letting Belle go and moving over to the bed, sitting next to Ellyn. “What is it you want to tell me?”
“Jay, I loved you so much and I miss you just as much as you miss me.” She reached a ghostly hand up to his face, caressing him. Her hand was cold as she leaned into him for a moment, brushing her cheek along side his. “I never would leave you like this.” She softly spoke like the whispering wind. “I would never hurt you like this.”
“El, what are you saying?” He leaned back, taking in her ghostly almond shaped eyes.
“Jay, Desiree did in fact come over and we did in fact talk,” she said, her ghostly figure becoming darker as he could feel the sudden rush of anger within her. “Jay, she will stop at nothing until she gets what she wants.” She pulled back, stood and moved toward the door of the cabin. Jaymes stood and watched her.
“What are you saying El? What is it that Desi wants, what are you saying? Please tell me.” Jaymes moved to where she was, but Ellyn disappeared. Leaving Jaymes alone. The room became warmer as the chill disappeared as well. Just as he turned to see Lady Belle by his side, his phone rang. Yet, it sounded so distant, so quiet as he searched the room for it. The ringing became louder as he continued his hunt until he found the cell phone on the banister above the fireplace. But he couldn’t move from where he was. It was as if he was paralyzed. The ringing of the phone became louder and louder as he stared at it.
Waking up, Jaymes almost jumped out of his chair, his cell phone ringing as he wiped the sleep from his eyes. Reaching up, he picked up the phone as the ringing stopped. It was a dream! he commented as he answers the phone.
“Hello?” he said, his voice groggy as he sat back down in the chair.
“Jay, it’s Chandler…”
“Yeah?”
“Listen, we all want to come up for the weekend, the whole crew. Georgia, Mitch, Lacy, and Dakota.”
“That would be great,” he said, shifting, letting his body wake up.
“By the way, open your door.” Jaymes then turned to see Lady Belle still barking at the door. Jaymes got up from the chair, feeling his body stiffen, and made his way to the cabins door. Opening it up, he stood there looking into several eyes. Chandler pushed him back as Mitch, Georgia, Lacy and Dakota followed Chandler in. Jaymes hung up the phone and tossed it onto the bed.
“You guys are characters,” he said, rubbing his face.
“I figured you probably were asleep. But surprise, we all are here.” Chandler said.
“So…you all are here, now what are we going to do genius?” Jaymes asked. He searched for a pack of smokes, finding them, he pulled one out and lit up.
“Well…I guess you forgot what day today is,” Chandler said, pulling Jaymes into a sideways hug.
“What’s today?” Jaymes inquired.
“Why today – it’s your birthday. And we figured you shouldn’t spend your birthday all alone, by yourself.” Chandler pushes him to the front door that was still open. Outside, on the picnic table was a large cake, next to the cake a picture of Ellyn staring back at him, smiling. Jaymes turned to face his friends and family.
“Thank you all so very much. I just…I just…God I love you guys.” He then hugged them all as the group became caught up in celebration. Jaymes for the first time looked up to the evening sky, the stars painted against a black velvet canvas. Thank you baby girl, I love you so much. He then looked back to the cake and closed his eyes tightly shut, Ellyn’s smiling face coming into focus, and he made a wish and then blew out the candles. It’s good to be among friends and family.
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