Disclaimer: I don't own Ghost Whisperer… though I do wish for Jim's hunky body!!
A/N I kinda tweaked some of the quotes from previous episodes and this is forward warning that most of the chapters are short… Enjoy!
Twin Trouble
Chapter One
Laughter filled the early morning air; a child's laugh, full of life and delight. The laughter came from a little girl, who was running around in a small grassed-area of Grandview's town square. The girl looked about nine years old. She was dressed in a beautiful dress, decorated with pale yellow ribbons.
Melinda smiled and watched as three other children ran out from behind a tree to join her. The girl skipped back to the tree the other children had just emerged from and proceeded to cover her eyes and count. Hide-and-seek.
But the girl was peeking. She opened her eyes, spying through the chinks. The other children hid in various places, all out of sight. The girl dropped her hands. She twisted on her feet, looking one way and another, deciding which way to go.
The girl half skipped towards one direction before stopping. A woman appeared on scene, calling to her children.
"But mommy," one of the trio whined. "I wanna play with the other girl." Melinda stared at the youngest child who had spoken, a little girl about seven.
"There are no other children here," her mother pointed out, annoyed. "Now come on." The woman tugged on her daughters' arm, beckoning for the two boys to follow.
Melinda watched them all leave. Out the corner of her eye, she could still see the little girl playing hide-and-seek.
"Hello. My name's Melinda. What's yours?" Melinda asked. The girl paused. She broke into a run, then walked again. She was enjoying herself, pausing only to see if Melinda was following. Melinda walked quickly, ditching her now-cold green tea into a nearby bin.
The girl stopped at a house with a "For Sale" sign swinging forlornly in the middle of the lawn. The girls' pale skin shone in the bright, morning light in contrast to her dark hair. The girl seemed to hesitate.
"Adelè. My name's Adelè," she whispered, turning quickly and lifting a hand- then she was gone.
Melinda blinked at the spot where Adelè previously stood. Glancing at the "For Sale" house, she looked for any sign of somebody being at home. Shrugging, Melinda walked back the way she came, back to her shop, back to where Delia would be waiting for her to open up.
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Lunchtime
Melinda smiled at a little old lady purchasing two brass candlesticks. "That's 34.50," she said. The old lady nodded, fishing a 50 from her purse. Melinda wrapped the gifts and slipped in a 10 off discount coupon.
"Thank you," the old lady said walking away, her hands full. Delia waited until she had left the shop before asking,
"I'm gonna grab some lunch. Did you want anything?" Melinda looked at the other woman.
"Sure. Can you get me a Greek salad and a green tea, please?" She fished through her handbag underneath the counter. "Here." She offered a pile of notes from her hand.
"No, no." Delia waved away the offered money. "I'll pay since you're putting on dinner tonight." She paused. "That is, if it is still on tonight?" she asked hesitantly.
"Of course. Jim's got this amazing meal planned out. You and Ned are gonna love it," Melinda assured her friend. Delia looked relieved.
"Good. Well back soon then." With a jingle of bells, she left the shop. Melinda watched the door shut. 'Now for some peace and quiet,' she thought. Not that it was bad having Delia around but it was always nice to have some alone time.
She looked up, sensing something amiss. The face she saw was one similar to earlier in the square.
"Adelè?" Melinda asked. The girl turned, her ice blue eyes boring into Melinda's.
"No… no… Abbey," she managed, wringing her hands. Abbey flickered to another spot.
"Look. I'm just trying to help you," Melinda said forcefully.
"You help me?" Abbey asked, moving again.
"Look. I don't understand what you want." Abbey faded in and out rapidly around the shop, making Melinda's head spin. "Please," she whimpered. "Please. You're making me sick. " The ghost faded faster.
"Please. You're making me sick," Melinda repeated. Bending over slightly, she begged one last time. "Please?" The room continued to spin. Melinda's legs buckled. She slipped down the counter, crumpling into a heap on the floor.
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Hmm… didn't plan on leaving you with a cliff-hanger…
Hope you like anyway.
Monkeywand