Chapter 2

The door chimes gave off a melodic tinkle as the door was pushed open. Melinda turned toward the door with a smile, and said, "I'll be right with you. Go ahead and have a look around." Then she turned back to the customer she was currently helping.

"This plate will make a fine addition to your collection, and If I come across any more, I'll be sure to give you a call." Melinda carefully boxed the antique plate up for the woman. The woman picked the package up and left the store.

Melinda walked over to where her newest customer, a woman she didn't recognize, was carefully inspecting a silver tea service.

"That tea service was imported from England in the late 1800s. Hi! My name's Melinda. Welcome to Same As It Never Was!"

The woman returned Melinda's smile with an easy smile of her own, "Hello. That is a lovely tea service. A friend of mine would really have loved it." A sad look crossed her face, but she shook it off. "I'm Carlee."

Carlee was about her height. She appeared to be in her mid to late fifties. Her shoulder length brown hair was generously shot through with gray. While she wasn't skinny, she was still trim and carried herself with grace.

"Are you new to Grandview?" Melinda's eye was drawn to the side wall of the shop. A man stood there, watching Carlee intently. He looked from Carlee to Melinda, when he realized he'd been seen.

"I'm just here for a couple of weeks, on vacation," Carlee replied. "I'm renting a house over on Emry."

"Oh! You must be renting the old Howard place."

"Yes, that's it."

The man was now standing between Carlee and Melinda, looking down at Melinda. She estimated he was a good six three. He wore blue jeans, black cowboy boots, a red turtle neck sweater, and a black leather jacket. His eyes were a piercing blue, and his hair was dark and curly.

"You can see me!" he said.

"Oh, you'll love it here! If you like history, the Grandview museum has a wealth of information on Grandview's past. If you're looking for rest and relaxation, Grandview is a pretty quiet, peaceful place." Melinda did her best to ignore the man standing before her. She really didn't want to drive away a potential customer by seeming to talk to herself.

"I know you can see me. Please don't ignore me. I just need to talk to her."

Melinda continued to ignore him. "Is there anything I can help you find?"

"I'd like to get my daughter a gift, but I'm not quite sure what. Maybe something to brighten up her room." Carlee turned toward a display that included a lamp. She walked through the jean and leather clad man.

A frown crossed her face, and she paused.

"Everything all right?" Melinda asked, still doing her best to ignore the man. She really did not want to help another ghost right now. The last one had been beyond stressful.

"Just felt a chill, is all," Carlee said, shaking off the unsettling feeling.

Melinda breathed a small sigh when the man let out a loud, "Hmph!" and vanished.

Carlee ended up buying a beautiful plaster lamp with molded scroll work. The glass shade was a variegation of browns, both light and dark. When the lamp was lit, a desert scene revealed itself.

Melinda helped Carlee carry her carefully wrapped purchase out to her car. The trunk of the black Corvette popped open as they approached. Personalized California plates, yellow lettering on a blue background, read KNIGHT.