Echoes of a Past Life

Chapter 4

Melinda's Assistant

I do not own Sailor Moon or Ghost Whisperer.

Raye helped Melinda cross over spirits for the next three days. After a good turnout, they took a break with Serena and her wedding party, including Molly who was her maid of honor. They were sitting at a table outside of a café eating lunch. In the meantime, Darien and Jim were having some guy time playing basketball and Darien showing him the city.

All the inners were bridesmaids. The outers were busy with their tasks and jobs, so they were unable to join up with Serena and the others. While discussing some last minute details, Molly got a phone call.

"Oh, it's my mom," Molly groaned. "I'm sorry guys."

"It's okay, go ahead and answer it," Serena said.

Trying to keep out of ear distance, Molly took ten long strides from the table before she answered the phone. Serena and the others exchanged glances and Serena shrugged. Melinda noticed a man in a ripped suit covered in mud stagger after Molly. Though Molly was about ten feet away from her friends, they could make out a few words that Molly was shouting in anger.

"Oh, that is so unfair!" she exclaimed. "We're making plans. I don't know when we'll be done. Have Jared do it! What do you mean he's not coming in? Oh, fine! Give me fifteen minutes."

Molly trumped back to the table. "Sorry, Serena. My mom needs me at the jewelry store. Apparently the new guy is busy today."

"Is everything all right?" Serena inquired.

"The usual," Molly muttered. "You know the old notes she's giving me about me being in the wedding party. Not all that happy about it, but you know we've been best friends since we were kids. She's convinced it's giving me ideas about Melvin and me."

"Melvin?" said Melinda.

"My boyfriend," explained Molly. "We've been together since Jr. High. He's a computer programmer and someday we might want to settle down after I take nursing school. Oh, but you know my mother would rather me help at the store."

"I'm sorry, Moll," said Serena. "I can talk to her for you."

"Thanks, but I don't want her to start yelling at you too," Molly sighed, shaking her head. "Let me know what you guys come up with it. It was nice meeting you, Melinda."

"You too," said Melinda and Molly ran off.

"That's terrible," said Ami. "I never knew Mrs. Baker have such an attitude."

"I know," Serena said. "My mom is thrilled that I'm getting married. It's what she's always wanted. She's just upset that she can't sew or she'd make me a dress. We've looked, but the one's we saw were either too expensive or not my style."

"Or size," added Raye.

"It is wedding season," Lita pointed out.

"Do you know if someone close to Molly has died recently?" Melinda inquired.

The girls went silent. There was Nephlyte, but how could they explain that to Melinda?

"Did you see a ghost with her?" Raye inquired, deciding to get the information from Melinda before they began the list of Molly's deceased loved ones. "What'd he or she look like?"

"It was a man," said Melinda. "He looked like he was in his mid thirties. Light brown hair, mustache…tall…he was wearing a suit."

Serena gasped and then all faces were on her. "That sounds like Mr. Baker; Molly's dad!"

"You know him?" Melinda inquired. "Do you know when he died?"

"Well, we're not sure if he did die," said Serena. "He was in the jewelry business with Mrs. Baker and he went on a business trip. He promised to be home for Molly's ninth birthday but he never came back. Mrs. Baker was devastated. She thought that maybe he just left her for some woman."

"Whatever gave her that idea?" said Mina.

"I don't know," said Serena. "Maybe he had a different life before he married Mrs. Baker? Maybe a bunch of women liked him? I was young so I didn't really know. But when I played with Molly at her house sometimes I would hear Mrs. Baker talk about him being unfaithful. Poor Mrs. Baker was never the same."

'You might be right," said Melinda.

"I wonder what happened to him," said Lita. "Being a jewelry dealer, he could have been killed by some thief or something."

"Oh I hope it's nothing that serious," said Serena, shaking her head.

Some time later, Melinda went to Osa*P jewelry store to speak with Mrs. Baker. Molly was at the register looking bored. Melinda approached her.

"Hello," said Melinda. "Serena told me about the jewelry store your mother owns. I was hoping I could speak to her."

"About?"

"Your dad," answered Melinda.

Molly stared. "My dad's gone. My mother told me he ran off with some younger woman."

"You don't believe that, do you?" asked Melinda.

"Well, no," said Molly. "But I know how so many women liked him. But what do you know about my father? Did you see him?"

"I believe I have," said Melinda. "I don't know for sure. "

Mrs. Baker walked from out of the office. "Molly, I'm out to lunch. If I get any calls, please remember to tell me when I get back."
"OK, mom," Molly groaned.

"Are you Mrs. Baker?" asked Melinda.

"Yes, I am Airi," said Mrs. Baker, sounding business like. "What can I help you with? See anything you like?"

"I was just wondering if I could speak to you about your husband," sand Melinda.

"You're the one he ran off with, aren't you?" Mrs. Baker spat.

"Mom!" Molly cried. "She's married to a guy named Jim. That's not Dad!"

"I can explain," said Melinda. "I have a gift and I can see ghosts. I saw a spirit around Molly when you called her Saturday. The other girls know this about me and Serena suggested that the ghost I saw was Molly's father."

"You mean he's dead?" said Molly said. "And his ghost has been hanging around us all this time?"

"Probably got what he deserved, the low life," said Airi. "He probably seduced some younger woman and she killed him for his money."

Molly gasped.

The door opened and a couple of customer walked in, but seeing the argument that Mrs. Baker was having with Melinda, they walked right out. Molly shook her head. The room became colder and colder as the tension grew.

"Mrs. Baker, I-," said Melinda, trying to remain calm.

"Do you have a child, miss-whoever-you are?" Mrs. Baker demanded.

"No," said Melinda. "And my name is Melinda Gordon."

"Well, imagine you did, and your husband suddenly disappeared," Mrs. Baker continued. "And you were left to raise it alone. You would make sure that the same thing didn't happen to your child as it did to you. I have to protect her from getting hurt. Having her stay at the jewelry store with me will prevent her from ever being courted from some hormone driven male that could get her pregnant!"

"If you're talking about Melvin," said Molly, "he's not like that!"

"But your husband, he's right here," said Melinda. "He wants to tell you how he died."

"I really don't care!" cried Mrs. Baker "Now get out of my store before I call the police!"

"Please," Melinda insisted.

Mrs. Baker then turned on her daughter, scolding her for allowing Melinda to come.

"I did not bring her here," said Molly. "And I didn't know she could speak to ghosts. She obviously came because she wanted to help us!"

The room was clouded with shadows. The light bulb above them shattered, the glass falling between Molly and her mother. A figure shaped like a man appeared next to Molly, as if protecting her from the glass. The figure looked at Melinda. She couldn't make out his face but he had long, dark wavy hair and he was dressed in grey.

"You are the cause of this. Get out," the spirit said, in a deep masculine voice that sounded harsh.

Melinda turned around and ran out of the store before the dark spirit did something else. Mrs. Baker pulled on her jacket.

"Watch the store," Mrs. Baker said firmly. "I have to go get a new light now. And don't close the store so you can go out with Melvin again."

"Fine," said Molly and Mrs. Baker left.

Melinda visited with Serena and her friends to report what happened and ask if there was anyone else to Molly that may have died. They all looked at each other in a long pause. Nephlyte was on all their minds, but how would they say who he was without revealing their identities as Sailor Scouts.

"Well," said Ami, breaking the silence. "She admired a business man named Maxfield Stanton. Unfortunately, he was involved with some dangerous people, and they killed him when he tried to leave them. Molly was devastated."

The others breathed a sigh of relief. They were grateful for Ami's wit.

"This man was close to Molly?" inquired Melinda.

"I think he cared for her too," said Serena. "He protected her from the people that were after him."

"If he died protecting her," said Melinda, "then he is probably still protecting her in death."

"He must have chased you away because you were all getting upset," said Serena. "He didn't' want Molly to be upset by all this."

"What are you going to do, Melinda?" asked Raye.

"I have to keep trying," Melinda said as a matter of factly. "I can't give up. Many spirits have tried to stop me from doing my job, but they've failed each time. I will try talking to Molly instead, and see if she can get her mother to reason."

It was very difficult for Melinda to find Molly by herself. She was either at home, or at Osa*P jewelry. Melinda was apparently banned from Osa*P so she could not talk to Molly there, and Mrs. Baker was usually at home the same time Molly was. The many times Melinda tried to talk to Mrs. Baker and Molly, either Mrs. Baker would put up a front or Nephlyte did. Neither of them wanted Melinda to meddle with the family.

Serena helped Melinda find Molly by telling her of the favorite spots Molly liked to hang out. They found her at Flavor Factory with her boyfriend Melvin. She had to sneak away to see him.

Molly was complaining about her mother again and Melvin was being patient. He wished he had some words of advice for her, but he had never been in this situation before. He was pleased when Melinda came to visit with them. Melvin's appearance had changed since Junior High. He know longer had the coke-bottle glasses and annoying voice. He was wearing modern frames with thin lenses that showed his gorgeous bright blue eyes. Now that he had gone through puberty, his voice was a little deeper and smooth. Yet he was still the computer geek and walking reference book of random facts. How he knew all this gossip, Molly would never know.

"Hi, Molly," said Serena. "I knew we would find you here."

"Hey Serena," said Molly. "Oh, Miss Gordon, I'm so sorry about my Mom being so rude to you that day."

"It's all right," said Melinda. "Can I join you?"

"Sure," said Molly and she scooted so Melinda can sit. Serena sat next to Melvin.

"Molly told me you're the lady that can see ghosts?" Melvin inquired.

"Yes, that's true," Melinda answered.

"That is amazing!" said Melvin. "You know, it is a fact that ghosts hate bluegrass music and you can play it to protect yourself from them."

"Augh, Melvin," said Serena, "she's a ghost whisper, not a ghost buster."

"They can be the same thing," Melvin insisted.

"Thanks," said Melinda with a smile. "I'll keep that in mind. Listen, Molly, I believe there is another ghost attached to you than your father."

"Who?" asked Molly.

"Maxfield Stanton," answered Serena. "We think he's trying to protect you from Melinda."

"Protect me from you?" Molly inquired, scratching her head

"He thinks I'm the one making you upset," Melinda explained. "Doesn't want to see you like that, I suppose."

"That's very nice of him," said Molly, "but he doesn't have to do that."

"Exactly," Melvin put in. "I can take care of Molly. Well, if I can convince of her mother of that, anyway."

"How can I help?" said Molly.

"You need to convince your mom that I am only trying to help you and your mom," said Melinda. "I am very sure the ghost I saw with you is your dad, and he has an important message to give you, but I can't give it to you if your mother won't listen."

"But what about Maxfield's ghost?" asked Melvin. "How are we supposed to get him to stand aside? Should I go collect some tapes of bluegrass?"

"We don't want to make Maxfield even angrier, Melvin," said Serena as Molly giggled and shook her head.

"Good point," said Melvin, sitting back with his finger on his chin, trying to come up with another solution.

"When I see him I'll try talking to him," said Melinda.

"Actually, I've tried," Molly admitted. "Even if my dad did run off with some lady, I want to know what happened to him. Maybe he's sorry. I told Mom that we should at least listen to what he has to stay but she's being too stubborn."

"I'll come with you," Serena volunteered.

"Yeah, me too," added Melvin.

"Thanks, Melvin," said Molly. "But you know what my mom thinks about you. Maybe after she speaks to my dad, her attitude might change."

"Okay," said Melvin. "Let me know how things go."

"And in the meantime I'll see if I can reach Maxfield," said Melinda. "It would be easier for me to contact him in the location he died."

"Yes," said Molly and she explained the forest where Zoicite had betrayed and destroyed him.

Melinda walked around the forest Molly had explained for about ten minutes. She came to an area that looked there had been a recent hole and the rangers that worked in the area filled it in, somewhat clumsily. She squatted down to examine the terrain.

She saw a shadow walk by her and she stood up straight.

"Is that you, Maxfield Stanton?" she demanded.

A man's laughter answered her. It was Nephlyte and he found it humorous that she was using the human alias he and invented himself.

"If that's what you believe I am," Nephlyte answered. He was a little more visible. She saw a giant red spot over his heart, as if he was impaled by a bunch of knives. The sleeves and back of his shirt had been torn. His death had been violent. "What do you want?"

"I want to talk to you about Molly," she asked.

Nephlyte frowned. "That girl has been through enough already. You need to stay away from her."

"I can't do that," Melinda said. "Her father's ghost had come to me recently, and I need her and her mother to understand. It is important."

Nephlyte paced back and forth. "Well, that all depends on her mother, doesn't it?"

"Perhaps," said Melinda. "But I need you to make it easier by not interfering."

"I think you're the one that is interfering," Nephlyte told her.

"I am just using the gift I have as best I can," Melinda insisted. "Now are you going to corporate and help Molly find out the truth about her father?"

Nephlyte sighed, weighing the option. "I suppose I could. But you had better not cause Molly anymore grief."

Nephlyte turned around and he disappeared. Melinda breathed of a sigh of relief. Now if only Mrs. Baker would corporate.

TO BE CONCLUDED

Melvin's random ghost fact: http:/www(dot)unsolvedmysteries (dot)?t=Human%20Interest