Disclaimer: I don't own Ghost Whisperer. Can we all just accept that and move on? Sheesh.
"About the dolls? You want to know the history, I suppose. Well, I can tell you all I know, and I hope it's enough." Amber said.
It wasn't quite what Melinda was hoping to talk about, but perhaps she would be able to weed the conversation to her Dad around the dolls.
"Okay."
"Well, the one Delia brought in yesterday has been in the family forever. It used to belong to my great-grandmother or something…"
"She looked a lot like you," Melinda said.
"It was made for her on her 10th birthday. This was my Dad's grandma."
"Why did you give it away?"
"Too many memories of my Dad. All of those dolls came from his side of the family, and because I was older, I got them all."
"Memories?" Melinda asked, hoping to push the conversation in that direction.
"My Dad died six years ago. He was a firefighter, and he never came home after responding to 9/11."
"I'm so sorry."
Amber shrugged. "It took more of a toll on my sister, I think. She was nine. My mother wouldn't come out of her room for days at a time. I guess, in the back of our minds, we all still hoped that Dad would still be alive."
"But he never came home?"
"Days turned into weeks, which turned into months. He never came back. I was probably the first to accept that he wasn't coming home."
Melinda nodded. "Was his body ever brought back?" she asked, knowing the answer all ready.
Amber looked like she was going to cry when Melinda asked. "Uh, no. No, they didn't. That… that was the hardest part for all of us. No body… no body for us to bury."
"Did you have a funeral?"
Amber nodded. "Really quiet one. Close friends of Dad's only, and some family from his side. We… buried an empty casket with a note from me that I secretly stuck in."
"Why sell all of this stuff, though? Wouldn't your mom, or your sister want it?"
Amber shrugged. "Mom said that I could do with it what I want. I'm getting married next week, and I wanted to start my marriage without painful memories of my Dad. I still have some stuff, it's not like I'm selling it all, if that's what you think. No… I have some pictures of us…"
"Well, the dolls are beautiful, and the one you gave us looks just like you. She's gorgeous."
Amber gave a wan smile. "That was why Dad gave it to me. Told me, 'Amber, I hope you treasure this forever. Grandma Eileen looked just like you, and she was always my favorite grandma. I hope you enjoy her.' Well, I did. But now… I just can't stand to have her around."
"I understand. Amber, if there was anything you could say to your Dad, what would it be?" Melinda was hoping that she could use Amber as a way to get Christopher to talk to her more.
"I'd tell him… tell him that I think he would have loved Josh, my fiancé, and that we miss him… but we know that he died the way he would have wanted- serving his country."
Delia came over empty handed. "You don't have any more dolls, do you?" she asked.
Amber shook her head. "Sorry. You got them all."
"Well, thank you for them. Would you like to know if they sell?" Melinda offered.
"That's okay. Thanks for coming." Amber said.
"Tell me the truth, Grandma. Is it this Christopher Bryant man? Is this my 'challenge'? Is he really only going to cross over if someone finds his body?"
"Melinda, all will be revealed in time. You need to trust that. You can, can't you?"
"I wish I could, Grandma. I just," Melinda threw her hands up into the air, "wish I knew what was going on."
Melinda woke up to her alarm at eight in the morning.
She sighed and went downstairs to fix a quick breakfast before going to open.
Suddenly, the ghost appeared.
"Find my body! Please!"
"I know who you are," said Melinda much calmer than she was feeling. "You're Christopher Bryant. You have two daughters, one of whom is getting married soon. Is this about her? Or the dolls? Is that why you came back? You know I can't find your body."
"You… you talked to Amber?" Christopher asked in disbelief.
"She doesn't live far from here. Delia bought a few of her old dolls, the one that belonged to your grandmother."
Christopher's face was beginning to look less ashen. Melinda knew this was a good sign. When a ghost started looking more life-like, they were easier to talk to.
"Have you seen Kathryn?"
"Who's Kathryn? Your wife?"
"Yes! My wife! Have you spoken to her?"
"No, I've only spoken to Amber. I'm sorry. Is there something you need to tell her?"
"Is it possible to find my body?"
"Christopher, after six years… I don't think your body is recoverable anymore."
"Six years… it's been six years since the accident?"
"Do you know how you died?"
A/N: I stop there because the next chapter… well… I don't want to give it away. Please review!