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Melinda returned to the house, pleasantly surprised to see Jim's truck parked outside.
"Honey?"
She called upon entering the house. Jim emerged from the kitchen, a sandwich and a beer in hand.
"Hey, Mel. Did you have a nice lunch?"
"Oh yeah, you know Professor Payne, nothings ever boring when he's around."
"So what'd you talk about?"
"Well, the new ghost and actually things other than spirits!"
"Oh, really?"
Jim stiffened. He did not't mind their relationship as long as it stayed on a business-type level.
"Yeah, you know, just friend stuff. So how was your day, sweetie?"
"Well, I got Monday off, me and that new guy Tim switched days so I have to go in tomorrow for him."
"Oh…I was kind of hoping you'd have tomorrow off."
"Well I got Monday off so we can spend it together, just us, ok?"
"No, no, that's great Jim, it's just that…I don't know, I've always thought of Sundays as quiet days at home. But, I'm being silly, aren't I?"
"A little."
Jim kissed her on the head and went to sit on the couch.
"So…what was this stuff you and Rick talked about?"
"Jim, really it was just nonsense. He was in a strangely good mood today."
Melinda eyed Jim curiously, usually he just left good enough alone.
"Well if its nonsense why don't you just tell me?"
"If you really must know, we talked about his wife being dead and him being lonely."
Melinda freely talked about Rick's problems, not wanting to let Jim know what she had told Rick about things going downhill.
"Lonely, eh?"
Was he trying to hint that he wants to spend more time with her!?
Jim's mind was in suspicious mode now, watching Melinda's reaction.
"Yes. Can you blame him?"
"No. I can't imagine what I would do if you weren't around."
Melinda smiled but she thought,
Well then maybe you'd know how I feel!
"So do you want to rent a movie or something tonight?"
Melinda asked hopefully, thinking that Jim would just want to lay low for the remainder of the afternoon.
"Well there's a football game on later…why don't we rent movies on Monday?"
Melinda wrinkled her nose in distaste; she didn't like football very much.
"All right."
She said disappointedly.
"Well I'm going to go research my new ghost."
"All right, sweetheart. I'll come out to check on you soon."
Now would be a good time for you to be here, Rick!
Melinda thought to herself as she went to get her trusty laptop.
"So…I'll have to get a really detailed description of the Phantom of the Opera and his life beyond what they show in the Broadway musical."
Melinda mused to herself as she found millions of results on her Internet search for Phantom of the Opera.
"Ok…his real name is Erik…his mother couldn't stand the sight of his deformity…mask…fell in love with a young girl's voice before he loved the girl for herself-"
Melinda felt the air grow cold around her; she whipped around in her seat to face the empty, dark kitchen. She had to choke back a gasp as the familiar yellow eyes appeared in the most shadowed part of the kitchen.
"Arianna…"The hauntingly beautiful whisper floated across the space between the kitchen and Melinda.
"Arianna?"
Melinda repeated to the voice.
"I can help you. I know you must really empathize with Erik if you dress like him and wear a mask."
The yellow eyes widened.
"I will come back…tonight…when it is dark."
The voice whispered to her and Melinda nodded. It was only early evening and this ghost, for whatever reason, only came at night.
Melinda continued her research until Jim came out to make dinner.
"Sweetheart, I'm so sorry but do you mind if I just go right up to bed? Since I have to go in tomorrow I want to be really well rested."
Tears of disappointment pricked at Melinda's eyes. She simply nodded, not trusting herself to speak without crying.
"You're the best, babe. I promise, on Monday we'll have a nice romantic dinner with movies and candles…"
Melinda gave a small smile and kissed him goodnight.
I wonder if Rick would leave me alone like this? I don't think he would…we are very alike, him and I. We are both so lonely.