Author's Note: Thanks for your reviews; sorry for the delay as always.
Chapter 10- Stubborn
Johanna was at her desk, doing some work for Jim when she felt the temperature of the room dip. Scarlett gave a small meow from her place on the window sill. "I know," Johanna said; "We're going to have company."
She waited a few moments, watching the room for Sarah's appearance but nothing happened. "Sarah?" she called out.
"I'm here, dear," she said as she swept into the room from the hallway. "I was looking around."
"Oh?" Johanna asked as she pulled off her glasses. "Looking for something in particular?"
"Yes; I was looking for your Christmas tree but I see you haven't gotten around to putting it up yet."
"Nor will I."
Sarah waved a dismissive hand. "We'll get to that later."
"You have other business in mind?"
"No, not really. What are you doing today?"
"Just some work for Jim."
"Why don't you go to the office with him?" Sarah asked.
"Because we feel it's best for me to work at home," Johanna replied.
"Why?"
"You know why, Sarah. It took a lot for Jim to give in and share his work with me…but he still has fear and doesn't want me doing law work in a public setting. I respect that."
"I see," her grandmother said, her expression unreadable. "And what about that job at Columbia that you haven't told him about? When are you going to get around to that?"
Johanna frowned. "He doesn't need to know about it…I'm not taking it."
"Why ever not?" Sarah asked. "You like teaching, you're good at it…and you'll be safe, I assure you of that."
Her stomach tightened with nerves at the thought of going back to work. "I'm needed at home."
"For what?"
"For Jim and I've got Scarlett."
"Jim goes to work nearly every week day for at least part of the day. As for Scarlett; once you feed her, she's alright on her own for a few hours. You could take a part time position and just teach a couple morning classes and be home by afternoon. I think it would do you good, Josie…and I think you want it."
She shrugged. "I don't know…I'm not sure. I haven't worked in over a year…I'm kind of uneasy about starting over."
"That's to be expected."
"And I don't know how Jim would feel about it. I don't want him worrying constantly."
"Perhaps starting out, you could have him drive you to work and pick you up when you're finished…just until you both got used to it," the spirit suggested.
"I hadn't thought about that…he probably could make time to pick me up if the classes were timed right and I was able to leave around lunch time."
"Of course; and you know, Jim; he'd make sure he had the time...and if something came up, I'm sure he'd send someone reliable to get you."
"That's probably true," she murmured.
Sarah met her gaze. "Promise me you'll seriously consider that offer…don't say no because you're afraid. If you say no, although I hope you don't, have a good reason for it. But please, consider it."
Johanna nodded. "I promise."
"Good…and you'll tell Jim soon?"
She hesitated. "Maybe after Christmas."
"Very well, but you're cutting close. Aren't you supposed to notify them of your decision right after the New Year?"
"Yes…I'll tell him as soon as I decide how I feel about the offer. That's all I'm going to say about it right now."
"Alright, I suppose that's all I get out of you on that front today."
"It is," Johanna replied; "What else is on your agenda?"
"I have a Christmas present for you," Sarah said, a bright smile on her lips as she came closer to the desk.
Johanna's brow rose in suspicion. "A gift? What kind of gift? Another ghostly relative?"
"No, dear; it's much better and longer lasting," she said as she pulled a little box from the hidden pocket of her dress. She sat it down on the desk in front of Johanna and clapped her hands gleefully. "Look, darling; isn't it perfect?"
Johanna glanced down at the small box and saw that it was an ornament…more specifically a Hallmark ornament of Scarlett O'Hara in her green dress that she had made from the curtains in her family home. "Sarah," she said as she stared at the box. "Where did you get this?"
"At that cute little store that sells them," her grandmother replied. "It's Scarlett; the one you named the kitty after! Isn't she wonderful?"
"Yes; I do love these ornaments; but Sarah…you stole it."
The spirit shook her head. "No one will ever know it's missing, dear."
"Sarah; this is Hallmark! This is an expensive ornament, they cost between fifteen and twenty dollars; you can't just shoplift! It's against the law!"
Sarah scoffed. "It ought to be against the law to charge fifteen dollars for an ornament. That's a three dollar ornament at best; besides, like I said, no one will know about it. It's my Christmas gift to you…don't you like it?"
"Yes; I love it…but you stole it."
"I didn't steal it!"
"You didn't pay for it, did you?"
"Well of course not, how would I have any money to do that?"
"Sarah; I know there were laws in your time…laws against stealing."
"It's only stealing if you're still among the living," Sarah declared. "For me, it's a creative gathering of things I need to acquire at times…and I have permission to do so. That ornament and the kitty treats won't ever be missed, they'll be replaced…and besides, what could they do to me? It's not like they can put me in jail."
Johanna sighed. "It's still shoplifting."
"Only if you got caught…and believe me, if I got caught, I'd wait on the police to come just so I could watch their faces when the handcuffs won't go on…wouldn't that be hilarious?" she giggled.
"Oh yeah, a real riot," Johanna quipped.
Her grandmother smiled. "I just wanted to give you a little present…you will keep it, won't you?"
Johanna smiled as she opened the box. "Of course…I just hope I don't go to jail for receiving stolen property."
"Oh you won't, don't worry. No one will know that it was creatively collected."
She nodded. "That's a nice term for shoplifting."
"Oh hush, and open it so we can admire it!"
"Getting a little feisty, Sarah?" Johanna asked as she took the ornament from the box and unwrapped it.
"I just like to see people open the gifts I give them," the spirit remarked.
Johanna smiled as she held the figurine in her hand. "You know what I love about these Scarlett ornaments?" she asked.
"No, what?"
"I can sit them around as knick knacks. I did buy a few in Wyoming after the holiday seasons when the price was reduced. I'd love to sit them out but they might remind me of bad times."
"Maybe you should think of them as a reminder that you overcame those bad times…or maybe just merely think of them as little things you like to collect. You don't have to attach a stigma to them."
"I don't know if Jim would want them sitting out…I had them on my bookcase in Wyoming. Jim gave me last year's Scarlett; she sits on the dresser by my jewelry box. I think I'll put this one here on my desk. Thank you for the gift, I do like her."
"I know a place where she'd look perfect," Sarah declared.
"Where is that?" Johanna asked.
"On your Christmas tree," the spirit declared with a small clap of her hands.
Johanna rolled her eyes. "No, Sarah; I'm not putting up a tree."
"Oh come now, don't be such a wet blanket."
"Is it really nice to call your granddaughter names?"
"Yes, when she provokes it."
"I don't believe I'm provoking you."
"Oh but you are, Kitten," Sarah remarked. "You will be putting that Christmas tree up; one way or another."
Johanna's brow rose as she eyed her. "What's that supposed to mean?"
"You keep resisting and you'll find out," the spirit declared.
"Is that supposed to scare me?"
Sarah put her hands on her hips. "I have scared you before."
"Yes; the first time you popped up but I'm used to you now…and you don't scare me."
"Well, maybe I need to step it up a little."
"What are you going to do, send in my mother-in-law?"
Sarah smiled. "I bet she could scare you; but I'll hold off on sending in Elizabeth."
"I'm surprised you haven't sent anyone else to see me," Johanna remarked.
"You're hoping I'll send your mother."
She shrugged. "I miss her."
"I know, dear."
"Can't she come…just for a few minutes?"
Sarah gave her a soft smile. "Perhaps it can be arranged at some point; but for now I'm afraid you're just stuck with me. How about we get out your other Scarlett ornaments and put them on your bookcase?"
"I don't know," she said hesitantly. "I should ask Jim first…he might not want reminders of my time in Wyoming."
"You're a reminder of your time in Wyoming…and he definitely wants you."
"That's different, Sarah."
"He didn't ask you to leave behind your belongings when you were packing things up in Wyoming," the spirit went on. "You haven't gotten rid of your books or those round shiny things you put in that box looking thing hooked to the television."
Johanna struggled not to laugh. "The discs are DVDs, Sarah; the 'box' is a DVD player."
"Yes; those…you still watch those; even though you got them in Wyoming."
"It's different."
"Only in your stubborn mind. A little Scarlett ornament being used as a knick knack is nothing more than that…you're the one who is assigning significance to it; and there's no need for it. Put them out, you like them; and you know he'll tell you to do it."
"Most likely," she murmured.
"And then afterwards, you can get out the Christmas decorations!" Sarah said gleefully. "Because, darling, there is an appalling lack of greenery in this house."
"Sarah, you're as hung up on Christmas as the Hallmark Channel is. You both need help."
"You're the one who needs help…which is why I'm here on this mission of Christmas mercy," the spirit declared.
Johanna rolled her eyes. "Feeling dramatic today?"
"I've been watching some television," Sarah remarked. "I quite like it."
She laughed softly, leaning back in her chair. "You've been watching television? Where at? Are you watching it here when Jim and I are asleep?"
"No, dear; at one of my other stops."
"Haunts," Johanna corrected with an amused gleam in her eyes.
"Don't sass me, Kitten."
"I'm not sassing you," she laughed. "Where were you watching television at?"
"Oh nowhere worth mentioning," Sarah replied; thinking about the nights she spent in Kate's apartment and at the loft of her fiancé, turning the television on, raising the volume and playing with the DVR. She smiled a little, thinking of the multitude of disturbances she was creating for her great-granddaughter; moving things, hiding things, setting off her phone with Christmas music. The girl was thoroughly unamused…which tickled her to no end, she thought to herself gleefully.
"Sarah," Johanna said, her brow raised in suspicion; "You look like you've been up to mischief."
"I like mischief."
"Anyone I know?"
The spirit shrugged. "I can't discuss that with you, darling; you know that."
She sighed in resignation. "You've been quiet again the last two days."
"Well, dear; it's a busy time of year for me."
"I see," Johanna remarked; "Well, don't let me hold you up. I think Jim's coming around to my way of thinking and we'll be going up to the cabin for the holiday."
Sarah smiled. "You can't get rid of me that easily…nor when I cease with my mission…no matter where you run to, so you may as well stay home."
"Maybe I feel going to the cabin is worth the risk."
"You're too stubborn for your own good," the spirit declared; "But I'll win…I can be just as stubborn as you can; perhaps more so."
"I doubt it."
"Challenge accepted," Sarah declared. "You will decorate and you will do it soon…even if I have to help you do it."
Johanna's brow rose. "Help me?"
She smiled. "Yes, dear; I do believe you're going to need some assistance since you're reluctant to take on the task yourself."
"Well, if I don't take on the task, you won't have anything to help with, now will you?"
"That's what you think," Sarah remarked with a smirk.
"Sure, Sarah; whatever you say."
The spirit narrowed her eyes and gave her a sly smile as she moved toward the window and laid down a treat in front of Scarlett before running her hand over her fur. "The kitty likes me now," she stated.
"She likes anyone who brings her treats," Johanna replied.
"It's a start," Sarah declared; "And I'm just getting started with you…I'm going to have to put a little more action into my motivation of you."
"Meaning what?"
"You'll see, darling; you'll see," she remarked. "I have to be going now."
"Well that was a short visit," Johanna stated.
"Yes, I know; but you have work to do and I have some plans to make…I'll be back…possibly sooner than you think."
Johanna eyed her. "That seems somewhat worrying."
Sarah smiled. "Good; see you later, kitten."
"See you later," she told the spirit as she faded away.
When she was gone, Johanna swiveled her chair around to look at her cat. "So, Scarlett; you've decided that a ghost who brings treats isn't a threat?"
Scarlett raised her head and meowed; as if agreeing with the assessment. "I'm not sure if that makes you a traitor or not," her owner stated; "But at least you're getting treats…and I have an ornament as compensation for an impending headache."
Later that afternoon, Johanna shivered as she came in from getting the mail; cursing the mailman for not timing his delivery with Jim's early homecoming that day. It always seemed to work out that way, she mused as she shrugged out of her coat and hung it on the hook before kicking off her shoes and picking up the mail.
"Jo," Jim called out from upstairs.
"What?" she called back as she continued to sort through the stack of mail.
"Come up here."
She sighed and laid the stack aside, wondering what he had gotten into as she heard a faint sound coming from the upstairs that she couldn't quite place. "What is it?" she asked as she moved up the stairs.
"Have you been in the attic today?" Jim asked as she reached the top of the stairs.
"No, why?"
He pointed down the hallway to the open attic door…and the shiny plastic Christmas balls that were tumbling down the steps and into the hallway, much to Scarlett's amusement as she pounced on them and batted them around.
"What the hell is going on?" Johanna asked as she took in the scene.
"I was hoping you knew," her husband replied. "You said you weren't in the attic today?"
"No; I haven't been up there in days."
"Well someone must be up there…do you think it's our friendly nosy ghost?"
Johanna glared at the open attic door and the Christmas balls that were bouncing down the steps one by one. This must be Sarah's idea of helping to decorate. "Yeah; I'd say that's a safe bet…and I'm not amused, Sarah!"
"I don't think she cares," Jim replied as several balls came rolling down the steps at once.
"Apparently not."
"Scarlett seems happy though," he said with a nod at the cat, who seemed to be in her glory, pouncing and batting and chasing.
"Yeah; she thinks Santa came and brought her a load of cat toys," Johanna replied. "She's going to be very unhappy when I pick them up."
Jim gave a short laugh. "Maybe we could let her keep just one…she seems kind of fond of that red one."
She nodded. "She can keep the red one…and maybe one or two others, but the rest are going back in the box in the attic…do you hear me, Sarah!"
A flood of Christmas balls rushed down the stairs. "I think she heard you," Jim commented.
"I'm going to kill her," Johanna remarked.
"That's going to be hard to do…considering she's already passed on," her husband said with a laugh.
Johanna glared at him. "There has to be something I can do to her…go Google it and find out while I clean this mess up."
Jim shook his head. "I don't think I can do that."
"Why not?"
"Because then she might come after me and steal my phone again."
"Keep it in your pocket and go use your laptop."
"She's your family; you go Goggle how to be violent to a ghost," Jim replied.
Johanna eyed him, her hands on her hips. "When you married me, you made her your family too."
"You didn't tell me about all this small print in the marriage license, sweetheart."
"Of course not; if I had, you wouldn't have married me and my mother already had the church reserved."
He laughed as he pressed a kiss against her forehead. "I still would've married you."
"Are you sure about that?" she asked; a teasing gleam in her eyes.
"Absolutely; there's nowhere else I'd rather be than here with you…even if your relatives haunt our attic."
She caressed his cheek before pressing a kiss to his lips. "That's sweet…I'm glad you came home early."
"Why? So you don't have to be haunted alone?" he teased.
"No," she laughed; "Because I miss you when you're at work and I'm always glad when you get home. Your lunch is ready, I put it on the table before I went to get the mail; which is on the stand by the door, I was sorting it when you yelled for me."
"Anything good?"
"Bills," she laughed.
"Of course, they want their holiday cheer," Jim quipped.
"That's the truth. There are a few magazines, I don't know if any of yours is there or not, one of mine was on top of the stack. I don't know what else is there, it seems like we got a flood of mail today."
"Probably from the stores begging you to get out the credit card," he teased.
"They're going to be disappointed," she quipped. "Go eat your lunch; I'll clean up this mess."
"Are you sure, I can help you with this."
She smiled. "I can handle this; you go ahead, I know you're hungry."
"Alright, sweetheart," he replied, giving her a quick kiss. "One of the laundry baskets is in the bathroom if you want to put all of these in something."
"Yeah; I guess it's a good thing I left it there when I heard you come in. I had just gotten done putting the towels away."
"Maybe Sarah knew that," he remarked with a grin.
"Sarah's going to know that I'm not amused."
"But Scarlett is," Jim said with a laugh as he turned to head downstairs.
Johanna nodded as she watched her cat; Scarlett was definitely amused…but her pet's enjoyment wasn't enough to keep her from sighing as she looked at the hallway, littered with Christmas balls. She huffed in aggravation as she went into the bathroom and grabbed the clothes basket.
"Sorry, Scarlett," she said when she returned to the hallway; "But you can't keep all of these."
Her cat seemed to understand her intention of cleaning up the mess in the hallway and she watched as Scarlett picked up a red Christmas ball and carried it to the guest room to hide it. Johanna shook her head, why the guest room was Scarlett's favorite place to hide her toys, she didn't know; but she always left the door ajar for her so she could retrieve the items. As she cleaned up, she watched her pet sneak away three more Christmas balls, adding them to the guest room as well before she settled back down to playing with the ones Johanna hadn't gotten to yet.
After dropping all of the ornaments but one in the basket, Johanna played with Scarlett for a few minutes, rolling the last Christmas ball to her so that she could bat it away and then pounce on it. With a regretful sigh, she finally dropped the ball into the basket with a sigh, earning herself a perturbed meow from her cat. "I know, sweetie," Johanna said; "But I have to get this stuff put away; go play with your toys and I'll play with you again later."
Scarlett sauntered off to the guestroom, clearly unhappy with her owner for ending their game. Johanna rose from the floor and picked up the clothes basket, figuring she'd make it up to Scarlett later with a few treats and a string tied onto the end of one of the Christmas balls so they could play with it easier. She balanced the basket against her hip and climbed the stairs up to the attic.
"Look at this mess!" she exclaimed as she reached the top and looked at the side of the spacious attic that they used for storage. The plastic storage totes that she kept neatly organized were in disarray; the ornament crate the Christmas balls were usually housed in was on it's side.
"I could just throttle you, Sarah," she declared as set down the clothes basket and started putting the attic back in order.
"It's not nice to threaten your grandmother," Sarah stated, laughter in her voice as she appeared in the wingback chair on the opposite side of the room.
"It's also not nice to throw someone's belongings down the stairs," Johanna remarked.
"Well, darling; I thought if the ornaments were downstairs, it would make it easier for you to decorate."
"I'm not decorating!"
"You will," the spirit said confidently.
"I won't! If you keep pushing, I definitely won't for sure just to piss you off," Johanna declared.
Sarah's eyes narrowed. "I wouldn't advise being spiteful, kitten; you won't like the consequences."
"Yeah, I'm really afraid of you, Sarah. I mean what can you do besides throw your tantrums? I assure you I've had people do worse to me…I mean let's remember that there was someone who put a contract out on me because he wanted me dead; so fearing a spirit isn't at the top of my list when I've had threats that were way more intimidating."
"Oh I can intimidate the hell out of you if I so chose," the spirit declared; "And I don't like this tone you're taking with me."
"Don't throw my stuff down the steps and you won't have to worry about a tone," Johanna remarked as she stooped down and dragged the ornament crate closer to her in preparation of putting the Christmas balls back in their slots.
"I wouldn't throw your belongings down the stairs if you'd cooperate a little."
Johanna sighed. "Don't you have anyone else to bother in the name of holidays?"
"Yes, actually I do; but you're my priority."
"Lucky me."
"Aren't you though?" Sarah quipped.
"Why can't you just let me have Christmas my way?"
"Because your way is no way," Sarah replied; "And I hate to see that. I don't want you to dread this month every year…you've done enough of that."
Johanna shrugged as she dropped Christmas balls into their slots. "Who cares? It's in the past. It's time to move on to new traditions."
"You can move on without giving up the holiday. You can make new traditions."
"I intend to by going to the cabin."
"You want to go to the cabin to hide. You'll be isolated."
"I'll have Jim and Scarlett; that's hardly isolation."
Sarah sighed in slight disgust. "Alright, if you start this tradition, your family might not want to make the trip to the mountains."
"My family isn't available this year. Frankie and Val and their family will be in Florida. Jim's brother Andrew and his daughter will be in Maine. Colleen's girls will be in Virginia. Katie will be with her little family. Jim and I are on our own this year…he doesn't like to celebrate Christmas. He did it last year to appease me and I won't have him doing it again this year. I respect his and Katie's feelings about the subject."
"But what about your feelings?" Sarah asked.
Johanna breathed deeply and dropped a shiny plastic red ball into the crate. "I'm pretty much over it. I didn't celebrate it all those years in Wyoming and last year was a desperate attempt to feel the way I used to at the holidays and I allowed myself to be disillusioned into thinking I did. But it's never going to be the way it was…I created too many bad memories for everyone, myself included. I don't want it anymore."
"Did you ever consider that the first Christmas you were back was rocky merely because it was the first one and there were still things to work out? Did you ever consider that the next one could be better with some minor tweaks?"
"They don't want it, Sarah," she murmured. "Please just let it go."
"But do you want it?"
"No," she said angrily. "I don't. I just want to go away and forget it. Why can't I get that through your head?"
"Because I don't want to see you sink into bitterness about this time of year. You can't drown in wine to get through it anymore…so you want to hide instead. You've always been one to hide, Josie…as a little girl you used to hide under the table when your father was angry. As a teenager, you hid at Sharon's or your grandmother's. As a college student, you hid at Bridget's when things would get testy at home. As a young woman, you hid at Jim's…and then you got married and didn't need to hide anymore until that case gave you no choice but to hide. When the case was over, you came home to live with Jim…and you wanted to hide indoors to shun the world. It's time to stop hiding, Josie."
"It's time for you to mind your own damn business."
"You should know by now that I'm not going to do that," Sarah remarked; "And you're really starting to annoy me with your insistence on punishing a holiday for the bad things in your life."
Johanna looked up from the crate. "Get out of my house; go do your haunting somewhere else."
Sarah puffed up in indignation. "I will not! I won't leave for the day until I'm good and damn ready. You just better mind yourself, little miss."
Johanna muttered a curse laden remark under her breath but apparently her ghostly grandmother had super sonic hearing. "I heard that, you little brat," Sarah said tersely; "And if I could wash your mouth out with soap for such language, I would! I'm telling your mother."
"Please do; then tell her Merry Christmas," Johanna stated; a sardonic smile on her lips.
"You're really annoying me right now," Sarah said, her hands perched on her hips despite still being seated.
"Ask me if I care," her granddaughter replied.
Sarah rose from the chair, moving across the room with a graceful glide, reaching out and flicking Johanna in the forehead.
"Ow!" she cried. "I hate it when you do that!"
"I know, dear; that's why I do it," Sarah stated before flicking her again.
"Stop that!"
The spirit giggled. "Stop being so stubborn and I'll consider it."
"Sarah," she sighed.
"You may as well give in, darling; you won't win."
"That's what you think."
"I guess time will tell," Sarah remarked; "But look I found your other Scarlett ornaments in one those plastic contraptions you store things in," she said, pointing to the small stand near the chair, where the Scarlett figurines sat.
Johanna glanced at the collection. "You enjoy going through my stuff, don't you?"
"A little," she replied. "I like how you have a little library up here."
Johanna gave a nod. "Jim helped me do that last winter…sometimes I need a quiet place to read; especially if his friends are over…and I admit, I like being up here when it rains; I like to hear it on the roof. We went through and cleaned out some things, moved the majority of the rest over to this side. That oriental rug on the floor was Grandma Sophia's…the wingback chair belonged to Elizabeth; the little stand was Mom's. Jim bought those little bookcases to put some of my book collection on and put up those little shelves to put some knick knacks on so it looks homey up here…and my trunk acts as another stand."
"My mother's trunk," Sarah declared moving toward it and tracing her fingers over the initials M.A.R that was imprinted on the old cracked black leather.
"Yeah…I didn't know that until last year. Bridget gave it to me when I was a teenager to keep my treasures in…she just fessed up about everything last year."
"I know, dear."
Johanna glanced at the spirit. "Your blue beads are in there…the one's your mother gave me when I was a little girl…her gloves are in there too."
Sarah smiled. "She's glad you kept them…and that you were able to recall that memory of her."
"I wish I could've known her better."
"She wishes that had been possible too…but you have her love, Josie; always know that."
"I know," she murmured. "I read the letters that her and Mom exchanged."
Sarah gave her a small grin. "We're a clever family when we need to be, aren't we? We always find a way to get things done, even if they have to be conducted in secret."
"Yeah; I guess that's true."
Sarah's smile turned somewhat sympathetic. "We've all had our battles, Josie…we're all scarred from the wars and the beatings and the loses…the guilt, regrets, hurts…but we all pick up and carry on as best as we can…and we smile while we do it; pretending none of it is there, dogging our heels; but we don't fool many people…least of all ourselves."
Johanna smirked at her. "Are you getting philosophical on me?"
"No, merely speaking the truth."
"And does your truth have a specific point?"
Her grandmother laughed. "Just that you're definitely a product of this gene pool…and that you can't hide your scars from the past…so instead of trying to ignore them and trying to hide them; you just have to learn to accept that they're there and move on, remembering that they don't change who you are at the core."
"It might not change who you are at the core…but the battles wound people around you and you have to learn to adjust to their wishes and comforts if you don't want to be alone."
Sarah's brow rose. "Hmm; interesting."
"How so?"
"It's just a statement that gives interesting insight into your way of thinking about current things…you want to take up Jim's tradition because you're afraid if you try to have a Christmas again, he'll go off to his cabin alone like he prefers to do and you'll be alone like you were in Wyoming. You're afraid Katie will blow her stack again and lock you out forever."
Johanna shook her head. "Jim wouldn't leave me alone."
"Most likely not; but you've probably pondered the chances…I know you; you always ponder the odds. As for Katie…"
"I've already lost Katie," she stated. "At least in the ways that matter. We agreed to separate holidays…and now she's engaged and they're her family now. I don't matter…and she's used to being away from Jim on the holidays so he doesn't matter much to her in that regard either. It's just us this year…and it's a little depressing, so why go through the hoopla? Especially when I know my husband will only be humoring me once again. I just don't have the stomach for it this year, Sarah. I know it's disappointing to you, but I don't know what to tell you."
"You can tell me that you'll push through it and try again."
Johanna shook her head. "I've already closed that book."
Sarah put her hands on her hips. "We're just going to have to open it back up. My work isn't done here, not by a long shot."
"Oh God," she muttered.
"Don't worry, kitten; I'll let you be for the rest of the day if you promise me one thing."
"What's that?"
"You'll take your Scarletts downstairs and display them like you want to…if you do that; I'll be on my way for the rest of the day."
Johanna nodded. "Fine; I can do that…but I'll ask Jim first if he minds."
"Very well," Sarah replied. "I'll be back around before you know it."
Johanna eyed her. "I better not find a Christmas tree in my living room tomorrow morning."
Sarah's green eyes glittered with amusement. "Alright, you won't find one in your living room tomorrow morning…other mornings are up for debate."
"Sarah, I will find a way to hurt you."
The spirit laughed. "Good luck with that, darling. I'll be going on my rounds now; I have other people to torment."
"Have fun," Johanna replied.
"Oh I intend to…I love you, you know?"
"I know, Sarah; I love you too."
The spirit smiled. "Until next time, darling."
"See you around," Johanna replied; watching as her grandmother vanished from the attic. She blew out a breath and put the last Christmas ball in its slot but then frowned. She knew that Scarlett had pilfered four Christmas balls…but she had nine empty spaces. She looked in the clothes basket again and then searched the floor. She found nothing but didn't allow it to bother her, figuring that Scarlett had hidden away a few more than she had realized; they'd turn up when she was bored with them and then she'd put them away.
With the matter settled, Johanna picked up her clothes basket and headed back downstairs, satisfied that the rest of her day would be free of a Christmas crazed ghost.
As Kate trudged toward the door of her apartment that evening after work, her phone once again started blaring Christmas music. "Son of a bitch," she muttered as she grabbed it from the pocket of her jacket and hurried to silence it. All day long her phone had gone off at random intervals, much to the amusement of her colleagues. She was fed up with it by noon and had shoved it in one of her desk drawers but the sound pierced through the wood, annoying her beyond measure. Tomorrow she'd get a new phone and put an end to this nonsense, she told herself as she shoved her key into the lock.
She pushed open her door with a sigh of relief, noting the absence of tinsel and red and green Christmas accents. It was a welcome switch from the loft, where Castle went beyond overboard with decorating. She liked his enthusiasm…and when buried deep in his traditions, she could forget her own bad memories…but the decorating…good God the decorating. She couldn't stand the overabundance of decorations, the garishness of some it, the over the top ridiculousness of it. Her childhood home had always been decorated for the holidays…tastefully…and within reason. At Castle's you could smother from the amount of décor. It wasn't her…she was trying to make it her, but it wasn't working. She just didn't like it…and she didn't have the heart to ask if they could tone it down and trim back; go for a more streamlined, elegant look instead of his hodgepodge of themes. She couldn't do that, it wasn't her home and his belongings weren't hers. Her only choice was to slink home to her own apartment when she couldn't stand looking at the sparkling mass of holiday spirit any longer.
Kate kicked off her boots and peeled off her jacket, carrying it and her purse to the closet and putting them away before making the trek to the kitchen for a cold drink. Once she had it, she dialed the number of her favorite pizza place and placed an order to be delivered. Tonight she would have quiet…tonight she would watch Temptation Lane on her DVR and not have to listen to the commentary of Castle or the acting tips Martha would like to give to the younger actresses on the show. It was always a nice change of pace…one she wouldn't have once she was married. She frowned a little; a part of her wondering what it would feel like when she no longer had the option of leaving and seeking out her own refuge but she figured it was best not to dwell on that.
As she settled down on her sofa, she noticed the photo albums she kept on the bottom shelf of the book case were laying on the floor, pictures spilled out around them. She blew out a breath and pushed herself off the sofa to investigate the matter, lowering herself down on her knees to examine the shelf that she could tell now was at an odd angle. Kate soon found that the shelf had somehow slipped off the small metal brace that held it in place and her brow furrowed, trying to figure out how it had happened. She couldn't think of a logical explanation but couldn't come up with any evidence that the shelf had been tampered with; there was no indication that anything else in the room had been moved or disturbed, her door had been locked and the alarm was set and clearly hadn't gone off during the day. She put the shelf back in its proper place and began to pick up the photo albums, noting that the pictures on the floor were the copies she had made of photos from her childhood. She picked up a picture of her and her mother, sitting in front of the Christmas tree when she was six years old. Kate smiled a little, recalling that memory of the Christmas when she had been convinced that her mother had made it snow just for her so she could go sled riding at her grandparents house.
She studied the image wistfully; sometimes she wished she could go back to that time and know nothing of the horrors of the world; that she could be free of worry and stress…that she and her mother could be as free and happy with each other as they had been all those years ago.
Kate shook her head and opened up the album she knew the photo belonged in and placed it inside, her fingers reaching for the other photos. Her brow furrowed as she realized that they were all Christmas photos from her childhood. All of them showing her with her mother. The room suddenly felt chilled and she shivered as she hurriedly put the photos back into their slots in the albums.
"You could have that kind of holiday happiness with her again," a feminine voice stated.
Kate jerked at the sound, losing her balance and falling on her bottom. "Who's there?" she demanded to know, wishing she hadn't left her gun in the kitchen. What the hell had possessed her to do that?
Soft laughter filled the air. "Oh you don't need that gun; you're perfectly safe."
"Who's here?" Kate demanded to know as she pushed herself off the floor and began to search her apartment. "Show yourself!"
More laughter…and no one in sight. She must be losing her mind; too many years on the force and she had finally cracked, Kate mused. There was no other explanation.
"Oh, Bunny, there are other explanations and you definitely haven't cracked or lost your mind."
"Bunny?" Kate exclaimed. "What the hell?"
Sarah clucked her tongue, remaining unseen but thoroughly amused. "My, my, Katherine, such language."
"I don't know who you are, but you better show yourself right now!"
"If you insist," Sarah remarked, materializing in Kate's living room.
Kate's eyes widened as the lady in green she had glimpsed at the precinct appeared before her. "Who are you? Where did you come from?"
Sarah smiled. "This room could use a Christmas tree."
"Answer my questions; who are you and how did you get here?"
"It's really not important at the moment," Sarah remarked. "You should get a little Christmas tree…and perhaps call your mother more often; it's a difficult season for her too you know."
"How do you know my mother?"
Her smile widened. "Oh I've known her since the day she was born."
"That's not possible," Kate remarked; "You don't look much older than me."
"Age really isn't relevant to me anymore, dear."
"What does that mean? Tell me who you are!" she demanded, advancing toward her, but as she did so, the woman disappeared.
Kate glanced around the room, running through the apartment, trying to convince herself that this person was pulling some sort of illusion that was allowing her to slip her way. She could find no sign of her visitor and her brain kept insisting on reminding her of Castle's favorite theory, especially since odd things kept occurring like televisions being on late at night and her phone randomly playing music. Maybe it was a ghost. He'd never let her live it down if it was. No, no, it couldn't be a ghost. Just no. He wasn't right; he couldn't be.
"I don't believe in ghosts," Kate declared as she stood in the middle of her living room. "I don't believe in ghosts. I don't believe in ghosts."
"You might want to start believing," the voice stated, soft and full of amusement. "It doesn't matter how many times you state to the contrary that you don't believe…it won't change anything at my end of the spectrum…but your ideals should change…and they will."
"Who are you, where are you and why are you here?"
"All in good time, Bunny; all in good time. Do get some Christmas cheer in here though, and call your mama, tell her you love her…consider more than yourself once in awhile."
"Ok, first of all, whoever you are, I don't like this thing of being called 'Bunny'; and I don't like being called selfish."
A flash of green silk appeared in the doorway of the kitchen. "Don't act like a selfish little twit and I won't call you one."
"Excuse me," Kate said sharply. "Get the hell out of my apartment and don't come back!"
Sarah grinned. "Oh I'll see you again; we have much to discuss…but not today. Today has been a very busy day for me and I need all my energy to deal with you. We'll meet again. Don't forget what I told you; Christmas tree and call your mother."
Kate surged forward, hoping to grab hold of the intruder but Sarah vanished into thin air right in front of her, causing her to stumble across the threshold of the kitchen. Someone had to be playing a very elaborate prank on her, she thought to herself as she grabbed hold of the edge of the counter to steady herself. When she found out who it was, they were going to pay dearly.
She raked her hand through her hair and blew out a breath, her ears straining for the sound of the lady in green but she heard nothing. The apartment felt still and the air warmer than it had been. It was just some prank…probably Castle trying to prove to her that ghosts were real. Yeah; that's all it was, she thought as she smiled and turned to face the sink, but as she did so, something caught her eye and she glanced at the cupboard doors. There hanging off the handles of her cupboards were four Christmas balls, red, blue, green and silver. She shivered. "Okay, that's a little creepy," she remarked; certain that the Christmas balls hadn't been there when she gotten a drink.
A soft giggle sounded from somewhere in the room but she saw nothing and she slowly grabbed her gun and backed out of the kitchen. The living room was void of strangers in green silk and she settled down on her sofa once more, telling herself that there was nothing to worry about…and no reason to leave her home; because she had to admit, the thought of leaving was on her mind.
As she was convincing herself that everything was fine, a Christmas ball came rolling across her floor from the kitchen…gold this time, definitely not one of the four that had been hanging in the kitchen. Kate bit her lip; she couldn't go to Castle's, not after telling him she just wanted to have some alone time….and she sure as hell couldn't tell him that she was spooked by what might seem like a ghost. She could never admit that…how would it look for Detective Kate Beckett to be spooked by something? No, she couldn't go to Castle's; it was out of the question, as were her friends. What was she going to do though? She asked herself as she worried her bottom lip. She wasn't going to be able to rest in her bed tonight with whatever it was lurking about, hanging up Christmas balls or rolling them across the floor. She glanced at her phone on the cushion beside her and after a moment's hesitation, she snatched it and found the number she wanted. Three rings later, her mother's voice floated across the line.
"Are you busy?" Kate asked.
"No; I just finished cleaning up the kitchen from dinner," Johanna answered. "What are you up to tonight?"
"Well…I was going to watch Temptation Lane but my DVR didn't record it so I was wondering if you had it, and if so, could I come over and watch it with you? If you and Dad don't have plans?"
"We don't have any plans, come on over," her mother replied. "Did you have dinner? I can warm up some leftovers, we had lasagna."
"No, I haven't had dinner, that sounds great."
"Alright, sweetheart; I'll go put a slice in the oven and warm it back up while you're on your way."
"One more thing," Kate said; hating herself for what she was about to ask.
"What is it?"
"I…um…well, my heat doesn't seem to be working too well this evening…so I thought maybe I could stay there…in my room."
"Are you and Rick fighting?" Johanna asked, a touch of lightness in her tone.
"No; I just wanted to…not be there tonight," she replied.
"I understand," her mother stated; "Of course you can stay here; I don't want you staying in that apartment with the heat not working, you'll get sick. Get some things together and come on over, I'll have your dinner ready."
"Thanks, Mom, I'll be there soon," she murmured before hanging up.
With her plans settled, Kate gathered up her gun and headed for her bedroom to throw some things into an overnight bag. She moved quickly, wanting to get away from her apartment as soon as possible. The pizza she had forgotten she ordered arrived while she was gathering her things and she hurriedly paid for it and shoved it into the fridge. She then returned to the living room and pulled her boots on and quickly zipped up her jacket; double checked that she had everything and then hurried through her door, making sure it locked behind her. She moved swiftly down the hallway and stabbed the button for the elevator, glancing back down the hall toward her door. There in the dim light of the hallway, was the lady in green, beaming and giving her a small wave.
"Stay away from me," Kate stated.
"Don't be unsociable, darling," the lady remarked, "It's really quite unbecoming."
The doors of the elevator slid open but Kate's gaze was pinned on the mystery woman. "Go on," her beaming visitor told her. "Go see your mama, she's waiting…you'll be quite safe there."
Kate hesitated but then the woman disappeared and she hurried onto the elevator before the doors slid shut. She blew out a breath, praying the entire ride that her guest wouldn't show up beside her…and that this was all some sort of weird hallucination from eating Chinese food for lunch. But deep down, she had a feeling it wasn't and she squeezed her eyes shut. She didn't want Castle to be right. She didn't want to be haunted…what had she done to be haunted for anyway? It was really ridiculous for a ghost to come after her, she hadn't done anything.
"You're right, you haven't done anything," Sarah replied as she appeared in the elevator; "And that's the problem, my dear."
Kate shrieked in surprise. "What are you?"
She smiled. "You know what I am…we'll talk again soon. You go enjoy your evening; I'm sure your mother will be so happy to have you there tonight."
Trepidation slid down her spine. "Why? Is something going to happen? Is something wrong?"
"No," Sarah assured; "She's just a mother who loves her daughter…it's something you should remember more than you do."
Kate's brow furrowed. "Don't at like you know me…you know nothing."
"No, Bunny; you're wrong, I know everything," Sarah said with a satisfied smile before vanishing.
Kate shivered as the elevator stopped and the doors slid open. She didn't like this, whatever it was; she didn't like it at all.
A/N Bunny was 1920s slang for a confused or lost person.