Chapter 5

I didn't see Jesse again that weekend.

I mean, it's not like I didn't try to see him. Seriously, I tried calling him at least three times. And usually, when I call Jesse, he comes. But not this time, I guess. Not that I blamed him. It just kind of hurt to know that he even thought that I could be unfaithful to him. I mean, okay, maybe I had been. But it totally wasn't my fault.

This was what was on my mind as I walked in Father Dominic's office on Monday morning, to find him rooting through his desk drawers.

"What are you looking for?" I asked him as I dropped down into my usual seat.

Father Dominic glanced up at me, then continued with his search. "I have something I would like to show you."

I raised my eyebrows. "Oh, yeah? What is it?"

Father D sat up, pulling something from the drawer up with him. "I spoke with Jesse last night, Susannah."

I froze. Okay, I'll admit it, I was afraid that Jesse had told Father Dominic everything about Paul-because, of course, I hadn't. And I knew from the look Father D was shooting me, Jesse definitely had told him.

I took a deep breath. "Listen, Father Dom, about that."

Father Dominic just shook his head. "Susannah, I'm surprised at you. This boy, Paul Slater, he's very dangerous." He frowned. "You should know that better than anyone, I would think. I thought that surely you would be able to deal with this in the proper way." Yeah, right. "But then Jesse told me about this..."

I turned red. "Father D, I did not sleep with Paul Slater."

Father Dominic blinked, looking startled. "Yes, well, that's what I thought. I tried to assure Jesse of this, but Susannah, I think he is truly broken up about this."

I stared at him. "Father Dom, Jesse doesn't get all broken up about stuff. It's just not his way."

"Yes, I know, that's why I'm so worried. He seemed genuinely hurt by this." He held up what he had brought out of the drawer. "Do you know what this is?"

Taking the thing in his hands-it was a picture-I just blinked at it for a long moment. There was this guy, probably no older than I was, standing in a tuxedo with his arm around, well, nothing.

Seriously.

The picture was pretty old, too, you could tell. I mean, it was in black and white and all that.

"That is my wedding picture."

My head snapped up at Father Dom's words. "Your what?"

Father Dom took the picture from me, smiling warily down at it. "Do you remember that conversation we had a few months ago, when you asked me if I had ever been in love?"

I nodded. I remembered it. Father D had been just about to tell me about the time he'd fallen for a ghost, but Jesse had come up and interrupted us.

"Well, when I was your age, I married that young lady that I was in love with." He smiled again, and I knew he was off in some long ago memory.

"And she was a ghost," I prompted.

"Yes. I found a judge in Sacramento who was also a mediator, and we married there." He fingered the picture. "It was a wonderful moment." His blue eyes were starting to get a little misty.

I handed him a tissue. "What happened to her?"

Father Dominic accepted the tissue, dabbing his eyes. "She moved on eventually, of course. And then a few years later I became a priest."

It wasn't exactly Romeo and Juliet, to be sure, but it obviously meant a lot to Father Dom. And really, I almost wish that he hadn't told me. I mean, it was right after that whole thing with Jesse and Paul, and I really didn't want to think about it right then.

I left Father Dominic to his memories. I had my own problems to deal with right then.

***

That night, as I was going out to see Paul-I had to go down to the ranger station every night to see him-when Jesse finally showed up.

I came out of the bathroom, dressed in my ghost busting outfit, when I saw him sitting in my window seat, looking very serious. "Hey," I said cautiously.

Jesse looked up at me. Something flashed in his dark eyes, but before I could figure out what it was, it was gone. "Hello, Susannah," he said tonelessly. He looked me up and down, frowning at my ensemble. "Are you going out?"

I shifted a bit uncomfortably. "Yeah," I said, crossing to the window. Jesse stood and I opened it. "I'll see you later." My stomach clenched as I slid one leg out onto the porch roof.

I really didn't like leaving Jesse like that. But I really had no choice.

"Susannah."

I turned to look back at Jesse. He looked just as uncomfortable as I felt. "What?"

Jesse placed his hand on my shoulder for just a moment before stepping back. "Be careful." Then he was gone.

*** It had become Paul's custom to ask me every night if I'd told anyone about him. Tonight was no different, as I saw when I came into the ranger station.

The room was spotless, as always, and the only sign that someone was staying there was the fact that the bed sheets were unkempt.

Paul emerged from the other room-which was actually a bathroom-and spotted me instantly. He came toward me, and I stiffened. He smiled, then cupped my face and kissed me hard on the mouth. It was the way he always started every night.

"Did you tell anyone?"

"No," I said, turning toward the desk.

"Suze." Paul was using his commanding voice now. He always did that, too. Against my will, I turned around to face him. "Tell me the truth," he commanded.

"I didn't tell anyone." My voice didn't sound like my own. I felt sick.

Paul smiled. "Good." Then he took me in his arms again and kissed me not-so- gently. I couldn't pull away. To be honest, I was more afraid of what he'd do if I did than what he'd do if I didn't.

*** A/N: Okay, to anyone who doesn't like what I've done with the whole Paul/Suze/Jesse thing.I just want y'all to know, that this story's going to have one freakishly good/romantic/omygosh, that was beautiful ending. I promise. Until then, I'd really appreciate it if you'd just bare with me. Thanks.