Chapter 341: Tree Hill Cemetery

Wednesday, February 1st, Early Morning (Eastern Standard Time)

The vehicle parked, and the driver shut off the lights and engine. She took a deep breath and counted, one, two, three, then opened the car door. Kelly McMichael walked out into the dying darkness of the early morning. She carefully worked her way over towards a small bare tree. Under the tree, she found someone sitting under it, leaning against the trunk. The figure was holding a bottle. This scene was typical.

"This is getting old," Kelly said, standing over the person.

"Well, whom else was I going to call," Dr. Candace "Candi," Scott, MD, asked.

"We're in a graveyard; I don't know, maybe, ghostbusters," Kelly said.

"The dead shall lie in the grave and no nothing," Candi said.

"Trying to quote Ecclesiastes?" Kelly asked.

"Maybe," Candi said.

"For the living know that they will die, but the dead know nothing; they have no further reward, and even their name is forgotten," Kelly said.

"Cattle die, and kinsmen die, they self too must die, but one thing never will die, the fame of one who has done well," Candi said.

"Havamal Seventy-six, Candi?" Kelly asked, "It's still no excuse to be out here at night."

"What's wrong with being out here?" Candi asked.

"It's night, a graveyard, and you're drunk," Kelly said.

"I'm not drunk; you're drunk," Candi said.

Kelly sighed. "Candi, it was sixteen years ago; being here drunk isn't going to change anything," Kelly said, "Why are you out here?"

"It's my fault," Candi said.

"Did you tie the knot? Did you put her head in it? Did you kick out the chair?" Kelly asked.

"No, but I was her last chance, and I rejected her," Candi said.

"She was damaged beyond help before that. Not everyone deals with things the same hell; you were both victims of my dickless brother-in-law. She was a victim twice over," Kelly said.

"But I rejected her," Candi said.

"But not as a friend," Kelly said.

"She didn't feel that way," Candi said.

"Who told you that?" Kelly asked.

"Winter," Candi said.

"Well, Winter's a bitch," Kelly said.

Candi laughed. Kelly took the opportunity to walk over to Candi and took the bottle. Kelly looked at the bottle; it was cheap whiskey; Candi will feel it in the morning. Kelly faked checking her non-existence watch and poured the remains of the liquid out. "Oops," Kelly said.

"Hey, that's my bottle," Candi said.

"I'd think a doctor would have better taste than this stuff. The hooch they make up at Red Tree Farms is better," Kelly said.

"It makes me feel good and reminds me of better times," Candi said.

Kelly looked over to the nearby headstone. After a minute, she turned to Candi. "Well, John Eagan will enjoy it," she said.

"Not funny," Candi said.

"Candi, this is getting old," Kelly said.

"You've said that before," Candi said.

"I've been dragging you out of this graveyard for sixteen years," Kelly said.

"I only called you is because Keith is in Europe," Candi said.

Kelly grabbed Candi by her wrists and pulled her to her feet with a grunt. "Lucky him," she said.

"Yeah, lucky him," Candi said.

"Candi, I can't keep doing this; I have young kids at home," Kelly said.

"Lucky you," Candi said.

Kelly slung Candi's arm over her shoulder and started to lead her to the waiting vehicle. "Yeah, I'm so lucky," Kelly said.

"You are; you have a family," Candi said.

"That makes no sense," Kelly said.

"It does make sense; I have no one," Candi said.

"Relax, Candi," Kelly said as they came up to the vehicles. Someone got out of Kelly's vehicle and looked at Kelly and Candi.

"Brett, help me get her into my car," Kelly said.

"Yeah, sure," Brett Pierce-Burke said and loaded helped Candi into the back seat of Kelly's car.

Candi sat sideways on the bench seat and looked at the graveyard. "Now it is the time of night. That the graves all gaping wide. Every one lets forth his sprite. In church way paths to glide," Candi said.

"Okay, Puck, take a seat and wait for me," Kelly said and signaled Brett to get Candi situated in the car. Once Candi was settled in, Kelly closed the door and looked at her niece.

"What's this all about, Aunt Kelly?" Brett asked.

"Just some ghosts, coming back," Kelly said.

"I've never known Candi to have ghosts," Brett said.

"We all have ghosts, by a certain age, Brett," Kelly said, "Candi just hides it better."

Brett nodded, "So, what triggered this?" she asked.

"Someone wanted to hurt Candi, so they brought it back up," Kelly said.

"What's this ghost?" Brett asked.

Kelly sighed and looked around the cemetery. "A friend of hers committed suicide. Candi believes they came to her as the last chance to be saved. Candi misread it and rejected her, and now Candi believes she missed out on helping her," she said.

"Regret?" Brett asked.

"Very much so," Kelly said.

Brett nodded. Kelly reached out and held up a set of keys to Brett.

"What's this about?" Brett asked.

"Why I brought you here," Kelly said.

"What?" Brett said.

"You're driving the car back to Beaulieu," Kelly said and pointed to the car Candi was using.

"So, that's why you dragged me out here?" Brett asked.

"Yes, to bring Candi home and keep a drunk driver off the road," Kelly said.

Brett took the keys and headed towards Candi's loaner car. "East Range?" Brett asked.

"Yes, I'll meet you there," Kelly said.

Brett got into the car and drove off; Kelly shrugged and walked to the driver's side door. Kelly sighed, opened the door, and climbed in. Once in the seat, Kelly got comfortable and closed the door. As she put on her seat belt, Kelly looked into the rearview mirror to see Candi had laid down and seemed to be drifting off to sleep.

Kelly started her car and waited as the radio turned on. The music began to play as she put the car into gear. As she drove off, Kelly tapped on the steering wheel as she drove out of the Tree Hill Cemetery.

As Kelly came by the gate, she nodded to the caretaker close and locked up after she left. Kelly got onto the main roads and headed towards Beaulieu.

"Kelly," Candi said in the back of her vehicle in a soft voice.

"Yes, Candi," Kelly said.

"I'm sorry," Candi said.

"It's okay, just take care of yourself, maybe talk to someone about this," Kelly said.

"I've thought about bringing it up a few times," Candi said.

"Okay, sleep now; I'll get you home," Kelly said.

"Okay," Candi said and lowered her head.

Kelly nodded, sighed, and kept driving.