Chapter 516: Dancing with Your Ghost

Sunday, February 19th, Morning

(Song lyrics in italics)

After getting up early, she went about her usual morning routine. She ate a lite breakfast, and after cleaning up her dishes, she checked the cat's food and water. Once she finished with the cats, she changed into her running gear.

Bobbi-Lee tied on her sneakers and pulled her ginger red hair back into a ponytail. Grabbing a pair of Chastity Davis Special sunglasses, she headed out of her cottage. On the front lawn, Bobbi-Lee stretched out her muscles; once finished, she stood up.

Once on the sidewalk, she picked a direction and started on her morning jog. The movement, and the early morning air, helped her head clear out and start the thinking process.

Her new assignment would be a challenge. Bobbi-Lee liked challenges, and she needed to talk to Brooke about the theme and designs. Challenges bring her alive, stimulate her mind, and keep her mind active and interested. In that way, she most matched her dad, who always had to keep his mind busy.

As she rounded the second corner and felt the slight rise of the street. Her heart rate ticked up a bit as she made the gentle ascent. The burn started to enter her legs and lungs as she pushed forward.

By the time she reached the third corner, she could feel the sweat on her forehead and back. Bobbi-Lee was athletic in her way, she wasn't the raw beast that Huck is, nor the balanced and graceful one that Kelly is, but she kept in better shape with different activities.

The Carnival of Venice was an interesting theme. From her initial research, there are different mask and costume types, eight to be exact, eight arch-types. As a designer of fashionable women's clothing, she knew that many of the women wouldn't want their faces completely covered.

As the land leveled out a bit, Bobbi-Lee's body felt the strain pull off her body. Her mind started to dance between the endorphins, and the gears turned as she thought about the possible and potential designs that were conceived in her mind.

The final corner came ahead, and Bobbi-Lee took it hard. She started to slow down about two houses in,, letting her body cool down. Slowly, she felt more and more sweat covering her body.

AS she approached her small cottage, Bobbi-Lee looked up to see the neighboring cottage. There was a new for sale sign in front of Mrs. Ivonova's cottage. Allyson said they were going to sell the cottage.

Bobbi-Lee arrived at the walkway to her place. Slowly, she walked towards her cottage. Once she got inside her home, Bobbi-Lee headed upstairs to her bathroom, where she grabbed a towel and dried herself off, and stared in a mirror. It was time for a shower.

Yelling at the sky
Screaming at the world
Baby, why'd you go away?
I'm still your girl

Holding on too tight
Head up in the clouds

Heaven only knows where you are now


Sunday, February 19th, Afternoon

It all started with a ring of the doorbell. Ashlyn showed her dad, niece, and nephew into the house. In the foyer, James joined her with Maeghan, Landon, and Logan. They looked across the room at each other.

"So, this is your house," Buck said.

Ashlyn nodded, "This is Jamlyn; we bought it after James's second year in the NBA," she said.

"We added the gym wing and slowly have been renovating the main house," James said.

"You said you have four unused bedrooms?" Buck asked.

"The north wing, they are used as guest bedrooms, right now," Ashlyn said.

"You really have four extra bedrooms?" Buck asked.

"The house came with them; we're just not using them," James said.

"Oh really!" Buck said, "I'd like to see them."

Ashlyn stood up and looked at her dad, "Follow me," she said.

Buck got up and followed Ashlyn up a staircase to the second floor. Ashlyn looked over her shoulder to see people were following her. Slowly, she came to the unoccupied north wing.

Once Buck arrived next to her, Ashlyn pushed the door in front of her open. Buck peeked in and looked around. After a moment, Buck stepped into the room. She looked around the room and walked over to another door. Buck opened it and walked into the bathroom. Buck came out of the bathroom and looked at Ashlyn.

"Are the other rooms like this one?" Buck asked.

"Basically, the two far ones are slightly smaller," Ashlyn said, "Of course, you could bring your own furniture."

"Why is there a bathroom for each bedroom, not jack and jills?" Buck asked.

"I don't know; this was how the house came," Ashlyn said.

"Where do your kids stay?" Buck asked.

"The four rooms in the south wing, Brett's room is included in those four," Ashlyn said.

"I included Brett in my question," Buck said.

"Yeah, she has one of the inner rooms; Maeghan is in the room across from her," Ashlyn said.

"So, is there anything crazy here?" Buck asked.

Ashlyn shook her head. "No," she said.

"So, when can we move in?" Buck asked.

"As soon as you can make the arrangements," Ashlyn said.

"I was hoping we could move in tonight," Buck said.

"So fast?" Ashlyn asked.

Buck nodded, "Yeah, all we would need is to get some clothes," he said.

"Okay, I guess all you have to do is pick rooms," Ashlyn said.

Buck smiled, "Good," he said.

How do I love, how do I love again?
How do I trust, how do I trust again?

I stay up all night, tell myself I'm alright
Baby, you're just harder to see than most
I put the record on, wait 'til I hear our song
Every night, I'm dancing with your ghost
Every night, I'm dancing with your ghost


Sunday, February 19th, Afternoon

He had an office in a remote corner of Raven Hill. The room wasn't big, but it fitted his simple desk, several trophy cases, and a wall full of plaques. It was the one place his past glories were on full display. That was the agreement with his wife. The house was about them and family; their offices were about themselves.

Nathan looked at the paperwork that he got from the lab. He looked it over and reread it, countless times. Shaking his head, he turned to a pair of pictures on his desk. The left picture was of him, James, Brian, and LK taken just before the falling out with Brian. The right one was of him, Brett, Wyatt, Lennon, Maeghan, Lacy, Landon, Logan, and Darren, taken over Christmas this year. He smiled at the right picture.

After a minute, he looked at the computer screen before him. One of the windows was his investment portfolio, and the other was his now busted predictions for the NFL Season; having forgotten to close the window, he had hoped Carolina could have pulled off the upset to win the NFC South, but that didn't pan out.

Shaking his head, he closed the forgotten window and sighed. College basketball was coming to the end of the season, and the NBA was on the All-Star Break. Baseball was in the offseason, and free agents were being signed. Nathan hoped his Dodgers would have a good season coming up. When he played in LA, he fell in love with the Dodgers, not so much the A's, Chargers, or Rams.

Nathan missed Los Angeles, but it was the type of a feeling of a man missing his youth. His glory days were when he played in the Staples Center for the Buss family and the City of Angels. Jeff Pearlman interviewed him a few years ago for a book about that time. He also interviewed Haley. They were just another dynasty for the Lakers, not as flashy as Showtime and now as methodical as the Kobe/Shaq years.

Nathan looked at his screen again, then his eyes dashed to his smartphone, sitting on his desk. Procrastination, that's what Haley would call it. He was putting off what he knew he needed to do; he just didn't want to do it.

After a long sigh, Nathan picked up his phone and scrolled through his contact. Finally, he found the one he needed and pressed the call button. The phone rang a few times, and finally, it connected.

"Hi; sorry to call on a Sunday, but we need to talk and go over some legal stuff. Yeah, I'll send over the stuff you'll need to look over. Thanks, Bevin," Nathan said and hung up.

He leaned back in his desk chair and looked up at the wall. Nathan's eye focused on him next to the NBA Championship trophy while James was next to him, his arm around Nathan's waist, and Nathan held Brian in his arms. Nathan was all smiles, and presently all he thought was he missed those times.

Never got the chance
To say your last goodbye

I gotta move on
But it hurts to try


Sunday, February 19th, Afternoon

Sunday was always an important day in her life and week. It was the day she would change house. For almost eight years, she knew this; every Sunday, she changed houses. For the last few years, she changed houses herself; before that, one of her parents did the house change.

Brett treated every Sunday the same, no matter which house she was in. Getting up early, she would have breakfast with her family she was staying. After breakfast, she would help clear off the table and do any chores she had at the respective house. Next, she would shower and get dressed. Brett would collect her laundry and start packing.

While she was packing, there was a knock on her door. Brett looked to see Chase standing there.

"Momma Chase, I didn't expect to see you," Brett said.

"Who did you expect to see?" Chase asked.

"My dad," Brett said.

"You know how he could be," Chase said.

"True," Brett said.

"So, you understand your options?" Chase asked.

"Not really; he is my granddad," Brett said.

"Your Momma has her reasons, but he hardly been your life if you remember," Chase said.

Brett nodded, "Yeah, what does Daddy Huck think?" she asked.

"He grumbled, said something about it's up to you, and he didn't have the greatest relationship with your granddad," Chase said.

"Okay," Brett said and finished packing, "So, it doesn't matter where I go?"

Chase shook her head. "No, it doesn't, and the only one you have to tell me about is it you're staying here," she said.

"I'm not," Brett said.

Chase nodded, "Okay, just let me know you got to where you're going; just let me know you got there safe," she said.

Brett threw her two bags over her shoulders. She looked at Chase and nodded. "I'll do that," Brett said.

Chase walked over to Brett, and they looked at each other. Finally, they hugged each other. Once they separated and looked each other over.

"Have a good week," Chase said.

"I will," Brett said and left the bedroom. Chase followed behind. Brett left the house after a pause to say goodbye to her sisters and brother. Chase watched as Brett loaded her bags into her car, got in, started it, and left.

How do I love, how do I love again?
How do I trust, how do I trust again?


Sunday, February 19th, Afternoon

The shift ended, and she pulled her stuff out of her locker. She leaned her head against the locker and sighed. Tilting her head back, she looked at her pantsuit and knew she should change into it. After another long sigh, she did just that.

Leaving the locker room, she went down to the cafeteria and got herself a cup of bitter black coffee. Sitting at a table, she started off in the distance. It had been sixteen hours since she came in, and it had been a long shift. Her blue eyes were dull from exhaustion.

Candi's eyes perked up as a handsomely rugged man sat across from her.

"Do you mind if I join you?" Brendan asked.

Candi shook her head, "Yeah, sure," she said, "What are you doing here?"

"I stopped by to see Marcel. I was getting a cup of coffee when I saw you here," Brendan said.

"Oh, yeah," Candi said and sipped her coffee.

"You don't seem right," Brendan said.

Candi yawned, "I just got off a sixteen," she said.

"Rough shift?" Brendan asked.

Candi shrugged, "About average," she said.

"I see," Brendan said.

"Yeah," Candi said and took another sip of her coffee.

"So, you hustled me the other day," Brendan said.

"What do you mean?" Candi asked.

"On the basketball court," Brendan said.

"That was Kurtis; I knew nothing about it until that day," Candi said.

"That's not what I meant," Brendan said.

"What do you mean?" Candi asked.

"The simple fact that you're a WNBA caliber point guard," Brendan said.

Candi shrugged, "Oh, that," she said.

"Oh, that, it's not something I talk much about," Candi said.

"I saw that NCAA title game; you were mugged the whole game," Brendan said.

Candi shrugged, "Yeah, I guess you're right," she said.

"Who is Kay Scott to you?" Brendan asked.

"My sister," Candi said and finished her coffee, "I have to go."

Candi stood up and walked away, throwing away the cup as she left the cafeteria. Brendan watched her go with a smile.

I stay up all night, tell myself I'm alright
Baby, you're just harder to see than most
I put the record on, wait 'til I hear our song
Every night, I'm dancing with your ghost
Every night, I'm dancing with your ghost


Sunday, February 19th, Evening

She rolled off the bed in the room she was allowed to use. She adjusted her underwear as she walked to the free-standing full-length mirror. She looked in the mirror and adjusted her tank top. Running a hand over her hair, she pushed it back.

Ellie walked over to a desk and woke up her laptop. After putting in her password, the computer opened up. Ellie opened a search engine and typed in something. After a moment, the results appeared on the screen. Ellie read the results, nodded, opened her browser, and went into her document cloud. Opening up a file, she finds a word processing file filled with her notes.

After reviewing her notes, Ellie closed the notes and closed her laptop. Ellie stretched her arms over her head and popped her back loose. Ellie got up, walked over to the closet, and pulled out an outfit. She laid it on the bed and opened a drawer in her chest of drawers. After selecting what she needed, she put the stuff on her bed.

Ellie walked over to the makeup table and sat down. She reached over to a selected group of makeup and pulled it over. Carefully, she applied the makeup. Once she finished applying the makeup, she brushed her hair. Once she finished brushing her hair, she styled her hair how she wanted it.

Once finished at the makeup table, Ellie stood up, heading toward the bed. As she walked toward the bed, she pulled off her tank top. Ellie went through the stuff on the bed and started to put it on. After going through the clothes, she finished dressing, walked back to the mirror, and studied herself; she reached over and selected some accessories and put them on. With a final nod, she walked away from the mirror.

Digging through the closet, she pulled out a pair of boots and carried them to the bed. Sitting down, Ellie pulled on the boots and secured them. Standing up, Ellie grabbed a jacket, keys, wallet, and smartphone; she left the bedroom.

Ellie walked down the gallery; she looked down the forever-lit hallway. About halfway down, she stopped at a painting and looked at it. After taking in the painting, she turned to finish walking down the gallery.

She went down a secondary stairwell to the main floor. Ellie found an auxiliary door and stepped out of the building. Ellie walked across the East Range Parking Area. Ellie got into the car, started it, and pulled out.

Soon enough, Ellie was on the road heading into the darkness. New York City was a fun distraction, but it was time to get back to her assignment here.

How do I love, how do I love again?
How do I trust, how do I trust again?

I stay up all night, tell myself I'm alright
Baby, you're just harder to see than most
I put the record on, wait 'til I hear our song
Every night, I'm dancing with your ghost
Every night, I'm dancing with your ghost
Every night, I'm dancing with your ghost


Death came to my small circle of family and friends this week. It was kind of unexpected but also expected. That I have many, or any memories of this person. The party that died and the party I know have been estranged for years. But I look around and I see people confused, people at odds, almost like a breakup, and people taking sides. I think of a book I once found at a bedside table, and think of the opening lines of the poem the book was opened to: "Death, be not proud, though some have called thee; Mighty and dreadful, for thou are not so; For those whom thou think'st thou dost overthrow; Die not, poor Death, nor yet canst thou kill me." What do you think, on anything, need to be distracted, on life, death, grief, on anything? Leave a comment below.

RavenHussar

T3 Collective

OTH

Author's Notes

The first story I have to share about the writing of this episode was the whole Ashlyn and James chapters were plotted out months in advance. That storyline started out when Huck found Ashlyn's mom in a medical emergency. Now that story is building up steam. Now, remember only a few days had passed in this story.

The Ellie and Trin scenes were written ahead of time, in order to work out the dynamic between the three characters in the scene. This is a practice I do employ when I'm not sure how the characters will play off each other. Having forgotten this, I started re-writing Chapter 493.

Chapters 494 and 495 were swapped. In the initial outline and the Fashion show happened before the basketball game. Timeline wise it didn't make sense after I wrote Chapter 495. So, they flipped positions.

I tend to write these as I am editing, just to share some of the processes and to let people who also write the thought process that goes into it. So, some are weak and some are strong. Maybe, it's just my ego.

The Annus Horribilis Secrets

1) Carson Murphy has passed away. (Episode 2)

2) Spencer Churchill "Church" Grady was killed in action as a US Navy Seal and buried in Arlington National Cemetery (aka The Garden). He is also Jessica Ashlyn Scott's Dad. (Episode 4)

3) Constance "Connie" Garland is in a permanent vegetative state. (Episode 6)

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Playlist

Chapter 494 – Ava Max Kings and Queens

Chapter 516 - Sasha Alex Sloan – Dancing with Your Ghost

Poems

Quotes

Chapter 500

Weep not for the dead, neither bemoan him; but weep sore for him that goeth away; for he shall return no more, nor see his native country. - Jeremiah 22:10 from the King James Bible.

Chapter 505

Whatever doesn't kill me makes me stronger. - Fredrich Nietzsche from Twilight of Idols

Close your eyes and forget your name; step outside yourself and let your thoughts drain. - Slayer from Seasons in the Abyss

Chapter 516

Death, be not proud, though some have called thee; Mighty and dreadful, for thou are not so; For those whom thou think'st thou dost overthrow; Die not, poor Death, nor yet canst thou kill me. – John Donne from Death, be not proud (Holy Sonnet 10)

Translation Guide

Chapter 494

Banríon is Irish for Queen

Audaces fortuna iuvat is Latin for Fortune favors the bold

Chapter 496

Banríon is Irish for Queen

Chapter 515

Médecins Sans Frontièresis French for Doctor's Without Borders and is the proper name of the organization.