Chapter Four

"I guess I'll leave you alone to unpack. Dinner's half-an-hour later." Grams Ackerman said as she closed the door behind me, or us. I don't know what to think about the ghost.

OK, the first thing that came to my mind was: how am I supposed to change in here? Next was: he is so hot, much hotter than Paul. And finally: wait, he's not Granddad Ackerman. No way.

"Susannah!" the ghost shouted excitedly. "Loud, it's you. Finally. I've waited for a century just to see you."

OK. That was weird. Like, does he even know me? And are there no mediators in Alabama, causing this guy to wait for a hundred years before his salvation? "You," I said, "do not belong here."

"Oh. I guess you don't remember me." He said, as he sat down on my bed. I settled for the armchair instead.

"I'm Jesse. A hundred and fifty years ago, two mediators, Susannah, which is you, and Paul, went back to the past. Paul did it to save me from dying that day. You did it because you were in love with me. I was a ghost in your bedroom in Carmel Valley, and we fell in love. Paul wanted you, so if he prevented me from dying, you won't ever meet me, so he and you could get together. So you and Paul rescued me, and I got to live for another fifty years."

Whoa. It's not everyday a hot ghost came up to me and said he loved me. Wait, what was that about Paul? That he's evil, and he's a mediator as well? That's almost like what my dad told me. And, as I was thinking about it, it almost makes sense. Like, Mrs. Gutierrez really did disappeared. But looking at the living conditions of the living Gutierrezes, it did not seem as though they had an extra two thousand bucks to live on. It's just like before.

"But… if what you said about Paul was true, how can mediators time-travel?" I asked.

Jesse looked glazed, as though he was thinking about his past. "Well, you just had to take an object that belonged in the past, and go to a place that belonged in the past, and think about what things were like in the past. Then you just got there. I met you in a barn. Then you told me a secret I never told anyone, so I believed you were from the future. And, you said… that you did this because you loved me. Because there's this saying: If you loved something, set it free. If it was meant to be, it will come back to you. And you honestly believed in it. So I waited for you. I didn't know if I will see you, but I overheard the spirits talking, and knew that a Susannah will be coming here. By the way, this was my house. I died here. I didn't know if it was you, but I still waited. And it was you."

It was a lot to take in. I mean, I didn't think I'd be like that. You know, letting him go. I'd always thought I'm too much of a coward to let him go. But here he was, telling me about what I did. And I really had a feeling toward him. Like, I knew him before. Like we're kindred spirits.

"Well, Jesse, I—" I was saying, when the door opened. Jesse promptly vanished. It was Doc.

"Hey, Suze, you wanna take Max for a walk? I could show you the botanical properties of the plants in Alabama…" Doc was holding the lease of Max's collar, looking hopeful. I sighed. Well, Jesse was gone anyway. At least it can give me some time to think things over.

"OK," I said, and we did that.

I was thinking about Paul when Jesse showed up. Again. In the path of moonlight that filtered in from my small attic window.

"Susannah," he said, "if you don't believe me, I could show you. Bring you back to a place that belonged a hundred and fifty years ago. If you want."

"Wait," I said, "how did Paul and I save you?"

"Well," Jesse said, staring intently at me, "you warned me about the guy that was going to kill me while I was asleep. So I stayed awake, and killed the guy instead. It was him or me. But then there was a fire. Paul just went back to his time. And you said goodbye and went back too."

I thought back. Was there a time when me and Paul were together and I couldn't explain it? Well, yes. A time when I suddenly woke up and found that I was in the backyard. I just thought I'd sleepwalked or something. And I thought I saw a figure walking away from my house. That might have been Paul. It was Paul-sized too. It's not too long ago. Like, maybe a coupla months ago.

I started pacing. "OK. Just let me call Paul first."

I knew that Paul would be going next week. I dialled, and Paul answered.

"Paul," I said, "do you sleepwalk?"
"Huh? Suze, what's up?"

I ignored him. "Paul, did you sleepwalked two months ago and woke up near my house?"

Paul sounded shifty, "Uh, maybe. I supposed I used to sleepwalk. Maybe it's near your house. I can't remember."

That's a lot of help, Paul. And to think I'd thought he's a great guy. Turns out he's nothing but a blackmailing jerk, if what my dad and Jesse told me was true.

"Paul, are you a mediator?" I accused.

"A shifter, Susie."

What? I was way mad. "Why did you tell me you don't believe in ghosts?"

I could practically hear him smirking, "I should have been more specific. I don't believe in letting them walk all over me, like you clearly seem to."

I was still having trouble processing what I was hearing.

"But… but isn't that what mediators are supposed to do? Help lost souls?" I stammered.

Paul snorted. "Hardly. Well, maybe the priest. And the boy. But not me. And certainly not you, Susannah. But if you'd bothered asking me about shifters, I might have been able to show you precisely what you're capable of. Which is so much more than you can begin to imagine."

"You… Did you steal Mrs. Gutierrez's money? And sent her away?" I was fuming.

"Yeah. I studied Spanish, didn't I? You know the Winter Formal? Well, I spent it for hiring a limo, and pay for supper at the Grill."

I couldn't believe it. Two thousand dollars. Mrs Gutierrez's hard-earned money was spent on hiring a limo and food. I was ready to kill Paul. "Paul, shut your bloody trap and go to hell! And it's over between us, so stop bothering me anymore!"

Jesse was applauding softly as if he were at the theater. "Now that," he said, putting his hands down, "was your finest performance yet."

I ignored him. "Tell me exactly who you are, Mr. cowboy, now."