Grandview

Melinda watched the clock patiently waiting for her husband, Jim, to call. She was fuming after waiting for a hour and a half, but worried about him at the same time. Melinda knew he had a convention to attend later tonight but he couldn't be THAT busy! Plus she was about to burst with the news she received from Ned.

The shop had been quiet today, so quiet that Melinda jumped when she heard the jingle of the bell on the front door."You look like you've just seen a ghost...wait, did you?"

Sure enough it was Dealla , back from her lunch break. "No", Melinda half smiled at the thought of seeing a ghost. It had been over a month now since she last saw a ghost, which was pretty abnormal for her. Not that she was complaining or anything. Melinda would be the first person to tell you that sometimes her "gift" interferred with her personal life. But knowing that her gift helped random strangers always made those missed birthday parties, and lost romantic nights, not so important. "You know whats werid, I haven't seen a ghost in over a month."

"Thats good, right?" Dealla put her rain coat on a hook in the back room a long with her purse.

"Having spirits cross over without any conflict is always a good thing, but with Jim being gone and all it kinda gets boring, you know?"

"I feel your boredom."

"Ned still avoiding you?" Melinda asked stacking the flyers neatly and putting them in front of the cash register.

"No." Dealla said dragging out the O."he's making progress. When I called him this morning to check up on him, he actually picked up the phone."

Melinda silently laughed to herself. Knowing Dealla could exaggerate just a bit, and knowing Ned she knew he wouldn't cut his mother out of his life. Avoid yes, but cut out, no.

"Then, when I asked if he wanted to go out for dinner on my birthday, like we do every year, he said he had to go to a lecture."

"And thats avoiding you, how?" Melinda said rather sarcastically.

Dealla gave her that all too familiar look, the 'I-can't-believe-you're-asking-that-question' look.

"My birthday's on a Monday. He doesn't have lectures on Mondays...What are these flyers for?"

"Some advice collumist is coming to Grandview." Melinda looked at the flyer herself for the first time. "maybe Ned didn't realize your birthday was on a Monday."

Dealla ignored Melinda's last comment, but Melinda didn't care as long as Dealla didn't find out about the surprise party, she yet Dealla believe whatever she wanted to believe. Plus she wouldn't listen to Melinda anyway. Startling Melinda from her thoughts, Dealla said, "I bet its a girl."

"Huh?"

"Ned. I think he's dating a girl."

"Oh," Good,Melinda thought, she's not on to us! Changing the topic completely Melinda said, "This girl looks familiar..."

"Who? The girl Ned's dating?"

"No, this girl on the flyer."

Dealla grabbed one of the flyers. Instantly she knew who it was, "Phoebe Halliwell is coming to Grandview!" Her face was pure shock.

"Who's that?"

Dealla disappeared into the back room, yelling she said, "She only has the hottest book on the market!" Coming back with a book, she gave it to Melinda.

The front of the book showed a early in her thirties woman sitting by a computer smiling at the camera. The title read in white letters Ask Phoebe: The Book. How original...Melinda thought. "Look! She's coming on my birthday!"

Perfect! She thought, now I know what to do for her surprise b-day party! "Dealla?"

"Hmm?" She said half reading the flyer and half looking at Melinda.

"Can I borrow that book?"

"Sure."

Sorry for a long wait, and a short chapter =/ but don't worry I'm working on the next chapter =D so it should be up soon. Plus thanks for the reviews- they make my day =)