Chapter 3

CHAPTER THREE

T he night clerk's jaw dropped when Alexandra breezed past the front desk. "Good evening, Jock."

"Evening, Mrs. Tulloch," the young man stammered, both surprised and relieved to see her smiling, though she could still feel the tight lines on her face from the night's tears.

"The lad watches ye too closely," Spreag murmured as they waited for the elevator.

"Hey, I was grieving." She jabbed a finger in his general direction. "He's just kind, that's all. You try losing the love of your life and see how you handle it."

"Point taken." He grinned. "Though, to be fair, I did lose ye as well. Turned me into a right bastard of a ghost, but with no one as witness."

"You're right. That was a stupid thing to say."

The elevator doors had opened and an elderly couple stepped out, then looked around to see who she'd been talking to. Alexandra winked and smiled, then stepped inside and made room for her husband's ghost. With mouths hanging open, the couple watched the doors close.

"Careful," Spreag whispered. "Someone might cart ye off to the madhouse."

"They'll have to catch me first." She pressed the button for the third floor. "I can't help it. I'm just happy." She shook her head. "No, that's not right. I can't be happy that you're dead. I'm inconsolably relieved I haven't...lost you completely. That's it. Inconsolably relieved."

His expression softened. "Aye, well. That makes two of us."

The hotel room felt different with him there. Lighter, despite the fact that it was after midnight and the only illumination came from the same two lamps with the same weak lightbulbs. She'd spent so many nights curled into a ball on the bed, clutching his Spreag-scented laundry to her chest. And to think, he'd been watching her the whole time.

"I realize I could have come to ye sooner," he said, watching her gather up his clothes. "But I thought..."

"What?"

"That it might be cruel. For many reasons, mind."

"Such as?"

"Firstly, that ye might think yerself mad."

"Crazy? Oh, yeah, I'm definitely crazy." She disappeared into the bathroom to strip and slip on a nightgown she hadn't bothered with since the wedding. And to brush her teeth, which she'd forgotten to do more often these days than she cared to admit. "Luckily, you're stuck with me now, crazy or not."

She emerged to find Spreag examining the mess of tissues on the nightstand. "Maybe tomorrow ye'll allow the maids in? And I suppose they'll start letting the room next door."

"Yeah, well." She climbed into bed and tucked her feet under the covers. "I tried to be quiet."

He sat on the edge of the bed, making no impression on the mattress. "Now, if ye're feelin' better--"

"You're not going to leave me!"

"Nay. It's just that...if ye'll remember Bronagh said she could see Wyndham's ghost on the moor, that she saw him clearly in her mind while she was drawing him?"

"Yeah."

"And Wyndham said it took a great effort on his part to appear to her, now and again."

"I remember. So...how come I can see you now?"

"Because I'm exerting great effort." He raised a hand. "Don't mistake me. I dinnae mind. I've wanted to show myself since the first, and I'm torn, naturally, between the joy of speaking with ye again and the sorrow that ye needed me to do so. But once ye're asleep, I will rest as well."

Alex nodded and a yawn took control of her. "Ghost physics. Got it. We can study them tomorrow."

"Aye, tomorrow. Sleep now, and I shall close my eyes and breathe with ye, as I have done. I cannae keep ye warm--"

"It's enough that I know you're here." She closed her eyes and patted the mattress at her back. "Will you stay close until I nod off?"

"Aye. And I'll be here when ye wake. Just speak my name."

For the first time in weeks, she didn't cry herself to sleep.

Morning came with a gentle Highland rain against the windows and the sound of Alexandra's phone buzzing. Spreag stood at the window, a thoughtful expression on his face as she fumbled for her phone.

"It's Wyndham," she said, reading the text. "He's inviting me to dinner tonight."

"Ye should go."

"But..." She sat up, clutching the blankets. "What about you?"

"I'll come along, if ye like. Though I suspect my friend would prefer ye speak to the living for a change."

"You think I should start...moving on?" Her voice cracked.

His ghostly form turned away from the pattering at the glass. "No, love. I think ye should start living again. There's a difference."

She nodded slowly and typed her reply to Wyndham, accepting the invitation. She suddenly remembered their conversation from the night before. "You said you didn't show yourself for many reasons. Besides making me think I was going crazy, what else were you talking about?"

"Auch, weel..." He shrugged a shoulder and she knew from experience he was about to distract her so he didn't have to answer. As a seer, he’d sometimes started to tell her things and realized it was something he should keep to himself. The way he usually distracted her was rather physical however, and unfortunately, that was no longer an option.

"Spreag?"

He seemed to realize the same thing and gave in with a violent sigh. "It would have been cruel to show myself...only to cost us a second farewell."

She felt the blood drain from her face and her head began to shake without her intention. "No. No. We're not even going to talk about that, 'kay?" She bounced off the bed and headed to the bathroom. "Two things on the schedule. Ghost physics and dinner at Wyndham's. That's it. Lollypops and puppy dogs? Negativity is taking the day off. Got it?" She peeked back out to get his agreement.

"Got it."