CHAPTER NINE

Marcel sat quietly, watching as Amy ate her lunch. Other than going into town with the others for a brief time, he hadn't left her side. There was an overwhelming worry that if he left, he would never get back to her. He might never have this chance again.

"Are you ever going to tell me about you?" asked Amy. "I've told you all about me. I mean, I know you're with the security company here, but were you in the Army?"

"No. No, I was with the, uh, Navy," he said, hating the lie that was falling from his lips. He searched the room for moral support and found the individuals he needed most. Gaspar, Julia, and Noah.

"Hi, Amy, how are you feeling?" asked Julia.

"I'm well, thank you. Julia, right?"

"That's right. I'm married to Joseph Redhawk."

"Oh, yes," smiled Amy. "The very dangerous-looking man with the very handsome smile." Marcel frowned, staring at her, then looked back at Joseph. He had to admit that he was a pleasant looking man, but he didn't like that she was noticing him.

"Are we interrupting something?" asked Noah.

"No, not at all. I was just trying to get my big, handsome bodyguard to open up to me. He seems very tight-lipped about his past. Should I worry?" she smiled. Gaspar gave a chuckle, shaking his head.

"There is absolutely nothing for you to worry about," he smiled. "This is an awkward conversation, to be sure."

"Oh, God! Are you married? Have I been flirting with a married man?"

"You've been flirting?" frowned Marcel.

"See! I can't even do that right!" cried Amy with tears in her eyes.

"No, no, no," said Julia, reaching for her hand. "That's not it at all. I assure you Marcel is not married. And Marcel, flirting is different these days."

"Different? These days?" frowned Amy.

"Amy, you said that you've lived in this area your whole life," said Gaspar. She nodded, wiping her eyes. "Then you know better than anyone that this part of the country has some very strange things happen all the time. Things that can't be explained."

"Y-yes, I know that," she said, nodding, looking from one person to the other.

"Have you ever seen a ghost? A spirit that had not quite finished their time on earth?" asked Noah.

"Ghosts? I-I'm not sure. I mean, I don't think I've ever seen one. What does this have to do with Marcel?"

"Amy, you said you thought you saw Marcel float across the water. Well, he actually did," said Gaspar. Marcel stared at her, his face a mask of uncertainty and pain. If she rejected him, who he was, he didn't know where he would go or what he would do.

"Magic. You're a magician?" she asked.

"No. I am not a magician. I did not lie to you. I am, or I was a sailor. I transported goods for the British Crown to and from Europe. In the 1700s."

Amy opened her mouth, then closed it, repeating the process several times. Then she burst out laughing, staring at the group. When they didn't smile back, only looking at her with concern, she swallowed and straightened, pushing her food away from her.

"Y-you're a ghost?"

"I was. I mean, I might still be. I honestly don't know," said Marcel.

"He is alive, warm flesh, heartbeat, and fully human," said Noah. "There is nothing nefarious about Marcel's being here. He was murdered near this coastline and was stuck alone for many years. Our property has many spirits due to its very rich history."

"You're alive now? I mean, like alive, alive." He smiled at her, touching her hand.

"Do I feel alive?"

"Very much so," she swallowed.

"We can't explain it," said Julia. "This has never happened before. Let me introduce you to a few other spirits here. Please meet our newest guests, Eagle Feather, Archie, Genvieve, and Charity."

"Oh," she said in a whisper of air.

"We are pleased to meet you," said Archie.

"Y-you speak?"

"We do, ma'am," he smiled. "We're very lucky to have found our way here. We were all killed on this property at different times, decades, even centuries ago. Somehow, we were brought back to tell our stories, and now we're here."

Archie reached for Charity's hand while Eagle Feather held tightly to Genevieve's. Amy smiled at them, then looked at the group.

"They can, I mean, can they have, do they have…"

"We do," smiled Archie. "It is a miracle that we are able to love wholly in this world of in-between."

"Something else has happened as well," said Gaspar. "Whatever occurred to make them come forward has now allowed all of our ghosts to be able to enjoy food. It's pretty remarkable."

"Okay. Okay, so you're all still ghosts. But Marcel is not. What happened?" she asked. "I mean, I'm very glad you're not a ghost, but is this permanent?"

"I'm not sure," he said. "I did not want to be untruthful to you, and I would very much like to continue getting to know you. But there are no guarantees that I will be here for the foreseeable future."

Amy stared at him, then at the others around her.

"Do you all see ghosts?" she asked.

"Initially, it was just me, Noah, and Irene," said Julia. "At least as far as we knew. Then, one day, they were apparent to everyone. It was wonderful to not have to hide our gifts any longer."

"Do you see them everywhere? I mean, New Orleans has to be very difficult for you with its history," said Amy.

"It can be," said Noah. "We tend to stay away from hospitals, morgues, cemeteries, that sort of thing. It can be very hard on Julia especially."

"This is a lot to take in," she whispered. "I'm not sure what to say."

"I understand. I'll leave you to your meal," said Marcel. She looked up at him as he stood, open-mouthed surprise on her face. Gaspar gripped his shoulder.

"Cousin, she didn't ask you to leave." Amy gripped his hand, feeling the warmth and strength.

"No. I didn't ask you to leave. I just said it's a lot to take in. But I feel certain that any time spent with you, Marcel, would be the most memorable of my life. Now, are there any other secrets I should be aware of? Were you married? Children?"

"No," he smiled. "I never married, never had children. I was not so fortunate."

"Will you tell me about your life? I mean, your life back then."

"You know some of it," he smiled. She tilted her head, wondering what he meant. "The portrait. It is of me."

"Oh wow! I knew it looked exactly like you! That's crazy. I mean, I used to stare at that painting and wonder what you were really like." Marcel laughed.

"Well, this is what I'm really like. I'm a man. Somewhat confused in my new world, but I am honest, hardworking, protective, and true to my word."

"You saved me," she frowned. He nodded. "No, I mean you saved me before you became human. You did walk on that water."

"Yes, I suppose I did," he nodded, looking at the others.

"We can't figure out why," said Julia. "We've all been trying to rack our brains to figure out what it was about you that allowed him to walk on water, lift, and carry you to shore, which was the real feat in all of this, and permanently be human again. Or at least we believe permanently."

Amy reached up, touching the warm cheek, feeling his manly, rough skin. His hair, thick and silky, felt like heaven between her fingers. Leaning forward, she pressed her lips to his and immediately felt the heat from his mouth and tongue. Sitting back, she blushed, touching her own lips again.

"Oh, wow. You are definitely alive," she smiled. Marcel laughed, a loud belly laugh that they hadn't heard before.

"I am indeed alive, Amy. Thank you for that, as I was unsure of how to make my feelings known to you."

"What happens if he, if he goes back to whatever he was before? What then?" she asked.

"We can't answer that right now," said Gaspar. "My mother and some others here have more knowledge of these things than I do. If you want my advice, just enjoy this time you have together. If it turns into something else, then I'd say you're both lucky, no matter how much time you have together."

Julia sensed that their duty was done. Now, it was up to Marcel and Amy to decide how they would proceed with the relationship.

"We'll leave you two alone," she smiled. They started to leave, and Gaspar turned to the couple.

"Amy? Trust in love. I didn't until I met my wife, and if my mother has taught me anything, it's that love always wins."