Read Online C.F. Fowler - Marion Rogers 01 - A Ghost's Vengeance by C.F. Fowler - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: C.F. Fowler
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Walter and raised her eyebrows to encourage his input here.
“Yes, Cathy. I’ve always been here for you and Addy. I’ve been looking after your girls too.” His voice drifted off as if unsure he was speaking to anyone. He felt foolish talking to the air.
Catherine faded but not entirely. Marion thought they were losing the argument. Miraculously, Adele stood and said, “Cathy, you will let this woman help you. Your father and I did not have a family to lose you to this despicable cause.” She started to cry but continued, “I want to live my eternal life with your father AND you and the girls. Please baby girl, listen to Marion.” She collapsed on the sofa, sobbing uncontrollably.
Catherine moved toward her mother and stood silently. Marion prayed Catherine would see reason in her mother’s words. She heard sniffling behind her and turned to see Walter blowing his nose and wiping his eyes with tissue. Slowly Catherine faded away.
Chapter 6
Walter approached Marion, hesitated as though he wanted to say something, but continued over to Adele.
“Addy,” he said quietly, “let’s call Helen.” Adele managed a smile and nodded. Walter left the room and Adele appeared to collect herself. She took a tissue from a box on the table and wiped her eyes, then blew her nose.
Adele turned to Marion and said, “Let’s go in and explain things to the girls.” Marion nodded and followed Adele to a bedroom at the far end of the hallway. They entered the bedroom to find the two girls sitting on the floor playing Chinese checkers. They both had their mother’s blonde hair and fair skin.
Adele called them to sit with her on a rose-colored padded bench seat on the side of the room. It appeared to be a playroom as there were no beds or dressers. The bench seat where Adele now sat had a twin on the other side of the room. A folding card table with two folding chairs sat near the far wall, while shelves containing books, games, and videos lined the wall opposite the card table. This floor was the same hardwood found in the living room.
The girls, Katy and Beth, six and eight years old respectively, sat on either side of their grandmother. Adele did her best to put a genuine smile on her face, but Marion could see it was forced.
“Girls, I’m sorry we didn’t talk to you about Hazel before we gave her away.” She looked to Marion for help.
Marion crouched down in front of Adele and said to the girls, “Yes. We could have done that better, I’m sorry. Hazel was unhappy. Dogs need attention. You have to spend time playing with them and take them on long walks twice a day.” Marion hesitated to give the girls a chance to digest the information and respond. The girls looked down at the floor and said nothing. She suspected they knew Hazel was unhappy.
“You can visit Hazel whenever you want. She’s living with Morey Feinbaum and his grandchildren. Do you know who that is?”
They nodded and Katy said, “But we promised Golda we would look after Hazel! Mom and Dad always told us to keep our promises.”
Marion smiled and said, “Yes, you should always keep your promises. But in giving Hazel to Morey you have done exactly that. He and his many grandchildren can take better care of Hazel. There’s power in numbers. And it takes a number of people, especially children, to care for Hazel. You two have school and other activities that take priority in your life right now.”
Beth said, “I think Morey is a nice man. He will take good care of Hazel. Golda said he was mensch.”
Adele laughed and hugged the girls. “Okay, now for the hard part. Aunt Helen is going to take care of you for a week or two. I’m not feeling well and have to go to a spa to get better.”
Marion liked the spa idea. No use worrying the girls any more than needed. Both girls hugged their grandmother tightly and pleaded with her not to go. Walter entered the room and announced that Helen was
“Yes, Cathy. I’ve always been here for you and Addy. I’ve been looking after your girls too.” His voice drifted off as if unsure he was speaking to anyone. He felt foolish talking to the air.
Catherine faded but not entirely. Marion thought they were losing the argument. Miraculously, Adele stood and said, “Cathy, you will let this woman help you. Your father and I did not have a family to lose you to this despicable cause.” She started to cry but continued, “I want to live my eternal life with your father AND you and the girls. Please baby girl, listen to Marion.” She collapsed on the sofa, sobbing uncontrollably.
Catherine moved toward her mother and stood silently. Marion prayed Catherine would see reason in her mother’s words. She heard sniffling behind her and turned to see Walter blowing his nose and wiping his eyes with tissue. Slowly Catherine faded away.
Chapter 6
Walter approached Marion, hesitated as though he wanted to say something, but continued over to Adele.
“Addy,” he said quietly, “let’s call Helen.” Adele managed a smile and nodded. Walter left the room and Adele appeared to collect herself. She took a tissue from a box on the table and wiped her eyes, then blew her nose.
Adele turned to Marion and said, “Let’s go in and explain things to the girls.” Marion nodded and followed Adele to a bedroom at the far end of the hallway. They entered the bedroom to find the two girls sitting on the floor playing Chinese checkers. They both had their mother’s blonde hair and fair skin.
Adele called them to sit with her on a rose-colored padded bench seat on the side of the room. It appeared to be a playroom as there were no beds or dressers. The bench seat where Adele now sat had a twin on the other side of the room. A folding card table with two folding chairs sat near the far wall, while shelves containing books, games, and videos lined the wall opposite the card table. This floor was the same hardwood found in the living room.
The girls, Katy and Beth, six and eight years old respectively, sat on either side of their grandmother. Adele did her best to put a genuine smile on her face, but Marion could see it was forced.
“Girls, I’m sorry we didn’t talk to you about Hazel before we gave her away.” She looked to Marion for help.
Marion crouched down in front of Adele and said to the girls, “Yes. We could have done that better, I’m sorry. Hazel was unhappy. Dogs need attention. You have to spend time playing with them and take them on long walks twice a day.” Marion hesitated to give the girls a chance to digest the information and respond. The girls looked down at the floor and said nothing. She suspected they knew Hazel was unhappy.
“You can visit Hazel whenever you want. She’s living with Morey Feinbaum and his grandchildren. Do you know who that is?”
They nodded and Katy said, “But we promised Golda we would look after Hazel! Mom and Dad always told us to keep our promises.”
Marion smiled and said, “Yes, you should always keep your promises. But in giving Hazel to Morey you have done exactly that. He and his many grandchildren can take better care of Hazel. There’s power in numbers. And it takes a number of people, especially children, to care for Hazel. You two have school and other activities that take priority in your life right now.”
Beth said, “I think Morey is a nice man. He will take good care of Hazel. Golda said he was mensch.”
Adele laughed and hugged the girls. “Okay, now for the hard part. Aunt Helen is going to take care of you for a week or two. I’m not feeling well and have to go to a spa to get better.”
Marion liked the spa idea. No use worrying the girls any more than needed. Both girls hugged their grandmother tightly and pleaded with her not to go. Walter entered the room and announced that Helen was
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