Read Online Unfinished Business An Angela Panther Novel (A Chick-lit Paranormal book) (The Angela Panther Series) by Carolyn Ridder Aspenson - Free Book Online Page B

her. You know how the mediums always say it gets cold when a ghost is around? Well, it does. Every time I’ve seen my mother, I’ve felt a chill. There’s your proof, Mel. She’s really here.”
    “I believe you, Ang." She glanced toward the bed. “Um, hi, Fran,” she yelled to my mother, then whispered to me, “What does she want?”
    “Oh, for the love of God, I’m dead. I’m not deaf. She doesn't have to yell."
    I giggled. “Mel, Ma said she’s dead, not deaf, and I don’t know what she wants. You two have been so busy talking, I haven’t had a chance to ask.” I asked Ma what she wanted. She told me she had some things in her hatboxes and she wanted to make sure I gave them to her granddaughters, so Mel and I found them and put them aside. Mel was shocked and awed that my dead mother was here telling me what to do with her stuff. I was shocked and awed that she didn’t, for one tiny second, question my sanity anymore than normal, that is. They’re few and far between, friends like that. She so deserved another cupcake.
    “I’m researching this tonight."
    “Researching what?” Ma and I asked, in unison. We shot each other a quick look, and I felt good knowing that mother-daughter connection was still there.
    “This...your mother being here, and not going to the light. I mean, seriously, there’s got to be a reason she’s here, you know? Something’s got to be keeping her here.”
    “She’s a smart one, that Mel."
    “Well, Ma. It’s not like I haven’t said that very same thing.”
    Mel’s head jerked back and forth as she tried to catch a glimpse of my mother. “What’s she saying? Is she talking about me?”
    I nodded. “She said you’re smart.”
    Mel flipped her hair with her hand, and smiled seductively. “Well, duh. I’m the complete package. Smart and beautiful.”
    “Of course you are. I wouldn’t hang out with you if you weren’t.”
    My mother stuck her tongue out, put her finger in her mouth and made a gagging sound. I laughed out loud.
    Mel was befuddled. “This isn’t fair. I feel like the odd woman out. You get to see both your mother and me, and I’m stuck with just you and only getting half of the conversation. Nothing personal, Ang, but I’d much rather see your mom right now.”
    I gave her my sad face.
    Ma floated over to Mel and tried to give her a hug, but her arms went right through my friend. “What a load of crap.” She grunted in frustration.
    Mel shuddered. “Oh, wow. I just had a massive chill.”
    Yeah, I bet you did.
    I directed the conversation back to Mel’s earlier comment about Ma being here for a reason, because I knew if I mentioned the hug attempt, Mel would be freaked. “You know, I’ve been trying to figure out what’s keeping Ma here, too. I’ve asked her, but she avoids the issue.” I glanced at Ma, but she pretended not to notice, and stared at the wall. She’d become really good at avoiding issues since she died.
    “I think we need to see a medium. Maybe a medium can tell us why she’s still here, and what to do about it.”
    “What to do about it? Who’s she calling an it,” Ma snipped. “I’m no it. I’m a human being. Well, I was a human being, and now I’m a ghost, but you know what I mean.”
    “She’s not calling you an it, Mother.”
    Mel shook her head boldly. “No, Fran. I didn’t mean it that way. I meant the situation.”
    “My mother knows that, Mel. She’s just being a brat. Stop it, Ma.”
    “I’m sorry, Fran. Really."
    “I know, I know." Tell her not to get her undies all up in a bunch. I’m not going to come and haunt her or anything. Not yet anyway.”
    Now that would have been fun to watch. I relayed Ma’s message to Mel, and then watched Ma shimmy away, sparkles and all. I so wished I could do that.
    “She’s gone.”
    “Wow. Just wow.”
    “Yup. Welcome to my world.”
    We finished going through Ma’s things, and made plans to meet for coffee the next day.

Chapter Seven
    Early the