was worse—the possibility that she had a mental illness or that the $3.8 million house she’d purchased had come with its original owners: ghosts. Either way, she was not a happy camper.
Before she continued down that depressing path, Miguel appeared with a heavy tray laden with four giant-sized plates. “You ladies have the appetite of bears.”
“Yes, we do. I was never one to order lettuce and act like I wasn’t hungry. Give me a good burger, and I’m a happy woman.”
“Yes, Miss Toots,” Miguel said as he set a huge plate in front of her.
“I’m guessing we’ll want dessert, too,” Toots added. Her sweet tooth needed a major fix.
Sophie slid into her empty chair. “I love to smoke. I don’t care how bad it is. I was considering quitting, but why bother?” She raked her gaze over the plates of food. “You know we’ll never eat all of this.”
“Speak for yourself,” Toots said before taking a large bite of her hamburger.
Sophie leaned across the table. “You’re never going to guess what I just saw.” She plucked a fry from her plate, dragging it through a mound of ketchup.
With her mouth full she couldn’t speak, so she motioned with her hand.
“Don’t talk with your mouth full,” Sophie said.
Toots swallowed and was about to reach across the table and slap Sophie in her smart-ass mouth, but thought better of it. “What? I’m only asking once.”
“Dr. Sameer and Amala were waiting outside. Apparently they have a limousine, not sure if it was his or maybe he rented it for Amala’s thirtieth birthday. Whatever, I thought it rather odd when I saw Amala practically shove her tongue down the limo driver’s throat. She kissed him like she couldn’t wait to drag him into the sack. Hell, for all I know, they could be knocking one off in the backseat as we speak, though I doubt it. With her father present, it’s unlikely. I’m sure she’s learned a bit of control. I’m just saying…”
Toots considered this bit of news, unsure what to make of it. Then she decided she agreed with Sophie. “Not if she’s tonguing the driver in the parking lot; that’s anything but control. This is rather strange. She doesn’t look like the type to go for the hired help. Maybe the limo belongs to her father, or maybe the limo driver owns the damned thing and he’s her boyfriend. I’ll mention this to Ida. If Dr. Sameer owns a limousine, she would know.”
“True. I think Ida is having a fling with Dr. Sameer.” Sophie took a small bite of her hamburger. “This is what food is supposed to taste like. Poor Mavis.”
Engrossed in her meal, Toots waited until her hunger was satisfied before continuing their conversation. “Ida loves all men, Sophie. She acts like a slut no matter who they are. What makes you think she and the good doctor are an item? She hasn’t been to see him in…I can’t remember when her last visit was. Maybe I am getting Alzheimer’s. Have you noticed anything odd about me lately? Have I been acting strange, forgetting things?” Toots feared her grip on reality was slipping and she had no control.
“Oh, frig! To quote you, ‘You’re as full of shit as a Sunday outhouse.’ No, I don’t think you have Alzheimer’s; nor do I think you’ve been acting odd. You always act weird, Toots, that’s just the way you are. You’ve let this ghost story frighten you too much. Ghosts aren’t necessarily a bad thing. I tell you what, when we get back to the house, not only will I set up the camcorder and the electronic voice-phenomena recorder, but we’ll have a séance, too. We can have Ida and Mavis join us. We need more than two people. We’ll tell them it’s just for fun.”
Skeptical, Toots asked, “And you think they’ll believe you?”
“They have no reason not to unless you tell them otherwise.”
Toots pondered Sophie’s idea of a séance. “Exactly what happens if a ghost does appear?”
“Hell if I know. I’ve been to a few séances when I lived
Before she continued down that depressing path, Miguel appeared with a heavy tray laden with four giant-sized plates. “You ladies have the appetite of bears.”
“Yes, we do. I was never one to order lettuce and act like I wasn’t hungry. Give me a good burger, and I’m a happy woman.”
“Yes, Miss Toots,” Miguel said as he set a huge plate in front of her.
“I’m guessing we’ll want dessert, too,” Toots added. Her sweet tooth needed a major fix.
Sophie slid into her empty chair. “I love to smoke. I don’t care how bad it is. I was considering quitting, but why bother?” She raked her gaze over the plates of food. “You know we’ll never eat all of this.”
“Speak for yourself,” Toots said before taking a large bite of her hamburger.
Sophie leaned across the table. “You’re never going to guess what I just saw.” She plucked a fry from her plate, dragging it through a mound of ketchup.
With her mouth full she couldn’t speak, so she motioned with her hand.
“Don’t talk with your mouth full,” Sophie said.
Toots swallowed and was about to reach across the table and slap Sophie in her smart-ass mouth, but thought better of it. “What? I’m only asking once.”
“Dr. Sameer and Amala were waiting outside. Apparently they have a limousine, not sure if it was his or maybe he rented it for Amala’s thirtieth birthday. Whatever, I thought it rather odd when I saw Amala practically shove her tongue down the limo driver’s throat. She kissed him like she couldn’t wait to drag him into the sack. Hell, for all I know, they could be knocking one off in the backseat as we speak, though I doubt it. With her father present, it’s unlikely. I’m sure she’s learned a bit of control. I’m just saying…”
Toots considered this bit of news, unsure what to make of it. Then she decided she agreed with Sophie. “Not if she’s tonguing the driver in the parking lot; that’s anything but control. This is rather strange. She doesn’t look like the type to go for the hired help. Maybe the limo belongs to her father, or maybe the limo driver owns the damned thing and he’s her boyfriend. I’ll mention this to Ida. If Dr. Sameer owns a limousine, she would know.”
“True. I think Ida is having a fling with Dr. Sameer.” Sophie took a small bite of her hamburger. “This is what food is supposed to taste like. Poor Mavis.”
Engrossed in her meal, Toots waited until her hunger was satisfied before continuing their conversation. “Ida loves all men, Sophie. She acts like a slut no matter who they are. What makes you think she and the good doctor are an item? She hasn’t been to see him in…I can’t remember when her last visit was. Maybe I am getting Alzheimer’s. Have you noticed anything odd about me lately? Have I been acting strange, forgetting things?” Toots feared her grip on reality was slipping and she had no control.
“Oh, frig! To quote you, ‘You’re as full of shit as a Sunday outhouse.’ No, I don’t think you have Alzheimer’s; nor do I think you’ve been acting odd. You always act weird, Toots, that’s just the way you are. You’ve let this ghost story frighten you too much. Ghosts aren’t necessarily a bad thing. I tell you what, when we get back to the house, not only will I set up the camcorder and the electronic voice-phenomena recorder, but we’ll have a séance, too. We can have Ida and Mavis join us. We need more than two people. We’ll tell them it’s just for fun.”
Skeptical, Toots asked, “And you think they’ll believe you?”
“They have no reason not to unless you tell them otherwise.”
Toots pondered Sophie’s idea of a séance. “Exactly what happens if a ghost does appear?”
“Hell if I know. I’ve been to a few séances when I lived
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