The Loveliest Dead by Ray Garton Page B

fingernail on the screen over the man’s photograph in the corner. “If he really talked to dead people, they’d tell him how ridiculous he looks with that toupee on his head. And the stars— Michael Landon, Princess Di, Bette Davis, Dudley Moore, Bill Bixby. It took me a minute to figure out they’re all dead. He never worked for these people before they died—he claims to talk to them now that they’re dead. That’s what he means by ‘Medium to the Stars.’ Well, who’s to say he doesn’t talk to them, but what difference does that make? You don’t need to talk to John Ritter, right? I think we can skip this guy.”  
    Jenna said, “I agree. Who’s next?”
    “I’m gonna get some coffee first. You want some?” Kimberly stood.
    “That sounds good. I’ll come with you.” As they went back through the house, she said, “How do you know so much about psychics and mediums?”  
    Kimberly laughed. “Are you kidding? I know less than nothing. Everything I told you I just picked up on the Internet last night. In fact, when I was growing up, I was taught to steer way clear of this stuff. My brother and I were both taught that it’s all evil. We were raised Seventh-Day Adventists.”  
    “Then why did you offer to help me?”
    In the kitchen, Kimberly took her mug from the counter and got another from the cupboard, poured coffee into both, added cream to hers. “I said I was raised an Adventist, not that I still am one. Those stories scared me when I was a little girl, but I haven’t been one of those in a long time. You take your coffee black, right?”  
    “Yes. If that’s the way you were taught when you were young, then you must have been frightened when you realized it couldn’t have been your grandmother who had come to your room—that it was something... evil?”  
    “Oh, no, not at all. I was already starting to think for myself by then. Before then, really. Some people have to learn to think outside the box; I had to learn to think outside the church, but I started early. When I learned that Grandma had died that night, I knew in my heart, without even having to debate it in my mind, that she had come to kiss me good-bye, in spite of all the things I’d been taught. Like I said, I smelled her breath. I could smell her perfume in the room after she left. She might not have been there there, but she was there.”  
    Kimberly handed her the steaming mug, then they headed back to the bedroom.
    “So this stuff doesn’t bother you now?” Jenna said.
    “No, I’m intrigued. I got the impression something was bothering you the first time I saw you, but I had no idea it would be so interesting. You seem much better today, by the way.”  
    Jenna nodded. “I think it’s because I’m doing something about it. I’m still blown away by the fact that I’m doing this. I mean, I’ve always laughed at those guys on TV who talk to people’s dead relatives. And I’ve always thought the people who go to them are pathetic. But now I’m one of those pathetic people. If anyone who knows me ever finds out about this, I’ll be so embarassed.”  
    As they entered the bedroom, Kimberly said, “You’re not pathetic and you shouldn’t be embarassed. Spiritual paths take people in all kinds of directions, and if other people can’t understand that, it’s their problem, not yours. You want to talk embarrassing spiritual paths? Think of those Heaven’s Gate guys who had themselves castrated, then ate poison so they could board the star-ship Enterprise in the tail of some comet—wherever they are, they still must be embarrassed about that.”  
    Jenna nodded toward the monitor. “Could you e-mail all this information to me?”
    “Sure, no problem. Look them over and decide who you want to try. I don’t go back to work till Wednesday, so that gives us a couple afternoons to check some out.”  
    “Are you serious? You really want to do this with me?”
    “Sure, why not? You’ve got me all