Ghosts

Chapter 16

'Tomorrow afternoon?' Violet shrugged. 'I had to say yes, Mom. Cash buyers. Downsized. Retired. Their daughter lives in town, but they wanted a more rural lifestyle. They're perfect.' 'We have to put them off.' 'Too late. I've just replied to their email. Tomorrow at two o'clock.' 'But what about our little problem?' 'With the two of us, we might manage it.' 'Like this morning? That was so close, Violet. If that sergeant had seen...' 'Well, he didn't.' 'Only by sheer luck. Maybe we should bring the ghosts here while we try and sell the place?' 'Good idea, Mom. You, me and three ghosts, walking here. Outside.' 'Damn, I need a drink.' 'Take it easy on that stuff. We'll have to go back again tonight. Have another go at shifting them.' Grandma had been listening as she ate her lunch. 'You need professional help, you do.' 'I'm just having the one drink, okay?' 'I meant for the bloody ghosts. Get a priest in. One of them Catholic sort.' There were times, rare ones, when Grandma made sense. 'She does have a point, Mom.' 'Can't hurt, I suppose,' said mom, with a swirling of the neat bourbon in the glass. 'Leave this to me. Where's that phone book?' A minute later, she was talking to a priest of the Catholic variety, in Fairmouthe. 'Father Ambrose? My name is Mrs Shaydes. Can I ask you something? Do you have any experience with ...ghosts? Hello? Hello? There you are. Yes. I did say ghosts. No, I have not been drinking, Father.' She put the bourbon down. 'I hardly ever touch the stuff. Anyway. Ghosts. Right. Well, as soon as you can come over, if you don't mind. Any chance of today? I know it's rather short notice, but... Oh, you can. Brilliant. Hillsdown. Number twenty nine Crabtree Lane. Oh, thank you so much. I'll see you soon, then.' She hung up. 'That was easy. I wish I had thought about it sooner.' 'You didn't think about it at all,' said Grandma. 'I thought of it.' 'Then I wished you had thought about it sooner.' 'Look,' said Violet. 'The main thing, we have a priest coming over.' 'A bit of good luck, for a change. He's passing through to see a relative in Witchcombe. Another five minutes and I'd have missed him. He's on his way over. Come on.'