Eternal Love

Chapter 4: Thomas

Sheila was excited about finding out more about Thomas. She decided to have John Busby summoned that afternoon. Whom better to find out more about Thomas than his cousin, she thought. John showed up shortly after lunch time; they decided to go for a walk in the gardens again. They got to the guest house, just beyond the bell gardens and Sheila sat down on the wicker furniture on the porch.

John sat next to her and asked her why she had summoned him, hoping it was because she desired to be with him. To his dismay, she asked about Thomas. She desired to know more about him. He reluctantly answered her; telling her how he was young bachelor with a taste for the finer things in life. Thomas, John laughed, was a bit of a prankster as well as a eligible bachelor.

Sheila imagined him riding up to a big palace, where a grand ball was happening. She imagined him coming out of a grand carriage, looking sharp and debonair in his finest gentleman outfit. His hair would be neatly pulled back with a single black ribbon to match his debonair black and white outfit. His stature would inspire confidence in his nature. She imagined all this while John spoke of him.

They spoke of nothing else well into dusk, then they heard her mother calling out that dinner was served. They ran back, giggling like school children due to the rain storm that had suddenly begun. They got inside the mansion and shook themselves off. Sheila's mother comnented how they both looked a downright fright and needed to clean up for dinner. They laughed and agreed; then proceeded upstairs to clean up.

When they finally came downstairs, they found a delicious meal set out before them. Ham that had been marinated in brown sugar and bourbon, green bean casserole, candied yams and cook's famous cinnamon pumpkin pie; topped with her homemade vanilla ice cream. Sheila looked it all over eagerly; knowing she had to wait until her mother conducted the grace prayer. Her mother completed the prayer and they proceeded to fill their plates. Sheila couldn't help but to grab a little extra for herself; it was to good to resist.

After dinner, John Busby bid the ladies good night and Sheila took her mother upstairs for the night. She was brushing her hair at her vanity, when she saw the apparition of Thomas again. She looked at the reflection of Thomas and told him she knew whom he was in life, thanks to his cousin. The apparition nodded and smiled at her. She put her hand on the mirror, hoping he might do it too. He came up behind her in the reflection and put his ghostly hand on the reflection of hers; she could've sworn she felt him.

As soon as he had done it, he disappeared. She sighed a heavy sigh and then went to bed. Her dreams had her sleep deeply that night; dreams of enjoying time with Thomas in his living days. Sheila always felt safe and comfortable in these dreams. These dreams were very real to her; like her own little piece of heaven on earth.

She awoke the next morning, thinking she saw a figure of a man standing over her bed. She jumped up and flung the curtain open to see whom was there. The sunlight burst in; whoever it was that had been standing there, had vanished. She rubbed her eyes and shook her head, must have been a left over remnant from her dream. She put on her robe and went downstairs to join her mother for breakfast.

Breakfast went by peacefully and Sheila took her daily morning walk around the grounds. Sheila got to the gardens and sat in her wicker chair and began to write in her journal. She suddenly felt a quick gust of wind and turned to look behind her. Thomas was standing there, as though he was waiting for her to go somewhere with him. Sheila rose from her seat, put her journal down on the chair and took Thomas's ghostly hand.

They seemed to have walked for hours in the woods behind the guest house. Sheila thought she should probably feel afraid, however she felt nothing of the kind. They came upon a small wooden cabin, which looked to have been abandoned for some time. Thomas floated through the front door and Sheila opened it after him. She walked in and saw Thomas sitting on a single rocking chair in front of a cold fireplace.

She walked up to the fireplace and grabbed a small stack of wood. She placed it on the rack inside of the fireplace and lit the coals under it. She proceeded to add a few rolled up pieces of newspaper to the fire; to make it rise enough to light up the front room. She got up and went to the chair next to the rocking chair and sat down. She watched the fire for a while before she heard Thomas speak.

In a haunting voice, he told her he was falling in love with her. She didn't know how to react to this information; for she felt the same for him. She finally decided to reciprocate with the same sentiment. She put her hand out towards him and he did the same. The touch felt alluring to her and it took her breath away for a split second, until she removed her hand.

She stood up and told him it was time to take her back. He floated up next to her and offered his transparent arm. She slid her arm into his and they proceeded to walk. They got to the front porch of her mansion; he leaned into her and laid a cold, whisp kiss. She felt her cheek where he placed the kiss and realized it was cold to the touch; she blew him a kiss in reciprocation.

He smiled and faded away, Sheila sighed joyfully and went inside. It was pitch black in the foyer, she felt around for the cabdlebra and the pack of matches. She found it and struck the match, she lit the candle and proceeded upstairs. She checked on her mother and saw her sleeping peacefully. Sheila went to her room, got ready for bed and then climbed into her bed; hoping to have beautiful dreams.

The next morning, she awoke to the same coldness on her cheek she felt last night after Thomas's ghostly kiss. She quickly got out of bed to look in the mirror. However, when she got to her vanity; a message in her red rouge was written on her mirror. She rubbed her eyes, to make sure she was really seeing it. The message simply read; Good morning my love.

Sheila drew a picture of the message in her journal, then cleaned off the mirror. She got dressed and proceeded downstairs. When she got down to the kitchen, she could hear madam Gabriela speaking with her mother. She walked in, bid them good morning and sat down with them at the table. They had a conversational breakfast, then Sheila, Ophelia and Gabriella decided to go into town for the morning.

They went to the antique stores and the little farmers stands selling vegetables and fruit. They walked the trail in the local park while her mother spoke of politics, religion and the ludicrous way of men. Sheila let her words go in one ear and out the other; she simply couldn't understand why people desired to speak of such depressing things. They continued their walk and then went to the local diner for lunch.

After lunch, they went back to the mansion and madam Gabriela bid both ladies good day, then quietly left.