Whisper appeared in front of me, as I reached the open front door.
"You're blushing, Daddy."
.
I rolled my eyes. I could feel that I was.
"Thank you for stating the obvious."
.
"You say something, Will?" Evangeline asked aloud.
.
"No," I smirked.
"Just a pesky insect hanging around my head."
I waved my hand.
"Shoo, shoo, pesky insect."
.
"Ha, ha," Whisper snapped, as she wriggled her nose at me.
"You are so funny."
She kissed my cheek.
"But you are still blushing."
.
She disappeared, but appeared again, quickly.
"And like I told you, a long time ago, I am not a fly."
Again she disappeared.
.
As I walked through the door, I saw Evangeline, sitting in a chair, playing with Ghost and Spirit, who were both laying on their backs, letting her rub their bellies.
"I missed these two," she informed me.
"They are the most amazing cats."
.
"Don't praise them up too much," I asked her.
"It will go to their spoiled heads."
.
Evangeline laughed, continuing to rub both their bellies.
"I don't care. They are just so adorable."
.
The cats were sopping up the attention, completely ignoring me.
"Looks like they remember you."
I passed her the coffee, looking at the cats.
"Now, both of you. Scoot."
.
They both jumped to their feet, snapped their tales at me and scurried off the veranda.
.
"And stay away from the cliff," I yelled behind them.
.
They both stopped, looked at me and then at each other. With another duet snap of the tails, they disappeared into the woods, surrounding the property.
.
Evangeline shook her head.
"It is like they understand every word you say."
.
I sipped my coffee.
"Sometimes, I believe they do."
.
She looked out over the ocean, as she sipped her coffee.
"Mmmmm. This is delicious."
.
"Thank you. Its my special blend of about six different coffees."
I smiled.
"I couldn't make up my mind which one I liked so I just mix equal mounts of all of them."
.
She raised her cup.
"It works."
She looked back out to the ocean.
"You have such a wonderful view from here."
.
"I love it," I said.
"That is why I chose this spot."
.
"Your house is amazing. I don't think I have ever seen such a design."
.
"I worked with an architect and we designed it together. I had a vision of what I wanted and he brought it to life for me."
.
"It is beautiful," she repeated.
.
I sat down. "It is."
.
Whisper was in front of me.
"Daddy, show her the house."
.
"Of course."
I turned to Eva. "Would you like to see the house?"
.
She sipped her coffee, looking at me strangely. "Who were you just talking to?"
.
"What?"
.
"You looked like you were talking to someone.
You were looking toward the door. Is there someone in there?"
.
"No, not at all. Just, the thought struck me that I had not offered to show you my house."
I glanced toward Whisper.
Now she was giving me a strange look.
"What?" I questioned aloud.
Again I forgot I had company.
.
"There you go again," she laughed.
"Do you have an imaginary friend, Will?"
.
I shook my head.
"No, but there are times, I wish I did."
.
Whisper licked her tongue out at me and disappeared.
.
Evangeline laughed.
"Aren't you a little old for imaginary friends?"
.
I laughed with her, nodding my head.
"I guess so.
I'm sorry. I don't get many guests here and as you may have noticed, I am not exactly a social butterfly."
.
Eva laughed. "Social butterfly?"
She put her hand on my arm.
"You never seemed to have any problems, when we worked together in Twillingate."
.
I knew I was blushing.
And I knew Evangeline could see it clearly. I stood up.
"Okay, I think I will find a corner to hide in."
I started toward the front door.
.
Evangeline was still laughing. Not a hearty laugh, but a warm beautiful laugh.
"Get back here. I am just teasing. And I love that shade of red on your face."
.
I just shook my head.
Whisper reappeared. She was laughing, too.
'What are you laughing at?'
.
She just smiled and disappeared.
'I love that shade of red, too, Daddy.'
I heard her giggle.
.
I shook my head and took a deep breath, turning back to Evangeline.
"Would you like another coffee."
.
She nodded.
"I could probably force down another one. It is so delicious."
.
"Sure, come on."
I offered her my hand.
"Please come in."
.
She took my hand and I helped her up. She had the most beautiful brownish, greenish eyes. Why I had not really noticed them before, I was not sure.
I couldn't stop staring.
.
She smiled and held up her cup. "Coffee? House tour?"
.
"Of course."
We went to the kitchen and I poured both of us coffees.
.
"This place is so beautiful," she gasped, looking around the kitchen.
.
I took her hand again.
"Come on, let me show you my palace."
.
The tour lasted about an hour and Evangeline continued to be amazed by my house.
We ended up back in the kitchen, where we had first started.
I offered her another coffee.
.
She shook her head. "No, two cups are my limit."
.
"I could make you an Irish coffee," I said quickly, not wanting her to go.
.
She smile. "No, thank you, Will, but if you have a beer, I wouldn't mind one."
.
"You want a glass?"
.
She shook her head.
"No. Bottle or can, whatever you have. Anything except Black Horse. That shit is really hard to get down."
.
I laughed.
"I am glad you agree. I haven't had one of those since Twillingate. They are all Molson Canadian and Blue Star drinkers here in the Rock."
I went to the refrigerator.
"Why don't you go out on the veranda. I will be out in a second."
.
"Okay," she agreed smiling.
She took her camera off the kitchen counter and went outside.
.
Whisper appeared immediately.
"She is really pretty Daddy," Whisper gasped.
"I can see why you like her."
.
"What makes you think I like her?" I asked, while opening the beers.
.
Whisper giggled.
"I can read your thoughts, Daddy. And you are blushing like a schoolboy."
.
I turned off my thoughts and stared at Whisper.
"Schoolboy? Where did you hear that?"
.
She shrugged.
"Around."
She changed the subject back to Evangeline.
"But she is very pretty."
.
"Yes she is," I assured her, "but ...
she is also married."
.
"Really?"
.
I didn't understand Whisper's tone or her ignoring my eye contact.
"You are strange, little girl."
.
"Takes one to know one, Daddy."
.
I stared at her.
"You gotta stop hanging out at the cemetery."
.
She started giggling.
She floated up and kissed my cheek.
"I will go watch some T.V."
.
"Good idea, but first go and find Ghost and Spirit and make sure they do not bring any presents home, while Evangeline is here.
I don't need dead mice or half dead birds covering my veranda."
.
She nodded.
"I will go and remind them, Daddy."
She kissed my cheek again.
"Now go see the pretty ...
married ...
woman."
.
Why she emphasized the word married, was beyond me.
"What are you not telling me, hun?"
.
"Oh. I think Ghost is calling me," Whisper chirped, cupping her ear, with her hand.
"Gotta go, Joe."
She disappeared.
.
I shook my head, laughing.
Where was she picking up this stuff?
Life with Whisper certainly interesting.
.
I took the beers and went back outside.