Eva was standing in the kitchen, leaning against the counter, puffing furiously, on a cigarette.
"Ok, where are my coat and purse?"
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"Let's go into the living room," I suggested.
"It might freak you out to see this."
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She laughed, sarcastically.
"I couldn't possibly be more freaked out than I am right now.
I just want my freaking purse and coat, so I can get the hell out of here."
She threw her arms in the air.
"Oh wait, I can't. MY CAR WON'T START," she yelled.
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At that second, we both could hear her car start. It ran for a few seconds then shut off.
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Eva turned and looked out the kitchen window.
"That was my car."
She turned and looked at me.
"How did you do that?"
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"I didn't," I assured her, shaking my head.
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She lit another cigarette, drooping the half smoked one, in the sink, behind her. She was shaking.
"OK. My coat and purse please."
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I walked to her.
"Please, lets go into the living room."
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"Will," she demanded.
"My coat and my purse."
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I started to turn. I could see Whisper walking into the kitchen with the coat and purse.
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"Shit," I snapped.
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"Oh my God," Evangeline squealed, behind me.
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I turned, quickly and caught her, before she fell to the floor.
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Whisper was at my side in a second, coat and purse, still in her hand.
"What's wrong with her, Daddy?"
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I picked Evangeline up in my arms and headed to the living room.
"She fainted, sweetie. Please get me a damp facecloth?" I asked, as I laid her on the couch, gently.
"Hurry, hun."
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Whisper tossed the coat and purse on an armchair and disappeared. She returned a few seconds later with the damp cloth.
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"Will she be okay?"
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I nodded.
"She will be fine. I don't think she was ready to see her coat and purse floating toward her."
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"Sorry, Daddy. I didn't mean to make her faint."
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I turned and kissed her on the top of the head.
"Its okay, sweetie. She will be okay."
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It took about 10 minutes for Evangeline to wake up.
As her eyes open, she looked at me, confused.
"What happened?"
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"You fainted."
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She looked around the room. When she saw her coat and purse, she sat up quickly.
"They weren't there?" she stammered.
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I nodded and offered her a scotch.
"I know."
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She gulped it down and passed the glass back to me.
"Another."
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I poured her another and that one disappeared just as quickly.
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"Another."
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"Don't you think?"
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She glared at me, empty glass in hand.
"Pour ... me ... another ... drink."
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I did and this time she sipped it, staring at her coat and purse.
"I saw them floating."
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"You did," I assured her.
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There was a long silence.
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Whisper appeared in the archway between the living room and kitchen. I turned.
"Is she ok Daddy?"
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"She's fine," I assured Whisper.
"Just a little rattled."
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"You're talking again," Evangeline reminded me.
"To her?"
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I nodded. "I am."
I stood up and offered her my hand.
"Look. Why don't you just leave?"
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She looked at me. "You want me to leave?"
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I shook my head. "No, but..."
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She shook her head and took another sip of scotch. I could see colour coming back to her face and her hands were not shaking as much.
"You were really talking to her?"
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I nodded.
"To Whisper? Yes."
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"Let her see me Daddy," Whisper told me.
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"Not yet honey."
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"What did she say?"
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I shook my head and lied again. "Nothing."
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Evangeline stared at me.
"No lies. You promised."
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I sat on the couch, next to Evangeline.
"Look, Whisper is a huge part of my life. She is like a daughter to me."
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"A daughter. You have a ghost for a daughter. Explain that Will."
She waved her arms in a circle. "I don't see anything."
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"I know. I won't let you,"I explained.
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She stared at me. "You see her?"
Her voice was almost normal.
"I mean. You actually see her?"
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I nodded. "All the time."
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She put her drink on the end table and sat on the couch properly. "Where is she? It is a she, isn't it?"
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I nodded. "Whisper is the spirit of an eleven year old girl. Her name was Jennifer Nicole Dove. She fell over the cliff out there. Right where the gazebo is."
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I could see her face soften even more.
"Oh my god. That's terrible."
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"Her parents died in a fire. Their house was right here, literally in my living room. It was a terrible snowstorm. Jenny managed to get out of the house, but she got disoriented and fell into the ocean and drowned."
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There were tears in Eva's eyes. She looked around the room. "She is here? Right now?"
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I nodded.
"Yea, she is."
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"I want to see her."
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"I don't know if that is such a good idea."
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She moved next to me and took my hand.
"Look, a half hour ago I was willing to throw away the best thing that I have ever had in my life, because I thought you were lying to me and trying to make me look like an idiot.
I love you Will Templeton and as much as I think right now, that you are some kind of freak," she forced a little laugh, "I am still in love with you.
If you are not lying to me, then I need to know. And if I am going to be a part of your life, then I guess I had better meet your daughter."
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Whisper smiled and giggled.
Eva looked toward the living room window where Whisper had moved to.
"Did you hear that?"
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I was surprised. "Did you?"
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She smiled slightly.
"I did. It sounded like a little girl, giggling. That's what it sounded like. A little girl, giggling."
She stared at me.
"Did she giggle?"
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I simply nodded, smiling.
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"She heard me Daddy," Whisper squealed, excitedly.
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"Yes she did sweetie."
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"I want to see her Will."
Evangeline took my hands.
"I need to see her, Will."
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Whisper walked toward us. "It's time Daddy. It is the way it has to be."
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I nodded.
"Eva, close your eyes and tell me if you feel anything."
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Whisper walked to Evangeline and ran her fingers through her hair.
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Evangeline pulled back a little and opened her eyes. I had moved away from her.
"It wasn't you?"
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I shook my head.
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Evangeline smiled.
"She touched my hair. I could feel her fingers," she said, her eyes wide open in amazement.
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Whisper bent forward and kissed her cheek.
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Eva's hand went up to it.
"She kissed me, or touched me, I could feel it."
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"She kissed your cheek."
Tears were now falling from my eyes. I wiped my face with the facecloth that I had used on Evangeline.
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Eva put her hand out. "Then she is right in front of me."
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"She is."
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Whisper held her hand and looked at me. "I love you Daddy."
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I smiled, even though my heart was breaking, I knew, as Whisper knew, this was how it must be.
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I forced a smile and looked at Evangeline.
"Eva, meet Whisper."
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Whisper slowly began to appear, still holding Evangeline's hand.