***
I closed the folder and set it on my nightstand. My head was spinning once again, but this time from all the legal papers Matthew’s lawyer gave me.
I didn’t know what to do. I didn’t know where to start. I didn’t know if Harris was going to inform the Shikmans of what was taking place with Matthew’s estate or if that was up to me. I knew what to do with our home, our vacation home, and my business. I was keeping everything status quo. But now, there were no more financial worries; everything would be paid off, including the business loan. I would no longer be battered by Mr. Abernathy.
Matthew’s family was another story. I didn’t know if they would attempt to contact me again, especially Kathi, but after Harris was done with them, there should be no reason for them to get in touch with me. Still, I wondered how much of this Kathi really knew, and it saddened me to think everything about her might turn out to be fake, that her kindness toward me was just to find the money.
Nevertheless, now I could finally relax for a while and not worry—about anything—except for what to do with the inheritance Matthew left to me. I set up a meeting with Harris to discuss my options. He gave me two weeks to think about it, but tonight, I wasn’t going to think about anything. I was too tired.
Besides, there was no need to make any decisions immediately. Harris would help me get it all under control. Tonight I needed sleep. The last six months had taken its toll on my nocturnal rest, and I felt as if I could sleep for a week.
I turned off the light and settled down under the covers. It felt good.
Clunk.
I woke from a sound sleep. I opened my eyes and waited for the noise that woke me.
Clunk, clunk, clunk, clunk, clunk. It sounded like something hard and off-shape was rolling on the wood floor. It was either coming from the hallway or the dining room since those were the only two areas with wood floors.
I sighed and got out of bed. I flipped the light switch on the wall. Nothing happened. I was ready for this. Andjela told me one or more specters might hang around for no reason other than to make my life miserable because they themselves were miserable.
It was still a bright moon, so there was enough light coming through the window for me to find the flashlight on the dresser. I turned it on and started my journey down the hall. I shined it back and forth, up and down. There was nothing.
“Look, you have no reason to bother me anymore. Go bother someone else,” I said. It actually made me giggle. Here I was, once again, talking to no one, thus keeping open the doors of any reputable psychiatric institution. Oh well. What David didn’t know would keep me out of the loony bin.
Clunk, clunk, clunk, clunk. The sound was definitely coming from the dining room. I turned the corner to see the locket Matthew gave me moving about the dining room floor as if someone was using it for soccer dribbling practice.
That made me mad.
I ran over to the locket and picked it up. “This,” I yelled as I shook the locket in the air. “You are not messing with!” I opened it to make sure Matthew’s picture was still inside. It was. I gently closed the locket and held it to my heart. Slowly I lifted my head. “So, now what? You want to play? Go ahead. You don’t scare me anymore. It’s done, over with. You didn’t win. He did.”
I stood in the middle of the dining room and put the locket around my neck, vowing never to take it off. Then the cupboard doors in the kitchen started to open and close. I was sure the specters were retaliating in response to my actions. I turned with an indomitable smile and went back to bed thinking I might need to get some ear plugs.