It was a week later that I made a phone call, but it was still not to Sheila.

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"Hello," came a cheerful voice from the other end of the phone.

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"Bobby? Its me, Will."

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"Will," he yelled.

"Where the hell are you, boy? Everyone here is just frantic."

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"I know. I know."

I really didn't know what to say.

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"What happened, Will? You tooked off from theNew Years bash and then suddenly you are gone from the Rock.

Sheila has been phoning Jess, every day. She is really in a bad way, Will."

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I let out a deep sigh.

"I know, Bobby. I feel like a shit. I really do, but ..."

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I heard Jessie's voice in the background.

"Is that Will?"

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I heard noises, figuring it was Jessie taking the cell phone from Bobby.

"Will Templeton," she yelled.

"Where the fu......? Where are you?"

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"Jess please."

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"Don't you, Jess please me, mister.

We are all worried sick about you. What the hell is going on with you?"

.

"You wouldn't believe me if I told you, Jess."

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"Try me. I am pretty open."

.

"Look. I am sorry I bothered you two. I should go."

.

"Don't you dare," she ordered me.

"Bothered us? I thought we were friends, Will? Is this how you treat friends?"

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"I don't know. I have never really had any," I answered, honestly.

.

She snickered.

"Have you ever wondered why?"

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I took a deep breath.

"Jess, I don't need a lecture. I feel like shit, as it is."

.

"And so you should," she snapped.

"Have you at least called Sheila? She is in a tizzy."

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"No," I whispered.

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"Why not," Jess yelled back at me.

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I heard Bobby say something in the background.

Jessie snapped at him, as well.

"Touch this phone and you will be sleeping on the couch for the next year."

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Even I cringed.

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"Why haven'y you called your girlfriend?" Jessie demanded to know.

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"I honestly don't know what to say to her, Jess."

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"The truth is usually a good start," Jessie reminded me.

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I laughed.

"Like anyone would believe the truth."

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"What is the truth, Will?"

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"You wouldn't believe me."

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"I'm only going to say this one more time Will.

What is the truth?"

Her voice suddenly went very soft and gentle.

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"I lost someone very close to me and in all honesty, Jess. It is killing me."

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"Your niece?"

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I went quiet.

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"Will, my love. I know you don't have a niece."

She laughed gently.

"You are like my sweet husband. You tend to talk a lot when you are drinking."

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"I'm sorry I lied to you, Jess."

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I could hear Jessie sigh.

"I know you are hiding something Will and I am pretty sure it has something to do with the Spirit that is in your house."

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"Spirit? What Spirit?

My cat?"

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Jessie laughed.

"Will, there is no way you can live in that house and not know there is a Spirit there.

It was one of the strongest feelings I have ever had."

.

"Shit."

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"Look," she quietly spoke.

"I am alone here. Bobby is in the living room, pouting, because I took the phone from him.

I watched you when I mentioned the Spirit. You didn't even flinch.

And Will, my love. You are the worst liar I have ever seen."

.

"Shit, Jess."

.

"Will? remember this. Bobby and I think the world of you. Bobby looks at you like a brother and I adore you. You are the sweetest man, next to Bobby, that I have ever met.

But I can't tolerate liars."

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"I don't know if I am ready to talk about this, Jess. It still hurts."

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"Okay, then just answer one question and make me one promise."

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"I will."

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"Does this have to do with the Spirit in your house?"

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"It does. Yes."

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I heard a long sigh of relief.

"Will you tell me all about it, when you come back?"

.

"If I come back."

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"Okay," she snapped.

"That shit, I am NOT going to listen to.

You promise me, right now, Will Templeton, that you will explain everything ...

WHEN you come back."

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I had to smile.

I did love this woman.

"I promise."

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"Finally," she gasped, laughing.

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"I am sorry, Jessie. I really am. I know I am an ass, but I really have issues with facing people."

.

"What about your girlfriend?"

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"I am not ready to talk to her."

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"You know it will get harder, as each day goes by," she reminded me.

.

I had to agree.

"I just don't know what to tell her."

.

"Just tell her you need some time, Will. You wouldn't be the first man to get cold feet."

She laughed.

"It took me a year, of not so subtle hints, before my man finally proposed."

Her voice went very serious.

"But, she does deserve, at least, a call."

.

I knew Jessie was right, but I was a coward, deep down.

"I will call her," I finally said.

.

"Good."

She laughed again.

"Now, I know you didn't call, just to get shit from me."

.

"No, but thank you, anyway."

.

"You are welcome," she joked.

"So, what do you need us to do?"

.

"I want you to check in on my house, from time to time."

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"No problem, but we don't have a key."

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"I left one on the chair, by the front door. I didn't figure anyone would look there, not that anyone ventures out that far."

.

"We will do that for you."

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An idea hit me.

"Why don't the two of you just move in, until I get back. Everything is looked after and you will only have to buy groceries and I will pay you for doing it."

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Jessie laughed.

"You don't need to pay us, Will. You have done enough already. But it might be a good idea for us to move in. Will give us some privacy."

A thought must have suddenly hit her, because she barked at me.

"Please tell me you didn't leave the cats there alone."

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I laughed.

"No. They are here with me."

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"Good. I will drive out and get the key and after Bobby and I come back from our cruise, we will move in and look after the place for you."

.

"When do you leave?"

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"Day after tomorrow." She let out a little shriek.

"I am so excited."

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"Well, you two have a great time and take lots of pictures."

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"We will," she said softly.

"We just got a new digital camera and I am sure Bobby will take pictures of everything."

.

I smiled to myself.

I was happy for them both.

"Call me when you get back," I reminded her.

.

"I will.

And you call Sheila."

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I did call Sheila, a few minutes later, but as soon as I heard her voice I froze.

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"Will? Will?

Sweetie, is that you?

Where are you?"

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I stood in silence, listening to her voice, tears rolling down my face.

.

"Will? Please talk to me."

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I could hear her starting to cry.

I couldn't handle the call.

I didn't know what to say or how to say it.

"I'm sorry, Sheila," was all I could gasp out.

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"Will? Will?"

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I hung up the phone and turned it off.

Tomorrow, I would get a new phone and a new number.

.

I sat on the edge of the bed.

Ghost and Spirit jumped up with me.

I petted them both and they began purring.

"I love you guys," I cried.

.

I got up from the bed and walked into the tiny living room of the cabin, I was renting.

I put on my heavy coat, grabbed a bottle of scotch and walked outside.

I was immediately met by the cold wind coming off the ocean.

.

I walked across the little field, that was behind the cabins.

I stopped at the chain link fence that surrounded the cabins and protected the visitors from the cliffs that were at the property edge.

Though they were only about 30 feet high, the rocks and cold water below, would surely spell death for anyone who slipped over.

.

I drank from the bottle.

I could easily scale the fence, stand on the top and jump. It would be over in a matter of seconds.

I looked back at the cabin.

I could see Ghost and Spirit, sitting on the ledge of the living room window.

They loved it there, watching the seagulls through the day.

.

They were wonderful cats and surely someone would provide them with a good home.

The people in this small town were very friendly.

.

I drank again from the bottle and leaned against the fence.

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Suddenly I thought I heard something.

Maybe it was just the wind howling across the rocks below of maybe swirling around in some cave, at the foot of the cliffs ...

but ...

it sounded like a little girl's giggle.

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"Whisper?"

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I heard it again.

.

I knew it couldn't be her, but what if it was my Whisper, sending me a message, in the only way she could.

Maybe it was my Whisper, letting me know that she was okay.

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"Whisper?"

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I heard it one more time, this time, clearer than all the rest.

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"I miss you. Daddy will always love you."

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The wind gusted.

The giggling stopped.

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I looked at the bottle in my hand.

I was not falling back into that again.

I threw with all my might and watched the bottle until it disappeared over the lip of the cliff.

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I pulled my coat tight around my neck and went back to the cabin.