Bobby called me on my cell phone, about 30 minutes after Sheila had left.

He wanted to be sure that I was okay.

.

"I am fine, Bobby. Not going to say I am perfect, but I guess given the circumstance, i should not have expected anything more."

.

"You gonna be okay, my friend?"

.

"I will. Where are you and Jess?"

.

Bobby took a deep breath.

"We are at our own apartment."

.

"Are you coming back tonight?"

.

"Ah ... well its like this Will.

Jess and Sheila have became pretty good friends and right now ..."

.

I heard Jessie yell in the background.

"I am really pissed at you, Will."

.

Now it was my turn to take a deep breath.

"Shit."

.

"Yea," Bobby sighed.

"Shit."

.

There was a moment of silence.

.

"You still there, Bobby?"

.

"Yea, Will, boy. I am.

Look, why don't you take a little time and get settled back in. I will talk to you in a couple days."

He started whispering.

"And don't worry about Jess. She will come around.

Its just right now, she is upset, not only 'cause you guys broke up, but 'cause her new best friend is moving away."

.

"I understand.

Look, you go, be with your wife and I will see you soon."

.

"Sure thing, buddy. And it is good to have you back home, Will."

.

"Night, Bobby."

I lay the cell phone on the dining room table and looked around.

Home?

Was I really home?

It didn't feel like it anymore.

.

It was a beautiful night, so I bundled up and grabbed a drink of scotch and a cigar.

I went outside and walked to the edge of my property.

As always, there was a bit of a wind blowing in from the Atlantic.

I puffed on my cigar and looked around me.

Flashbacks of New Year's Eve came back and I realized that I was standing on the exact spot where Whisper/Jenny had fallen over the cliff and into the cold waters below.

.

I took a deep breath, fighting back the tears that were building.

Even, at this moment, knowing that I had lost Sheila, the one that I missed the most of all ...

was Whisper.

"I miss you, little girl.

Daddy will always love you."

.

A soft giggle, like a far away echo.

Unlike the time in Twillingate, this time, I was sure of what I heard.

It was my Whisper.

.

I forced a smile.

"I hope you are in a happy place now, Jenny.

I hope you have found your way home."

.

One more giggle. This time very faint.

.

"Goodbye," I whispered, tears filling my eyes.

I finished my drink and cigar and went back inside.

.

~~~~~

.

I spent the next few days, doing a thorough cleaning of my house, including washing every piece of clothing that I had.

Everything just felt cold and dirty.

No matter how warm I made the house, I just never seemed to warm up myself.

.

I was actually beginning to think that I should just sell the house and move to Twillingate.

.

I had been to the general store a couple times.

John and Cora were friendly, but I could feel something just wasn't right.

.

I was never one for confrontation, but I had to try and clear the air.

I took a deep breath.

"Look. I know I am not your favourite person right now, but I just want to say I am sorry, for any pain I have caused your family."

.

Cora nodded.

"It not be us, youse have to apologize to, Will."

.

"I have done my best to apologize to Sheila."

.

Cora shook her head.

"Its 'enry we worries fer, Will."

.

John continued.

"Dat little boy taught the world be you, Will. His 'eart be broken, boy."

.

"'ave you even talked to he, Will?" Cora wondered.

.

I shook my head. I was ashamed of myself.

I had not talked to Henry at all. I had enough problem talking to Sheila. Henry was another case, all together.

"I honestly don't know what to say to him."

.

"Da truth, Will. Always the truth," Cora suggested.

.

"I will."

I took a deep breath.

"I am also thinking of putting my house up for sale, so if you catch wind of anyone that might be interested, just let me know."

.

They both stared blankly at me.

They didn't really seem to care. Neither made a comment.

.

"Anyway. I am going now."

I left without a word from either of them.

.

By the time I reached the house, I had pretty much made up my mind to sell the house and move.

.

I did call Henry later that evening and tried to explain things, as best I could.

He did cry a little, but when I assured him that I will be a part of his life, as long as he wanted, he seemed to feel a little better.

I also promised him, that if his Mom allowed, he could come and stay with me for a holiday during the summer.

.

By the time we hung up, he seemed to be pretty cheerful. That, at least made me a little happy.

.

After the call, I went outside.

It was another beautiful night.

I had a portable fire pit on my veranda, so I started a small fire and sat outside, with my ever-present drink and cigar. I left the door opened for the cats, so they could come and go as they pleased.

.

I was leaning forward, my forearms on my knees, when I could smell something unusual.

Pipe tobacco. I recognized the smell from a number of patrons, at the Pub in Twillingate.

.

"Be's a wunnerful nite, doesn't it, Will?"

.

I sat up and turned slowly.

There was a man sitting in the chair next to me. He was dressed in clothes that I could only compare to those worn, at the turn of the 20th century. I had seen others dressed like it, in old pictures at the general store.

He was puffing on a pipe.

.

"It is a beautiful night," I commented, not really sure what to say.

.

The man nodded his head.

"Youse still drinkin' dat parfume?"

.

I nodded, smiling. Now I knew who he was.

"You were at the general store, that day."

.

"What day be dat, Will, me son. I be dere every day."

He puffed hard on the pipe.

"Dis be me 'ome, Will, me son."

.

I stared at the man, as he looked out across the ocean.

"You have a name?"

.

He nodded.

"Indeed I do, Will, me son."

He turned and offered his hand.

"I be Franklin."

.

I shook his hand. It felt real enough, even though I was sure it wasn't.

"Well, it seems you already know me."

.

He sat back, staring out across the ocean again.

He nodded, then said.

"Dis be yer 'ome too, Will. Might not always feel dat way, but trust me, me son. It is."

.

"I don't know anymore," I sighed.

Once again, I was surprising myself. I knew that Franklin was a ghost, but I was not the least bit worried.

.

Franklin shook his head.

"No ones be wantin' you ta leave, Will."

.

I laughed, slightly.

"Well, that is not exactly the feeling I am getting, anymore."

.

Franklin snickered.

"Will, me son. Jest trust me on dat one. Youse are 'ere for a reason, boy."

He nodded.

"You be 'ere for a reason, Will."

.

I sat back in my chair.

"Yea. To make people's lives miserable."

.

"Don't be gettin' down on yerself, Will. All will be as it shud be, soon, me son."

.

"Well, that might not make any difference."

.

Franklin stood up and walked to the front of the veranda.

He turned back and looked at me, smiling.

"Youse not be goin' anywhere, Will, me son. Dis be your 'ome.

Where wud you go?"

.

"I don't know."

I thought about Hank and Cavelle, in Twillingate.

.

"Dey not be yer family, Will," he commented, quickly, as though reading my mind.

Franklin jumped/floated off the veranda, to the ground.

"Dey not be yer family."

He started walking toward the ocean, fading as he did so.

"Dis be yer 'ome, Will.

Dis be yer 'ome. She be wantin' youse to stay."

.

I got up from my chair.

"Who wants me to stay?"

.

Franklin disappeared.

I watched, as a last puff of smoke disappeared into the darkness.

.

I stood there for a moment or two, expecting him to reappear, but he didn't.

I put the top on the fire pit and went inside.

.

As soon as I closed the door and took off my coat, I noticed something.

The house was warm.