Joined by steak pies

I took a very slow shower. Scrubbing me first, then paying extra care to moisturize me. I had promised Thomas that I would discuss what was bothering me after I packed away the groceries. But my nerves made me extend this invitation to after a shower.

I have probably delayed this chat for almost 2 hours. The rhythmic tapping of fingers against my door signaled that Thomas wanted to come into the room.

"Just a moment!" I rushed to get my gown on before I opened the door. There he stood, as solid as any living person. And yet I knew the face that hadn't aged a single day since I met him 25 years ago, eas definety not human anymore.

He sauntered in, looking at the mess I made on the dressing table and bed. He shook his head in disbelief.

"I dare say, the state of your room would put even a pirate to shame." He decided to sit on the floor.

"And we all know those sea pigs aren't the neatest." I simply remained silent. Sensing a shift in my mood. Thomas changed the subject, reminding me of the chat I promised.

"So... any chance I'll be hearing what's bothering you?" I let out a long sigh. Knowing full well that I can't avoid this anymore.

"I kinda went to go see Dr Anne, haven't been feeling well lately." He nodded to show he was listening. Playing with his fingernails while looking at me.

"The results aren't good..." I allowed that to sink in. I'm not sure if continuing would be a good idea.

"Which means what exactly?" Those had shifted to sit on his knees, eyes sharp, nearly glaring at me. When I still hadn't said anything further, he stood up and towered over me.

"What exactly did she say, Lovey?" I looked away from him, too afraid to Starr crying. but he followed the direction my head was turned towards.

"I have a couple of months to live." I could see his body stiffening.

"Come again?" So I repeated what I said. "Why... I mean, how long do you have left!" The volume in which he asked me made me wince. I know he didn't mean to sound so angry, not at me at least.

"About 3 months, give or take. But we're hoping for more."

"How much more?" He sounded very weird. I couldn't place the tone he was using.

"A hundred nights?" I tried joking. Turns out my humor has always come up in the most inappropriate time. Even now, when it concerned me.

"Let's leave the humor for after I find out exactly what's going on. Please." Thomas was annoyed but tried to be as gentlemanly as possible.

So I went about telling him of the tests I had to do, up until the heavy conversation about what the doctor recommended I do. I even showed him the flyers of the hospices.

He grabbed those and nearly tore them up from holding them too tightly. Thankfully, I removed them before this could happen.

"Guess my worries about aging while you stay young is not needed anymore." This time, he barely let out a smile. I suppose he understood that what I needed wasn't sympathy or being sad, I needed normalcy. He nodded and told me he'd make me some hot chocolate.

We walked down the passage to the kitchen, which faintly smelled of spices. the spice rack just above my microwave, the cause of the lingering smell.

I voiced my preference for tonight. Hot chocolate with cinnamon and cream. Thomas just nodded and went to work.

I took this time with him busy to fully get a look at him. For a man born in the early 1700s, he was sure a pleasure to look at. Though not the cliché muscular figure as in those erotic historical novels. His lean figure did give the outline of subtle muscle.

I had to previously see a medium to find out how he could change clothes. Turns out all I had to do was offer it to him. He now wore a pair of mini cucumber patterned pajamas I had gotten him from the sale section.

He seemed to like them since his other pairs hadn't been worn at all. Clothes wear out very fast. Something about their energies that causes materials or anything else they use to deteriorate faster. I probably bought him 6 sets in the last 4 months.

That aside, his physical appearance, with his round boyish eyes, light freckles, and puckered lips. Made him look like a Disney prince. The kind that never worked a day in their lives. But the faint scaring across his right cheek indicated some harsh past events.

I never thought to pry, but being on a short leash to life likely gave me the courage to start talking in a direction I would never have gone prior.

"How did you get that scar?" He stopped pouring the sugar, using his knuckles with the spoon in hand to run across the tight scar. For a few seconds, I thought to apologize, but he turned around and smiled.

"This is a first." He chuckled lightly, not out of humor but probably a response he's used to.

"I know, I suddenly realize that even though we have known each other since I moved here when I was 9, I barely know much about you."

He stirred the hot chocolate and finally handed it to me. The cinnamon hit my nose immediately. I took out four pies from the box sitting on the counter next to me. I was currently sitting on a barstool behind the kitchen counter.

The pie tasted delicious, and paired with the hot drink made me feel all warm and satisfied. He lounged with his elbow behind the opposite side of the counter, facing me.

I smiled with a mouth full at his expressive hazel eyes. He chuckled and lazily drew circles on the counter as he started his tale.

"It's been many years, so my recollection of some events is foggy." He looked up to see if I understood, I nodded for him to continue while biting into my second pie

"I had been invited to an engagement, well it turned out that engagement was mine." I choked at this piece of news.

"My family had lost a lot of our fortune due to my father's gambling. So, a marriage of convenience with whatever we had left could have saved us." He continued, his eyes looking sad.

"I thought I was going to marry the daughter of a widow, but it turned out I was marrying the widow herself." I winced at the idea of him marrying an older woman.

"I wasn't in any position to be picky. However, said woman was known to be a little experienced between the sheets." I scoffed and rephrased what he said.

"You mean she was a loose woman?" He nodded, swallowing something invisible.

"To say I was disappointed was an understatement. I was repulsed. I had voiced my concerns with a friend, who told me he'd help me out." He leaned back, smiling faintly.

"The guy was one of her conquests, so imagine how motivated the bloke was." he laughed full on, probably from a funny memory that popped up.

"Just the week prior, my friend was stripped of his clothes and left with nothing but his loins. It was then that he vowed vengeance against her." He shook his head, amused by whatever he thought about.

"I did manage to get out of the arrangement, proving she could not hold a marriage seriously. But this made her mad at me because she ended up having to pay my family a sum of money." I made a sound of confusion.

"I gave her bridal gifts, which she took and gave away to her other suitors." I formed a silent oh.

"Either way, I didn't see much of her until I found out the girl I took an interest in was her youngest daughter, she had with a ruffian." Sensing a romance of dramatic proportions, I stopped chewing.

"The girl was found pregnant." When he saw my expression, he hurried to clarify. " Not with me! It was someone else's child."

"Turns out their mother's seed was spoiled, and her seedling turned rotten." I felt confused.

"They were just like their mother, all of them." Ah. That's what he meant.

"Anyway, the girl's father found me and decided to roughen me up to take responsibility for a child that wasn't mine." I shook my head in disbelief. I thought the early years were filled with more prim and proper individuals.

"We had a fight, and I didn't see the knife coming. It was meant for my chest, but I ducked in time, and instead, my face got the brunt of the attack." I winced imagining the pain.

"At least I could get him imprisoned and cut me off from that family entirely, or so I thought." The last part I don't think I was entirely meant to hear. It was said rather softly.

I offered him a pie, and he munched on it. Through the years, I learned new things with this friendly ghost. My small circle of medium friends also helped me a lot. Now that I was dying, a new sense of purpose to make this man mine gripped me.

My devious thoughts must have made it to my face because Thomas looked at me weirdly. I gave him a broad smile, which set his eyebrows high.

"I would wager that your current thoughts are nothing my ears needs hearing." I laughed at how close he was to the truth. I think these few months will be just fine.

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