This is the fourth part in a series, so if you have not already done so, you might want to read Part I, Part II, and Part III before continuing.
Abby found it surprisingly easy to adjust to life in a haunted house. For the most part, Claire kept her promise and never knocked things off shelves or moaned mysteriously. She did, however, have a bad habit of appearing out of nowhere and scaring the bejeezus out of Abby.
This night included one of those startling moments.
Abby had a splitting headache and was tossing and turning, trying to ignore the pain enough to get back to sleep.
Then she felt a pressure on the mattress next to her.
She turned her head and opened her eyes just enough to peer into the darkness. Sure enough, shimmering in what little light came through Abby’s bedroom window from the streetlights outside, was a Claire-shaped form.
Abby might have jumped out of bed if it hadn’t been for her headache – or the fact that she had started to get used to Claire’s unannounced appearances.
“What are you doing?” said Abby.
“Sorry if I disturbed you, but I sensed you were restless.”
“I have a headache,” Abby said as she closed her eyes again.
“Why don’t you try a cold compress?”
“Because that would keep me awake.”
“The headache is already keeping you awake, so why not try something that will at least alleviate the pain?”
“I was trying to relax enough to ignore the headache and go back to sleep.”
“And how’s that working out for you?”
“Well, the chatty ghost sitting on the edge of my bed isn’t helping.”
There was a pause and Abby almost thought Claire had gone off to haunt some other part of the house, but then Claire said, “When Mrs. Hutchinson couldn’t sleep, she would watch TV.”
“And that helped her headaches?”
“Not that I know of, but you could put a cold compress on your head while watching TV.”
Abby deliberated for a few minutes before saying, “Is there anything particularly good on TV at this hour?”
“We could watch another episode of that net flick of yours.”
Abby laughed and opened her eyes again, looking at Claire as she said, “You mean Virgin River?”
“If you’d like.” Claire’s voice had the distinct tone of someone who was trying to sound like they didn’t care about something that meant a great deal to them.
Abby sighed. “I suppose it would at least take my mind off my headache. And it certainly beats tossing and turning here all night.”
“Exactly,” Claire said, brightening up.
“All right, let’s go.”
The TV was already on when Abby reached the living room, which meant Claire must have turned it on, and that gave Abby pause.
“You know, Claire, with new technology comes new etiquette.”
“I’m aware. As soon as people invent something called ‘the pill’ they think it’s acceptable to be intimate with everyone they take a passing fancy to.”
“Yeah, that’s one example. Another example is Netflix and the ability to watch an entire season of a show in one gulp.”
“I’m not sure I grasp your meaning.”
“See, when television was first invented, the whole family would gather around and watch the same programs together because there wasn’t much on. Then we got more channels, more options, then came the DVR, which let some people watch their favorite shows as they aired while others recorded their favorite shows to watch later.”
“I see,” said Claire, sounding as if she did not see Abby’s point at all.
“Now people can watch their favorite shows with their family, their significant other, their friends, but because it’s constantly available, they can also watch on their own and they don’t have to wait to watch it with their friends and family.”
“You’re saying I don’t have to wake you up to watch Virgin River?”
“No, that’s the opposite of what I’m saying. Just because people have the ability to watch something without their significant other doesn’t mean they should. My point is that there’s etiquette around streaming television shows and it involves not watching a show you know your spouse or roommate loves without them.”
“So, you’re saying I was right to wake you up?”
“First of all, I was already awake, which is the only reason this is acceptable. Second of all, I’m saying it’s rude to watch Virgin River without me, unless you’re watching the first season, which I’ve already seen. Got it?”
Claire nodded.
“All right. Where were we?”
“Jack has now slept with two women out of wedlock.”
“At least.”
“There are more?”
Abby shrugged. “Could be. We don’t know what he did in all the years before he met Mel.”
“Oh dear.”
To be continued…
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