Charon's Crossing

There was a moment's silence and then she cleared her throat. "Well," she said, holding out a cup of coffee, "did you sleep well?"

"Eventually." She could see the conflicting emotions on his face, and then he sighed and accepted the cup as if it were an olive branch. "First I had to adjust to the silence. No police sirens, no fire trucks, no drunks yelling on the street corner... how can you bear it?"

Kathryn laughed and leaned back against the sink. "Awful, isn't it?"

"You've certainly settled into this mausoleum better than I would have."

"Well, it hasn't been that easy." She looked at him. "I suppose that's why my nerves are so on edge."

"I understand."

He didn't, not really, but how could he? She hadn't told him about Matthew.

All at once, she knew that was what she had to do, and never mind Matthew's smug insistence that Jason wouldn't believe her. Of course he would. He loved her. He trusted her. He knew she wasn't some sort of flighty dreamer with an overactive imagination.

Sharing this—this burden with him would be wonderful. He could advise her, help her deal with the insanity of being haunted, and taunted, by a ghost.

"Jason," she said quickly, before she could change her mind, "there's something I need to tell you."

A worried look crept over Jason's face.

"Ah, Kathryn, Kathryn." Matthew's whisper came from out of nowhere. "He thinks you're going to break your betrothal."

Kathryn stiffened. She turned, looked in every direction, but Matthew wasn't visible.

"Your precious Jason is so concerned about his own needs that it hasn't occurred to him that you might be about to seek solace."

"Jason," Kathryn said, "please, sit down."

"Kathryn," Matthew said, "if you tell him about me, he's not going to believe you."

Kathryn stamped her foot. "He will!"

"Will what?" Jason said, the worried look deepening.

"He's either going to think you've lost your senses or that you need reassuring, like a foolish twelve-year-old."

"Dammit," Kathryn said.

"Darling? What is it?"

"Sit down, Jason!" She pointed a trembling finger at the table. Jason sat.

"Isn't that nice?" Matthew drawled. "He's so well trained. I saw a hound like that once. It was truly amazing. The dog would do almost anything you asked of it."

Kathryn shut her eyes, counted to ten, then looked at Jason.

"We need to talk," she said.

"Now, darling, I know you're still upset after last night. I don't think this is the best time to make any quick decisions."

Matthew chuckled softly. "You see? He's afraid you're going to tell him it's all over."

Kathryn sighed and pressed the heels of her hands against her eyes.

"It isn't a quick decision," she said. "I thought about it yesterday, and then most of last night." Her arms fell to her sides and she fixed Jason with a look. "And I know telling you this is the right thing to do."

"Please, Kathryn, don't say anymore. You aren't yourself, I know that. I understand, and—"