Free A Ghostly Undertaking by Tonya Kappes

could only imagine. I laughed.
    â€œNeedless to say, that woman didn’t wait around.” Hettie straightened up and went back to ignoring me when we heard Ina Claire’s footsteps coming back down the hall toward the waiting room.
    Ina Claire didn’t bother looking at Hettie. She glared at me.
    â€œHi.” I wiggled my fingers in the air, and then pointed to the empty chair next to me as if something or someone was next to me. “Can you get her an appointment too?”
    â€œWho, Emma Lee?” Doc Clyde appeared in the doorway that led to the single exam room.
    â€œMe!” I jumped up and pushed my way past him, leaving Hettie and Ina Claire with their mouths gaped open. There was silence until I reached the exam room and hopped up on the paper-­lined table, and then I heard them down the hall.
    â€œI will not be in the same room with someone who thinks she can see dead ­people.” Hettie Bell’s whisper was not a whisper anymore. “That girl is crazy!”
    â€œNow, now, Hettie,” I could hear Doc Clyde trying to soothe her. There were a few mumbles that I couldn’t understand.
    Why was Hettie there? Who was Hettie really? I grabbed my notebook out of my purse and jotted down these questions. Hettie Bell showed up out of the blue one day and the next thing I knew, she was working at the inn.
    I had never questioned Granny about her. Like Granny would say, it was Hettie’s tale to tell and I should just sit on mine, which meant that it was none of my business. Hettie was a little scary with all her black, but it wasn’t unusual for those types to come to the area to explore caves and do whatever they do around campfires.
    I quickly put my notepad back in my purse and used the pen to make stick figures on the white paper I was sitting on.
    Doc Clyde told Ina Claire to take Hettie next door for a soda at Higher Grounds, and then I heard Doc Clyde’s old brown doctor shoes dragging on the grungy carpet.
    Surely Doc Clyde would think I was there for the “Funeral Trauma” and not there to try and read Granny’s records.
    â€œEmma Lee, so glad to see you.” Kindly, his eyes had a deep set of worry in them. He shut the door behind him. “What brings you here without an appointment today?”
    He glanced at the stick figures, brushed his thinning hair to the side and then looked back at me.
    â€œI wanted to talk to you about my medicine.” I punched my finger in the paper and created a big hole, pretending to be a little crazy. It wasn’t like I was taking those little pills he had given me for the “Funeral Trauma,” but it was a good excuse to try to get a look into Granny’s file.
    â€œAll right. I need to get your file.” He opened the door.
    â€œWait!” I stopped him. I needed him to be out of the office in order for me to get a look into Granny’s records. “I want one of them sodas you sent Hettie and Ina Claire to get. I feel like I might pass out.” I knew he didn’t keep soda in the office.
    Doc Clyde held his pointy chin up in the air and let out an awkward cough. “How about water?”
    â€œNo!” I started twitching. “I need caffeine.”
    He drew in a deep breath. “Fine. I’ll be right back.” He left the room.
    â€œThanks!” I screamed and waited for the front office door to click shut before I jumped off the exam table.
    The files were kept in a pantry type closet behind Ina Claire’s desk. It wasn’t brain science to look for Granny’s file. It was alphabetized.
    â€œWhat are you doing?” Ruthie came up behind me, peering over my shoulder.
    â€œRuthie!” I nearly jumped out of my skin. “You have got to start announcing yourself and stop scaring me.”
    â€œAnd how am I supposed to do that?” Ruthie asked, tapping her kitty slippers on the old tile floor.
    â€œI don’t know. Maybe ring a bell