Free Granny Apples 05 - Ghost in the Guacamole by Sue Ann Jaffarian Page A

promise.”
    Just before fading into nothing, the ghost turned to Emma and pointed a filmy finger at her. “This doesn’t change anything,” he said with determination. “Tell her to sell. Tell her to take the money and start a newer and better restaurant somewhere else.”
    â€œYour father had to go,” Emma told Rikki as soon as Felix was gone.
    â€œNo!” Rikki looked up, her face puffy.
    â€œDon’t worry,” Emma told her. “He may be back, though I don’t know when. Ghosts can only materialize a short time before they need to go away and recharge their energy.”
    â€œSome ghosts,” clarified Granny. “I’ve got this sticking around thing down pretty good, if I say so myself.”
    Emma smiled inwardly at Granny’s comment. Over time, Granny had learned to stick her earthly presence longer. Sometimes it was a good thing and sometimes annoying. Returning her focus to Rikki, Emma said something that was weighing on her mind more than ghosts and their energy. “Rikki, I have a serious question I need you to consider and answer truthfully.”
    Rikki got up from her chair and covered the distance to her desk in just a couple of steps. She grabbed a couple of tissues from a box on the corner and mopped her face with them. After blowing her nose, she moved behind the desk and tossed the used tissues in a small wastepaper basket. Several minutes of silence passed before she turned back to Emma, leaned against the edge of her desk, and said with a determined nod, “Fire away. I’ll be truthful, even if it kills me.”
    Emma looked at Phil. He gave her a look of encouragement. Granny floated over to stand next to Rikki. Looking at Emma, Granny said, “Give it to her straight, Emma. Candy coating it won’t help her or her father.”
    Emma took a deep breath and smoothed the summer shift she was wearing over her legs. On her feet were the huaraches she’d bought the day before. She and Granny were almost always of the same mind when it came to giving people the straight-up truth in these situations, whether people had trouble believing it or not, but Emma wasn’t totally sure how Rikki would respond to Felix’s request. “Rikki,” she began after clearing her throat and looking up, “your father came to me yesterday while I was here having lunch with you.”
    Rikki stood up straight and stared at Emma in disbelief a few seconds before speaking. “He did and you didn’t tell me?”
    â€œI wasn’t sure how you would take it,” Emma responded.
    â€œIs that the question you needed to ask? If I could
take it
or not?”
    â€œNo, Rikki. That’s not the question.” Emma put her hands palms-down on her thighs and plunged forward. “My question is, if your father tells me to tell you something that I know you won’t want to hear, do you still want to hear it?”
    Rikki shook her head like a confused puppy. “What kind of a question is that?”
    â€œA darn good one,” chimed in Granny as she moved closer to Rikki.
    Phil left the window and also moved closer to Rikki. “What Emma is saying is, what if your father isn’t on the same page as you about the company? Isn’t that why you’re having Emma contact him?”
    Looking first at Phil, then Emma, Rikki said, “I want my father’s advice.”
    Emma stood up and joined them at Rikki’s desk. “Rikki, you told me you want Felix’s advice on how to convince Lucy not to sell Roble Foods.”
    â€œYes, that is what I want,” Rikki confirmed. “He’s always known best how to deal with her pigheadedness.”
    â€œBut,” Emma continued, “what if Felix sides with Lucy on this? What if he tells you to sell it all?”
    Rikki crossed her arms in front of her in defense and narrowed her eyes with suspicion. “Has he told you that, or are you