Page 112 of Ghostly
“And you wouldn’t believe what I heard the other day.” Dina plucked out the last few weeds and straightened up. “Our dear Gabriel is getting married.”
“What?” Janice and Marge said in unison. Ida only came to “Wh”.
“I know! I heard it from a friend, but had to look it up on the internet to make sure.”
“Don’t you know that place is full of viruses?” Janice said.
“Only if you don’t have the proper protection,” Marge objected.
“Ugh, never mind that!” Ida jumped around them. “Tell me about Gabriel!” Was it true? Her heart begged it not to be—maybe Dina was only inflating the news. He’d returned to Wynona, but surely he wouldn’t…
“And you get that thing that hides you, the PPN, for free, too—”
“It’s VPN, Marge.”
Ida grunted and clenchedher fists. Dina’s dainty hat flew off her head and landed in a muddy patch.
“Hey!” Dina picked it up and narrowed her eyes at Marge.
“It wasn’t me! I didn’t even come near your head!”
Dina looked at Janice.
“Not me.”
“There’s no wind, so how do you explain it, if it wasn’t one of you?”
“Gabriel!” Ida shook her hands in frustration. “Tell me!”
“Maybe you should get an elastic to fix it on.”
Ida focused energy into her fingers and pulled at Dina’s skirt.
“Now, what—” Dina turned in a circle, like a dog chasing its tail.
A burst of laughter escaped Marge, but she sobered as soon as Dina sent her a nasty glance.
“I think we’re done,” Dina said. They picked up their gear and headed back.
No, no, no. Don’t leave!
“So what about Gabriel?” Marge asked.
Ida practically plastered herself to Dina’s side.
“Saw a picture of him and his fiancée. She’s a fashion designer or something, but looks like a supermodel.”
“Do you think he left because of her?” Janice asked.
“No idea. It was all so strange, wasn’t it? But I’m glad he’s happy.”
Marge nodded. “Even if we’ll never get to enjoy his services.”
Janice held open the front gate. “Do you think he won’t be coming back?”
“Doubt it.” Dina’s bag stuck on the fence, and she pulled it free. “Looks like they’re both doing well, and the wedding—”
Ida made a step to keep up with the ladies, but was pulled back like a rubber band. The fence. The edge of the lot—she couldn’t cross it.
