Mary Kendall, A Ghost Story
Waiting
It is pitch dark when Damien arrives at the rental. There is barely enough light to insert the key but it works and he lets himself in. He walks through the house amazed at how run down and dirty everything appears. The decorator did such a thorough job, he is thinking twice about sleeping in that bed. Is it infested with bed bugs? His neat soul shudders just thinking about it.
Damien washes up at the sink, brushes his teeth and is glad he took a shower before leaving his house. Exhausted from the long day and the hike he crawls into the bed and falls into a dreamless sleep.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51412056139_cf8d91fec3_o.jpghttps://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51410554102_2e4eee7050_o.jpghttps://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51412281435_ab7d1c5ba9_o.jpghttps://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51412056094_fe32bbbdd0_o.jpgThe morning sun peeking through the smudged windows wakes Damien. He stands out on the porch as the rising sun bathes a golden glow over the mountains. Looking opposite he wryly observes the crescent moon is barely visible behind purple clouds as it sinks to hide during the day. He wistfully sighs knowing it will be a few more days before Mary will return. He needs to get this case resolved quickly.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51418810474_3f1c6ed714_o.jpghttps://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51419030265_078e4d453b_o.jpgBack home, Lee wakes and heads down to the gym. He is soon deep into his meditation finding the balance of peace and harmony with practiced ease.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51419030225_f6d19b33b1_o.jpgBekka gets up early and completes a painting she started a few days ago. When Jamie wakes up, he finds her in the studio. After some morning smooching they make their way to the gym. Lee had asked them to be in the gym early this morning.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51418048976_ed4e20f87f_o.jpghttps://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51418309218_56ff7e1e09_o.jpgTaking one last deep breath and exhaling Lee completes his meditation feeling focused and ready for the day. He notices Bekka is stretching at the bar and Jamie is doing chin ups. Layla is finishing her meditation session and stretches her arms over her head as she takes a deep breath and opens her eyes. She notices Lee watching her and smiles brightly at him. He smiles back, thinking how beautiful and relaxed she looks this morning. He leans in closer, kissing her softly as he whispers, "I love you."
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51417302037_89f551ae03_o.jpgLee gathers the group around him and demonstrates basic techniques to Bekka and Layla. He shows the more advanced kicking techniques to Jamie. While the ladies practice on the wooden dummies, he sends Jamie over to practice on the punching bag. He spends time with each of them, instructing them on how to improve their technique.
The foursome stay home after their training session awaiting Damien's signal that contact has been made.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51418810364_be0254dfd5_o.jpghttps://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51418309098_78a226dc36_o.jpghttps://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51418309053_918e30e396_o.jpghttps://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51419029995_ac6cece2ea_o.jpgDamien grabs a yogurt container because he doesn't feel like cooking this morning. He eats outside enjoying the early morning quietness.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51418810439_b527114397_o.jpghttps://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51418309248_2381751bb4_o.jpgAfter throwing away the trash, he sits in the living room thinking about what the day will bring. Someone from the organization will be contacting him at some point today. It is difficult for him to sit around and wait with nothing to do. Elias is up and on the computer playing chess. Damien steps out front and looks around the yard. The garden is wilting and needs to be tended to. He weeds the plants, waters them and harvests a few vegetables which he puts in the refrigerator for later.
While gardening, he hears the splash of fish in the small pond. He finds a decent fishing rod in a closet and uses worms found while weeding as bait. He spends the afternoon fishing waiting to be contacted by the syndicate.
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