The Empty Desk Read Online Free Page B

in an odd mood coming home from school yesterday.
    â€œI think there’s already someone sitting in it.”
    â€œHow do you mean?”
    â€œI think there’s a ghost, but it’s funny. I can’t always see them, at least not all the time.”
    â€œBut you see a ghost there sometimes?”
    â€œI don’t know. It just feels like there is. I think it’s a girl.”
    He hadn’t paused for a moment while they had been talking, other than to make sure he had swallowed before he spoke. There had been no change in the look on his face. She loved that he could take it all in stride without even thinking that this was something out of the ordinary. He accepted his own gifts as easily as she did her own. Aiden’s gift was not the same as hers; he shared the emotions of the ghosts he met and sometimes she experienced the feelings he was absorbing. She often wondered if this would always be the case or if there might be a time when they no longer shared this link—if it was something that he would grow out of.
    â€œIs she happy or sad?” Melinda asked, knowing that the emotion would be the first thing that might make a presence known to him.
    A frown creased his forehead as he thought about it. “Not just sad,” he said. “I think she’s sorry, but I don’t know what she’s sorry for.”
    â€œDid you tell Miss Kelly?”
    â€œThat’s how we got to talking about ghosts,” he said in a matter-of-fact manner. “Can I go and watch TV now?”
    â€œSure, honey, once we’ve got these things cleared away.”

Chapter Six
    Melinda made the call to let Dana know that Aiden was more than happy for her to come and talk to the class. She was tempted to take the opportunity to ask her about the desk that no one wanted to sit at but decided that it would be better if she saw for herself. If there was a ghost there, then she could at least discover if it needed her help.
    â€œMonday morning okay?” Dana asked.
    â€œMonday’s fine,” Melinda said. “That should give us plenty of time for Aiden to make his selection.”
    They made arrangements for her to go into the school a little after the children had settled down for the morning, rather than being there when they arrived. Dana hoped that would give her the chance to get some of the energy and excitement out of their systems before she arrived. Aiden was likely to let it slip that she was going to be there, but that wouldn’t matter too much.
    â€œHe’s asked if you’d like to come around for dinner one day,” Melinda said. “And I’d love for you to meet Jim.”
    â€œThat would be lovely,” Dana said. “I wouldn’t want to be a burden though.”
    â€œYou won’t be, don’t worry. Sunday. How about Sunday? We’ll probably have a couple of other friends around, so you’d be more than welcome.” She never quite knew who would be around the table on any given Sunday, but this week she was sure that they would have other people over. Now she would have even more reason to fill the table.
    â€œIf you’re sure,” Dana said, “I’d love to come.”
    The moment after ending the call, she phoned Jim to let him know. They were unlikely to spend more than a few hours together for the next day or so, and the last thing she wanted to do was forget to tell him, even if the decision had already been made. His phone went straight to voicemail, but he returned the call only a few minutes later.
    â€œHi, honey,” he said. “Everything okay?”
    â€œSure. I just wanted to let you know that I’ve invited Dana for dinner on Sunday. Is that all right with you?”
    â€œOf course it is. I was going to ask if you wanted to ask Delia and Ned over. Aiden was saying the other day that he hadn’t seen Ned for a while.”
    â€œSure. I think we should put Aiden in charge of our