“Uh…” Jameson looked at Sue, who gave him an apologetic smile. He lifted his arms to the side and slowly turned around. When his butt was toward the chairs, the clapping sounded anew. He quickly finished his turn and stepped closer to Sue. She leaned into him.
“Is Hank gone?” Heather asked before letting loose a long breath. “Yes. He’s gone. You did it, Sue. You beat him.”
Sue glanced at her bloody hands and muttered, “Pun intended?”
Heather gave a wry smile and turned back to her grandma. “I will not ask him to take off his shirt.”
“Am I being,” Jameson hesitated, “ogled by a ghost?”
“Get used to it,” Vivien chuckled. “If you’re going to be hanging around Sue, we’re all part of the package.”
“No, we will not start screening more of those sexy movies,” Heather denied in exasperation.
Sue touched his face gently with her sore hand. “I’ll understand if this is too much for you. I know we haven’t known each other very long, and this is a lot of baggage.”
Jameson glanced to where Hank had gone up in flames. “From what I see, you just set fire to most of it. I think maybe I’d like to help you carry the rest.”
“That’s either very sweet or very corny,” Vivien said, patting Jameson on the shoulder.
“Sweet,” Sue answered.
“A little corny,” Jameson admitted.
“Thank you for saving my life,” Sue said.
“Thank you for saving mine,” he answered.
“Julia says it’s over. Sue, you faced your inner demon and beat the living hell out of it. She wants me to tell you how proud she is of you and how you’re worthy of wearing the ring. She also approves of you being with Jameson. I’m paraphrasing. Her version included references to nudity.” Heather glanced around. “Anyone have questions before she goes?”
“Actually, I do have a question,” Sue stated, moving to stand by Heather at the edge of the stage. Every inch of her ached. “What the hell is a Chicago overcoat?”
Lorna and Vivien laughed.
“I have absolutely no idea,” Heather answered, shaking her head. “Julia has disappeared.”
“Look at this place,” Vivien said. “It’s trashed.”
“I got this.” Sue lifted an injured hand and willed the theater to write itself. She felt the ring pulse to amplify her magic.
The floors creaked and moaned. Suddenly, chairs began flying back into place. Bolts followed them, screwing themselves into the floor. She gestured again, and the lights lifted to the ceiling. She felt the energy draining out of her as each magical act took from her strength, but it was too late to stop it.
Sue swayed on her feet, falling to the side. Jameson caught her, and the world went black.
Chapter Fifteen
Sue opened her eyes to see Jameson’s face leaning over her. She was on the bed in the apartment. Warmth flooded her side, and she glanced over to see Lorna sitting beside them. Before she could register what was happening, the pain in her cheek lessened and Jameson’s face bruised in her place.
“No.” Sue pulled her arm away from Lorna.
“Too late,” Lorna answered, standing gingerly as she held her stomach.
Vivien and Heather stood at the foot of the bed, each with one bruised hand. Sue lifted her hands to find them sore but partially healed.
When Sue would protest them taking her pain as their own, Vivien said, “It’s what friends do. You’d do the same for us.”
A tear slipped over Sue’s tired cheek. She nodded. “So everything is good?”
“Your magic repaired the theater better than it was before,” Heather said. “All the spotlights work now so that’s something.”
Sue smiled and nodded. “I’m glad.”
“I left you some candy. Eat it. You’ll feel better.” Vivien stiffly turned. “I’m going home where Troy can take care of me.”
Heather smiled at Sue and said, “You’re free. There is nothing more to fear.”
“Thank you,” Sue mouthed, touched by their selfless generosity.
Heather limped as she followed Vivien. “Wait up, Viv.”
“They’re my ride,” Lorna stated. “Are you going to be all right if we leave?”
“I’ll stay with her,” Jameson said before Sue could answer. “I won’t leave her side.”
“Call me if either of you needs me,” Lorna ordered.
Sue and Jameson both nodded. Lorna ambled after Vivien and Heather, who could be heard slowly stepping down the stairs.
Jameson crawled over her and fell next to her on the bed. The mattress bounced, and they both groaned. He shifted his body and pulled a box of theater candy out from under him.
“Eat this,” he said, not lifting his head as he pushed it toward her.
“Maybe later.” Sue slipped her hand on top of his to hold it.
They laid in silence for a long time. Suddenly, Jameson gave a pained laugh.
“What?” Sue turned her head toward him.
He laid on his back, looking over at her. “This is the strangest first date I’ve ever been on. The bar had been set pretty high. I was just wondering how was going to top it on our next date.”
“Apocalypse?” Sue suggested.
“Zombie horde?” he countered.
“Take down an international spy syndicate?”
“Alien invasion?”
“Striptease for grandma ghost?”
He smirked and shook his head in denial. “How about free coffee and a discount on the bookstore lease in exchange for your help cleaning the coffee shop?”
“Lease agreements are hot. So hot,” Sue joked. She chuckled and instantly regretted it as the motion jarred her ribs. “It’s a date.”
Jameson slid his hand out from under hers and placed it on top. He lifted his head and moaned.
“What?” she asked.
“The light switch is really far away,” he answered.
Sue closed her eyes, letting the exhaustion take her. “Leave it.”
“Okay,” he mumbled. His hand lightly patted hers. “Know in my mind I’m kissing you goodnight.”
“And I’m kissing you back.” Sue felt happiness flooding her. This was the life she wanted. Even with the pain, she wouldn’t trade this moment for anything.
Chapter Sixteen
Epilogue
St. Louis, Missouri
Sue stood on the lawn and stared at the home she had shared with Hank. She couldn’t help the sick feeling that filled her when she tried to go inside. In many ways, it was like excavating a puss-filled wound. Doing it sucked, but afterward, it felt great.
“Eww,” Vivien appeared next to her. “I just had the weirdest visual, like I was about to pop a giant zit.”
Sue suppressed a laugh. “Yeah, that is weird.”
A car pulled up in front of the house.
“This must be the realtor. Let me get a read off her before you say yes to the contract. I’ll walk with her around the property to give you a moment to collect yourself inside and do a quick…” Vivien made a whirling noise and swirled her hands around to indicate Sue’s cleaning abilities.