Read A Ghost of a Chance for Free Online

out.
    It was clear, however, that Hallie did notice the dog’s odd behavior. He could see it. From time to time she would stop what she was doing and follow the direction of Jack Jr.’s gaze right to him. Then she would frown, evidently seeing nothing where he stood. It would make him frown too. He didn’t like being this sort of non-person where she was concerned. In a way, he was growing quite possessive of her, sort of in a big brother type of way and sort of not. It was an interesting cocktail of emotions that he didn’t want to look at too closely. If he ever sorted them all out, what good would it do?
    He couldn’t do anything about it, could he? Paramount, beyond all this mish-mash of introspection on his part, he knew one thing – clear as crystal. He didn’t want Hallie going out on a date with some clown that Monica Quimby had picked out.
    “ What do you think of this one Jack?” Hallie called from the bedroom. Jack would indulgently pretend at times that she was talking to him, and even verbalize an answer like, “I don’t know honey, why don’t you come out and show me.” But as she flew out of the bedroom in a different garment, he knew it was the dog that she wanted a response from.
    Jack Jr. sat curled up at his feet as they both waited for Hallie to model her potential outfits for the big night. He, out of respect, had stayed out of the bedroom while she was changing and the dog, out of lack of interest, had done so too.
    She came sauntering in the room wearing a flowing red sundress that Jack had to admit was truly fetching and thus potentially dangerous. She swirled around, “What do you think Jack? I bought this one right after the divorce with Edward. I was hoping to wear it to his funeral,” she smiled, sheepishly giggling. “Just kidding.” But Jack suspected she wasn’t, not completely.
    “ So, anyway, what do you think?”
    The dog lifted his head up and looked up at Jack, as had been his practice with every other potential outfit. Jack put out his thumb and with the dramatic flair of a Roman emperor turned it down. The dog turned its head back to Hallie and gave his most disgusted growl. They truly made a good team.
    “ Are you serious? You don’t like this one either. . . I really don’t have that much left to choose from.” She looked genuinely distraught as she headed for the bedroom, but Jack had to wonder about a woman who let a dog pick out her clothes.
    If he had his way, she would be going to Richmond wearing something akin to nun’s garb. No need to impress those who weren’t likely to appreciate her. “All right Jack, I just don’t have anything else so one of these will have to do. If you’re going to help me, come on.”
    He bent down and whispered into Jack Jr.’s furry ear. “Just make sure she doesn’t wear the red dress.” The little black dog looked into his eyes as if to say his mission was understood, then disappeared into the bedroom.
    Jack leaned back in the chair remembering Hallie in the red dress, her cheeks blooming with color and then the Hallie of the dream draped in the golden gown. It was more than the fact that he was stuck in this house with no one to look at but her. Things had gone way beyond that here. He was looking at her, too close. Getting to know her unguarded moments that others would never see – and being fascinated by them. She was like a puzzle to him or one of those cube games that he couldn’t quite get the solution right – frustrating yes, but intensely fascinating.
    Foolish man, foolish dead man to let his thoughts wander in pointless directions. He pulled his attention to the matter at hand – the disagreeable thought of her dating someone? Well suffice to say that no one that Monica Quimby could produce had a right to her. That was the excuse he used, and it was sound enough to almost convince himself.
     
    The margarita had a strong sour taste, and abundant salt around the edges of the rather substantial