“ ‘We only mean to help people,’ he said. ‘A person who sees spirits can feel very isolated.’

“ ‘You’re right,’ I said, ‘you’re so right.’

“And there stood Goblin staring down coldly on the proceedings and then looking over to the blossom of loveliness that was Mona.

“Stirling rose. He put a white card in my hand. ‘Take this. Call me if you feel you need to talk to me. And if your aunt, Mrs. McQueen, will allow it.’

“ ‘I despise having to be rude,’ said Aunt Queen, ‘but I do not think this is a very good idea, Mr. Oliver, and I do prevail upon you to leave my nephew to his destiny.’

“ ‘His destiny,’ said Mr. Oliver. ‘Oh, but that has such a ring to it.’

“ ‘Yes, indeed it does,’ I said. ‘Aunt Queen, I’m in love. I’m in love with that girl. Turn your head. You won’t believe your eyes.’

“ ‘Good Lord,’ she said, ‘it’s a female Mayfair.’

“ ‘What kind of remark is that!’ I said.

“Fr. Kevin chuckled under his breath. ‘Now Miss Queen,’ he said, smiling, ‘you’ve always tolerated me very well. I know you’ve had your driver bring you all the way over the lake just to hear me say Mass at St. Mary’s Assumption.’

“ ‘You do say Mass with a lovely flair, Fr. Kevin,’ she responded, ‘and you are a priest of God, as we well know, and a consecrated priest of the Roman Catholic Church, no dispute on that matter—but we are talking about your cousin Mona, if I’m not mistaken? Yes, Mona, and that is entirely another matter. Darlings, I think it’s time for us to go home. Quinn, dear, you’ve been discharged and your room packed up. Nash, you don’t mind too terribly—.”

“ ‘Aunt Queen, what is happening?’ I asked.

“ ‘We’re leaving, darling. Mr. Oliver? I wish I could say that it has been a pleasure. Your good intentions have been acknowledged.’

“ ‘Please, keep this,’ he said as he gave her his card again.

“I still held the one he’d given me. I put it in my pocket.

“I looked back at the radiant girl. And as our eyes connected I heard the message, clear as if Goblin had spoken it to me: First and Chestnut.

“Goblin vanished. I was being rushed out of the restaurant. Never had I felt such angry bewilderment!

“Only when we reached the car did I demand that we stop.

“ ‘Goblin,’ I cried. ‘Don’t you see? He’s off plaguing her now. Goblin, come back to me.’

“Then came the cold murmured reassurance I required, like a gnat at my ear. ‘You are a fool, Quinn. I don’t want to be with her. She doesn’t love me. I’m not hers. I am with you. I am yours. Quinn and Goblin one person.’

“ ‘Thank God,’ I whispered.