Chapter 8
I arrived in York a few hours later and being mid- week I found a room overlooking Long Beach. I smiled to myself as I thought I would get some good beach shots even if they wouldn't be saleable. I drove around a little and ended up at Nubble lighthouse which is the iconic destination that everyone who visits southern Maine has to visit at least once. The day was perfect so I took some pictures from different angles and using my long lens got some good close ups of the buildings. I stopped for lunch and had a lobster roll that was delicious and coupled with a beer was very filling. I meandered up the coast stopping from time to time to take some interesting pictures. I was enjoying the day and it passed all too quick as I got back to York. I unlocked the door to my room and opened my laptop, booted it up and went to wash the dust of the day off me. I wanted to download the images from my camera and see what I had captured among the one hundred pictures I took. I took the laptop and my camera over to the small desk that was in the room and was shocked to find the journal standing on desk. Now I knew that the spirit was attached to me. After I calmed down I logged into the laptop and "Hello Caleb, thank you for the vacation" appeared on the screen. "You're welcome Etta, I hope you are enjoying the trip as much as I am" I said aloud, I wasn't comfortable with the thought that she could read the thoughts in my head. I wondered if we could talk to each other through the laptop. That would open a new territory to explore.
I looked thru the pictures I took and some were beautiful to say the least. The beach scenes were great with scantily clad girls playing volleyball or just working on their tans. In one picture I noticed a woman walking on the beach quite a distance from where I had taken it. She had some sort of short dress on and I blew up the image to get a better look. There she was again. Etta was walking on the beach coming toward me wearing the old fashioned swim suit that was in the attic back home. Her dark hair was blowing in the offshore breeze and her skin looked radiant in the sun. I didn't see her in any other pictures and I wondered if she only had a limited amount of energy to manifest herself. I didn't know if I should look for answers or just let things develop at their own speed. I sat on the balcony overlooking the beach as darkness fell around me, I listened for any indication that Etta was with me or would be, I was hoping for some sign to tell me what to expect.
I purposely didn't read the book that had been delivered to my room by Etta's spirit. I wanted to see if she would somehow try to force me to continue reading her day to day account of her young life. The breeze coming off the ocean was cool, the sound of the surf lulling me to sleep and I gave in to the calming effect, falling into a deep sleep.
I had some dreams about Etta, not all of them erotic but sweet comforting dreams where we were walking along the beach, strolling down a path in the woods or just sitting on a blanket talking and enjoying the nature around us. I woke up at dawn refreshed and ready for breakfast. Getting dressed I told Etta I was going to Sandy's for breakfast and if she wanted to join me she was welcome. I didn't expect her to answer me or to join me but maybe if she knew where I was going she wouldn't surprise me by jumping out at me or something. Sandy's was crowded as usual and I had to wait for a table but knowing what great food they had it was worth it. I struck up a conversation with a young lady that seemed to be alone and asked if she would join me at my table when it became available and she accepted.
We ordered a nice breakfast when we were seated and she asked me what I did for a living and if I was there on vacation or if I had a summer place in the area. I explained I was retired, single and on a mini get away for some recreation. I didn't mention my spirit that was following me around. She said her name was Jan and she was working on her Master's degree at a Boston college and was working in the area to help with school expenses. She didn't volunteer what she was doing her masters in so I asked and she told me it was in paranormal studies. I was really tempted to tell her about my spirit but I thought she might think it was just a line to try and pick her up. Our food came and we ate while we had small talk. We finished up and after paying our bills left the cafΓ©, I was about to say goodbye when she asked what I was doing for the day. I said I was just going to hang around and take some pictures and explore some of the beach roads that most people didn't frequent. She asked if she could tag along with me awhile because she enjoyed talking to me so we headed for the beach that was just down the road. We walked along the beach talking and picking up odd stones and the few shells that were still whole.
We had walked about a mile down the beach and spotted a bench so we sat to rest for a few minutes. I asked her why she was interested in paranormal studies and she kind of skirted the issue. I told her to relax because I have had some experiences that caused me to believe in the spirit world. That seemed to put her at ease and she said she was a sensitive and could sense spirits. She went on to say that was why she wanted to walk with me a bit because she could sense a female spirit hovering around me. She said it was a friendly spirit and I should welcome her into my life. I told her that I already had and proceeded to tell her what had been happening. She was amazed that I was so calm about it and asked if she could spend more time with me and possibly document my stories. I said she could but I didn't want my name mentioned, she agreed and we started walking back down the beach toward the village. She asked if she could stop and buy something and we went into a drug store and she bought a notebook and some pens explaining that she wanted to take notes as we talked.
I recounted my story and she made notes as I talked about Etta. I had started from the first time I walked thru the door and the cold feeling I got every time I used the front door, the calling of my name and the items that followed me around including the books. We stopped at my room and I showed Jan the picture I had taken on the beach. She asked why I thought it was her and I told her about the incident in the bar and showed her the pictures I had found and copied. I showed her the pictures I had remotely taken in my bedroom but didn't show her the video I had taken. She was impressed with the amount of documentation I had amassed in a short time. We sat in the room for a few minutes and she said that Etta was with us. I remembered that I didn't tell her about the strange messages on the laptop and her eyes widened in surprise. I told her that I had taken to talking to her out loud and my reservations about Etta reading my mind. Jan said she didn't think it would make a difference but to do what I was comfortable with. It was late afternoon before we knew it and since we missed lunch I suggested some dinner at a near- by restaurant. Jan accepted and I shut down the laptop, put my camera away and we left to walk up the street to the restaurant. We had some wine with dinner and since it was late afternoon and a little before the early bird time we were able to take our time and linger over our dinner and wine. Jan asked if I minded her coming back with me as she had some more questions to ask me and didn't want to do it in public. I told her I understood and felt the same way because I thought most people were non-believers.
We returned to my room and I put my fingers signaling to be quiet and went to my laptop and booted it up. Jan was at my side when the screen lit up and Etta wrote "Did you and Jan enjoy your dinner." She fell back in the chair and I reached to catch her as she held her chest like she was in trouble. I asked if she was ok and she just nodded trying to catch her breath. I let her compose herself and she said that was the most amazing thing she had ever experienced.
"Welcome to my world Jan, this has been going on ever since I bought the house. Now do you believe me."
"Yes Caleb, I believe you and for the most part believed most of what you told me but now I believe all of it. I am embarrassed to tell you that I thought you were making some of it up but after what I just saw I know you are attached to your spirit."