Chapter 15: Who Ya Gonna Call?

“You’ve got a big decision to make, Brandon. What are you thinking?”

“The problem is that I’m competing with ghosts: Pete the unfaithful, and Laurence the perfect.

“I am also her dependent, and that makes me undesirable for her. I have nothing to offer; I have nothing for her to verify. I have no credit, I have only $34 in my checking account, I’ve never been to college, and I have no work history except minimum wage shit jobs.

“A role model for Ron? Not in the least. All of these things must support her anger. In every sense, having me live here is an economic disaster for her. Did you notice everything she just said was about her son? She wants me to stay only for his benefit.

“Mae, I hate to ask even more of you, but will you drive me over to Rochester? From there I can catch a bus to Faribault.”

“Brandon, I will take you to Rochester, if necessary. But you have to speak with Dee first, one on one. You’re forgetting something. Look around this cabin: the fancy kitchen; the solar panels; and even the driveway. Is there anything about this property that is less than first class? Of course not. I remember seeing this place languishing for sale years ago; it was a ruin, almost uninhabitable.

“Dolores has tons of money after Laurence’s accident with a commercial truck. Millions. It’s only her angry bitterness that caused her to lash out at you for not working. Once you’ve healed, we can solve that problem.

“I’m going to go hang out with Ron while you two talk. It’s not about ghosts, it’s about each other. Now, please go into her bedroom and sit on the bed. I’ll tell her I sent you there. Git!”