The Empty Desk Read Online Free

are the children of people I grew up with. There are certainly a few faces out there in the class that have a strange familiarity.”
    â€œQuite a few, I suspect,” Melinda said. “Aiden has certainly taken to you.”
    â€œHe’s a lovely little boy. You must be very proud of him.”
    â€œOf course. But then, isn’t every mother?” Melinda paused for a moment, knowing that if she didn’t raise the question now, she might never find the right time. “Aiden said that you told him that you knew I could see ghosts?”
    â€œI did,” she said. There was no hesitation before she gave her answer.
    â€œYou weren’t just humoring him?”
    â€œOf course not. I’ve known for a long time, Melinda. I’ve probably always known, even though you never actually said anything. You didn’t need to.”
    â€œYou’ve never mentioned it before, and it’s not something I used to shout about, especially not back then.”
    Dana shrugged as if it was no big deal.
    â€œI didn’t think anything of it at the time. It was only when I moved away that I started to think that it was anything out of the ordinary. Maybe it’s just something about this place, but it’s a gift, Melinda, a wonderful gift. I have no idea how you use it, but I hope you are able to do some good with it.”
    Melinda felt a wave of relief wash through her. She was never sure how people would react when she told them what she was able to do. Some were horrified, others were amazed, but it was rare for someone to just accept it in stride without even questioning it in the way that Dana was doing. Maybe it was a sign of their friendship.
    â€œI hope I do,” Melinda said and took another sip of her coffee. If Dana was holding back a burning question about what she was able to do, she wanted to give her the time to ask it, but none came.
    â€œMaybe you could come to school and give a talk about what you do,” Dana said eventually.
    â€œA talk? Are you kidding me? Half the town would be up in arms and want to lynch me, and the rest would want me to try to contact their relatives. I suspect that you wouldn’t get off without taking some of the blame either.” Melinda was horrified at the very thought of it.
    â€œSorry, I didn’t mean that,” Dana said, putting her cup down with a clatter, barely able to control her laughter. A couple of heads turned in their direction to see what the commotion was, all other conversations in the room coming to a sudden halt as they became the center of attention. Dana’s laughter was infectious, and soon Melinda was unable to stop herself from joining in, even though she had no idea why they were laughing. It was only when it had subsided and the middle-aged women had returned to their gossip that Melinda asked what was supposed to be so funny.
    â€œI meant talk about the shop! I thought maybe you could bring a few old things in and talk to the kids about them. I’m sure that Aiden would love it if you came. He’s very proud of the shop.”
    The second wave of laughter brought little more than a restrained giggle, but at least Melinda could now understand why her old friend was finding this so funny. It didn’t take long for her to agree to come to school, as long as Aiden was okay with it. The last thing she would want to do was embarrass him in front of his friends. She had no idea that he had become quite so attached to the shop, though.
    â€œOh my, is that the time?” Dana said, glancing at her watch and quickly pulling a couple of bills out of her purse and putting them on the table, waving away Melinda’s protests. “You can pay next time, but I need to get back.”
    â€œI’ll call you about coming into school,” Melinda said as Dana tugged her coat from the back of her chair and took a final sip of her coffee.
    â€œI’m sure Aiden will be fine with it,” Dana