Ghostly Affairs

Chapter 16

The soft morning light filtered through the windows of Lin's apartment as she sat at her desk, staring at her phone. Her thumb hovered over the send button, unsure if a "Good Morning" message would seem too personal. After a moment's hesitation, she tapped the screen and sent it.

Lin: Good morning, May. How are you feeling today? Did you sleep well?

She exhaled slowly, wondering if she'd overstepped. The phone buzzed a moment later, and she felt a flicker of anticipation as she opened the message.

May: Good morning? I thought you wanted my number for professionalism, Ms. Lawyer? Since when does asking me if I'm okay and sending me a dessert count as professional?

Lin chuckled to herself but felt a bit of nervousness creeping in. She typed back, her fingers moving quickly as she tried to justify the message.

Lin: Well, your well-being is part of the job. After all, you're an important witness that I have to keep safe.

The moment she hit send, Lin regretted it. "Important witness" felt cold, detached—far from the truth of how she actually felt about May. She waited for a response, her stomach in knots.

A few seconds later, the phone buzzed again.

May: Just an important witness? If that's the reason, then you don't have to check up on me. I'm doing just fine, Ms. Lawyer. I have my mother here to take care of me.

Lin winced, realizing that her message had come across colder than she intended. She started to type a reply, wanting to clear things up, but before she could finish, another message from May came through.

May: Oh, and the doctor said I can go home tomorrow afternoon. Thought you should know... in case you need to file a report about my "condition," Ms. Lawyer.

Lin felt a knot tighten in her chest. May was clearly annoyed, and the playful tone had shifted into something more guarded. She wanted to fix it, but before she could figure out what to say, her phone buzzed again. This time it was Karen calling her for a client meeting. With a sigh, she put the phone down, feeling unsettled.

At the hospital, May held her phone in her hands, staring at the screen, waiting for a reply from Lin. When none came, she frowned and set the phone down with a little more force than necessary. Her mother, sitting beside her, noticed her mood and looked over.

"Everything alright?" her mother asked, her voice soft with concern.

"I'm fine," May said, her tone a little sharp. She paused for a moment, then softened. "It's nothing, really."

But she couldn't help herself. She turned to her mother, trying to make sense of everything. "Mom, you met Lin, right?"

"Lin, your lawyer? Yes, I've talked to her a few times. Why?" her mother replied, raising an eyebrow.

"What do you think of her? What made you decide to hire her?" May asked, her voice trailing off in confusion.

Her mother gave her a curious look. "We didn't hire her, May. We couldn't afford a lawyer like Lin, not with all the medical bills and your recovery."

May blinked, her confusion deepening. "What do you mean you didn't hire her?"

"I don't know who did. She just showed up one day and started helping us," her mother explained, leaning back in her chair. "But I do know she's a very kind and intelligent woman. She's been nothing but helpful. And, you know, very pretty too."

May rolled her eyes at the last comment, but her curiosity was piqued. "So, you don't know who hired her?"

Her mother shook her head. "No, and I never thought to ask. But if I had to guess, I'd say she's doing this because she cares. She's been very dedicated, almost as if this is more than just a case to her."