Winnie stared at her ancestor, who only stared back in disbelief.
“You have no idea what you’ve done,” said Melba. “They are all evil.”
“I’m truly sorry you feel that way,” said Bennett. “I’ve spent my entire adult life trying to make up for my ancestors’ mistakes, their crimes. But it stopped long before I was born. Your curse drove them mad, not allowing them to make things right.
“I don’t condone what they did. I want nothing to do with it. But I cannot change what was done in the past. I will strive to change things for the future. You have my word,” he said to the spirit. Melba just stared at him, shaking her head, and slowly disappeared.
“Why am I still here?” asked Grover.
“I think we have to get you back to the Square,” said Ruby.
Driving as fast as they could, they arrived in the Square just in time for the nine a.m. mass. The bells echoed throughout the city, and Grover smiled, lifting his face to the sun.
“I love the sound of the bells. They always brought me peace,” he whispered.
“You’re free to go home now, child,” said Irene. “Your family is waiting for you.”
“Thank you. Thank you all for believing in me,” he said, smiling at them. He turned toward the cathedral and started walking, then disappeared just as he hit the doors.
“Is he gone, Mama?” asked Miller.
“He’s gone, baby. He’ll see his mama and daddy, his sister and her family, even his wife. Hopefully, he gets a chance at a new life, wherever he is.”
“Can we take down your treehouse?” smirked Ghost.
“Yes,” she laughed. “I think we’re done, right, Bennett?”
“Yes, ma’am, we’re done. Unfortunately, I have some answers to give to a few people. The folks in Mississippi deserve an explanation for what I did. I hope they’ll allow me to build them a new house. If not, I guess I’ll need a good lawyer and a psychologist that will tell the world I wasn’t in my right mind.”
“You tried to make things right, honey,” said Ruby. “You were just doin’ it in all the wrong ways. Maybe now you can truly get some rest.”
“I didn’t deserve your kindness and help, not after the way I treated all of you. I’m truly sorry for that, but I can honestly say I wasn’t in my right mind. I just wanted those damn voices to go away.”
“And have they?” asked Nine.
“So far, so good,” he smiled. “I’ll let you know if they return. For now, I’m going to shower, eat, sleep, and then take a little trip up north.”
The man stared at him as if he’d lost his mind. He pushed his children and wife behind, as if to protect them.
“You’re all kinds of crazy, ain’t you?” said Thompson.
“I suppose I am,” said Bennett. “But I’m trying really hard to make things right. I know you don’t believe me, but I was haunted by our ancestor and others. I just want to make things right for you and your family. I’ve bought back your farm from the bank, and I’m willing to build you a new house, anything you like.”
“Why? It was an electrical fire. They proved it.”
“My men may have sped that up,” frowned Bennett.
“As much as I’d like to blame you,” smirked Thompson, “it was faulty wiring. The investigators proved it.”
“Either way, will you let me help you? We are, after all, distant cousins,” he smiled.
Thompson’s wife smiled at him, giving a short nod. They’d been living in their camper until they could afford to rebuild. This would help them to build the home they always dreamed of.
“Alright. We accept as long as you promise to come and visit when it’s done,” he said, shaking his hand. Bennett laughed, nodding at him.
“On my word of honor, I’ll be back.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
