Chapter 91

They settled Ghengis in his crate and made their way up the stairs. Sam laid out the clothes he'd bought then shaved and brushed his teeth, changing into a clean shirt and jeans while Evie watched. His ghost was quite the little voyeur. Then at the stroke of midnight, he met her in the hallway and this time it was he who pulled her down the hall to the bedroom - after a long, spine-tingling kiss.
He swatted her backside playfully when she groped his cock. "None of that, woman. Not yet, at least. Now we're off to see the world." There was so much he wanted to show her, and so little time.
"Fine." She tugged off the nightgown she'd worn during the day and studied the garments on the bed. "You have excellent taste, Sam. I suppose that goes with being an artist." It took just seconds for her to pull on the silky bikini underpants and camisole. Slender as she was, she didn't need a bra.
She eyed the jeans with delight. "I wore my brother's old trousers only once when I was little - my father took David and me fishing."
"Let's just hope they fit." He'd gotten ones with a bit of stretch in the fabric, just in case. His mouth watered as he watched her wiggle into them.
With a gleeful grin, she did up the zipper and buttons then studied herself in the mirror. "They're wonderful. Thank you." She turned to plant another kiss on his mouth before whirling to snatch the coral silk sweater and pull it over her head.
"I figured it was a good match to your shoes. Didn't want to try buying those without you trying them on." He did hand her a pair of thin cotton ankle socks to wear beneath.
"Now what about my hair? I noticed most women don't wear it up anymore. I'll feel utterly scandalous walking about with it down." She beamed at her own reflection.
"You're stunning." He handed her his hairbrush and watched as she smoothed the silky strands to hand straight down her back. "I have some rubber bands - the ones I tie my hair back with when I paint. If you'd rather, we can put it in a ponytail."
"No." She shook her head. "Between the trousers and no corset and my hair down - I've never felt this free." She sat on the bed to buckle on her shoes. "Now let's go."
Evie could barely believe the wonders that greeted her eyes when they stepped into the massive store Sam had brought her to. She'd never seen anything like it, except on television and she wasn't sure she believed it then. The place was enormous, carrying everything from fresh fruit to clothing to tools, not to mention any number of things she couldn't identify at all. Sam talked her into purchasing a denim jacket and a pair of canvas tennis shoes. She wiggled her toes as she tried them on - how soft and comfortable they were. On their way out, he picked up a bottle of wine and a chocolate cake, asking her if there was anything else she wanted.
All Evie could do was shake her head. "What will you do with all this when I'm gone? It's such a waste."
"There are plenty of places that accept second-hand clothes to donate to the poor," he whispered. "Unfortunately, poverty is something that hasn't changed.
On that sober note, Evie nodded and followed him from the store.
They got back into his car - a wonder in itself, and Sam drove through the brightly lit city to a small, casual restaurant while Evie changed into her new shoes. "I thought you might like a real meal for a change."
"Thank you." She let him open the passenger door and held his hand as they walked in the door. As in the store, not one single person looked askance at Evie. She apparently blended in just as Sam had promised. This outing was almost as much fun as staying in.
They seated themselves in vivid orange booth, and Sam pulled menus out from behind a steel napkin holder. "Order whatever you like. I assume you can find something you recognize."
The smell of so much food made her stomach rumble. She scanned the photographs and the printed words, ignoring the price increases that made her gulp. "A strawberry milkshake," she whispered. "I've heard about those, but in my day weren't made with ice cream and I've never had one. Oh - and a hamburger. Again, I've seen them and smelled them but never tasted one."
When the bored-looking middle-aged waitress came by to take their order, Sam ordered two cheeseburger plates and two strawberry shakes. Their food came a few minutes later and Sam lifted his glass to hers. "To new experiences."
"To you," she replied softly then tapped her glass to his and took a long pull of the thick creamy liquid through her plastic straw. "Oh my heavens, this is divine."
"Not as divine as the woman drinking it," he said before biting into his cheeseburger.
It felt so odd, to be out and about like a normal couple, simply enjoying a late-night meal. Evie had watched enough over the years that she could function, she discovered, with very little guidance from Sam. With her sheltered upbringing, this was the most freedom she'd ever had - even before she'd died.
After the meal, Sam drove back to the house. His car was sleek and powerful - quite a change from her father's saloon car or her brother's runabout.
Too stuffed to contemplate making love, Evie suggested they walk around the block. Sam agreed and took her arm. As they walked, she pointed out some of the houses that had been there in her time and told him of the families who'd lived there. A soft breeze stirred their hair and the scent of wood smoke somewhere nearby teased her nostrils. It was the most beautiful night ever - even if she did still feel a slight twinge between her legs. Everything about Sam was worth any pain. She desperately hoped she'd be able to watch over him from the other side.