“No, I don’t believe in ghosts.”

Damn, Maria thought trying to outwardly hide her disappointment. He’s so cute!

“Wait, do you?” he asked.

“What?” she dodged, “How’s your steak?”

“Not bad, not bad,” he said nodding vigorously. “I mean, you know, I’ve had better, but…” At the end of the night he walked her to her car and tried kiss her but she bobbed and weaved out of the path of his lips.

“I had a great time,” she said as she hurriedly opened the door and started inside. “Thanks!” Door closed, car started, pulling away from the curb with Tight Tshirt still standing dumbfounded at how his date managed to elude his laser-guided seduction.

Maria sighed as she sped through the yellow light, putting that much more distance between her and another bad date. “Well, crap,” she said aloud.

“What did you expect?” The response came from the empty back seat.

Maria used the rear view mirror to make eye contact with the black haired woman in the back seat. “Is it too much to ask to find a cute guy with an open mind?”

“The way you’re finding these boys, yes, it’s too much to ask!”

“The way I… you mean online dating?”

“It’s just crazy. I don’t understand how you think that can even work!”

“Tina, just because you died before AOL was around, don’t hate the technology.”

“Don’t you call me old!” The woman in the back seat admonished. “I’m… experienced, that’s all. And, trust me, you’re not going to find the man of your dreams on the intra…webs-whatever.”

Maria smiled to herself at Tina’s lack of tech-savvy. “Will you move up here, I’m getting a kink in my neck talking to you back there,” she said as she took her purse from the passenger seat and moved it to the vacated back seat.

“Look, I’m just saying,” Tina started from the passenger seat, “that’s not how you’re going to find love.”

“Oh, please enlighten me!”

“You’re going to find your man by happenstance. A chance encounter, your eyes meet, and you just know…” Tina’s eyes went a little glassy as she spoke.

“Okay, so clearly when you die you have unlimited time to watch Hallmark movies. Got it.”

Tina jabbed at Maria’s shoulder, but her hand passed right into the woman.

“Ouch! That stings. Tell me, T, does this man I mysteriously encounter help me save the town’s orphanage? Or is it just the family Christmas tree farm?”

“You brat,” Tina laughed. “You’re the one who leaves the TV on during the day.”

“And you’re the one who manipulates the remote to find that sap!”

“It took me years to figure out how to do that,” Tina exclaimed.

“I’ve heard of misspent youth, but this is the first instance I’ve heard of misspent death.”

“Bitch!” Tina cursed with a laugh.

“Ghoul!”

“Meat sack!”

“Wraith!”

“Air breather!”

“Casper!”

“Un-undead!”

“Un-undead? That’s new,” Tina laughed.

“Well, you know, you can teach the dead new tricks.”

“I guess so,” Tina smiled. The silence stretched several city blocks before Tina smiled sadly, “I miss you, Tina.”

“Don’t start, M.”

“No, I’m serious. I need a hug right now. And – nothing personal – but your hugs hurt like hell now.”

“Not my fault,” Tina said shaking her head.

“I know… I know.” Another block of streetlights blurred past. Maria clicked on the blinker, which sounded artificially loud in the silence as she slowed for the right turn. “So, going back… how do I know if a guy is right? I mean, you know, Ryan was sweet…”

“Ryan… Ryan…. Oh, wait, no. Just no.”

“What was wrong with Ryan?”

“Do you remember his answer to whether he believed in ghosts?” Maria giggled but remained silent. “M? You remember… What did he say?”

“’You mean,’” she affected a faux-man’s voice, “’Like, ghosting a chick? Not talking to her?’”

“Real thinker there, M.”

“Come on, Tina. I love you, sis, but maybe there isn’t a guy out there that will, you know…”

“Say it,” Tina coaxed.

“…See you.”

“See me? How about believe I exist? I’d settle for that. Because we’ve both agreed I’m not going anywhere, so what? ‘It’s okay, honey, I just talk to empty air all the time.’”

“That’d be awkward.”

“Yeah.”

“Look, I’ll give up the online dating, but that leaves… I don’t know… Shit!!” Maria cursed as her rearview mirror filled with flashing red and blue lights.

“Oh crap! What’d you do, M?!”

“I don’t know!” She pulled over and rolled down her window. “Stay quiet, Tina.”

“Like he’s going to hear me!”

“Shh!” Maria admonished as she saw the cop get out of his car and approach the driver’s side window.

“Good evening, ladies,” he started.

“Umm,” Maria froze… ladies? Did he say ladies?

Tina must have picked up on Maria’s hesitation because she tested the waters, “Good evening, officer!”

“Ma’am,” he nodded to Tina. Turning back to Maria, “Did you know the registration sticker on your license plate is expired?”

“Uh… umm, no, I mean yes, I mean… no… I mean, Ihaveitandforgottoputiton,” she said in a hurried breath.

He chuckled. That’s a cute chuckle, Maria thought.

“Officer,” Tina started, “I know this is totally off the subject, but are you single? I’m asking for a friend,” Maria winked theatrically and pointed at Maria who was staring at the cop.

He chuckled again and Maria thought she caught a blush. This is very un-cop-like. “Well, ma’am –”

“Tina. And this is Maria – she was about to give you her license… and phone number.”

“Tina!” Maria hissed. “I’m sorry about my friend, officer…”

“Martin. Officer Martin Hayes. And… yeah, this is a bit awkward,” he smiled at Maria. “I ran your plate. You’re clear – just remember to put that sticker on there.”

“I’m sorry, Officer Hayes. I will as soon as I get home.

“Sounds good. But, uh, if that phone number option was serious…”

“You two are totally going to save an orphanage,” Tina whispered.