Another voice: "Don't be too sure, Gavy-pooh."
I turn and see her.
"Melody!" I cry, too overjoyed to be astonished. "Melody sweetheart!" I rush toward her and throw my arms around . . . nothing. I pass right through. It's only then that I notice she's floating about 3 feet above the floor and not entirely here--a glimmer-wraith, a shade, a . . .
"A ghost, Gavin," Heather says, "She's a ghost."
"I . . . I don't . . . don't under. . . "
"The Boss got this weird idea that love's more important than death," the Angel of Death shrugs, "go figure. Anyway, He gave Melody a choice and she . . . well, I'll let her tell you . . ."
"I had a choice to stay in heaven," Melody's ghost says, "Or to spend my time with you. I chose you." She bends and kisses me on my forehead and, mirabile dictu, I feel a feather light brush of ethereal lips.
"You chose me," I stammer, "Me over Paradise?"
"Paradise can wait," Melody says. "And it wouldn't be any fun without you there with me," She puts her fists on her hips and scrunches her nose: "You got a lot of living to do yet and no guarantees. I want to be here to make sure you join me when the time comes."
"And that's gonna be when?" I ask, not really expecting an answer.
"Never you mind," Heather interupts. "You have more important things to think about."
"More important than that? This from the Angel of Death, yet!" I'm teasing and giddy and gonzo with joy. "OK, what's so important?"
"Rescheduling the wedding, of course," Melody says.
"Wedding?"
"Yes, the wedding. You asked me to marry you, remember? I remember saying yes."
I'm confused. "But Mel . . ." I start.
"But me no buts, buster. You're not getting out of marrying me just because I'm dead."
"It is a bit unusual," Heather muses, "but then, so are you Gavin. I know the Boss has no problem with such a union."
"If it's OK with Him," I say, "It's OK with me."
***
It's a week later and the wedding is history. The ceremony went without a hitch until the very end when the preacher had to modify our vows a bit. "'Til death do you part" became "'Til death