The Haunted Stroll

by J A Whiting

  “Anton is doing some research for me,” Lin said.

  Libby nodded approvingly. “If there’s something to find out, Anton will uncover it. Someone who lived in the house before the Snows is still a resident of the island. His name is David Masterson. He has a house in ‘Sconset. I’ll give you his contact information. I believe he is in his early eighties now. You should speak with him about the ghost in the Tangerine Street house.”

  “Should I bring it up with Robert?” Lin asked.

  “Yes. Tell him you’ve heard tales of a ghostly presence in his house.” Libby smiled and made eye contact with Lin. “When you talk to Robert, leave out the fact that you can see spirits. You never know how that bit of news will go over with people. Let him bring it up. I’m not sure what he believes about spirits.”

  Lin returned the woman’s smile. “I always keep that information just between me and close friends.”

  “I must run now,” Libby said gathering up her things. “I have another meeting. We can touch base later in the week.”

  Lin was sorry Libby had to leave so quickly. She’d wanted to talk to her about Leonard and Marguerite.

  As soon as the older woman was gone, Viv came to the table and sat down. “I have a few minutes before I have to go back to the serving counter. How did it go with Libby?”

  Lin reported what Libby told her and what she should do next. “Will you come with me when I go to see the former owner of the Snows’ house?”

  Viv said, “Sure. It will be interesting to hear about the Mastersons’s experiences living in a house with a ghost.” Noticing the look on her cousin’s face, she asked, “Is something bothering you?”

  Lin lifted her eyes to Viv. “I’m worried about Leonard. He hasn’t seen Marguerite for two days.”

  Viv’s eyes narrowed with concern. “Where did she go? She never leaves the house.”

  “He doesn’t know where she went.”

  “What? Why would she do that? She didn’t tell Leonard where she was going? Or why?”

  “Marguerite can’t speak to him, remember?”

  “Can she leave a note or something?” Viv asked.

  Lin shook her head. “Marguerite and Leonard are like me and my ghosts. We can’t communicate with one another. I have to guess what they want from me by putting together clues like when and where they show up. Leonard and Marguerite use facial expressions for simple communication with each other. It isn’t much, but it works for them in a very basic way. Leonard got up the other morning and she wasn’t there.”

  “Is he upset about it?” Viv asked.

  “You know how he holds back sometimes. He doesn’t like to admit he’s worried when something is wrong, but from what he said to me about it, I think he’s very upset.”

  “Why is she doing this to him?”

  Lin told her cousin her thoughts. “Leonard has been doing much better. He gets sad on the anniversary of Marguerite’s death, but he doesn’t slip into misery like he used to. He doesn’t get drunk over it anymore. He’s taking care of himself. He seems happy.”

  “So Marguerite will leave him and cause him to fall into despair again?” Viv asked with indignation.

  “I wonder if Marguerite thinks Leonard can handle life without her presence in the house now?” Lin suggested.

  “Oh.” Viv’s eyebrows moved together as she considered Lin’s idea. “I didn’t think of that. Remember not long ago we talked about how hard it would be to have your spouse’s ghost lingering in the house? At first, it would be so wonderful because you didn’t lose the person to death, but … you could never move on. You couldn’t tell people your spouse was still with you. You couldn’t have a conversation with the ghost. You couldn’t even hold her hand because she isn’t solid. You couldn’t make future plans. You could never have a new partner. It would be like being in limbo.”

  “For both of them,” Lin said. “Leonard can’t move ahead with his life and Marguerite can’t cross over.”

  “What a mess.” Viv groaned.

  “I wonder if Marguerite is trying a few days away from Leonard to see how he handles it. Maybe she thinks it would be best if she crosses over now.”

  “I never considered how not crossing over might impact a ghost,” Viv said. “She must have stayed all this time because she was worried about Leonard. It might be very hard on Marguerite not to be able to leave. It makes me feel sad for both of them.”

  Lin said, “I’m concerned about Leonard if she leaves him. Will he fall back into despair? Will all the recent gains he’s made evaporate?”

  “He’s been doing so well,” Viv noted. “We’ll have to keep an eye on him. Try to keep tabs on what’s going on in his house. See if he starts to fall apart if Marguerite is absent at times. I’ll help you if you need me.”

  “What will we do if he falls apart? We can’t suggest he go to counseling. Can you imagine the therapist’s reaction if Leonard tells him or her that his wife’s ghost has left him?”

  “Then you’ll have to be his counselor,” Viv told her cousin.

  “Me? I wouldn’t know how to help him. Maybe Libby could step in.”

  “Have you texted with Leonard today?” Viv asked. “Maybe Marguerite has returned.”

  “No, we haven’t texted,” Lin said. “We made plans yesterday to meet at a client’s place in Madaket in forty-five minutes.”

  Nicky jumped down from the chair he’d been sharing with Queenie, trotted over to Lin, and rubbed against her leg while letting out a little whine.

  “Don’t worry, Nick, I won’t leave without you.” Lin patted the dog’s head. “My guess is Marguerite returned this morning. I don’t think she’d want to be away for more than two days to start with. Maybe she’ll come and go and each time she leaves, she’ll extend the amount of time she’s gone to see how Leonard handles it.”

  “So now we have two problems,” Viv sighed. “A painting of a sea captain has a hold over you, and Leonard might be in danger of falling into depression if Marguerite leaves him.”

  Lin gave her cousin a half-smile. “At least our lives are never dull.”

  5

  Lin and Jeff sat near the windows looking out at the lights shining over the dark water of the harbor while enjoying their dinner in the candle-lit restaurant.

  “Marguerite was back in the house this morning,” Lin told her fiancé. “Leonard seemed relieved, but he didn’t want to talk about it so I didn’t ask much. Let’s see if she disappears again in a couple of days.”

  “You think she’s testing out how her absence affects Leonard?” Jeff buttered his warm roll.

  Lin took some stuffed mushrooms from the appetizer plate. “That’s my theory.”

  “How do you think it will play out if she leaves permanently?”

  “I like to think Leonard is in a good place and is ready to let her go.” Lin looked out the window and watched the ferry approach the docks from the mainland. “But I honestly don’t know what will happen to him if Marguerite is gone. It worries me.”

  “Leonard has friends again, he has us, he’s running a successful business with you. You’re important to him. You’re like the daughter he never had. It might be enough to hold him together,” Jeff said.

  “Once Marguerite crosses over, I don’t think she can come back.” Worry etched lines into Lin’s forehead. “Maybe I’m wrong about that, but my limited experience with ghosts tells me they don’t return once they’ve left the earthly plane behind.”

  Jeff nodded as he held his water glass. “Then we’ll have to be ready to step in and support Leonard should Marguerite decide to cross and he becomes distraught.”

  Lin smiled and reached across the table to take Jeff’s hand. “You’re a very kind man. I’m glad you picked me to be your partner in life.”

  Jeff grinned. “I thought you picked me.”

  The conversation shifted away from the subject of Marguerite and Leonard to this year’s holiday stroll activities, the upcoming dance at the Shipwr
eck Museum, and to their future together.

  “I know we haven’t set a date for the wedding, but I thought we should talk about where we want to live once we’re married,” Jeff said.

  Lin’s eyes widened. “Gosh. I can’t believe I haven’t given that any thought.” With a chuckle, she said, “Good thing one of us is planning ahead.”

  “I know you’re very attached to your cottage since it’s where you and your grandfather spent so many years of your life together,” Jeff said.

  Lin’s heart began to sink expecting Jeff to say he thought it best if they sell their houses and buy something together as a couple. Her cottage meant so much to her that Lin couldn’t imagine saying goodbye to it.

  “But, maybe you want to keep that part of your life separate?” Jeff asked.

  “Separate from you, you mean?” Lin looked confused.

  “I don’t know if you’d find it weird to have someone else moving in and living in your house with you,” Jeff wondered out loud.

  “I’d love it if you moved in.” Lin held her breath. “Would you like that? Would you feel comfortable moving into the cottage with me? Would you mind leaving your own house?”

  Jeff smiled. “I love the cottage. I know it holds a million memories, but I’d love to make it my home with you, and start to make new memories.”

  “You don’t mind selling your house?”

  “Not one bit. Besides, I think Nicky likes your cottage better than he likes my house.”

  “I think the dog’s opinion is very important,” Lin said with a happy tone to her voice. “I think we need to listen to him.”

  “Agreed,” Jeff grinned. “I’ll talk to John about handling the sale when the time comes. He can give me some tips on things to do to make the place appealing to buyers.”

  “I’m excited.” Lin lifted her glass to clink with her fiancé’s. “You know there’s the whole unfinished second floor of my house. There’s plenty of room for us to make your office and a den and more bedrooms up there.”

  Jeff said, “I can work on the project in my spare time, that way it won’t cost us as much if we contracted the work out. It will take longer, of course, but we’re in no hurry.”

  “You can share my office until the upstairs work gets done.” The talk of living together and expanding the house made Lin’s heart light with happiness.

  “We need to decide on a wedding date,” Jeff said.

  “Let’s sit down with Viv and John and make a decision.”

  “Late spring? Early summer? I know Viv likes early autumn. The weather will be nice any of those times, and it wouldn’t be too hot.”

  “Any time is fine with me,” Lin said, her eyes bright. “Those times of year sound perfect.”

  “Lin. Jeff.” Anton Wilson walked up to their table and took a seat. “I just had dinner with a colleague and spotted you as I was leaving.”

  “Have a seat,” Lin kidded the already sitting man.

  “Oh. Am I interrupting? Is it okay if I join you?”

  “I’m teasing you, Anton. Of course, you can join us,” Lin told the historian. Looking over at Jeff, she said, “That is, if Jeff agrees.”

  “Hmm.” Jeff stroked his chin pretending to be thinking it over.

  “Oh, for land’s sake,” Anton said taking an appetizer from the plate in the middle of the table. “I know Jeff agrees.”

  “How was your dinner?” Jeff asked.

  “Productive. My colleague and I are planning to write a book together. It’s in the very early stages.”

  “What will the subject be?” Lin asked.

  “Ghosts of Nantucket,” Anton said as he chewed the sweet potato tartlet. “Quite good.”

  “You’ve already written a book on the island’s ghosts,” Lin said.

  “This will be volume two,” Anton told her. “Which brings me to why I interrupted your meal.”

  Lin gave the man an expectant look. “Yes?”

  “This new ghost of yours … well, actually it isn’t a ghost in the traditional sense of the word. What should we call him? An apparition? No, that’s not correct. A presence?”

  “It really doesn’t matter. I know what you mean,” Lin said trying to move Anton along to get to the point.

  “Yes, well. I did some research. Have you learned anything more about the man in the portrait? I don’t want to take your time repeating what you already know.”

  “Nothing, no.”

  “Captain Baker moved to the house on upper Main Street. He didn’t live there very long,” Anton said.

  “He moved to a third house?” Lin asked.

  “No. He died. His son, too.”

  “What happened?” Jeff asked.

  “It seems a robbery took place.” Anton looked from Jeff to Lin. “The captain and his son were visiting an acquaintance when the robber broke into the house. The robber shot Captain Baker, his son, and the friend. The three of them died in the house. The man’s wife found them when she returned from visiting her sister in town.”

  “How awful,” Lin whispered. “How did you find the information?”

  “It was mentioned in a history book. I vaguely recalled reading about the incident a long time ago, but I didn’t connect it to your presence until last night.”

  “You have an amazing memory,” Lin praised the historian. “You’ve been so helpful every time I’ve needed you.”

  It was hard to see in the low-lit restaurant, but Anton’s cheeks turned a little bit pink from Lin’s compliments.

  “How old was Baker and his son when they were killed?” Jeff asked.

  “The son was eight,” Anton said. “I don’t yet have a birthdate for Baker so I’d have to guess the man was in his early to mid-forties.”

  “What house did the robbery take place in?” Lin asked.

  “Captain Baker’s former home, the Snows’ house on the corner of Main and Tangerine. The Bakers were visiting the new owner in their former home.”

  Lin’s mouth opened, but she didn’t say anything.

  The historian looked at his watch. “I must run. I’m meeting Libby. I will keep searching for information on Captain Baker.”

  Lin and Jeff thanked the man before he dashed out of the restaurant.

  “Baker died in the Snows’ house even though he wasn’t living there at the time,” Lin said.

  “Does Captain Baker’s murder keep him from crossing over?” Jeff asked, being sure to keep his voice down.

  Lin said, “It might. This must be the reason people have had experiences with a ghost in the Snows’ house. The ghost must be the sea captain or his son or the friend they were visiting, or maybe there are multiple ghosts in the structure.”

  “What does Baker want from you?” Jeff asked. “The murders happened over two hundred years ago. What could he want you to do about it?”

  “That’s the million-dollar question,” Lin sighed. “I’ve been thinking about what kind of ghostly activity might have gone on in the house over the years. What exactly does the ghost or the ghosts do? Do people feel frightened by the goings-on? Do they feel threatened by the spirit? Or is it only a passing interaction between the ghost and the resident?”

  “What did Libby tell you about the ghost in that house?” Jeff asked.

  Lin said, “She told me general things like the ghost makes its presence known by making noises, moving objects around, causing a chill in the air, or creating a sensation that someone is near. She wasn’t sure if anyone has ever seen the ghost.”

  “You and Viv are going to speak with a man who used to live in the mansion?”

  “Yes. We have an appointment to meet with him,” Lin said.

  “In the meantime, we might be able to find out some things on our own,” Jeff said.

  When Lin cocked her head to the side, he added, “The gallery is open late tonight, isn’t it? Maybe we should take a walk over there and talk to Mr. Snow. He might have some interesting experiences he’d be happy to share with us.”

&n
bsp; “Such a clever man.” Lin gave her fiancé an admiring smile. “And that’s just one of the many reasons why I love you.”

  6

  The falling light snow shimmered in the glow of the streetlamps as Lin and Jeff made their way up Main Street past the shops to Snows’ art gallery. Robert Snow greeted the couple with a warm welcome when he saw them enter his shop.

  “It’s a chilly night to be out and about,” Robert said. “Come in and warm up. Can I get you a cup of tea or some cocoa?”

  “We’ve just had a big meal,” Lin told the pleasant man. “We walked around town a little and then decided to come see if you’d placed the paintings in the first rotation.”

  “Indeed, I have.” Robert gestured to the second gallery room. “I think the idea of rotating the artwork will prove very successful. I’ve had excellent feedback about it.”

  Lin could feel the eyes from the painting on her back and she couldn’t stop herself from turning around to stare at it. When she looked at Captain Baker’s face, an icy chill ran through her.

  Jeff noticed the change in Lin’s attention and went to stand beside her. “This is the sea captain who used to live in the house?” he asked Robert.

  Robert walked over and told Jeff a few things about the captain. “We don’t know much about him, unfortunately.”

  Lin shook herself and moved slightly to face Robert. “I remember hearing some stories about the captain, and about the rumor that there’s a ghost living in your house. Have you had any experiences with a spirit?”

  Robert took a few moments to answer. “There are a good number of houses on the island that are reputed to have a ghostly guest living in them.”

  “Is there really one living in this house?” Lin asked.

  “We’ve heard some tales,” Robert said with a cheerful grin.

  Robert’s wife, Lila, came into the gallery through the side door that led to the main house. In her sixties, she was petite, with short blond hair and blue eyes. “We’ve experienced more than tales,” Lila said walking over to Lin and Jeff. “Have you ever had an encounter with a ghost?”