The Ghoul Next Door

by Victoria Laurie

  And just as I suspected, I saw Daddy’s own eyes cut to Heath and his lips press together in a disapproving scowl.

  But Christine had already stepped forward and reached for Heath’s hands. “Oh, would you?” she cried desperately. “I’d be most grateful, Heath.” Turning to me, she added, “Most grateful to both of you!”

  I stood there dumbstruck, not really believing what’d just happened. One minute we were headed in for a nice get-to-know-you lunch, and the next minute Heath was committing us to a ghostbust on our vacation. Which of course was my luck.

  “It’d be our pleasure,” Heath assured her, nodding his head and smiling encouragingly at me.

  “Of—of course,” I stammered as Christine hugged first Heath, then me and showered us with thank-yous.

  Daddy cleared his throat, his irritation lessening but still simmering below the surface. “Well, now that’s settled, maybe we can all go in now and enjoy our lunch.”

  As we filed into the house after Daddy, Gilley sidled up next to me wearing a mocking grin. He was enjoying this a little too much.

  “Shut it,” I hissed at him.

  Gil adopted an injured expression. “I didn’t say a word!”

  I glared at him. “Oh, but you will.”

  “Well,” Gil replied, “that’s a given, sugar. That’s a given.”