2 The Ghosts Upstairs

by SUE FINEMAN

  The kid giggled, and the tension eased.

  The first drop of rain fell, and everyone scurried around, running to their cars before the sky opened. Billy scooted into Dad’s backseat with Kayla and Buford. Charlie sat in the front, while Andy rode back with Hannah. Lightning split the sky nearby, and Buford whined.

  “He doesn’t like loud noises,” said Kayla. “It scares him.”

  Billy pulled the dog on his lap and held him while Dad drove them home. “Take me home, Dad. I’ll drive Kayla back after I get cleaned up.”

  “Okay. You did a great job out there, Billy. I’m proud of you, son.”

  “So am I,” Kayla said, her soft voice warming Billy inside.

  Her spontaneous hug tonight surprised him. Her hair brushed his cheek and he wanted to bury his nose in it. In spite of his cold, wet clothes, he felt good. He and a muddy hound had saved a kid’s life, and a beautiful woman was proud of him.

  Maggie and Eleanor couldn’t take that away from him.

  Minutes later, Billy stood on the garage porch and hosed off Buford’s paws. He didn’t want mud all over his apartment. They walked upstairs, and Billy headed for the bathroom to take a hot shower and get into some dry clothes.

  While Billy showered, Kayla wandered through his apartment. It was cute, with one bedroom and a great room with an open kitchen. There was a whole wall of shelves filled with books. Billy was neat, unlike Leonard, who was the biggest slob she’d ever met.

  Now that the excitement was over, she felt drained. She never did get a nap today. But before she could sleep, she needed to fix Billy something hot to eat. She dug through his little kitchen until she found a well-stocked pantry. Using canned chicken broth, leftover chicken, and frozen vegetables, she made a pot of hearty chicken vegetable soup. That should warm him up inside.

  Billy came out of the bathroom wearing dry jeans and a dark blue T-shirt. All clean and shiny, with his hair damp and curly, he looked good enough to eat. His shoulders were wide and strong, and with a two-day growth of beard, he had an edgy, bad-boy look about him. He sure didn’t look like any high school teacher she’d ever met. If she’d had teachers like Billy Kane, she might have gone back to high school and gotten her diploma.

  After risking his life for that little boy in the river, he acted like it was nothing. It was something all right, and she was proud to know him. Too bad they lived in different states. He wouldn’t want to have a relationship with a woman who planned to go back to Memphis as soon as she got her inheritance, and she didn’t want to start something with a guy who lived in Ohio.

  Buford collapsed on the thick area rug in front of the sofa. That sofa looked mighty comfortable, and she hadn’t slept in so long.

  After they ate, while Billy cleaned up the kitchen, she sat on the sofa and turned on the television news. One deep breath and her eyes closed.

  Billy watched the news footage of the rescue and wondered how he’d ever managed to get out of that river alive. They called him a hero, but the real hero was the woman who told them where to look. And Buford, of course.

  Kayla sighed in her sleep, and he found a blanket and pillow for her. He pulled her shoes off, covered her with the blanket, and tucked the pillow under her head. She could sleep there tonight, and he’d take her back to Mansion Drive on the way to work in the morning. If he knew her better, he might carry her into his bed. But if she woke in bed with him, she’d probably slap him silly. Or worse. She could cry rape. She wouldn’t do that, would she?

  Her hands were red from working so hard today. He agreed to pay her only a hundred dollars a week, but she’d earned more than that in one afternoon.

  When he found her in the pool house, he was angry enough to have her arrested, but he couldn’t forget the picture of her standing there in her underwear. She didn’t seem embarrassed for him to see her that way. The girl had a lot of spunk, standing up to him the way she had, and then the way she threw Dad’s questions back in his face.

  Yep, the girl definitely had spunk. And charm. And sex appeal.

  Too bad she was related to Eleanor Goodman.

  <>

  When Billy woke in the morning, Kayla was still sound asleep. He walked the dog and then got ready for work. Kayla still didn’t stir, so he left a note on the kitchen counter.

  He left for work a few minutes later, but as he pulled into the teacher’s parking lot, he knew this wouldn’t be a regular work day. News vans were parked outside the school. Kids who normally didn’t say a word said kind things to him. Even the principal greeted him with a handshake. “Nice job saving that boy.”

  Billy nodded his thanks.

  The teachers’ lounge was filled with reporters, and Billy almost backed out. One of them shoved a microphone under his nose. “Mr. Kane, may we have a word with you, please?”

  He glanced at his watch. “Make it quick.”

  “How did you know where to look for the boy?”

  He couldn’t tell them the truth or they’d bug Kayla. “The park was between Robbie’s house and his grandmother’s house, and it had a playground he’d been to many times before.”

  “How did you know Robbie was in the water?” another woman asked.

  “The dog found him. He took us right to the river’s edge. My brother Andy spotted the red backpack, and then I saw Robbie holding onto a tree branch in the river. The way the water was moving, I knew he couldn’t hang on for long, so I did what had to be done.”

  Other reporters shouted questions, and Billy held up his hand to stop them. “Before you ask, I don’t advise anyone jumping into a raging river like that. If I hadn’t had the rope around me, with my father and brothers holding onto the other end, I wouldn’t have made it out of the river alive, and neither would the kid.”

  “Do you go out often on calls like that?”

  “Not unless they need people to help search. I was with my family when Dad got the call, so my brothers and I went with him. I’m relieved Robbie is back home safely with his family. Things turned out well. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to get to my classroom.”

  The day stretched on forever. Everyone had questions about the rescue, and he was the butt of some good natured teasing about him and the woman who sang with the dog. He refused to tell anyone who she was or how he knew her. Nobody knew about the house on Mansion Drive, and that was the way he wanted it. He didn’t want people to think he was rich, because he wasn’t. He’d never be rich, and he didn’t care. Once he sold the house and paid the taxes, there wouldn’t be a whole lot left, and he’d be right back in his mundane life.

  That was what he wanted. Wasn’t it?

  <>

  Kayla woke with Buford nudging her arm. He probably had to go outside. From the sun shining through the kitchen window, it wasn’t early. Shoot. And Billy had to go to work today. She jumped off the sofa and ran to the bedroom, but Billy was gone and the bed neatly made.

  She took Buford outside to do his business. It wasn’t until she came back inside that she found Billy’s note on the kitchen counter.

  Kayla, I didn’t want to wake you. Hannah will drive you back to Mansion Drive when you’re ready. Go through the gate beside the porch and follow the path to the house. I’ll see you later this afternoon. Billy

  She dug out the toothbrush she carried in her purse, cleaned up the best she could, then walked through the gate with Buford and up to Hannah and Donovan’s house. The charming old house looked like it must be at least a hundred years old.

  Before she could tap on the door, Hannah opened it. “Kayla, come in.”

  She walked into the kitchen, modern yet still retaining the charm of the period of the house. “My granny had a farmhouse sink like that, only hers was a stained mess from canning.”

  “My grandmother scrubbed the finish off the one in this kitchen, so we replaced it when we remodeled. Did you have breakfast?”

  “No.”

  Hannah pulled eggs and butter from the refrigerator. “Scrambled with toas
t okay?”

  “Sounds wonderful. I need to go to the store. I ran out of dog food yesterday, and that ole hound sure likes to eat.”

  “Billy said he’d buy groceries after school. He’ll show you around town this week, so you don’t get lost like I did when I moved here.”

  “That’s good. Did you watch the news last night? I knew Billy was a hero, but to see it from the sky, with that water swirling around him and the kid hanging onto his neck, it scared me all over again.”

  “Me, too.” Hannah put a plate in front of Kayla. “Coffee, tea, juice?”

  “Juice, please, and you don’t have to wait on me.”

  “I don’t mind.” She smiled. “Sometimes it feels like I run a restaurant, especially with the boys. They can really pack it away.”

  “Charlie is the ornery one, isn’t he?”

  “Yes, he’s so much like my father. Dad was always playing tricks on people. He was quite the charmer, and Charlie is the same way. The girls love him. Andy loves to design and build things. He wants to study architecture, and he’s already got a scholarship lined up. He’s the top student in his class. Charlie isn’t as committed to school as Andy. He doesn’t know what he wants to do with his life, but he has plenty of time to figure it out.”

  “Is your father still living?”

  “No, he was a cop killed in a domestic violence call when I was Ginny’s age. He and Pop were partners and good friends.”

  “Oh, how awful for you. But you have Charlie to remind you of him.”

  “And Pop. I’m so glad to have Pop.”

  Kayla knew Pop wouldn’t be here next year. They’d have Christmas with him, and then he’d go to sleep one night and not wake up. But she couldn’t tell Hannah that. Or Billy.

  “Did I hear my name?” the old man said as he walked into the kitchen. He held out his hand to Kayla. “I’m Kevin Kane, Donovan’s father, but everyone calls me Pop.”

  “Nice to meet you, Pop. I’m Kayla.” Buford barked at the door. “And that’s Buford, asking for his breakfast.”

  Hannah rummaged in the pantry and came out with a half-empty bag of kibbles. “The kids’ collie died a couple months ago.” Kayla let Buford in while Hannah filled a bowl with kibbles and another with water. Buford wagged his tail and dug right in.

  Kayla felt right at home with this family. Pop sat at the table with her and sipped a cup of coffee. Since it was nearly noon, Hannah made him a sandwich to go with it.

  “How far is it to Mansion Drive from here?”

  “Less than a mile,” said Pop.

  “I need to get back and get to work. I want to finish the family room and breakfast room this afternoon. I was hoping to get the living room and dining room done, too, but I don’t think I’ll get that far. I slept too long today.”

  The longer she stayed in Eleanor’s house, the more she made herself needed, the longer she could stay away from Memphis. She hadn’t told Donovan the entire truth about that raid on the club. She was topless when they hauled her in, and although they dropped the charges against her, the policeman said he’d be watching to make sure she didn’t get into trouble again.

  The longer she stayed away from Memphis and that dirty cop, the better.

  <>

  Benton sold the Maserati and the Mercedes, most of his mother’s antique furniture, and nearly everything else in the house. There was no reason to hang around now. Before he had the phone disconnected, he called the attorney in Ohio and learned the estate wouldn’t be settled for at least another month. It was disappointing news.

  He paid the seventy thousand he owed, but he didn’t have much left to live on until he got his inheritance. He had the old station wagon the staff used to drive, his clothes and personal belongings, his laptop, and the letter from that attorney in Ohio. What else did he need?

  Watching CNN that night on the old TV he couldn’t sell, he saw a guy jump into a raging river to pull a kid to safety. He was about to flip to another station when the reporter talked about Billy Kane inheriting a house from his grandparents, William and Eleanor Goodman. They scanned to a big gray house, and Benton smiled. That house was bigger than this one. He’d hang out there until he collected his inheritance.

  Billy-Boy wouldn’t mind a guest, especially a long-lost cousin.

  <>

  Kayla cleaned the family room and breakfast room. She was just finishing up the floor when Billy came in. “Don’t walk on the floor in here. It’s still wet.”

  He stopped right inside the family room. “How ’bout the kitchen floor?”

  “I scrubbed it yesterday.”

  He put three bags on the counter and went back outside to get more. When he finished, the island was covered in plastic grocery bags. “We can take turns cooking if you want.”

  “I can feed myself, Billy. I’ve been doing it for quite a few years now.”

  “I’m moving in. I won’t be here for lunch, but I do intend to eat breakfast and dinner here most days.”

  Moving in? Where was he going to sleep? She’d already claimed the only bedroom on the main floor, and the ghosts hung out upstairs.

  He disappeared through the door again and returned with a box and a suitcase. “I’ll sleep in the study. I suspect my grandfather spent most of his time in there, and the sofa is big enough to sleep on. There’s a bathroom in there, too.”

  Didn’t he trust her here by herself? Or had he planned to move in all along? All she could think to say was, “I haven’t cleaned in there yet.”

  “Hannah helped me clean the study and library the day before you got here.” He walked through the kitchen into the dining room, a round-about way of getting to the study without stepping on the wet floor. When he returned, he helped her unpack the groceries.

  “Billy, did you buy dog food?”

  “Yes, it’s still in the pickup, with my other suitcase.” He leaned back against the counter. “I’ll cook dinner tonight. Don’t worry, Hannah taught me to cook. She’s treated me like her own son since before I turned ten, and I couldn’t love her more if she’d given birth to me.”

  “That’s the way I felt about Granny. Mama was real young when she had me, and she was so pretty, some guy came along and told her he could make her a star, so she left me with Granny and went out to Hollywood. The guy dumped her, but she found somebody else. Granny said Mama loved me, but she couldn’t take care of me and be what she wanted to be.”

  “I wish I could say the same for my birth mother. She didn’t want me around, but I had Dad and Pop.” He unpacked groceries while he talked. “The kids at school thought it was funny how Pop did the same things their mothers did. He brought me to school and picked me up, signed my report cards, bought cupcakes or cookies when it was my turn. He took care of me, because Dad worked long hours in those days.”

  “What about Eleanor? Did she help?”

  “Hell, no. She didn’t want anything to do with me. According to her, I killed my mother. She said if Dad hadn’t made Maggie have me, she wouldn’t have died of breast cancer.”

  Kayla gasped. “She said that in front of you?”

  “In front of me and everyone else at Maggie’s funeral. I wanted to crawl in a hole, but Dad said it wasn’t my fault. Eleanor never spoke to me again. I hate her. I despise her and everything she stood for.”

  Now she understood, and she pitied him, because hate could eat a body from the inside out. “She’s dead now, Billy.”

  After all these years, the words of an angry woman still ate at his spirit. “It wasn’t your fault your mother died.”

  “Not my mother. Maggie was never a real mother.”

  Billy walked away, leaving Kayla with an ache in her heart. How could any woman deliberately hurt a little boy like that?

  Chapter Four

  Billy made chicken stir fry for dinner. Kayla liked his family, but it felt nice to have him all to herself. He had a strong face and a slightly lopsided smile, much like his father. But Billy’s features were more even,
more refined. His handsome features and strong body drew her in, and the sadness in his eyes caught at her heart. When he looked at her, she couldn’t look away, and every little touch made her body tingle and ache with longing. On his best days, Leonard had never made her feel like that.

  No matter how upset she was, Eleanor had no business blaming Billy for Maggie’s death, especially with him standing right there. Her angry words had torn a little boy’s heart into tiny little pieces and made him feel unwanted and unloved. Kayla’s mama didn’t want her either, but she always knew her mama loved her. So did Granny.

  Billy’s cell phone rang. He glanced at the caller ID and turned if off. “It’s another reporter. They’ve been bugging me all day.”

  She sipped her water. “That’s because you’re a hero.”

  “I just did what I had to do. It wasn’t that big a deal.”

  “Oh, yes it was. It was a very big deal.”

  She was rewarded with a warm smile. He knew very well what he’d done. Without a thought for his own safety, he’d saved that cute little boy from being swept away and drowned.

  Halfway through dinner, Kayla remembered she’d forgotten to call the attorney about her inheritance. It was too late now. She didn’t even know if the phones in this house worked. If they didn’t, she’d have to find a payphone somewhere, because she didn’t own a cell phone. She had one once, but Leonard dropped it in the lake when he took Buford out to teach him to hunt. The puppy loved swimming in the water, but the first time Leonard shot his rifle, Buford ran off and it took nearly an hour to find him. So Kayla put her foot down. No more hunting with Buford. Poor puppy was still shaking when Leonard brought him home.

  Billy cocked his head. “Is that a helicopter?”

  “Sounds like it. You don’t ’spose it’s those reporters again?”

  “They don’t know about the house.”

  Oh, no! She’d talked to that reporter. Had she caused this trouble?

  While Kayla whipped up a cherry cobbler for dessert, Billy turned on the television in the family room. The news station showed the house from the sky. “Kayla, look at this.”