Shades of Summer (The Haunting Ruby Series Book 1)

by Joy Elbel

  I shook my head no and held up the paper bag containing the board.

  She recognized what it was at once. “I may be a few minutes. Business is really picking up on weekends. You can look around if you want, or you can wait for me in the office—your choice,” she said as she bagged a candle and sent one more customer away with a smile.

  We didn’t have to discuss it. We both said “office” and she pointed toward the back. “You know where it is. I’ll be back as soon as I can.”

  I tossed the bag onto her desk and Zach and I sat down to wait for her. We tried to make small talk, but the conversation was strained. Hopefully, Rita wouldn’t be long because the tension between Zach and me was almost unbearable.

  About five minutes later, Rita entered the room, red hair flying wildly behind her. “Sorry, I don’t have much time. Talk to me. Fast.”

  We told her about all of the wasted hours at the library and historical society. She listened without interruption until I started to explain the events at the mausoleum and the dreams I was having.

  “Pay attention to your dreams. There’s more meaning in them than most people would like to believe.”

  I wanted to give Zach an ‘I told you so’ look but I decided to be nice and refrain. Instead, I went into detail about the comforting spirit that was now with me almost every night.

  “I think it’s Lee. I think he’s trying to protect me.” I heard Zach shift in his seat when I said Lee’s name.

  Rita sat on the edge of the desk in front of me. “Ruby, honey, I don’t think so. I do think you have two restless spirits, but Lee isn’t one of them.”

  Two spirits? I didn’t understand how she could be so sure that Lee wasn’t the one protecting me. What I did understand, though, was that the news that Lee wasn’t watching over me seemed to really cheer up Zach.

  “Really? What makes you think that?” He leaned forward in his chair, all eyes on Rita.

  “The spirit is attached to the house, not to Ruby. It’s definitely not as powerful as the spirit that’s been attacking you. It only seems to be surfacing now that the stronger entity is subdued.”

  I slumped down in my chair. After everything I’d done to rid myself of the paranormal, I now had one more ghost than I’d started with.

  Rita put her hand on my shoulder. “Cheer up, sweetie. This may actually be a good thing. These ghosts are probably connected. It may make this puzzle easier to solve. You may be looking for a couple. A couple who were parted by tragedy, maybe?”

  The buzzer on the counter sounded and Rita sprang for the door. “Duty calls. I hope I helped you. Come back again and let me know how it’s going.”

  We followed her out of the office and dodged customers on our way out the door. I felt worse than I did when we walked in, but there was an unmistakable spring in Zach’s step. And it made me even angrier.

  “Glad to see at least one of us feels better.” I was bitter and I didn’t feel like hiding it.

  “What’s that supposed to mean?” Zach shot back at me as we got in the car and drove toward Rosewood.

  I couldn’t believe he was trying to play stupid on this one. “You know what I mean—you’re happy that it’s not Lee. Just admit it.”

  “Fine. I’ll admit it. I’m glad it’s not him. Are you happy now?”

  I didn’t want to fight while he was driving, so I asked him to take us somewhere we could talk. He pulled off at the bottom of the hill and I started to get out. When he stayed in his seat, I knew he was definitely mad at me. So I sat back and got ready for an argument.

  “No, I’m not happy. Do you want to know why?” I didn’t like fighting with him, but I’d festered over his jealousy for way too long—we needed to get a few things out into the open.

  He stared straight ahead. “Why?”

  “Because I have two ghosts now instead of one but the only thing you heard back there was that it wasn’t Lee. So I have some stranger comforting me at night instead of it at least being someone I know, someone I trust.”

  He hung his head. “I didn’t think of it that way.”

  “I know you didn’t and that’s what’s so frustrating.” I could see that he felt bad, but I wasn’t done being mad yet. “If you weren’t so busy being jealous of a dead man, maybe you would have.”

  He tilted his head back and laced his fingers behind his head. “You’re right, I’m sorry. I just hated him so much when I thought he was still alive and abusing you that I find it hard to forgive him. And thinking of him as a nice guy who just wants to protect you, well, that’s even harder to swallow.”

  “So you’re telling me you are jealous of him? What is there to be jealous of? He’s dead, Zach!”

  “I know I sound like a total shitass! Do you think I’m proud of it? You’re right I am jealous—jealous that he got to spend time with you with no restrictions. I’m just waiting for the day that you get tired of this game we have to play. Waiting for you to find someone you can date without this kind of drama.” His eyes stayed glued to the roof of the car. He didn’t want to look at me.

  “You? You’re afraid of me getting tired of you?” I marveled at the fact that someone so gorgeous could be so insecure. And clearly so stupid.

  “Why does that shock you? Is it just because I’m a guy that you think I can’t feel that way?”

  “No, it’s because I’m the one who’s afraid of losing you. I could have this drama with anyone I dated, but you could find someone else and have a normal relationship.” I was emotionally drained and I didn’t want to fight with him anymore—I just didn’t have the energy for it. “You have no reason to be insecure, but I do.”

  “No, you don’t get it! I could never be happy with anyone else. I’m just so afraid of losing you.”

  We were at a standstill. Our relationship was nothing but a rollercoaster ride—the most wicked one imaginable. We liked each other, we couldn’t be together, we could be together, we misunderstood each other, and we were desperately trying to hold onto each other without actually holding each other. I was dizzy just thinking about it.

  “I think we need to take a break.” I knew the second the words came out of my mouth that he would take them the wrong way. But it was too late.

  He snatched up my hand in his and pleaded with me. “No! I promise I’ll back off! I know I asked for it, but please don’t break up with me!”

  He looked so heartbroken, so desperate. Was that how I looked the night he broke up with me? “That’s not what I meant! I think we should take a break from ghost hunting and just try to enjoy the summer. Together.”

  Relief washed over his face. I was amazed that I had such a profound effect on his happiness, amazed that it really was a two way street. He needed me as much as I needed him and possibly even more.

  “Oh, I thought.…”

  “I know what you thought. But trust me when I say that day will never come. If this relationship ends, it will be your choice, not mine.”

  “Then it will never end because I’ve made my choice—to be with you forever.”

  “So at least we agree on one thing.” Emotionally, I felt like I’d been run over by a train. Why did love have to be so difficult and draining?

  “Two things, actually. I do think we need to take a break from ghost hunting. I need to stop worrying constantly, I need to laugh.”

  “We need to laugh.”

  With that, we agreed to take a week off from all things paranormal. I could handle the dreams now that I had some sort of protector. Granted, I wasn’t happy that it wasn’t someone I knew, but it was good enough for now. Zach’s birthday was exactly one week away. He would only be sixteen for seven more days and we were determined to enjoy every last moment of them.

  We did every fun activity we could think of that week. We played video games with Boone and Rachel, watched several comedies with Dad and Shelly—even played Monopoly with Garret and Diane. Friday—and Rachel and Zach’s birthday party—was there before we knew it. We proved tha
t the old adage was true. Time really did fly when you were having fun. But so was another one. Anything that can go wrong will go wrong.

  29. Dancing with Death

  Rachel’s energy was magnified tenfold by the time four o’clock rolled around that afternoon. I could barely keep up with her on a normal day so by noon, I gave up on even trying. She bounced out of the shelter and was in the car before Zach and I were even out the door.

  “OMG, I can’t wait!! Mom’s making lasagna for dinner—my absolute favorite, by the way—and we’re having an ice cream cake for dessert! And I’m not sure, but I think they got me the new phone I wanted!! And I have no idea what Boone’s present is—he won’t even give me the tiniest hint—but I’m sure I’ll love it! Oh, and did I mention Mom’s making lasagna for dinner?”

  “Let me guess. It’s your absolute favorite?” I said figuring she would know I was joking with her.

  “OMG, how did you know?” she replied, eyes wide and completely clueless.

  I looked at Zach. “It’s going to be a long night, isn’t it?”

  He laughed. “Yes, yes it is.”

  The party was just as much fun as Rachel said it would be. The lasagna was delicious. Rachel got the phone she wanted and Boone surprised her with an expensive bag she’d seen in a fashion magazine and said she would die to have. She loved the bracelet I bought for her and the earrings Zach got to match it. They usually had two parties to celebrate since Zach’s birthday was the following day, but this year they combined it into one since we were going to the dinner on Saturday. I was definitely impressed when I saw the excitement in his eyes when he unwrapped the gift from his parents. It was a graphing calculator that he swore would be the only way he would get through calculus—along with my help, of course.

  It was well past midnight before we knew it, but my Dad had extended my curfew due to the occasion. We were both in an excellent mood as Zach drove me home.

  “I’m glad we decided to just have fun this week. After tomorrow night, we can start over again. But for now, I’m enjoying being normal for a little while.”

  “Me, too. I can’t wait until this is all over, when we can pick up where we left off.” I thought about the morning we fell asleep together. How different life would be when that was our standard of normal again.

  He smiled. “Where we left off.…” There was a dreamy look in his eye and I suspected he was thinking exactly the same thing I was.

  “Hey, it’s past midnight. Happy Birthday! Do you want your birthday kiss now or later?” Or both perhaps?”

  I felt sure he would say now, so I mentally prepared myself for it. I thought about all of the kisses that weren’t. Finally, the moment arrived. I was about to pop a breath mint to compensate for the garlic in the lasagna when Zach popped my balloon.

  “I want to say now, but I have to say tomorrow. I know we’re taking a week off from ghost hunting, but that doesn’t mean the ghost is taking a week off too. I have to be sure you’re in perfect condition for the dinner. That means no bruises which also means no kiss.”

  He had the self-control of a saint. While I appreciated the fact that he was a gentleman, it certainly seemed to get in the way sometimes. Like now. And I couldn’t hide my disappointment.

  He walked me to the front door. “It’s not because I don’t want to, because I totally do. More than you know.”

  “I know.” I was bummed. “Tomorrow night though, you promise, right?”

  “I promise. But we can’t get carried away,” he said sternly.

  It felt like I was talking to my dad or something. “Okay.”

  We said goodnight and I went upstairs. It took forever for me to fall asleep but not for the usual reasons. This had to be how Cinderella felt the night before the ball, only Zach was way hotter than any prince.

  The dream started out beautifully. There was a party in the ballroom. Countless couples floated around the dance floor, swirling in unison to the music. Zach and I were there dancing and laughing. We were happy and in love and nothing could be more perfect. As we spun around to the music, I watched our reflections in the wall of mirrors. I was mesmerized by how beautiful I looked, how handsome Zach was. But as we danced, something changed. I started to catch sight of the images of the other dancers in the mirror. They were hideous, grotesque versions of the people dancing around us. I whipped my head from the mirror images to the actual people. Everyone in the ball room looked perfectly normal, but in the mirror they were nothing but decaying corpses twirling in a death dance. As the tempo of the music grew quicker, the corpses moved in closer, enclosing us in a circle of swaying rotted flesh. I closed my eyes hoping it would all go away but I felt them grow closer so I opened my eyes. I screamed in horror to see our reflections in the mirror. Zach and I were now disgusting creatures, too.

  I woke up frightened, but the comforting spirit surrounded me. I thought about what Rita said. Pay attention to your dreams. I needed to pay a visit to the ball room in the morning. I didn’t know what the dream could be trying to tell me, but I would follow it wherever it was leading me.

  Zach wouldn’t be picking me up until seven that night, but Rachel showed up at four to help me get ready. I took my shower and threw on a robe so she could get started on my hair. When she saw that my hair was naturally curly, she smacked me on the hand with the comb.

  “Ouch! That hurt! What did you do that for?” I rubbed my hand at the site of impact to take away the sting.

  “I spend a good thirty minutes of my life every morning trying to get my hair to look half as good as yours does. And what do you do? You spend just as much time straightening yours. You should be ashamed of yourself.”

  I’d heard the same sermon from Shelly about a thousand times already. I gave Rachel the same answer I always gave Shelly. “If you had to live with it your whole life, you’d be tired of it too.”

  “Well, I don’t care. You’re not straightening it tonight. No arguments.” She pulled out the hair dryer and turned it on before I could challenge her.

  I trusted Rachel’s sense of style so I sat back in the desk chair and let her do her job. Twenty minutes later, she pronounced it finished and whirled me around so I could take a look in the mirror. I’d never seen my hair look so good.

  Not a single strand was out of place. She swept it back and away from my face with a sparkly comb Shelly let me borrow. The only piece that hung down was a single curl of bright ruby red. Our trip to the salon that week paid off.

  “Rachel! You’re an artist! That’s it girl, you’re doing my hair every morning,” I said, never taking my eyes off the mirror.

  “I know. But feel free to keep saying it.” She wrapped up the hair dryer and placed it back on the shelf. “And if you think that’s good, just wait until you see what I do with your makeup.”

  It wasn’t even five yet, so I decided I had plenty of time to tell Rachel about my dream. Zach and I made a pact the day before to have no ghost talk on his birthday, but that deal didn’t apply to his sister.

  “So, I had another dream last night. I want your opinion on it.”

  She tucked her legs underneath her on the futon and cracked open a soda. “Shoot.”

  I explained the dream from start to finish, including even the smallest details. When I was finished, I asked her what she thought it meant.

  “Well, I’m no expert, but I think the ghost has some connection to the ball room. We should check it out. It’s better than looking for that tunnel from your other dreams. I hate tunnels—too many spiders. Damon on Ghost Stalkers hates spiders, too. Have you had a chance to check him out yet? He’s such a hottie!”

  I had to steer the conversation away from hot boys or I knew I would lose her attention for good. “Exactly what I thought, too—about the ball room I mean. Do you want to go check it out with me?”

  “Sure. We have some time to kill and I never turn down a chance to see myself in multiple mirrors.” Rachel knew she was beautiful and didn’t mind being obvious
about it. I would kill to have her confidence.

  We flipped every switch and the chandeliers sparkled to life. The mirrors dazzled with the reflections of each tiny light making the room ten times brighter than the dim bulbs would suggest.

  “Wow! Can you imagine the parties they must have held here? It’s impressive even by today’s standards but back when it was built, it must have been the only place like it for hundreds of miles around.” She forgot about looking at herself in the mirror and chose to twirl around, eyes closed and arms outstretched instead.

  “Do you think something may have happened here during one of the parties? Something tragic, I mean?” If only walls could talk. There had to be a story hidden deep within those mirrors.

  Rachel spun until she was dizzy then collapsed onto the rosewood floor. “I don’t know. But it’s a definite possibility. Dr. Baker threw a lot of lavish parties here, didn’t he? Maybe there was a murder and it was covered up. He founded this town—he would have had the power to pay off the right people and keep it a secret.”

  “But who would he have murdered? Everything in the library talks about what a good man he was.”

  “What if a man raped his daughter or something? Even the nicest guy could turn into a murderer after something like that. Or what if Dr. Baker wasn’t the one doing the killing. What if his daughter committed the crime and he just covered it up. There are hundreds of different scenarios.”

  I sighed heavily. “That’s the problem. There are so many possibilities but no evidence to support any of them. And now there are two ghosts instead of only one.”

  “I know that history says Charlotte died in childbirth, but what if she didn’t? What if Dr. Baker killed her instead?”

  This was the best brainstorming session ever. What if? It fit the criteria. It would have happened in this house and it would explain the existence of two spirits. Charlotte could be the spirit that was trying to help me.

  “Maybe. But why would he want to kill her and leave himself with a newborn to care for?”