by Skye, Autumn
“This is different. Your name can bring in business. I have a great idea how, too, but I know you’ll hate it,” she said, her face crinkling. Apparently, she so doubted I’d like her idea that it was enough to make her cringe at the thought of saying it out loud.
“Come on, spit it out. I’m listening,” I urged her.
“Have you ever heard of Dominique Nichols?”
“The host of that reality show where she goes around visiting haunted houses all over the world?”
“Yes, she calls herself an expert on the paranormal. I thought we might invite her here to do an episode. It could put the place on the map.”
“It could also wipe it off the map if she tells the world there is no ghost here.”
“I doubt she’d do that. That would make for a boring show.”
“If ratings are all she’s worried about that would make her a fraud,” I huffed.
“I think she checks the place out first before deciding if there’s enough reason to do a show about it. We could send her an invitation and see if she accepts.”
“Oh, Katrina, I don’t know. It seems kind a gimmicky.”
“I told you that you wouldn’t like it,” she said, plainly disappointed.
“It would be a great promo,” I said, feeling myself preparing to cave.
“Yes, a huge free promotion. Besides, aren’t you curious about what she might say about Libby?”
“Not particularly. I think part of this place’s appeal is letting people decide for themselves if Libby’s ghost is real. And I was never a fan of Dominique Nichols. I think she’s probably a fake.”
“Lot’s of people disagree. Her show has very high ratings,” she argued.
“As do a lot of reality shows. It doesn’t mean they aren’t bullshit.”
“At least think it over.”
I got up and walked over to the windows. “Right now, all I want to think about is you and me and this gorgeous view.”
She came over to join me. “It is a gorgeous landscape. Nothing else around for miles,” she agreed. “It’s ironic. To stop running away from your life you had to run away to the middle of nowhere.”
“It doesn’t feel like running. It feels more like I’ve finally settled in,” I protested. “What about you?”
“I love it here, but we’ve been holed up in this attic most of the day. We should go downstairs and grab something to eat. Hungry?”
I gave her lips a long kiss before answering, “Not for food.”
“Lunch first, and then maybe we can take an afternoon nap. How does that sound for the quiet life?”
“Perfect. You go on down and I’ll be there in a minute. Order me something from the chef?”
“Sure, lunch rush is over. It shouldn’t take long,” she said, reluctantly walking away.
I turned to the window again and gazed at my reflection caught there, only it wasn’t really mine if looked hard enough beyond it. I saw a beautiful young girl in a long Victorian gown with a smile on her face. She was gone nearly as fast as she’d shown herself, so fast I couldn’t really be sure if I’d seen her or made her up in my mind. I didn’t care, either. Her legend was alive. It had brought me here. As I made my way to the second story landing I realized how much I owed the girl who used to, and maybe still did roam these halls. She would always be welcome here. Yes, indeed, I had no doubt that the three of us were going to be very happy.
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