by Bobbi Holmes
Adam shrugged. “I don’t know. You and Lily just seemed so good together. Wow…” Adam shook his head and let out a sigh. “I hate to see you go.”
“I’ve really enjoyed your grandmother’s house. I can’t imagine you’ll have a problem re-renting it.”
Sitting up straighter in the office chair, Adam looked at Ian. “Are you really sure about this?”
Ian nodded. “Yeah, it’s for the best.”
“Because I don’t want to do anything rash if you and Lily get back together and you decide you want to stay. I mean, it happens all the time.”
“No, it’s really over, which is why I need to leave Frederickport and put all this behind me.”
“Well, if you’re sure. If you really plan to leave by the end of the week, I think I can let you out of the lease early, and you won’t have to worry about paying August’s rent.”
“You have someone who wants to rent the house?”
“Actually, I have someone who wants to buy it. They’ve been bugging me for the last six months.”
“Someone wants to buy it?” Ian said dully.
“Grandma has been considering selling the property for some time. When we first rented to you, it was only for the summer, so she figured it would give her a few months to get used to the idea. And then you wanted to extend the lease beyond the summer, and she liked you—actually she liked Lily,” Adam added with a chuckle. “So she told me to go ahead and rent it to you for as long as you wanted, and that she’d think about selling when you decided to move out. I have a feeling though, she sort of hoped you would eventually want to buy the house.”
IAN LEFT his car parked near Adam’s office as he walked down to Lucy’s Diner to have breakfast. He didn’t see the need to drive his car such a short distance, plus parking was scarce downtown this time of year.
Walking down the street, he thought about his conversation with Adam. For some reason he couldn’t fathom, it troubled him to think Marie was going to sell the house—my house.
No, it’s not your house, Ian reminded himself. However, it was the first house since leaving his childhood home for college that actually felt like home. He had even entertained the idea of offering to purchase it from Marie after Lily agreed to marry him.
Walking away from Lily was proving to be even more difficult than he had imagined it would be. And he had never imagined it would be easy. A part of him wanted to believe Lily’s outrageous story. But there was one thing the skeptic Ian could never believe in—ghosts. Over the years he had investigated a number of paranormal reports, and each one proved to be nothing more than a hoax.
It only took him less than ten minutes to reach Lucy’s Diner. Once there, he grabbed the only empty booth, one located in the back corner. He had been served his coffee and was still looking over the menu, trying to decide what to order, when a female voice interrupted his concentration.
“Morning, Ian.”
Looking up from the menu, he found Heather Donovan looking down at him. She wore a pink jersey T-shirt dress. Her coal black hair was pulled into two low braids, and her gray-blue eyes peered out at him from under straight-cut bangs.
“Morning, Heather,” he said coolly, looking back at his menu.
“I guess you aren’t going to ask me to join you,” she said as she sat across from him in the booth. Tossing her purse on the bench seat next to her, she rested her elbows on the tabletop as she propped her chin on one balled fist. She stared at Ian.
Glancing up at Heather, Ian closed his menu and set it on the table. “I’d like to be alone.”
“I’m not really supposed to talk to you,” Heather announced, making no attempt to move.
“Why is that?”
“I know you broke up with Lily, and I know why. Chris told me we shouldn’t butt in unless Lily asks us to. Which she hasn’t. But if you come to us, Chris said we should be truthful.”
“Did he now?” Ian asked skeptically.
The waitress interrupted their conversation when she came to take their order, coffee pot in hand. She set the full pot on the table and pulled out her order pad.
“I’ll have bacon and eggs, scrambled with hash browns, and wheat toast. It’s just me. Heather here was just leaving.”
Heather smiled up at the waitress. “I was leaving, but that sounds good. I’ll have the same thing. I’d like some coffee too.”
“Why did you do that?” Ian grumbled after the waitress left.
“For one thing, I’m hungry.” Heather picked up the cup of coffee the server had poured for her and took a sip.
Ian glanced around the diner, looking for somewhere else to sit, but all the tables and booths were full.
“Did you know I had a terrible crush on you when I first moved to town?”
“Can’t say I did,” Ian muttered as he picked up his coffee.
“I think Lily knew. Back then I wanted to be a writer like you.” She sipped her coffee, her eyes still on him.
“I seem to remember something about you wanting to write.”
“I was going to write about the ghost of Presley House. You know, the one who kept Danielle locked up in the basement right before the house burned down.”
“I don’t know anything about a ghost holding Danielle hostage.”
Heather set her cup on the table and leaned back in the booth seat. “Oh, that’s right. I think you were out of town at the time. I imagine Lily didn’t tell you about it. She probably figured you wouldn’t believe her, and then you’d walk out on her. Sort of like you’re doing now.”
“I don’t know what you guys are up to, but I don’t believe in ghosts.”
“I used to think I gave up the idea of writing my book because without someone to back up my story, no one would believe me. I had sort of hoped that someone would be Danielle.”
Ian glared at Heather. “Are you saying this is all about some book you’re writing?”
Heather rolled her eyes and let out a sigh of exasperation. “You aren’t paying attention, Ian. I just said I gave up on the idea of writing the book. You see, Danielle has been seeing ghosts her entire life, but she learned a long time ago that when you talk about it, people will just think you’re crazy. So she prefers to keep it to herself.”
“I know when Danielle was a child, she thought she could see ghosts. But she was just a kid at the time; she grew out of it,” Ian explained.
“Did she now? She told you that?”
Picking up his cup, he took another sip and then shook his head. “No. It’s just what I assume.”
“I couldn’t always see spirits.” Heather paused a moment and chuckled. “I used to call them ghosts, but Walt has this thing about being called a ghost. He really doesn’t like it.”
“I don’t care to hear about your make-believe ghosts,” Ian snapped.
“I thought you would be curious. According to Chris, you saw Walt pour me a glass of wine the other night. By the way, I couldn’t always see Walt. My sensitivity to spirits has increased since I moved to Frederickport. In fact, when I stayed at Marlow House, I only caught glimpses of Walt. Along with that damn cigar smell. Of course, everyone seems to notice that.”
“So now you can see him?” Ian smirked.
“Yes. And I’ve seen a number of spirits since I’ve moved to town.”
Ian set his mug back on the table, crossed his arms over his chest, and leaned back in his booth seat. He studied Heather. “So tell me, who all can see ghosts?”
“Chris is like Danielle. He’s always been sensitive to spirits. Then of course there is Evan. He’s more like Chris and Danielle. I’m a late bloomer.”
Narrowing his eyes, he glared at Heather. “I don’t know what you guys are up to, but dragging a kid into this?”
Leaning forward, Heather rested her elbows back on the table and met Ian’s gaze. “You should be grateful for Evan. If it wasn’t for that kid, you guys might have died in Arizona.”
With a frown he asked, “What are you talking
about?”
“That’s something you should ask Lily about.” Letting out a harsh laugh, she added, “Oh, that’s right, you don’t even want to hear the whole story. Chris told me you wouldn’t even hear her out.”
“I’d heard enough.”
Again they were interrupted when the server brought their food. They spent the next five minutes in silence, each eating. Finally, Heather spoke.
“You know, everyone has the capability to see spirits. Some people are just more sensitive than others. I know Lily saw Darlene Gusarov at Pilgrim’s Point.”
Ian stopped eating for a moment and looked up at Heather. With a whisper he asked, “Pilgrim’s Point?”
Heather eyed Ian with wry amusement as she slathered jam on her toast. “Yes. Of course, she’s not the only one. Ever since I moved to town I’ve heard about Darlene, and then of course, she saved my life.”
Ian stared blankly at Heather, who grinned back at him.
“You’ve heard the stories, haven’t you?” she asked. “About Darlene Gusarov’s ghost haunting Pilgrim’s Point.”
“Yes. I never thought much about it.”
“I’m curious, did Lily ever mention her encounter with Darlene’s ghost?”
Ian shook his head.
Before taking a large bite of her jam-covered slice of toast, Heather said, “I guess that doesn’t surprise me. She probably thought you wouldn’t believe her.”
TWENTY
Ian felt Heather’s eyes on him as he hastily made his way down the street, toward the offices of Frederickport Vacation Properties. When he was halfway down the street, he was tempted to turn around and see if she was still watching him. If he had, he would have found her standing near the newsstand in front of Lucy’s Diner, hands on hips, shaking her head in disapproval. But then, he would have seen her turn away and walk in the opposite direction.
Just as Ian was about to pass the entrance of the rental office, Adam stepped out onto the sidewalk.
“Hey, Ian, did you forget something?” Adam greeted him.
Ian pointed to the parking lot. “No, I left my car down here while I walked up to Lucy’s Diner.”
“That’s where I’m heading.” Adam nodded toward the parking lot. “So how was breakfast?”
“It would have been fine if Heather Donovan hadn’t decided to join me,” Ian grumbled.
Adam chuckled. “Heather can be a little out there. But, she’s nice looking, if you’re into the Addams family look. I guess she’s working for Chris now.”
Ian paused a moment and looked at Adam. “Can I ask you something?”
No longer walking, Adam looked at Ian. “Sure, what?”
“Do you remember when Richard’s car went over Pilgrim’s Point?” Ian asked.
“Well, sure.” Adam cringed. “I was the one who found him on the side of the road.”
“I remember you told me a woman flagged you over.”
Adam nodded. “Yeah, that was the weirdest thing.”
“I also remember she took off before the police arrived.”
“I guess you can say that,” Adam muttered.
“You also told me you thought she looked like Darlene Gusarov.”
Adam smiled. “Yeah. It was all pretty weird. I’d sure like to find that woman.”
“Tell me again what happened,” Ian urged.
“Why are you asking about this now?” Adam asked.
“It’s just something Heather said.”
“Oh, you mean how she saw her too?” Adam asked with a chuckle.
Ian frowned. “What are you talking about?”
“Heather claims it was Darlene’s ghost who saved her when her car was hijacked. Said Darlene pulled her out of the car right before it went off the cliff. I suspect Heather jumped out. But being yanked out by a ghost is a lot more dramatic. Although, getting your car hijacked and managing to get out of it just before it flies off a cliff into the ocean is enough drama for me.”
“That section of highway is deadly. Off the top of my head I can think of at least three people who’ve been killed along that stretch since I moved to town. Although Darlene’s death wasn’t from a car accident.”
“It’s always been a dangerous curve. As for Darlene’s supposed ghost, I’m not sure how Heather would have recognized her, since I’m fairly certain Darlene was killed before Heather ever moved to town.”
“How did Heather happen to tell you that story?”
“We were talking about how I found Richard along that stretch of highway. I told her a woman flagged me down, and after I checked on Richard, I turned around and she was gone. I mentioned the woman looked eerily like Darlene Gusarov, a woman who had been murdered at that spot.”
“So she told you her story?”
“Yes.” A thought crossed Adam’s mind. Turning his head slightly, he looked inquisitively at Ian. “When you asked me about the time Richard’s car went over the cliff, and I asked what made you think of it, you said it was something Heather said. But if she didn’t mention the carjacking, what made you think about Richard?”
“Not sure exactly how the conversation got started,” Ian lied. “But Heather said something about Darlene’s spirit haunting Pilgrim’s Point. And when I saw you a few minutes ago, I remembered you telling me once about the woman who looked like Darlene.”
Adam smiled. “Heather’s right. I don’t mean about Pilgrim’s Point being haunted, but I’ve heard other people claim they’ve seen Darlene when they’ve driven down that section of highway.”
“Active imaginations?” Ian asked.
Adam glanced around and then looked back to Ian. In a whisper, he said, “To be honest, I don’t know. It was really strange that day. The woman looked exactly like Darlene. She was there one minute and gone the next. I’ve driven by that spot numerous times since that day, and I’ve never seen anything again. But still, it makes one wonder.”
“You think it was her ghost?” Ian asked incredulously.
“The only thing I know, a woman flagged me over that day, and in the next instant she virtually disappeared. There wasn’t another car nearby. I didn’t see her walking down the highway. And a few minutes later the cops were climbing all over that hillside, and no one saw her. I’ve never been one to believe in ghosts, but after that day, I really don’t know what I saw.”
“Does this mean you believe Darlene pulled Heather out of her car?”
Adam laughed. “With Heather, I’d go more with the overactive imagination. To be honest, it’s not the first time she’s claimed to have seen a ghost.”
Ian glanced at his watch. “I better get going. I have an article I need to wrap up.”
“Okay. Oh, are you going to Agatha Pine’s funeral? It’s tomorrow.”
“That’s right.” Ian let out a sigh. “Honestly, I don’t know. I really didn’t know the woman, but I was there when she died. I almost feel like I should. How about you?”
“Yes. Agatha’s daughter, Joyce, works for me. I need to go,” Adam told him.
“That’s right, I forgot. Maybe I’ll see you there tomorrow.” Ian turned to his car.
“By the way, I called the prospective buyer. He still wants the house.”
Turning back around, Ian looked at Adam. “Really?”
“He’s coming to Frederickport this weekend, and we’d like to sign the papers then.”
“This weekend?” Ian said dully.
“On Saturday. You still want to move?” Adam asked.
“Well…yeah. I guess, it’s just happening so fast.”
“You told me earlier you intended to move out this weekend. Remember, you have the house until the end of the month, so there really is no reason to move out sooner. This way, with the buyer, it gets you out of the lease.”
Ian nodded. “Yeah…sounds good.”
“I just have one favor,” Adam asked.
“Sure, what’s that?”
“Like I said, the buyer is coming into town on Saturday to sign the contract.
But first, I need to have you come in and sign some papers to terminate the lease. He doesn’t want to purchase the property if he’s obligated to honor an existing lease with a tenant.”
“He’s not using the house as a rental property?”
Adam shook his head. “No. I guess he plans to live in the house. He wants to start remodeling it as soon as possible. That’s why he doesn’t want a renter.”
“I guess I could sign that paper now, unless you need to go somewhere,” Ian offered.
“That would be great. You might as well do it now, while you’re here.”
The two men turned from Ian’s car and walked back to Adam’s office together.
IAN COULDN’T HELP but wonder, what did Adam mean when he said the buyer intended to remodel his house? While it could stand to be updated, he loathed the thought of someone messing with the house’s charm. It was one of the oldest houses on Beach Drive, with an outstanding ocean view. He wondered how much Adam was asking for the property. Not that he wanted to buy it—at least not now.
Ian drove up main street, his thoughts still on his rental house. As he passed Lucy’s Diner, he began slowing down for the stop sign. On the corner to his right was the thrift store. As he pulled the car to a complete stop, he glanced over and noticed a woman loading large filled trash bags onto the ramp leading into the store. He took a second look. It was Joyce Pruitt.
ADAM NICHOLS PULLED up in front of his grandmother’s house and parked. Marie was opening the front door by the time he was halfway up the walk.
“Did Ian tell you why he and Lily broke up?” Marie asked her grandson as she ushered him into her house.
“No. I didn’t feel I could give him the third degree. I tell you, I sure didn’t see that one coming.” He followed his grandmother into the living room.
“So what is this about you selling my house?”
“We talked about this, Grandma.” Adam sat down on the sofa after Marie took a seat on her rocking chair. “He’s offering a good price, and he’s paying cash. A quick escrow.”
“I just can’t get used to the idea those two young people broke up. I called Danielle after you called me.”