Driving home, she unloaded the groceries from the car and put them away. Cutting up the cake she’d bought especially for the painters, she arranged them neatly on a plate, put a pot of hot tea out to stew, set out 3 mugs and let Henry know there was afternoon tea waiting for them. The men descended on the kitchen like three starving, over-sized waifs.
The cats were settled in her room, Barney under the doona and Fred lying on the window sill sunning himself. Returning to the lounge, she phoned Laura.
“You got the sage?” Laura asked as soon as she heard Barbie’s voice.
“I did, thank you.”
“About time.”
“Sorry. It apparently got here the day I left for the city.”
“You didn’t mention you were going back so soon.”
“Last minute decision. I had some things I needed to get done.”
“It wasn’t about Adam?”
“Of course not.”
“Of course so. What did that jerk do?”
“Don’t lie to me. I can hear it in your voice.”
“Everything’s fine. We had a chat, cleared the air.”
“You had a chat?” Laura’s voice was disbelieving. “You had a chat with Adam?”
“Is that so hard to believe?”
“I’m not sure. Yes?”
Barbie laughed. “Really?”
“Kind of.”
“If it’ll make you believe it any more, he gave me his phone numbers in case I hear any more weird noises.”
“He gave you his phone numbers?”
“Yep.”
“Sweetie, that’s very…personal.”
Barbie rolled her eyes. “Hardly. He was just being nice because he knew I didn’t want to ring the police.”
“So what’s he going to do?”
“He’s a cop.”
There was silence on the other end of the phone for several seconds before Laura said, “Well.”
“Well what?”
“Is there something going on between you two that I need to know about?”
“Good God, no!” In appalled amusement, Barbie laughed.
“You sure?”
“Absolutely.”
“I think you protest too much.”
“And I think I’m about to hang up the phone.”
“Okay, okay! Sheesh. Don’t overreact.” Laura changed the subject. “I’m glad everything is going well. Now, how are your ghosts going?”
“I don’t have ghosts.” Then, to really ick her friend out, Barbie added mischievously, “But I do have four graves at my back door.”
“What?”
“Yeah. Two of the graves are apparently my Great, Great Aunt and Uncle’s. Or is that Great, Great, Great Aunt and Uncle’s? I don’t remember.” Barbie did a mental search back on what she’d been told. “No, I’m sure it’s my Great, Great Aunt and Uncle.”
“How did that happen?”
“They died.”
“Never be flippant about the dead, Barbie.”
Remembering just how serious her friend could be about the departed, she sobered. “Sorry. Anyway, they both died when they were young. The other grave is empty, something to do with Great Aunt Penny having it as a memorial for her love who went MIA in World War Two.”
“That’s so sad. And the fourth grave?”
“Compete and utter mystery.”
“Oh, that can’t be good.”
She never liked when Laura used that tone. “It’s probably another memorial kind of thing.”
“You’ll need to burn the sage in every room, as well as the front and back verandas,” Laura announced.
“Huh?”
“If those ghosts are attached to the house, you need to do this. Now, I want you to imagine yourself surrounded by white light, okay? Do a bit of meditation, imagine this white light covering you, nothing can get in. Light the sage and walk from room to room with it, and I mean every room. And tell the ghosts to depart in peace, to go to the light. Don’t forget the front and back verandas.”
“Okay.” Barbie eyed the package of sage.
“Do it now.”
“Not likely. I have workers in the house.”
“Then do it as soon as they leave. Promise me.”
Uneasy now, Barbie nodded, then remembering that Laura couldn’t see her, she said, “I promise.” She hesitated. “Will this work?”
“Sage is cleansing, Barbie. It’ll work.”
“Good, because I’m supposed to be going out tomorrow night.”
“With Adam?”
“No!”
“You met another bloke?”
“It’s a girl, actually.”
“You’re batting for the other team now?”
“Laura, I met some nice people here, a couple of girls and their fiancées.”
“Group sex? I always knew those quiet country towns had hidden orgies.”
“You’ve been watching porn again, haven’t you?”
“You can tell?”
Shaking her head, Barbie chuckled. “Never change, Laura.”
“Don’t intend to. Now, back to business. Once the sage is burned your home will be free of ghosts, your kitties will be safe. Once you’ve burned the sage, think of your home as surrounded by protective white light. No ghosts.”
“Great. I’ll do it when the blokes leave. As long as my boys are safe, that’s all I’m worried about.”
“Okay. Gotta go, there’s someone at the door. About tomorrow night…”
“Yes?”
“Don’t forget to pack condoms. Be safe.” Chuckling, Laura rang off.
Feeling immensely better, Barbie placed the phone back in the cradle.
Even though she wasn’t so sure she believed in ghosts or that the house was even haunted, she nevertheless did as Laura instructed. When the painters left, she burned handfuls of sage, imagined the white light surrounding her, and went from room to room, repeating the words Laura had told her. She was glad no one was around to see her do it.
Because she found the kids’ rooms a little unnerving with the old toys in them, she spent longer burning the sage in there, figuring it could only help. The back and front verandas got a longer treatment as well, and then, because she had some sage left over, she decided to walk around the whole house.
It wasn’t as if anyone would see her, and really, why waste sage?
When there was nothing left, she went back inside, obediently following her friend’s advice to the final instruction, imagining a white light around the house.
Standing in the hallway, she nodded. Okay, she felt better. Maybe it was all in the mind, but she didn’t really care.
Whether it was in the mind or not, she slept better that night than she had since arriving, awakening in the morning to find to her surprise that she’d slept undisturbed the entire night.
Getting hurriedly out of bed, she barely had time to have a shower and get dressed before Henry and his men arrived, followed by the carpenters, who were there to replace the broken frame on the library window in preparation for sanding and painting new frames.
Bruce greeted her cheerfully, stopping to admire the roses before continuing up the stairs. Barbie spent the day cleaning out the office, filling boxes with old accounts and invoices, finding another photo album in the bottom drawer with photos of people she didn’t know, and a handful of old letters.
Unfortunately, the writing had long since faded, the paper almost mouldy, and she had to throw them on the pile with everything else to be destroyed. A shame, for she’d really hoped to find something out about the mystery grave.
Henry didn’t know anything when she quizzed him, but he suggested seeking out Old Man Parker, who apparently knew everyone and everything in the town. She decided to go and see him soon.
The men left at five o’clock and Barbie had another shower, washing away the grime of the dusty papers and books from her skin. Dressing in a soft, wrap-around dress that tied at the waist and dipped low in the front
to show the lacy edging of the camisole she wore beneath, she slipped on a pair of white sandals with two inch heels and decided to leave her hair loose, drawing back the sides with scrolled combs. Not needing mascara with her - thank God - naturally thick, dark eyelashes, she added a slick of red gloss to her lips and a squirt of perfume. Picking up the little purse which was big enough only for some money, her lip gloss and her car keys, she checked the cats were happily settled, ensured there was plenty of food and water in the kitchen, checked the back door was locked, left the lounge and hall light on, and finally left the house.
The security lights flared on, and combined with the sage ceremony of the previous night and her restful sleep following, she felt a lot more at ease at leaving the cats by themselves at night in the house for several hours. Belief in ghosts or not, she just felt better. Besides, she wasn’t about to pooh-pooh anything that appeared to work.
Having the security lights also added security to the outside of the house in case of prowlers. Even the light in the garage worked brilliantly, and it was with a lighter heart that she left the property.
The pub was brightly lit when she entered, people chatting at the bar, a couple sitting at one of the tables.
Catching sight of Ali and Ghost sitting at one of the tables, Barbie walked over and sat down.
Ghost smiled in greeting. “Glad you could come.”
“Thanks for the invite.”
“Our pleasure.” Slouched back in the chair, he had one arm around Ali’s shoulders. “The others should be here shortly.”
“Nice dress,” Ali commented.
“Thanks.”
“You should check out Petite? Clara runs it, and she carries some really nice clothes.”
“I might do that, though I have quite a few clothes already.”
“How’s it going at the haunted house?” Ghost queried.
Ali looked at him. “You’re tired of clothes talking already, aren’t you?”
“Honey, I’m only happy to talk you out of your clothes.”
“We’re in company.”
“Don’t mind me,” Barbie said dryly.
“There? See?” Ghost waggled his eyebrows at Ali. “Barbie isn’t worried.”
“That’s because she has manners. Now settle down and I’ll take care of you later.”
“Oh geez, would it be rude if I started panting?”
“Just don’t hang your head out of the car window on the way home.”
“You’re a hard woman.”
“You just remember it, Fido.” Grinning suddenly, Ali gave him a smacking kiss on the lips.
“Break it up, people,” Matt said from behind Barbie. “Ali, let him up for air. I don’t fancy giving him mouth-to-mouth.”
Looking supremely satisfied, Ghost lounged back in the chair.
“At least try to behave like an adult in public.” Matt held a chair out for Lori, ensuring she was seated before taking the seat beside her.
“Because you two are so mature,” Ghost retorted.
“Yep.”
“That’s why you have lipstick on your neck.”
Lori’s head whipped around. “Matt!”
“Don’t look like that,” he retorted. “You nearly raped me out in the car park.”
“Matt!”
“Yeah, that’s what you were moaning, all right.”
Grabbing the napkin from beneath Ali’s glass, Lori rubbed his neck. “Honestly, you’re impossible.”
“Can’t blame me for bragging, love.” He winked.
She blushed, but her eyes sparkled with laughter.
“Yep, the mature couple,” Ghost commented to Ali, who just grinned and laid her head on his shoulder.
Enjoying their by-play and their obvious love for each other, Barbie smiled, only to have it fade away when Adam sat down opposite her in the one remaining chair. He looked directly at her, his dark gaze capturing hers, studying her face, slipping lower to sweep over her cleavage before coming back up to her face. She’d have blushed if he hadn’t just smiled at her, nodded and turned his attention to Ghost.
“About time you arrived,” Ghost said. “Were you too busy tasering some poor bastard to arrive on time?”
“I’m saving the tasering for you,” Adam replied. “You seem to like it so much.”
“It’s my secret fantasy.”
“I bet.” Adam nodded at Ali and Lori. “You two look pretty.”
“Why, thank you,” Lori replied.
Ali dimpled at him. “You cut a mighty fine figure yourself.”
Barbie had to agree. His button-up shirt clung to his broad shoulders, the sleeves rolled up to just below his elbows to show his muscular forearms. Thick, dark hair was combed neatly, though a rebellious lock fell over his forehead. She had to fight the sudden temptation to smooth it back, to run her fingers through that hair and see if it felt as silky as it looked.
Disturbed at the sudden thought, she cast around for something to say when he turned his gaze to her. “’Evening, Barbie. You look nice.”
“And you look cleaner without coffee on your shirt,” she replied. Oh, that’s cool. Not. She did a mental head slap.
He didn’t bat an eyelid, just eyed her calmly. “A little diversion in my normal day.”
“Is that a good thing or a bad thing?” Matt asked.
“Can only be a good thing,” Ghost answered before Adam could reply. “Old cool, calm and collected there needs his cage rattled now and again.” Ghost turned a beaming smile on Barbie. “Honey, you have my undying admiration. I just wish I had a photo of it.”
“Probably could get it,” Lori mused. “Shaun has his security cameras on all the time. I just bet it’s all caught in colour.”
“Don’t even think of uploading it to YouTube,” Adam growled at Ghost. “Or you will get up close and personal with my handcuffs.”
“Ohhh.” Ghost huddled against Ali. “Save me, honey, the big, bad cop wants to do nasty things to me!” He grabbed her.
Barbie wasn’t sure exactly where he grabbed her, but going by Ali's sudden squeal, giggle, and hand slapping below the table, it wasn’t exactly appropriate.
“Don’t make me arrest you for lewd behaviour in public.” Laughing, Adam swung his gaze to Barbie, the amusement fading. “You haven’t rung me.”
Everyone at the table went quiet.
“There’s been no need,” Barbie replied. At his continued quiet and unnerving, steady gaze, she added almost defensively, “I swear.”
“Besides,” Matt said cheerfully, “Barbie might have already rung Brandon. He’d be out there to fix her up.”
Barbie wasn’t sure if he meant it the way it sounded, but going by the way Adam cut him a glance and Matt’s gleaming eyes, she was pretty sure he was baiting his friend. God knew why, it wasn’t as though Adam thought about her like that.
The thought didn’t make her feel any better, for some odd reason.
Ridiculous.
Picking up her purse, she started to push her chair back. “I’m going to get a drink.”
Adam’s gaze swung back to her. “I’ll get it. What are you having?”
“Oh, I can-”
“Barbie.”
How did he manage to make that one word sound like an order? It wasn’t as if he growled it, or glared when he said it. Just one word, one tone, and she found herself already resuming her seat.
The realisation almost had her standing upright again, but aware of the covert glances that the others sent her way - or at least, Ghost and Ali, because Matt was too busy watching Adam, and Lori was doing what seemed to be her thing, minding her own business - Barbie stayed seated.
“I’ll have an orange juice, thanks.” She smiled slightly, reaching for her purse, but before she could open it to give him any money, Adam had left the table.
“What’ll you have, honey?” Ghost turned to Ali.
“Coke and rum, please.’
“Honey, the heavy stuff? I want you awake later.”
<
br /> “You know my limit is one. Just go and get it, geez.”
Laughing, Ghost dropped a kiss on her cheek and stood up.
“I’ll have a Diet Coke, please,” Lori told Matt when he turned to her.
No sooner had the men walked away than Ali looked at Barbie, the gleam in her eyes plain to see. “About Adam-”
Barbie shot her hand up, palm out. “No.”
As if she really expected Ali to take notice. The irrepressible woman continued, unfazed. “So, you’re actually talking to each other now instead of snarling?”
“I was civil at your house.”
“True. But you hardly looked at each other. At least, you didn’t look at Adam much.” Ali quirked one eyebrow. “But he looked at you.”
If Ali had known what had happened later that night, she might not have been so happy.
“Trust me, there is nothing between me and Adam.” Barbie fiddled with the zip on her purse. “Change of subject. Please.”
Lori took pity on her, God bless her quiet little soul. “I passed your place today. Looked busy.”
“It is.”
Rolling her eyes, Ali nevertheless dropped the previous subject. “Have you decided what you’re going to do with everything? Are you keeping it?”
“Selling most of it, I think.”
“Really?” Her face fell. “So, you’re still thinking of leaving?”
“I was never thinking of staying.” Barbie started when a hand holding a glass of orange juice appeared over her shoulder. The warmth of Adam’s body was right behind her, making her skin prickle, and she moistened her lips as he moved away, rounding the table to sit opposite her with a glass of the same.
“Thank you.” She reached again for her purse. “How much do I owe you?”
“Nothing.” Before she could object, Adam just gave a small, barely discernable shake of his head before turning his attention to Matt and Ghost as his friends sat down with their drinks.
“Barbie was just saying that she’s thinking of selling the furniture,” Ali said.
“Some of it might be worth a bit,” Ghost mused. “Have you got a reputable antique dealer coming to check it out?”
“Yes. I know one from the city, and he’s organised for one of his assistants to come.”
“Is he here yet?” Ali queried.
“No.”
“Then there’s still time.”
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