He shook his head, his blue eyes intense above the orange rimmed lips. “That’s not it.” His gaze dropped for a moment and then he looked up at her. “That box you had yesterday, that music. It’s scary, like Scooby Doo ghost scary.”
For a moment she could only look at him silently. He wasn’t angry with her snapping at him the day before, which was a good thing...but still...
She sighed softly. He was right about the music box. The lure of the music early this morning and the missing block of time wasn’t something she could explain. She’s lost almost two hours of time daydreaming about a young woman in a green skirt dancing. That kind of thing had never happened to her before, drifting into some kind of fugue.
She got up and tossed the half eaten apple in the trash can, her appetite gone now. Forcing a smile she ruffled his curly locks. There was no need to upset the boy even more than she had the day before. “It’s just an old music box. But it may be worth some money and...I don’t want you playing with it.”
His eyes narrowed, skewering her with his gaze. “That goes for you too, you know.”
Her hands flew up in mock surrender. “Alright, alright. Maybe once we’re all settled in, I’ll take it to an antique store and sell it.” She grinned and pinched his thigh, tickling him. “Think of all the freezies I could buy you with that money! A box of them! A crate!”
“A truckload!” He laughed and drained the melted juice from the bottom of the plastic sleeve. “Can I have another one?”
Relief spread through her when he joined in. At least now, he might not have nightmares about the box. When he turned his big blue eyes, the epitome of sad puppy dog up to plead his case for another freezie, her heart melted. “ Just one. Don’t tell your mom and promise you’ll eat a decent lunch after.”
She rose from her stool and wandered over to the fridge, popping the freezer door open. She plucked another orange Freezie from the open box and slit an opening in the top.
Just in time, she handed him the fresh one, disposed of the used plastic wrapper and scurried to sit down next to him. Amanda walked into the kitchen and opened the fridge door. “What would you like for lunch? I was thinking a cold meat sandwich and salad.”
Paige looked over at Julian and winked. “Sounds good. Josh is fixing that barn door. After that deer getting in there, he doesn’t want any more wildlife taking up residence.”
She turned hearing the back door slam open and her mouth fell open seeing Josh step into the room. His face was white as a ghost, and he held his hand at waist level, trying to catch the drips of blood that ran in a rivulet over his palm.
“What the heck happened to you?” Paige reached for the paper towels and handed a sheet to him.
“Josh!” Amanda stepped back from the fridge.
“It’s nothing. My own fault. I was chiseling the latch hole, making it deeper so the latch would catch better when the darned thing slipped. I should have been paying more attention.” He stepped over to the sink, turned the tap and thrust his bleeding hand into the stream of water.
Paige’s gut tightened watching the pinkish tinged water drain down the sink. She could feel Julian’s eyes watching her, trying to get her attention.
The serious set to Julian’s jaw and eyes staring straight into hers made her gut clench tight. It was in that instant that she knew with absolute certainty, what she’d long suspected. Julian was able to sense things, the same way she was—maybe even more so.
Words weren’t necessary. Looking into each other’s eyes, they knew that the chisel slipping was no accident. There was something in that barn that didn’t want them there. The blood dripping from Josh’s hand was a warning.
Chapter 11
“C’mon. Let’s go get changed before we have lunch. You don’t want to get a rash from the damp bathing suit.” Paige popped up from the chair and put her hand on Julian’s shoulder.
He took a final slurp from the freezie and tossed the wrapper in the trash before stepping alongside her.
As soon as they reached the stairs, out of earshot of the kitchen, she stooped lower, talking close to his face. “Promise me you’ll never go into the barn on your own.”
He nodded. “Don’t worry. But what about Daddy? He shouldn’t go in there either.”
Paige sighed. Julian had a point. But what could she say to Josh that wouldn’t sound totally crazy? Josh was the scientific, engineer type who had to see things to believe them. If she told him the barn had a creepy feeling, and that his accident with the chisel was really no accident, he’d think she was crazy. It wouldn’t help the situation when he was counting on her to help with Amanda.
No. This was something she’d have to handle on her own. As long as she could be assured that Julian wouldn’t wander in there, it would be okay. Amanda’s dream of boarding horses and dogs was waaay down the line. Maybe by then, things in the barn would change. It wasn’t something she would worry about right now. After all, worrying is borrowing from the future and paying interest in the present, and her plate was full enough today, thank you.
She put her arm around Julian’s shoulder and spoke quietly as they walked up the stairs. From the slump of his shoulders, it was clear he was still worried about his father. “Your dad will be okay, Julian. Sure, he hurt his hand but he’s different from you and me.”
She hesitated for a moment, looking down at him. “You get weird feelings sometimes, don’t you? Sometimes, see the odd thing that other people can’t?”
His voice was soft and his eyes welled with tears looking up at her. “Yes. I saw a girl in your room yesterday.”
Paige’s froze and in an instant the image of a girl in a green dress flashed in her mind.
“She saw me watching her and started to come over to me. She looked really mad. That’s why I ran away from you yesterday.” A tear rolled down his cheek and he edged forward to cling to her, burying his face in her swim cover-up.
It felt like the world was closing in; suddenly she found it hard to breathe as her hand rose to stroke her nephew’s back. Julian had seen the girl in the dress? What she’d thought was fear and surprise at her snapping at him was in reality some sort of vision he’d had... of the girl.
It was proof that Julian’s gift or sensitivity or whatever name you wanted to use...was actually stronger than her own. He’d been frightened seeing the girl and Paige biting his head off hadn’t helped.
“It’s okay, Julian. What you saw can’t hurt you.” She pulled back from him and looked into his eyes, her heart breaking at the quiver in his lower lip and tears falling silently. “I saw her too but it was only in my mind. At least I think it’s the same girl. Was she wearing a green dress?”
He nodded. “Yes, she had a dress on, but it was only a little green. She was spooky and kind of white… like on Scooby Doo.”
Paige smiled to reassure him. “It doesn’t matter. If you see her again, tell me.” She started to lead the way up the stairs again but stopped, turning to him once more. “Did you mention this to your mom or dad?”
“No. I knew they’d never believe me and...Mommy would be sad again.” His shoulders slumped down and he started to climb the stairs once more.
Paige watched him as he lumbered up the stairs and felt her heart ache. Amanda’s depression had been hard on him. He hadn’t understood it was a sickness. To him, she was sad and tired all the time. In some ways, Julian had bonded more with her than with his own mother. Hopefully, that was behind them and he’d resume a close relationship with Amanda.
She watched him go into his room and close the door, the weight of the world on his shoulders. She’d have to think of something fun for the two of them to do after lunch...maybe the tire swing again? She sighed and walked down the hall to her own room.
She shimmied out of the damp cover-up dress and then her bathing suit, setting them aside to hang out in the sun to dry. When she opened her dresser to get some dry clothes out, her hand froze on the knob.
The music box that
she’d found in the closet was on top of the dresser, sitting squarely in the centre of the white linen table mat. Her heart thundered as she stared at it. The apple in her stomach felt like a lump of lead. There’d been no one in the house for the past couple of hours, yet the box had been moved to her dresser.
She shivered, suddenly aware of cool air on her bare skin. Her hands yanked the drawers open and she grabbed underwear, a T shirt and shorts. Scrambling into the clothes with hands that shook, she looked at the floor keeping her gaze away from the box.
She took a deep breath, and huffed it out fast through flared nostrils. Already she felt stronger, not quite so vulnerable now that she had clothes on. Whatever had moved that box was trying to scare her! It was darned well working, but she couldn’t give in to this.
Her eyes narrowed looking at the music box and she lifted it from the dresser. “You don’t belong here.” She wasn’t sure if she was talking to the box or whatever had moved it. Once more the tips of her fingers became numb and tingly as she carried it over to the closet and set it back in the corner.
She stepped out and closed the door, letting her hand linger on the handle for a moment. “Please God, let it stay in there.”
At the soft tap on her bedroom door, she spun and strode over to answer it. Julian’s eyes were saucer-like as he stood looking up at her. She stepped out of the room and forced a wide smile, steering him gently down the hall at her side.
“Ready for lunch, kiddo?”
He looked up at her and his mouth pulled to the side. “I’m not sure I like it here.”
“Give it a chance, Julian. I know it’s new for you.”
He looked away. “That’s not it, Aunt Paige.”
“Come on… let’s eat.” As they tromped down the stairs, she added, “You’ll get used to it, don’t worry.”
He shot her a look. He didn’t need to say anything for her to pick up on his answer. Yes, she was a hypocrite but it was for his own good.
Chapter 12
That evening, Paige held a framed portrait of Amanda and her family against the wall next to the flat screen TV. “Here?” She looked over at Amanda, who eyed the position like a hawk on a field mouse.
Julian and Avril were snuggled up on the sofa watching a cartoon movie, while Barney lay sprawled in the doorway.
Amanda shook her head. “Not that one. It’s too big for that spot.” She reached to grab a smaller print from the stack leaning against the coffee table, and stepping closer, handed it to Paige. “Try this one.”
Paige set the first print down and took the one that Amanda extended. This one was her favorite, showing Julian sitting cross-legged on the floor, holding a sleeping newborn Avril. She held it up against the wall and beamed a smile at Amanda. “How’s this? Lower, higher?”
Amanda’s head tilted forward and she closed one eye. “An inch lower and I’d say it was pretty much perfect.”
Paige slipped the pencil from its perch tucked in behind her ear and made a little mark on the wall. She set the picture down and took the hammer, nail and picture hook that Amanda handed to her. When she hammered the nail in with a few sharp taps, Josh’s voice could be heard above the TV and the banging.
“All packed up for the week. Hopefully it’ll only be a few days but just in case...” He put his arm over Amanda’s shoulder and pulled her into his body, giving her a soft kiss on the forehead.
She turned and smiled up at him, her gaze warm and loving. “We should have the internet tomorrow. Maybe then you’ll be able to do more work from home.”
Paige felt a full feeling in her chest watching her sister and brother-in-law. They complimented each other’s looks with Josh’s dark blond hair and fair skin next to her long chestnut hair and olive complexion. They were attractive or maybe it was because they were still so crazy in love.
“I’m going to try, that’s for sure.” He smiled half-heartedly.
Paige sighed. There was something happening at work that he had gotten pretty worked up over the other day on the phone. She felt in her bones that he wasn’t going to make it home until at least Friday night.
She glanced at her watch and then looked over at Julian and Avril. It was eight o’clock and way past the toddler’s bedtime. They’d been so intent on getting the pictures up that the time had sneaked by like a pickpocket thief.
She stepped over to the sofa and reached for Avril. “Time for bed, sweetie.” There was no resistance from the young child, being lifted in the air. From the droopy eyelids and thumb stuck in her mouth, she was more than ready.
When she stepped closer to Amanda and Josh, they took turns giving Avril a kiss on the cheek and saying goodnight. Amanda smiled and her eyes met with her sister’s. “Thanks, Paige.”
Actually it was no big hardship to take Avril up to bed and get her tucked in for the night. It was one of her favorite things, snuggling a little in the small bed while the little girl drifted off to sleep.
She walked up the wide set of stairs and turned into the bedroom, flipping the light switch as she walked past it. After setting the tyke down on the floor, she grabbed the change pad, a fresh diaper and her pajamas from the bottom drawer of the change table.
Paige lowered to her knees and tugged Avril’s T shirt up and over her head. The child had come fully awake now and was flipping from side to side, looking at the space behind Paige burbling with delight. Once more the little girl’s head bobbed out to the side, looking at the closet. She let out another squeal of delight and then laughed, her eyes bright above a wide grin.
“Hey, Silly Willie! What’s so funny?” Paige slipped the pajama top onto Avril’s head and tugged it down.
Avril grinned and peeked around Paige’s legs, pointing her finger. “Her! She’s funny.”
Goosebumps skittered down Paige’s arms and the smile on her lips vanished like mist. Oh my God. There was something or someone behind her and Avril was playing peek-a-boo with it. Paige held the child’s waist with both of her hands and turned her head slowly to look behind her.
There was only the door standing ajar, revealing the dark inner space of the closet. She squinted her eyes trying to see into the darkness. Still nothing.
At the low growl coming from the other direction, Paige gave a start. Her mouth fell open seeing Barney standing in the doorway, the hackles making his hair stand straight in a thick line down his back. His lips were curled in a snarl, revealing sharp, white fangs.
She blinked a couple of times, hardly trusting her eyes. Barney had never looked this ferocious. Her heart hammered a mile a minute in her chest. Oh God. He was growling, looking beyond her to the closet.
She pulled Avril close, about to scramble to her feet when Josh and Amanda whipped into the room.
“Easy Barney. Stop.” Josh petted the dog’s head and stared wide-eyed at Paige. “What’s going on?”
Paige scurried to the door carrying Avril firmly in her arms. “The closet. You’d better check it.”
“Oh my God, another break-in! I thought we’d be safe here!” Amanda reached for Avril and fled the room, her feet thudding quickly down the stairs.
Josh’s jaw muscle worked as he reached for Barney’s collar. “C’mon, boy.”
But Barney stood his ground, feet planted and another growl rumbled in his chest. Josh looked around the room, searching for something. “Shit!” He grabbed the jar of cotton balls from the change table, and holding it above his head ready to fling it, stepped slowly to the closet.
The whole time that he advanced to the dark opening, Paige stood still as a statue in the doorway, barely daring to breathe. Yet even as she stood there, she knew before Josh flipped the closet light on, that there wouldn’t be anything there—certainly not anything that Josh could clobber with a jar of cotton balls.
She looked down at Barney and saw his hackles lower and his stump of a tail begin to wag. “Avril saw something and then Barney—”
“Was this it?” Josh reached down and picked up a doll from
the floor in the closet.
The doll’s glass eyes blinked open and then stared blindly over at Paige.
“No! Avril wouldn’t play peek-a-boo with that and besides it was dark in there. What about Barney? He wouldn’t growl at a doll.” Paige stepped closer to Josh, her chin leading the way. She’d had enough spooky things scaring her and for Josh to be so matter of fact, holding the doll up to explain everything...well, it was insulting.
Josh turned and his hand swept the air. “Well? What else could it be? There’s only her clothes hanging there and some toys.” He sighed and stepped by her, pushing Barney with his knee. “Get out of here, you goof. Scaring everyone like that. Especially Amanda. Great.”
He turned to Paige and rolled his eyes. “He must have heard a mouse or something. Something we can’t hear. That’s the only logical explanation.” He tossed the doll on the bed and left the room.
Paige took a deep breath and blew it out slowly through puffed cheeks. If only he was right, but her gut screamed otherwise.
Chapter 13
The next morning, the sound of rain thrumming on the window seeped into Paige’s consciousness. She’d just managed to get to sleep after a restless night and now the dim light and the noise penetrating the room had woken her. No. Just five more minutes. She snuggled deeper into the warm bed, tugging the comforter over her head.
But the thud of feet racing down the hall to her door wasn’t about to let that happen. She sighed and threw the comforter off and rolled out of her sleepy nest.
“Shush! Kids! Let her sleep.” Amanda’s muffled voice and footsteps followed.
Paige slipped her robe on and opened the bedroom door, blinking the sleep from her eyes. Julian and Avril, still in their pajamas, stood at her door with shy grins looking up at her while Amanda raced behind, reaching for them.
The Haunting Of Larkspur Farm (Ghosts and Haunted Houses): A Haunting In Kingston (The Hauntings of Kingston Book 4) Page 6