The Ghosts of Summerleigh Collection

by M. L. Bullock

  Jacob, that dear sweet boy, was only our half-brother—as Jameson so often reminded me. And although the youngest McIntyre clearly preferred our brother to me, I felt sympathy for him. His mother died too and not long after his birth. I did not miss my father’s wife as much as I probably should. Ona McIntyre had not been a loving woman, and I wondered once more why my father had ever married her; once upon a time, he had been a very affectionate man. Ona lived at Pennbrook for only four years before the cough took her. Father had not remarried after that, and I was glad for it. According to Claudette Paul, my slightly older but not necessarily wiser friend, that made me the Lady of Pennbrook now.

  I earnestly attempted to correct her, “Americans don’t have lords and ladies, Claudette.” She paid me no mind, and as I said, I secretly did not object to being the lady of the house. Even if I had lost my father’s affection somewhere along the way.

  But I didn’t really have to guess when that happened, for I knew the moment precisely. I recalled it repeatedly with my perfect memory, seeing again the change in his expression, the shift in his face. Even his smile changed, at least when directed at me.

  What a beauty your daughter has become, Mr. McIntyre! I imagine every respectable man in the county will want to see her for themselves.

  Why would you imagine that, Mr. Chapman?

  Mr. Chapman had been my father’s lifelong friend and business partner but never received an invitation to return to Pennbrook after his generous compliment toward me. That had been well over a year ago. That’s when the change happened. My father did not kiss my cheek anymore or applaud politely at my piano recitals or do any of the things he used to do. He looked at me quite differently. Not in an evil, diseased way, but in the way a man appraises a horse.

  Yes, that was it. A new awareness arose in my father that day, and with it, the sun set on my childhood.

  But maybe all things were made right again? This gift came, and so lovely a gift! I wished my mother could see this dress—or Claudette! She would come today and stay the week with me as we prepared for my birthday celebration. Mrs. Tutwiler, our most respectable neighbor, was also to help me with the preparations although I liked her company much less than Claudette’s. I hugged the dress as I held it up to my reflection in the long mirror. It was a sumptuous rose-colored garment with far too many ruffles and ribbons woven into the sleeves. Oh, but I couldn’t wait until Claudette arrived!

  I suddenly took the notion to go show my mother my gift. A silly thing to do, I supposed, but my delight overpowered my thinking. My mother’s painting hung in the downstairs study; it was a small painting without much detail. Lillian Jane had dark hair, as dark as mine, and she wore a pretty blue dress and a bright sunny smile. I did not believe my brother. He was one to lie just to please himself. Or to hurt me. One day his lying tongue would cost him if he wasn’t careful. I told him as much yesterday; I warned him to keep quiet about things he knew nothing about. He went on and on about Father, one thing and then another. He’d been spying on our father, reading his mail whenever he left Pennbrook, which was quite frequently as of late. Jameson claimed to know some horrible secret that I did not. He taunted me at breakfast this morning, but I refused to encourage him. After a few bites I excused myself and took to the upstairs nursery hoping that Jacob would come, but he never showed. When my father returned, I would once again insist that he hire a governess for Jacob. Someone who could tame him, someone who would love him since he’d rejected me to please Jameson.

  Clutching my gown, I raced down the stairs but halted outside the study. Someone was in Father’s study, and I briefly hoped that my father had returned. It was not my father but Jameson sitting at his desk with the lamp lit, the room dark because of a gathering storm. He was once again elbow-deep in papers. Papers that did not belong to him.

  “Ah, there she is. The Lady of Pennbrook. Good afternoon, sister.”

  I shuddered to hear him call me that. The only person who called me that had been Claudette. Did that mean my friend confided in Jameson too? I felt sick suddenly. “You’ve been talking to Claudette,” I said. It wasn’t an accusation or a question. I just wanted him to know that I knew.

  He didn’t answer me but kept shuffling papers until he found what he was looking for. I stomped closer to him, angry now.

  “What are you doing in Father’s room, Jameson? I have told you before…”

  He didn’t appear to care about my warning. “You really should read this, dear sister. Here is your name, right here. Don’t you care at all? Or are you happy to waste all your time sashaying about the house in ridiculous garments? If you are looking for ghosts, Mariana, they would not be in here.”

  I refused to take the bait Jameson dangled in front of me. How eager he was to always talk shamefully about our mother. He knew I would hate him for it, but he did it anyway. “I am sure if my name is on that paper, Jameson, there is a good reason for it. Now get out of the study, brother, before one of the servants finds you here and tells Father what you have been doing!” I cradled my gown tighter and suddenly felt foolish for coming in here at all.

  What had I been thinking?

  “And who would dare do that?” He glanced up at me, a curious expression on his plain face. Yes, he was plain, but he would certainly appear more handsome if he smiled occasionally. A real smile, not a devilish one. Not a sinister one. “What is that, sister?”

  I held the garment to my flat bosom. “It is a gift for me. It came today; it is a dress, of course. A birthday gift from Father. He will want to see it when he arrives.”

  Suddenly he jumped up from behind the desk and came to examine the dress, like a moth to a candle. I saw that familiar gleam in his eye, the one that said, I must take a snippet of that fabric. I must cut it, but I snatched the gown away and tried to retreat from the study. “Where are you going, Mariana? Just let me look at the thing.”

  “Do not touch it!” I said. My voice sounded squeaky and frightened, just like a mouse cornered by a fat, hungry cat. My arguments would be useless. Once Jameson set his mind to a thing, he would have nothing else. I could never escape him or his strange demands. He was taller and faster, and my gown was too full and fluffy to hide away from him.

  “Stop that struggling, sister. I will not hurt you. I never have, have I? Not really. Let me touch it. I just want to touch it.” His voice was quiet now, but his grip was tight. I had no choice but to allow him to see my prize. Again I asked myself why I had come here.

  “Please, do not destroy it, Jameson. Father will know. He bought this for me, brother. It is for my birthday. We will have a party in just a few days. Remember?”

  “Oh, I won’t destroy it, but you have to let me see it and allow me to take a small piece. Look at all these ribbons. You would not miss one, Mariana dear. All these touches. I do not have a ribbon this color, though your friend gives me ribbons all the time; she even allows me to cut her hair when I have need of it. I don’t much care for your friend, Mariana. Her speech is not eloquent, and she smells of peppermint year-round. Oh, yes. I like this one. Just a little piece, please. I need a small sampling, I really do need it.” His eyes were transfixed on the dress. He reminded me of a snake who had been charmed by the pipe of a snake charmer. I had seen such a scene myself in the pages of a book. Yes, he did look like a snake.

  “You have need of nothing. Leave my gown alone. It is mine, Jameson.” I slapped him as hard as I could. I had never struck him before, and he fell back on the desk clutching his face in surprise. I could see the handprint rising on his skin. I did not wait for his reply. He would surely make me pay for such an assault. Yes, he would make me pay in horrible ways.

  With my dress in my hands, I ran up the stairs.

  Chapter Four—Jerica

  The sun beat down on me, and I wiped the sweat out of my eyes. I didn’t like being up on this ladder, but if it prevented me heartache later, I’d just have to suck it up and do it. I’d made the drive to Mobile to pick up this al
arm system; it wouldn’t do me any good to leave it in the box. I half expected to see Jesse here and working on the interior of Summerleigh when I returned, but so far, he was a no-show.

  Oh well. Probably for the best. I need a break to think about all this.

  Why was I really objecting to Jesse’s proposal? I mean, did I really want the whole bended-knee experience again? Look how well that worked out for me the last time. Eddie had written Will You Marry Me in the sand during our last night at the beach. To this day, I couldn’t figure out how he did it because he’d never left my side the entire trip. He must have had someone scribble those words in the sand for him. I’d been so surprised when he fell on his knee and produced a ring. I never expected any of it, and I never thought twice about saying yes. I believed that I loved him and that everything was going to be okay.

  Cut it out, Jer. Stop dreaming about the past.

  With the power drill, I mounted the camera’s brackets. I was so focused on my task and lost in my own thoughts, not to mention trying hard not to fall off the ladder, I didn’t even hear Jesse pull in.

  “Hey, what are you doing?” he called up to me out the window of his truck.

  “Jesus!” I whispered, pretending that my knees didn’t buckle in surprise. I kept my eyes on the bracket and then eased down the ladder, holding my breath the whole time. I pointed to the open box and removed the drill bit.

  “So you aren’t talking to me now?”

  I put the camera and drill down. Wiping sweat from my face with the back of my hand, I sighed. “Of course I’m talking to you. You know I’m not good on ladders, and I’m trying to get this done before dark. Or is that a storm rolling in? Hot enough for it.”

  “This is a security system. Has something happened, Jerica? Did someone break into the cottage—or Summerleigh?”

  “No. Nothing like that. It’s just a precaution, just in case.”

  He laughed dryly and put the box back down. “In case what? After all the ghosts and the incident with Ben, what could you possibly be afraid of?” Then his smile disappeared. “Is this to keep me away? All you have to do is tell me, Jerica. I’m a big boy; I can handle the truth.”

  “I…uh. That’s not what I’m doing, Jesse.”

  He reached for my arm as if to comfort me but thought better of it. “I know you, Jerica Jernigan. This isn’t like you at all. Please, talk to me. Are you upset about my asking you to marry me? I have to admit, I wasn’t expecting this response.”

  It didn’t escape my notice that he used my maiden name and not my married one. You can’t erase my past by ignoring it, Jesse. And Eddie is my past. “You didn’t ask me, Jesse. You suggested it. Not the same thing.” He leaned against the side of the house with his arms crossed over his chest now. Jesse’s expression wasn’t easy to read, but I recognized hurt when I saw it. He was hurt, and I was to blame. “This isn’t about you. I would never install a security system to keep you away. It’s Eddie. He’s out of jail, and Detective Easton says he’s coming here to Mississippi. I can only imagine why.”

  “What?” His arms bowed, and he was standing straight as a board. “Your ex is coming here? To Mississippi? Have I missed something?”

  I shrugged in frustration. “That’s what I said. I can’t believe they are letting him out. On a technicality, no less. Once he leaves the state, they’ll never find him. He’s not going to be happy until…” I thought better of finishing that sentence. No need for dramatics. The situation was dramatic enough without the added histrionics.

  “Have you heard from him? Has he threatened you?”

  I put the drill back in the box and closed it up. “I haven’t heard from Eddie and don’t expect to. I have a new phone number. I won’t hear from him, not until he shows up. And I expect he will do that. In his mind, we have unfinished business. He blames me for Marisol. He can’t understand that it was an accident.”

  Jesse hugged me now, and I let him. It felt good to be close to him. Oh, God. I loved him. I did love him. “He’s wrong, you know. You aren’t to blame.”

  “Oh, I know. I was there. I remember every second of it. Every moment. It was not my fault, and Marisol knows that. She has moved on with Jeopardy. She’s happy.” I stepped out of his arms, refusing to cry. “Eddie has been high since she died. He just couldn’t handle it.”

  “Let me help you with this. Then we can take a look at Summerleigh’s security. Just in case. I’m not going to let him hurt you, Jerica.”

  “It’s mostly done now. I’ve just got to set the software up on my tablet.”

  He began to walk to his truck like he wanted to roll up his window and stay a while. I would have liked nothing more, but the thought of Eddie showing up with Jesse here made me sick to my stomach. The idea of those two worlds colliding stressed me out. So like Eddie to want to contaminate everything good in my life. It was a wonder I’d kept my job at the Sunrise Retirement Home for so long.

  “Jesse, go home. I’ve got this all buttoned up here. If you don’t mind, we can finish up the crown molding tomorrow. I just need to think. I have to process all this.”

  “Are you sure you want to be alone?”

  “I’ve been alone before, you know. I’m not afraid to be alone.”

  Jesse said in a soft voice, “Yes, but you don’t have to be. Not this time.”

  I walked over to him, my wimpy ponytail sagging in the heat. I kissed him softly and whispered, “I don’t need you to rescue me, Jesse. I have to do this. Me.”

  He kissed me back, but I knew he hoped to change my mind. He couldn’t. If Eddie wanted me, I’d have to face him. I would defend myself. No more hiding and running. No more feeling like my life was spent at his mercy.

  “I have to do this. This is my mess, Jesse. Not yours. I’ll call you later. I promise.”

  “It’s not like you to isolate yourself. Why are you shutting me out? What about supper? You want me to bring you something later?”

  “No. I’ve got food. I’m not lying to you. I truly am fine. Go work on your boat and take a break from this house. And me.”

  “I don’t need a break. Do you?”

  “All I need is some time. Time to think about everything. That’s all.”

  He paused, wavered in his boots for a minute and then climbed into the truck. With one last sad look, he shifted into reverse and drove away. His taillights glowed brightly in the growing darkness, and the smell of promised rain filled my nose. I glanced up at the sky in time to see lightning pulse through the clouds above me.

  See there, Jesse Clarke. You don’t know me at all.

  Chapter Five—Jerica

  At six o’clock on the dot, Jesse called me. I picked up the house phone happy to hear his voice. “Hey, Jesse.”

  “Hey. Just checking in. Did the security system work okay? You did set it for night vision, right?”

  I tapped on the tablet screen and updated the settings without admitting I hadn’t fine-tuned any of it. “It’s working perfectly. I can see both porches.” I tapped on the screen to see the other two cameras. “And the corners and even the wide-angle view. There’s a good view of the back of Summerleigh too,” I said as I flipped through all the angles.

  “If anything goes off, any sound at all, any alarm, you call me. I mean it. I’m not happy about you being alone there. Maybe Ree-Ree should come stay with you tonight.”

  I smiled into the phone. “I will be just fine, Jesse Clarke. If I see anyone that remotely looks like Eddie Poole, I will call the sheriff’s office first thing and then you. How does that sound?”

  “Have you met our sheriff?”

  I laughed at Jesse’s insinuation. He had a strong distrust of any politician, big or small. And here in George County, the sheriff’s office was a big point of contention for people who felt the same way. The conversation went silent between us. What should I say? Sorry? But I wasn’t sorry.

  “Ree-Ree needs me at the diner tonight. Something about Frank’s big toe…dropped a can on it. I thin
k he does stuff like that because he wants to get out of work. Why she keeps him around, I’ll never know.”

  “Ouch,” I said with a smile. “I’ve been promising to come to the diner to see her. I’ll have to do that soon.”

  “Tonight’s special is hamburger steak and gravy with a side order of mashed potatoes. My specialty,” he said. I could hear the smile in his voice.

  “I know what you’re doing, tempting me with gravy and mashed potatoes, but I better stay here,” I replied with a chuckle. And then I heard a weird beeping sound. It was the alarm system! I picked up the tablet and tapped on the screen as Jesse said his goodbyes. He asked me a question, but I wasn’t paying attention.

  “Okay, bye.”

  “Jerica? Are you listening to me at all?”

  “Yeah. You said it was your specialty. I’ve got to go, Jesse. I’ve got something on the stove. Talk to you later.” I hung up the phone and stared at the screen.

  Nothing. I can’t see anything. Wait a second. Doesn’t this thing have a rewind button?

  I had the cameras set to record anything that triggered the motion detector. I blindly tapped buttons, still unsure what button granted access to what feature. “Oh my God,” I said as I stared at the tablet. There was a young man standing in my yard looking at my house. Looking at the camera! Then as quick as a flash of lightning, he was on my front porch. He was there one second and gone the next, but he was there for sure. I rewound the footage and watched it again.

  I know that face! He looks so familiar!

  And then my hair stood up. Nobody disappears like that. Unless they aren’t really there. Or aren’t really alive. Oh my God! He’s on my porch! Why had I hung up with Jesse?

  As I stared at the tablet in real time, my heart raced and my forehead broke out in a sweat again. I wasn’t sure what to do. I’d had a ghost or two on my doorstep before. John Jeffrey Belle had even carried on a conversation with me. But I didn’t get the feeling this man wanted to exchange pleasantries. He looked too angry for that.