“Only on special occasions and weekends,” Craig said winking at his mom. “Mom loves to cook.”
“So what are you two up to today?” Debbie asked.
“You should come by the nursery,” Craig put in. “You haven’t seen it yet, or the park. Although there isn’t as much to see in the winter; spring and summer are more colorful. But I’d still like to show you around.”
“Actually…” Chris started but Daphne interrupted him.
“That sounds like fun. I’d like to see it.”
Chris stared at her. “But I thought you wanted to go home?”
“Home, why would you want to go home already, you just got here!” Debbie demanded.
“Is it because of last night?” Kevin asked, “because of Stephanie?”
Debbie let out a sound of disgust causing Kevin and Craig to grimace. “I don’t know why you still pine for her, she left, she never deserved you,” Debbie exclaimed. “Especially after she left town. She even sent you a letter telling you to forget about her.”
“She sent you a letter, before she left?” Daphne asked in surprise.
Chris shook his head. “No, she sent it in August, about three months later.”
“What did it say? Do you still have it?”
“It’s in my room, why?”
Daphne realized she was showing more interest in the letter than she should, but it didn’t make sense. If Russ was right and she didn’t leave with him and her ghost was wandering here, then it seemed highly unlikely that she would have been able to send a letter. Unless, of course, she had left town and had died somewhere else, only returning to Dunning’s Landing as a ghost. “I just wondered.” Daphne said weakly. “It seems like she could have been traced by the postmark.”
“I thought about it,” Chris admitted. “But it was mailed from Fresno, I wouldn’t know where to start looking.”
“Does the sheriff know?” Daphne asked.
“Of course. Why?”
Daphne opened her mouth to respond, but then closed it again. She shook her head. “No reason, just wondered.”
“Why are you so interested in Stephanie?” Craig asked. “You seemed upset last night at the party when you learned about her, but now you seem concerned.”
Daphne looked around the table, everyone was looking at her. She could tell Chris now, but then she’d have to let his whole family in on her secret. She came here wanting to get away from her gift and to be around people who didn’t know about it. Was she really thinking of outing herself to these people, people she really didn’t know? She should have kept her mouth shut and just told him after breakfast. She had started the conversation, so she might as well finish it. She looked at Chris as she searched for what to say.
He must have seen something in her eyes, maybe it was the pity, maybe it was the overwhelming sadness., she knew she was feeling both. He shook his head as his face scrunched up in pain. “No.” That one word came out broken and was the saddest thing Daphne had heard.
“I’m so sorry, Chris.”
The others looked from Daphne to Chris and then back to Daphne. “What?” Kevin asked. “What’s the matter?”
“Stephanie is dead,” Chris stated. It wasn’t a question. “But you said you didn’t see her.”
“I didn’t, not until last night, after the party.”
“That’s why you screamed?” His voice broke as his eyes filled with unshed tears.
She nodded.
“Can someone explain what is going on here?” Debbie demanded.
“I can see ghosts.” Daphne stated, the verbal equivalent of removing a bandaid. “I saw Stephanie’s ghost last night when we drove back here after the party.”
“Why didn’t you say anything when you say her?”
Daphne shook her head, “I don’t know, I just couldn’t bring myself to tell you. Not right then.”
“Wait, wait, wait,” Kevin said, holding his hands up. “What are you talking about? You claim to see ghosts?” Daphne nodded, he stared at her and then looked at Chris. “This is crazy. There’s no such thing as ghosts. I’m sorry, but you need help. Serious help. Chris, I can’t believe you let this person con you into believing her lies.” He stood up quickly, knocking his chair back so that it clattered to the ground. He pointed at Daphne. “You need to leave. Right now.”
“Dad!” Both Chis and Craig said in scandalized voices. “You can’t treat Daphne like that.” Chris continued. “She’s our guest and what’s more, I believe her.”
“There is no such thing as ghosts,” Kevin said again before stalking out of the room.
“I’m sorry, Daphne,” Chris said staring at the door his father had passed through. “I’m not sure what just happened. I’ve never seen him this upset. Or this rude.”
“How would you know?” Debbie said getting up and glaring down at her youngest. “You haven’t been around her for four years. I’m sorry, but Daphne, you should go. Chris, maybe you should drive her back to Palo Alto.” Without waiting for an answer, she stalked off after her husband.
Chris gaped after his mother before turning to his brother, “Craig?”
Craig shrugged. “Don’t look at me, I have no idea what’s going on with them. I’ve never seen Dad act like that before, and I’ve been here, so I have no idea why Mom got so upset with you. I didn’t know Dad was that adamant about there not being ghosts.”
“Maybe you should take me home.” Daphne said. She had been reluctant to tell Chris the truth and desperately wished she had waited until they were alone.
“No. Not yet. You need to find Stephanie. You need to talk to her. Find out what happened to her, please.” Chris implored.
“So you can talk to ghosts?” Craig asked.
Daphne turned to him. “You saw the news report?”
He shook his head. “I didn’t, I don’t watch the news but Sheila mentioned it to me last night when you both arrived. She saw the report on the boy who worked for your brother. She said they claimed you could see and talk to ghosts.”
“I can.” Daphne confirmed. “I’ve been able to do so for as long as I can remember.”
“You saw Stephanie’s ghost last night?”
“I did.”
“How did you know it was her?”
“I saw her picture on your wall, looked like a prom picture. And Chris was staring at a picture of her last night at the school.”
He nodded again. “I wondered if she was dead. Most everyone has wondered. Her mom goes back and forth. Some days she’s convinced that Stephanie is just too embarrassed to come home, and then other days she knows that Stephanie wouldn’t have gone this long without contacting her. How did you know she was a ghost?”
Daphne didn’t want to tell Chris that he ran her over with his car, even if he couldn’t have seen her or that it wouldn’t have hurt her. “She was wearing a summer dress and sandals, in the snow.”
“That would do it.” Craig agreed. “A summer dress? So does that mean she was killed in the summer?”
Daphne shrugged. “I don’t know. Maybe it was a favorite of hers. I don’t know what the rules are with regards to what a ghost shows themselves in. I think it’s the last thing they were wearing, but it could be what they were buried in. My grandmother changes her clothes, but then she knows she’s a ghost. I don’t think Stephanie knows.”
“Describe what she was wearing?” Chris suggested.
“It’s white with blue flowers.”
“I remember that dress, it was one of my favorites.” He frowned. “She usually only wore it for special occasions.”
Debbie re-entered the kitchen and sat back at the table. “I’m sorry Daphne and Chris. I shouldn’t have snapped at you both. Seeing Kevin so angry upset me.”
“Is Dad okay? What’s wrong?” Craig asked.
She shook her
head. “I don’t know, he won’t talk about it. He said to tell you that you can stay, but he doesn’t want to talk about ghosts.”
“I don’t see how we can not talk about it, Mom.” Chris said. “We need to find out what happened to Stephanie.”
“Well try not to talk about this in front of your father. You know how he is about this house and about his father and brother. I think he doesn’t want to entertain the idea that ghosts are real, because this place would have its share.”
“If it is any consolation, I haven’t seen any other ghosts, but Stephanie’s and I don’t think she can come in.”
“Why not?” Craig asked.
Daphne shrugged. “I don’t know and I may be wrong, but she stood outside all night staring at Chris’s window.”
“All night?” Debbie asked.
“I think so. I saw her when I went to bed and then again early this morning. Something woke me around 2 AM and I checked out the window. She was there.”
“I’m sorry you didn’t sleep well.” Debbie said. “That’s one of the things I love most about living here. Once I’m asleep, I’m out for the night. What woke you?”
“Just a bad dream.”
Chris turned to Daphne. “We need to tell Eric.” Chris said. “And the sheriff.”
“What you going to tell them?” Craig asked, his eyes widening. “I know Sheriff Blaine, he’s not going to believe you.”
“Eric already believes,” Daphne explained. “He was the cameraman on that story, and he asked me last night if I’d seen her ghost.” She turned to Chris. “But I don’t think anyone else is going to take my word for it.”
“Then we start with Eric,” Chris said. “He might have a suggestion on how to convince the sheriff and how to tell his mom.”
“Do you think Stephanie knows how she died?” Craig asked Daphne.
“I don’t know. Miguel didn’t. He didn’t even know he was dead.” She paused, thinking about how Stephanie acted the previous evening. It was possible that Stephanie had no idea she was dead either. She had been so desperate to get Chris’s attention. She didn’t want to add to his sorrow by telling him how distraught she had been. He would feel guilty, even though there was nothing he could have done.
Craig rose from the table and carried his plate to the sink. “What’s your first move?”
“We’ll go find Eric and talk to him.” Chris suggested as he gathered his and Daphne’s plates. “Maybe he’ll have an idea of how to approach the sheriff.”
Debbie coughed. “Do you think it is a good idea? Stirring this up? What if Daphne is wrong and Stephanie isn’t dead? Do you want to cause her mother more pain?”
“I think she needs to know the truth. I need to know the truth.” Chris said taking her hand in his as he sat back down. “I can’t move on until I understand what really happened. Daphne is our best shot at finding out what happened to her. She’s my best shot at closure.”
Debbie sighed, patted his hand and rose. She moved around the kitchen cleaning.
“Do you want us to help clean up?” Daphne asked.
Debbie shook her head without looking at Daphne. “No, thank you. I can manage.”
Chapter Fourteen
Daphne went upstairs to grab her purse before catching up to Craig and Chris in the mudroom. As Chris helped Daphne put on her coat, she watched Craig loading one of the shotguns. She saw that the gun safe now held only one gun. She wondered where the other one went.
“What’s that for?” Daphne asked.
“Scare away the wildlife, if there is any.” Craig explained. “I have to go to the greenhouses first and they are inside the woods. It’s faster to go through the woods than to drive. Although, it has its risks, hence the shotgun.”
“Have you ever been attacked?” Daphne asked him.
“No, I’ve had to scare a bear away once, but I wasn’t in any real danger.” He closed the safe door. “One of the shotguns is missing. I wonder where it went.”
“Dad or Mom?” Chris suggested.
Craig shook his head. “I don’t think so, maybe I left one at the greenhouses, I don’t remember doing that, but I’ll check.”
He waved to them as he entered the trees at the same spot where Daphne had seen the figure from last night. He held the gun loosely in his arm, the barrel pointing to the ground. She realized that the person she saw entering the woods during the early morning hours was also carrying a rifle. So whoever she had seen was protecting themselves against predators. Even the hat and coat were the same. Maybe it had been Craig. But he didn’t say anything about leaving the house when she mentioned she had been awake at that time. It didn’t really matter, but it was odd.
Daphne searched for any sign of Stephanie as Chris drove down the hill into town. “We could have taken the path into town, gotten there faster.” Chris said. “But I didn’t want to make you walk in the cold.”
“Going through the woods is faster than driving?”
“Quite a bit. Pretty much a straight shot while the road curves back and forth so often it makes the trip much longer.”
“I’m really sorry about how rude my parents were to you this morning.” Chris continued. “I’ve never seen either of them behave that way. Especially my dad. He’s usually easygoing and rarely loses his temper.”
“For some people, it’s hard to accept that ghosts exist. My sister Ariana is worse. She never misses a chance to tell me that my gift is all in my head and that I use it to gain attention.”
“Why?”
“Ariana is a very logical person and only believes what she can see or what has been proven.”
“But why does she think you’re just trying to get attention?”
“We’ve never been close. I was what they call an ‘oops baby’. My parents needed a son to inherit the winery. Their first child was Ariana, a girl, so they had to try again. The second time they had Brandon, so they were supposed to be done. However, Ice became pregnant with me many years later. The pregnancy was physically hard on her so she was bedridden for most of it. The birth itself was traumatic. I technically died, and we almost lost my mother. They were able to save us both, but I don’t think Ariana ever really forgave me for almost taking away her mother.”
“I’m sorry.”
Daphne shrugged. “Families. They have their ups and downs. Not everyone is guaranteed to like everyone they are related to, are they?”
“I guess not. I’m glad Craig and I get along. I know my dad got along with his brother, but not his father.”
“Why?”
“I never met my grandfather. He died before mom and dad got married.” Chris explained. “According to my father, my grandfather was a hard man who expected his sons to be just like him. He loved to hunt and fish; killing animals was one of his favorite things to do. My father’s favorite thing to do is read. I’m not even sure my grandfather ever read a book. My dad is an intellectual, his father was more physical. He never said, but I think my grandfather was abusive, if not physically then definitely emotionally.”
“That’s horrible.” Daphne considered her own grandparents. Her dad’s father had fought with her father over how he lived his life, but once they came to an understanding over how her father’s activities helped the winery and his decision to have the necessary heir, they rarely fought again. “I can understand why he isn’t keen on the idea of ghosts. He probably wants his father to be dead and to stay dead.”
“Probably.” Chris agreed. They had reached the road leading into the town, but instead of turning left, Chris turned right. They passed a few homes before turning into a court and parking.
“That’s Craig’s nursery,” Chris said pointing to a building that looked more like a log cabin than a store. “I’ve never seen it. He opened it about two years after I left town. We should go in there later.” After he parked, he pointed to a
park positioned between the woods and the nursery. “That’s the park he was creating before I left. It was his senior project at college.”
Paths dusted with snow cut through the park, passing by benches and flowerbeds. Some paths veered off, ending in areas with picnic benches and barbecue pits. In the center of the park was a gazebo large enough to host a wedding party but currently enveloped by the morning fog. Most of the plant life was dormant, but Daphne could see hints of color in the form of winter roses and evergreens.
Chris turned his back on the park and led the way to a house that sat opposite. Daphne imagined the views of the park would be stunning. Whoever lived there had a lovely view of the park and the woods behind it.
Chris knocked on the door. “I don’t see Eric’s truck. He may not be here, but Nicole could be home.”
“Nicole?”
“Stephanie and Eric’s mom.” Chris explained. “She’s amazing. She works part time as a pilot and a trainer at our little airport. I guess she’s not in either. She and Eric must have gone somewhere. We can come back later.”
He started up the car; “Let’s go into town. I’d like to see if anyone can remember anything about the day she disappeared. Stephanie was working that day at the stationery store. I figure we could start there and see if Ellen can tell us anything.”
“Was Ellen working there that day?”
“I think so, her father owned the shop then, but he retired a couple years ago. Ellen runs it now.”
As Chris parked his cell phone rang.
“Hello,” he answered and then carried on a conversation with whoever was on the other end. When he hung up he opened the car door and got out. ‘That was my mom, she wants me to stop at the hardware store to pick up a gift she ordered for Craig for Christmas. Let’s get that over with first. You’ll like the hardware store.” He paused, “it’s unique.”
He led Daphne across the street and they entered Dunning’s Hardware.
Expecting to find a fairly typical hardware store with aisles organized into obvious groupings of electrical, plumbing, painting, etc. Daphne was pleasantly surprised by a more ingenious layout. Instead of aisles, there were displays. Each display had a flat surface covered in various objects. Under this were three or four shelves containing merchandise. These displays differed in size and shape, some were narrow as the width of a piece of paper while others were as wide as a car.
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