The Ghost of Christmas Secrets

by Anna J. McIntyre

  They were barely home for ten minutes when Lily came knocking at the kitchen door. The door wasn’t locked, so she walked in after knocking, finding Danielle alone in the kitchen. Walt had left minutes earlier to use the bathroom.

  “Wow, nice dress. Are you going somewhere?” Lily asked, taking a seat at the kitchen table.

  “Umm…no, I just got home. We just got back from Astoria.”

  “That’s why I’m here. I saw Melony at the grocery store, and she said she and Adam ran into you and Walt in Astoria. You were picking up the rings. I’m dying to see them.”

  Danielle let out a sigh and walked to the table. She held out her right hand for Lily to see.

  “Oh, take it off! I want to try it on!”

  Reluctantly, Danielle twisted the ring off her finger and handed it to Lily.

  Examining the ring, Lily said, “It’s really pretty. He did a great job. But Mel is right. It does look like a wedding band.”

  Danielle shrugged. “It’s just a gold ring.”

  Lily slipped it on and held out her hand, looking at Danielle’s ring on her finger. As she wiggled her fingers while tilting her right hand from side to side, examining the ring, Walt walked into the room.

  “Hello, Lily,” Walt said, glancing from Lily to his bride.

  Lily looked up to Walt and held out her hand. “I want to see yours!”

  Minutes later, after Lily had finished inspecting the rings and had handed them back to their respective owners, Ian came breezing through the back door.

  “I was just coming home,” Lily said as she stood up.

  “That’s okay,” Ian said. He looked at Walt and Danielle. “Hey, Chris just called and wanted to know if we all want to meet them for Chinese food.”

  “Oh, Chinese!’ Lily said.

  Danielle and Walt exchanged smiles, and Danielle looked to Ian and said, “Thanks, Ian, but I did a lot of driving today, and frankly, I don’t really feel like going out again. In fact, I was just heading upstairs to change my clothes.”

  “Have you eaten yet?” Lily asked.

  Danielle shrugged. “No. We had lunch with Mel and Adam in Astoria. I’ll just make a sandwich later, but you go.”

  The next moment Ian’s cellphone rang. He answered it.

  “No, Danielle is tired; she doesn’t want to go out again,” Ian told the person on the phone. He then looked at Walt and asked, “Do you want to go?”

  Walt shook his head and said, “Thanks for the offer. I’ll stay home and keep Danielle company. I feel guilty she had to do all the driving today.”

  “No, he’s going to stay here, keep Danielle company. What? That’s a good idea. See you then.”

  Ian got off the phone and said, “That was Chris. He’s going to pick up the Chinese food and bring it over. Heather’s coming too, and so are Adam and Mel.” He looked at Danielle and added, “You go ahead and change your clothes. We’ll take care of everything.”

  At last they were alone. All their friends had left.

  “This really was a funny day,” Danielle mused. She stood at the base of the stairs on the first floor, Walt by her side as they prepared to go upstairs.

  “I got to meet my first hippy,” Walt said as they started up the stairs together.

  “I got married by a stoned senior citizen,” Danielle added.

  They continued up the stairs.

  “We had a lovely wedding reception, with most of our friends in attendance,” Walt said.

  “They just didn’t know it was a wedding reception,” Danielle added with a laugh.

  “But you know the best thing about the day?” Walt asked.

  Danielle paused on the stairs and turned to Walt. “I know what was the best for me.”

  Walt took Danielle in his arms. “What?”

  “I got to marry you,” she whispered.

  After a brief kiss they continued to the second floor. When they stepped on the landing, Danielle said, “Umm…I’m going to go take a shower.”

  “I’m going to take a shower too. It’s been a long day.”

  “Yes, it has. I plan to hit the bed as soon as I get out of the shower,” Danielle told him as they walked toward her bedroom.

  “Me too.” Walt gave Danielle a quick kiss and then continued down the hallway to the stairs leading to his attic bedroom, while Danielle entered her bedroom and headed for her bathroom.

  When Walt and Danielle each finished their showers some twenty minutes later, they went to bed—first in Danielle’s room—and then in Walt’s.

  Twelve

  December 2 Friday

  A string of Christmas lights weaved its way up main street, arching from one streetlamp to the next. Holiday shoppers hurried on their way, pelted by the gray sky’s persistent drizzle. Many of the evergreen wreaths adorning the shop doors hung crooked, battered by the hastily opening and closing from customers seeking shelter from the inclement weather. Christmas carols intermittently drifted out to the street from random businesses playing music inside. On one corner Santa stood, ringing his bell and collecting goodwill in the form of loose change and an occasional dollar bill or two.

  Adam Nichols hurriedly pushed open the front door of Lucy’s Diner, letting Melony Carmichael enter first as he followed her in, giving a perfunctory shiver as he removed his coat, shaking off the moisture.

  “Why doesn’t it just rain and get on with it?” Melony asked as she removed her jacket before taking a seat in a window booth.

  “I thought it was?” Adam sat down across from her.

  “That’s not a respectable rain, just annoying moisture on steroids.” She picked up one of the menus sitting on the table and opened it. Adam chuckled. A few minutes later the server brought them coffee and took their order.

  “Well, look at that!” Melony said, looking out the window.

  Adam turned to see what she was talking about. The sky, no longer gray, appeared to have opened up, a bit of blue showing while sunshine rained down on the street below.

  “It took my advice. If it’s not going to give us a proper rain, then give us sunshine,” Melony said.

  “I am a little tired of all the rain we’ve been getting,” Adam grumbled.

  “You and me both.”

  Still looking out the window, something caught Adam’s attention. “Look who’s here.”

  Melony looked out the window again and spied the black vintage Packard coming down the road. She watched as it pulled in front of the bank across the street and parked—directly under the opening in the clouds. Golden sunlight dramatically poured down on the car.

  “I still can’t get over Walt Marlow,” Adam mused.

  They watched as Walt got out of the car. Over his suit he wore a long, double-breasted overcoat jacket; its hem fell mid-thigh. He adjusted his fedora as he made his way to the bank.

  “I love how he dresses,” Melony said with a sigh. “He just goes with that car.”

  “It’s weird,” Adam grumbled. “I swear, the guy dresses like a freaking gangster.” He turned from the window and faced Melony.

  She laughed. “He does not. There is something sexy about a guy in a classy overcoat. The way it brushes against his thighs when he walks.”

  Adam frowned. “Now you’re being weird.”

  Melony laughed again. “Oh, come on. What do you have against Walt Marlow? He apologized ages ago for being rude when you first met. And you have to admit, any worries we initially had about him trying to take advantage of Danielle by staying here were unfounded, considering how things have turned out.”

  Adam slumped back in the booth seat while his right hand absently fidgeted with the handle of his coffee cup. “Maybe it’s the house.”

  Melony wrinkled her nose “What do you mean, maybe it’s the house?”

  “You know how some things are cursed?” Adam asked.

  Melony shrugged. “Yeah, I guess.”

  “Maybe Marlow House is the opposite of cursed. Just think about it; everyone who has lived ther
e has not just had good luck—they have great luck.”

  “I don’t think the original Walt Marlow had terrific luck,” Melony reminded him. “He was murdered in the house.”

  Adam leaned forward and rested his elbows on the tabletop. “Maybe not that kind of luck…”

  “No, I’d say being murdered wasn’t any kind of luck.” Melony snickered.

  “I’m talking financially. Let’s start with Frederick Marlow. He built the house. He was rich. Richest man in town back in his day. So was his grandson, Walt, who inherited all the money. Brianna and her mother don’t count; they never lived in the house. Danielle has fallen into one inheritance after another since she moved in—to the point that it is utterly ridiculous.”

  “Utterly ridiculous?” Melony laughed.

  “Lily lived at the house, and she didn’t just marry a wealthy guy, she got a lot of money from that lawsuit.”

  “I certainly wouldn’t call that lucky. Lily could have been killed.”

  “But still, she scored on the finances. And I’m not saying anyone who stays there gets rich, just the people who live there long term. I would include Chris, but he was already rich. Although, I suppose I could argue his foundation got richer, since Danielle dumped a lot of money into it.”

  “What about Heather? She lived there for a while; she’s not rich.”

  “No. But her finances have certainly improved, considering her job with the Glandon Foundation. And now we have Walt.”

  “Come on, you aren’t serious?” Melony frowned.

  “From everything I know about that guy, he didn’t have much when he showed up here. Not sure how he was planning to finance that trip to Europe. But now he’s driving a fifty-thousand-dollar vintage car.”

  “He must have had some money. After all, he did commission that artist to reproduce those paintings, and that must have been expensive,” Melony reminded.

  “Maybe. But to come up with fifty thousand cash to buy a car like that?”

  “You know how he did it.”

  “Right. He sold his book, which is now a bestseller, and there’s talk it could be made into a movie. Tell me, how many first-time authors sell their first book for over seven figures, and then get producers interested in a movie deal within six months? Just how many? Tell me!”

  Melony’s eyes widened. “Gee, Adam, settle down. Not sure why you’re so worked up. Anyway, if Ian hadn’t given the book to his agent, I doubt Walt would even have a publisher now. Success is often about who you know, not what you know.”

  “It’s that house, Mel! It’s like this big o’ leaky good-luck charm.”

  Melony cocked her head slightly and smiled. “How do you know it’s leaky?”

  Adam leaned back in the seat again. “Bill told me. He has to go over there and replace some shingles on the roof.”

  “That is an interesting theory. A little wacky, but interesting.”

  To celebrate the beginning of Christmas vacation, Lily met Ian at Pier Café after she got off work on Friday. They waited for Heather and Chris to join them. Lily had invited Walt and Danielle, but Danielle declined; she was in the middle of holiday baking.

  “I say we stop at Marlow House after we eat here,” Lily suggested. “I think Dani’s baking her chocolate drop cookies today. They’re killers.”

  “Oh, I do like those,” Ian agreed.

  A few minutes later Chris and Heather arrived. After removing their jackets, they joined Ian and Lily in the booth.

  “Sorry we were late,” Heather said as she picked up one of the menus.

  “Her mean boss wouldn’t let her go,” Chris said.

  Looking at the menu, Heather rolled her eyes.

  “I heard he is pretty demanding,” Lily teased.

  “Guess who has a hot date tomorrow night?” Chris asked.

  Heather flashed Chris a frown. “Shut up.”

  He laughed.

  Ian arched his brows at Heather. “You?”

  Heather closed her menu and tossed it on the table. “It’s not a hot date. Just a friendly dinner out.”

  “To Pearl Cove.” Chris snickered.

  “Oh, who with?” Lily asked.

  Heather shrugged. “Just a guy. No big deal.”

  “He’s the electrician who did some work around the office. He kept dropping by, making sure everything was okay.” Chris looked mischievously at Heather. “What he really wanted was to see if Heather was okay. He finally got the nerve to ask her out.”

  “Pearl Cove, pretty classy for a first date,” Lily said.

  “I haven’t been out on a date in…well…it’s been a long time,” Heather said with a sigh.

  “You’ll do fine. It’s like riding a bicycle,” Chris told her.

  “How would you know? When was the last time you went out?” Heather asked.

  Chris shrugged. “I’m too busy to get involved with any woman right now.”

  Lily flashed them her Cheshire cat grin. “You know who else has a date tomorrow?”

  “Who?” Chris asked.

  “Dani and Walt. In fact, I think they may also be going to Pearl Cove,” Lily said.

  Heather shrugged. “Big deal. They’ve gone to Pearl Cove lots of times. Anyway, they’re always hanging out together.”

  “No, but this time it’s an official date,” Lily insisted.

  Lily didn’t see Carla had just walked up to their table to take their order. She looked at Lily and asked, “Who’s going on an official date?”

  “Walt and Danielle,” Heather answered for Lily.

  Carla laughed. “That’s hardly news. They’ve been dating for months.”

  “No, they haven’t,” Lily argued. “They were just together a lot because he was staying at Marlow House. But now, after getting to know each other all these months, they’ve decided to go on a date.”

  Carla looked down at Lily and smiled. “Oh, honey, I thought you were Danielle’s best friend.”

  Lily frowned at the server. “I am.”

  “Maybe you are. But one thing I know, she obviously doesn’t tell you everything.”

  “What is that supposed to mean?” Lily asked.

  “I just know those two have been fooling around for at least six months,” Carla said.

  “What do you mean fooling around?” Heather asked.

  Carla quickly looked around to see who was listening, and then she turned her attention back to the table and said in a conspiratorial whisper, “All I know, they were seen over at Pearl Cove getting all busy right there at a table, for anyone to see.”

  “Getting busy?” Ian asked.

  Carla shrugged. “You know. They were all over each other making out.”

  “Who told you that?” Lily asked.

  “The hostess at Pearl Cove. You can ask her if you want. Not that it really matters. They’re both adults. I’m just saying they are way past the first-date stage.”

  “Do you think Carla is right?” Heather asked after the waitress left the table.

  “It doesn’t sound like Dani,” Lily insisted.

  Chris shrugged. “I don’t know. Doesn’t surprise me. That place is pretty dark. I don’t imagine they thought anyone could see them if they were getting busy.”

  “I hate that expression,” Heather grumbled.

  “We all know those two were only biding their time until people came to accept Walt,” Ian reminded them.

  “Now he’s almost a local celebrity with his book making the bestseller list,” Heather said. “Most of the town freaking loves him.”

  “I know Dani and Walt have feelings for each other, but I thought they were taking their time…” Lily began.

  “Taking their time for what?” Chris asked.

  Ian looked at Chris and chuckled.

  Chris looked back to Ian. “What?”

  “You’re the one among us that I’d expect to have more of a problem dealing with this.”

  “Hey, I accepted months ago Danielle and I would only be good friends. An
d seriously, haven’t you guys seen how those two look at each other? I noticed it when I first met them—in the beginning I tried to ignore it; after all, he was a ghost back then. But now…well…” Chris shrugged.

  “Are you saying—you think they have—I mean—” Lily stammered.

  Ian began to laugh. “Seriously, Lily, you of all people shocked at the prospect Walt and Danielle might now be lovers?”

  Lily scowled at Ian. “Just exactly what is that supposed to mean?”

  “Come on, we didn’t exactly wait until our wedding night.”

  Lily gasped and smacked Ian’s arm, only to be met with a chuckle.

  “Babe, I’m not saying there was anything wrong about that. I’m just curious why you find the prospect of Walt and Danielle moving to the next level in their relationship difficult to believe.”

  “Because…because she is my best friend!”

  “So?” Ian asked. “What does that mean?”

  “She would have told me!”

  Thirteen

  Marie Nichols thought it would be nice to be able to taste food again, especially now that Danielle was in baking mode for Christmas. Marie had never been fond of baking when she had been alive. But she had loved cake, cookies and cinnamon rolls, which was why she had been such a faithful Old Salts customer. She did have one thing in her culinary repertoire: Christmas candy. Specifically, her homemade divinity and peanut brittle she had made once a year. This would be the second year she hadn’t made the candy.

  Marie stood alone in the Marlow House kitchen, eyeing the chocolate drop cookies Danielle had made the night before. Most of the cookies were stored away in a covered roasting pan in the pantry, yet a dozen or so Danielle had arranged on the cake plate, covered with a glass dome. It sat on the center of the kitchen table. Even if Marie had been able to eat cookies, she didn’t have the power to remove the glass dome to liberate one. All she could do was look at them and remember what they had tasted like.