“When are you going to tell her?”
They paused as they heard the sound of a truck pull up in the driveway.
“I guess...right now. She’s here with Clarissa to pick up Max.”
“That mangy thing?”
“Yes. I’ve kept him inside, so he couldn’t run away again.
Karl sprung up from the blanket. “I’ll tell her you’re out here, then leave you two alone.” He blew her a kiss as he walked towards the driveway.
When Marsha walked into the garden, Georgia had the rose and tag hidden behind her back.
“What’s going on? Karl said you wanted to see me out here.”
“Have a seat.”
“I can’t stay. We’ve just come to pick up—”
Georgia revealed her surprise and told how the rose could be worth a fortune.
Marsha stood silently clenching her fists. Then, she sunk down to her knees. “You’ve got to be kidding me.” Her eyes flooded with tears.
Georgia knelt down and put her arms around her.
“I could be angry at her...but I realize there’s no point now. You’ve no idea what perfect timing this is!”
“Why?” Georgia asked as she brushed the tears away from her sister’s eyes.
“I was fired from my job at the beauty parlor last week. I haven’t had the courage to tell Steven yet. I’ve just been so miserable about it. You can bet your ass I’m going to turn this rose into something wonderful for all of us.”
The two sisters hugged and cried together on the quilt until Karl came back out to check on them. Things were different between them from that day forward. She felt like she had lost an enemy and gained a new friend.
Chapter 87
One day, the following week, Georgia had Opal over for tea. As she poured hot water from a teapot into Opal’s cup, she said, “This is fresh peppermint from the garden. I just picked it. By the way, did I ever tell you that I called this place ‘The Gingerbread House’ since I was a little girl?”
Opal didn’t answer right away. She seemed lost in thought as she tried to pick up the teacup and sloshed hot water out. “I’m sorry, dear. My hands are shaking...just sitting back at this table.”
“It’s alright. I understand. I still look over my shoulder sometimes...or imagine that I hear his voice. But actually, the only strange thing I’ve noticed in this house since January is a smell like perfume that seems to appear every once in a while. What do you think that is?”
“Do you feel any malevolence around it?”
“No...but it’s very unnerving. It definitely feels like some sort of presence...now that I’m more attuned to that sort of thing.”
“Before New Year’s...I might have guessed that MargaretCrawford’s spirit still roamed this house. But, I’m sure that her soul is at peace now that Alphonso has gone to hell for good.”
Georgia rubbed her arms, feeling a slight prickle at the thought that the house might still be haunted by some otherworldly being. “Then, who do you think it is?”
Opal looked up through her black-rimmed glasses and patted Georgia’s hand. “I think you know who it is.”
Georgia’s eyes widened.
“I think there’s still a part of your grandmother around here, lingering around to keep an eye over you.”
“Grammie?” Georgia said as she clasped her hands in front of her face. “I still miss her so much. You think it’s her? I wish I could talk to her again. Do you think you could—”
“Oh no! Georgia...don’t even think about it! There’s no more séances in my future. You just never know who might break through from the other side.”
About the author:
MichelleDePaepe has written numerous short stories. This is her first published novel. She has been fascinated by paranormal and 'things that go bump in the night' from a very young age. Look for more titles coming soon!
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