A Ghostly Reunion

by Tonya Kappes

  “No love lost.” My insides burned. There was no way in hell I was going to ask her who was on the list and risk her telling Jade, giving Jade the satisfaction that I cared.

  I did care. There were some choice words I wanted to call her other than her name, but that wasn’t good Southern manners. Besides, I could bite my tongue for the next couple of days.

  “She can be a bit of a pill.” Keisha drummed her fingers on the arm of the chair. “She can be so nasty.” Keisha’s hand pulled up. She uncurled her finger and pointed it at me. “One of these days, she’s going to cross the wrong person. Mark my words.”

  The screen door flew open.

  “There you are!” Jade Lee screamed. Her face was covered in white cream, her hair pulled up in a scarf, and she wore a long, silk kimono. “You need to get ahold of that yoga teacher over there and cancel my appointment. I can’t concentrate with this kind of hair.”

  “I’m sorry.” Keisha jumped up. Trembling, she fiddled with her fingers. “I was getting some fresh air while you took a bath.”

  Keisha scurried into the Inn.

  “You know,” I said, stopping Jade when she turned to go back into the Inn. “You really need to do something about that temper.”

  “Temper?” Her brows cocked. “I don’t have a temper. I just have very little tolerance for ignorance.”

  “The very people you are calling ignorant have supported you through this whole career you have going for yourself.” I stood up. I had had it with her. “Mary Anna Hardy did nothing but change your hair color.”

  Jade cocked her head back, straightened her shoulders and her beady little eyes glared at me.

  “You don’t know anything,” she spat out. She stepped back into the Inn. “If you have something to say to me, then you need to come inside. The world doesn’t need to know my business.”

  I looked over my shoulder at the town square before I stepped inside and followed her into the room on the right where Granny kept the daily snacks. “Sleepy Hollow is no different now than it was when you lived here. Don’t you know how you treated Mary Anna Hardy—someone who works and lives here, giving her life to this community—is already spreading in the gossip circles?”

  I took a look at my fingernails to give her a little time to digest what I had said.

  When I heard her suck in a deep breath and let out a long sigh, I went in for the kill.

  “You know I’m right. No amount of movie star status will stop the real truth from turning into a bunch of gossip with a little extra added in.” By extra, I meant how tales got twisted and turned into something completely different than how it started. “And more than hair gets twisted at a beauty shop, especially Girl’s Best Friend.”

  “I’m guessing you have a better solution than my own publicist?” Her words held sarcasm, but I could tell she really wanted me to tell her my thoughts.

  “I never said that.” I smiled. “But I’ve lived here all my life and as an adult, I know how to smooth things over.”

  “Well, are you going to tell me or stand there like a lump on a log?” She planted her fisted hands on her hips.

  I picked up one of Granny’s famous oatmeal cookies and took a big bite out of it. Slowly I chewed, as Jade stewed in front of me.

  “I really think you need to do an interview in the Sleepy Hollow News.” I took another bite. “I mean it comes out tomorrow and you can kinda give your side of the story.” I started to nod my head. “You know . . . the truth.” My eyelids lowered.

  Both of us knew the truth and she wasn’t stupid. She knew exactly what I was saying.

  “And I bet I can call in a favor to the paper.” I sighed, brushing my hands together to get the crumbs off.

  “You just might have something.” She tapped her chin with the pad of her pointer finger. “You know I can’t look bad. The cameraman didn’t shoot the best footage either.”

  “I’m sure.” I was going to tell her whatever she wanted to hear to get Fluggie her interview. “So are you in or not?”

  “What’s in it for you?” Her head cocked to the side.

  “You stay away from Jack Henry.” It was as simple as that.

  “You’re kidding, right?” She laughed, throwing her head back. The scarf moved enough for me to see her hairline and a hint of green. “My audience is going to love the connection Jack and I share. A little JJ is going to make ratings soar.” Her mouth dropped. Her eyes narrowed. “Wait.” She smiled. “You and Jack?” She twirled around as if she’d just won the lottery. “Creepy funeral home girl and Jack Henry Ross?” She clasped her hands together in delight.

  “Really? Are we still in high school?” I wasn’t going to give in to her. I was holding the golden ticket with Fluggie Callahan in my pocket. “Deal or not? It’s completely up to you.”

  If I could’ve smacked that grin off her face, I would have.

  “Sure.” She stuck her hand out for me to shake. I didn’t bother.

  “Your word is good enough.” I pulled my phone out of my pocket and looked at the time. Jack Henry would be picking me up for dinner and then we were going to The Watering Hole for the prereunion party.

  If I did my calculations right, Jade could have her interview with Fluggie while I was wooing Jack Henry at dinner, then she’d be at the bar when I walked in on Jack Henry’s arm.

  It was the perfect plan. I still needed to talk to Granny about the sideboard and her supposed wishes to be cremated, but there was no time. I was going to have to do a little magic of my own and get dressed up. If I was going to make my debut to our graduating class as Jack Henry Ross’s girlfriend, I had to be as pretty as I could make myself.

  I left the Inn, crossed through the square, stopping briefly at the gazebo where I took my phone out of my pocket and dialed Fluggie so I could give her the details and time of the interview. Needless to say, she was happy and my debt to her had been paid in full. More than full. If she only knew what it took for me to go to the Inn to specifically seek Jade out.

  I also told Fluggie to make sure she followed Jade to the bar so she could get some shots of Jade having a good time with her buddies. Most importantly, I wanted Fluggie to get a photo of Jack Henry and me as we came in for the pictorial she was doing for the reunion weekend spread. That way, Jade Lee Peel would know good and well that JJ was long over and there was not a spark to be rekindled.

  Chapter 8

  “You are beautiful.” Jack Henry’s hand rubbed my bare thigh the entire way to Bella Vino Ristorante, our favorite restaurant. By his reaction, my decision to wear the black minidress was perfect.

  “You make me feel beautiful.” I put my hand on Jack Henry’s. “And you don’t think I’m the creepy funeral home girl anymore?”

  “You are still totally the creepy funeral home girl,” the familiar voice of Jade whispered in my ear. I jumped around and looked in the back of Jack’s car. Empty.

  “Did you say that I did look like creepy . . .” I started to ask Jack, turning back around in the seat.

  “Are you kidding me?” His hand squeezed mine before he let go and turned the wheel right after we passed the small red-and-green sign that read Bella Vino Restaurante. “I never even thought you ever looked creepy in school. You were always so cute.”

  “Yeah, right,” the voice snickered.

  I cocked my head to the side to listen for more, but it was obviously my head messing with me. Jade Lee had me so worked up I was hearing her negative voice.

  “I love you.” Jack ran his hand down the back of my head and rested it on the back of my neck.

  “I love you too.” I smiled and let his hand rub away the tension that had settled there today.

  The small red building was nestled in a wooded area. Bella Vino was printed in white and outlined in green above the large windows that spanned the front of the restaurant.

  “Why on earth would you even think I would even think you were creepy?” he asked. He turned off the ignition and turned in his seat towa
rd me.

  “That Jade Lee.” I looked down at my hands even ashamed I had brought it up. “I told myself I was going to enjoy our dinner and not let her ruin it.”

  “Emma.” He pushed my chin up with his finger. It took everything I had to look at him. When I did, it melted my heart.

  “I saw you two this morning and high school flooded right back over me.” I could feel the tears building up in my eyes. I blinked a couple of times to get them to go back down.

  “That was ten years ago.” He gestured between us. “This has more meaning and more substance than Jade and I ever had. I love you.”

  “But she told me that she was going to make it look like you two were rekindling things for ratings for her reality show.” The sound of it made me sick.

  “This is reality.” He put his hand on the back of my neck and leaned in.

  All things green, including Jade, melted away with the warmth of his lips and the deepening of his kiss.

  “Let’s skip dinner and the party and just go back to your place.” His breath was hot on my ear. “That dress is driving me crazy.” His lips trailed down my neck with a feathery touch and tantalizing persuasion before he gave me a few slow, shivery kisses.

  “Good,” I whispered. “The dress has done exactly what I wanted it to do. Keep your eyes on me all night.”

  I considered his proposal about going home, but wrenched myself out of his arms, leaving him wanting more.

  “We have to go.” I pulled the hem of the dress down on my thighs and tucked a piece of my hair behind my ear. “I’m the one hosting it for our class,” I reminded him.

  Technically, everything was done and the pre-event would go off without a hitch. There was no way I was not going to go and let Jade Lee Peel see with her own eyes that there was no longer a JJ. Jack Henry had picked me. End of story.

  She might’ve given me her word at the Sleepy Hollow Inn to stay away from Jack Henry, but I didn’t trust her one bit.

  Jack Henry sucked in a deep breath. He rested the back of his head on the headrest and let out a long, steady sigh.

  “If we have to.” He tilted his eyes my way. “But you are all mine later tonight.”

  “I promise.” I crossed my heart with my finger. “But I did hear that Mayor Burns asked her to join you as Grand Marshal of the parade.”

  I just couldn’t let it go. No matter how much I tried, I couldn’t.

  “He did?” Jack Henry played it off. “I didn’t know that. I guess we will see tomorrow morning.”

  That was what I loved about Jack. He was able to let things roll off his shoulders. If he could do it so could I.

  He jumped out of the car, like he always did, and ran around the front of the car to open my door. He put his hand out for me to take and helped me out.

  “You are killing me.” His eyes drew up and down my body. He gathered me into his arms and held me snug.

  I wasn’t going to lie. I did like how he looked at me. I enjoyed how his hands felt and I loved how he loved me.

  The hostess took us into a private room where a table was set up for two. Jack pulled one of the two chairs out for me to sit down. The table was set with a red cloth. There was a chilled bottled of wine and two wineglasses on the edge of the table. The hostess poured a small amount and gave the glass to Jack. He swirled and twirled the wine in his glass as if he was some sort of wine expert. I knew better, but I enjoyed watching him play the game. He slung back the sip and nodded toward the hostess. She poured two glasses and took a step back.

  “Enjoy your evening.” The hostess blushed and stepped out of the room leaving us alone.

  “Oh, I will love watching this fail,” the voice responded to the hostess.

  “What did you say?” I leaned over the table.

  “I said here’s to you,” Jack picked up his glass. He tilted it a little to the side and held it up in the air for me to acknowledge his toast. “I’m proud of how you put this reunion together even though you weren’t very fond of high school.”

  “Thank you.” I picked up my glass and we clinked them together I couldn’t help but look around. The only time I had heard voices was when I had Betweener clients. The voice was definitely Jade Lee Peel, but she wasn’t dead.

  I took another swig of my wine. I was letting her get to me. Like a big tidal wave, a line of chills grew up my legs, up my spine and across my arms.

  “Are you okay?” Jack had the menu up to his face. He glanced over it. “You have goose bumps.”

  “I’m fine.” I smiled. I was determined to have a good time and put Jade Lee in her place.

  Chapter 9

  My time alone with Jack Henry always went by way too fast.

  The Watering Hole parking lot was packed when we pulled in. I was happy to see that Hoss had fixed the big boot sign and replaced the broken bulbs. It was the first time I’d seen it completely lit up in years.

  The jukebox blared so loud, we could hear it from as far away as we had to park. Seeing Cheryl’s car made my nerves calm, because the entire way here, Jack Henry told me about his day and I heard nothing. I was too busy trying to play out Jade’s reaction when Jack Henry drew me near and professed his love for me in front of everyone. I could see her face now—all scrunched up and glaring as I smiled and waved.

  “Elbow, elbow, wrist, wrist,” I whispered.

  “What?” Jack asked, and turned off the car. “What did you say?”

  “Nothing.” I pulled the visor down and took a quick look at myself in the mirror before I reapplied my lipstick. “Ready?”

  “Sure.” Jack jumped out of the car and I got out before he made it around to get me. “Now, Emma Lee Raines,” he scolded. “You know your granny would have my hide if she knew I didn’t open your door.”

  “Lucky for you,” I jabbed his rock-hard chest with my finger, “Granny isn’t here, nor will she be at home tonight.” I winked and did my best sexy sashay toward the bar.

  “Uh-huh. I see ya.” Jack ran past me, smacked his hand on my derriere and grabbed the door of the bar to let me in.

  This was it. My big moment. The moment I’ve been waiting for for ten long years. The moment all of these people see me for who I am and not the creepy funeral home girl.

  “Do you hear something?” Jack’s hand had gripped the door handle. My breath was held, waiting for my big moment.

  “No.” I gestured for him to hurry and open the door.

  From far away the wail of a siren stretched across to us. My heart sank. That sound meant that my night was probably not going to go as planned.

  “I was so close,” I muttered when a Sleepy Hollow patrol car came skidding into the parking lot and a deputy jumped out.

  Jack Henry’s instinct kicked in and he took off in the direction of the deputy like I’d seen him do so many times before.

  They huddled together. The only thing I could hear was a low muffle.

  “What’s going on?” Fluggie Callahan asked when she opened the door of The Watering Hole. Her camera in hand, no doubt waiting for my arrival with Jack Henry for our societal debut in the Sleepy Hollow News.

  “Lights! Police lights!” someone yelled from inside the bar. The jukebox went dead silent. Thunderous footsteps filled the space behind me.

  Jack stepped back from the deputy. The siren had been turned off. The blue and white lights swirled around, lighting up the darkness surrounding us.

  He held a clear bag in the air with something red in it and brought it to his face to take a better look.

  “My scarf!” Fluggie’s voice escalated with excitement. “I lost it.” She darted down the steps toward the cruiser. “Where on earth did you find it?”

  The officer held it away from her when she went to grab it. The officer looked at Jack Henry; Jack Henry gave him the Baptist nod.

  “This is your scarf?” Jack asked Fluggie.

  “Yes, sir, it is.” She grinned ear to ear and rocked back on her heels. “I made it with my own two hands.”
<
br />   “Fluggie Callahan, I need you to come down to the station.” The deputy took a step back toward the door of his cruiser.

  “Why in the world would you need me to do that? For a silly scarf?” Fluggie snarled.

  “I need you to answer some questions about the murder of Jade Lee Peel.” The deputy tucked his thumbs in the front of his pants.

  “What? Murder?” she cried out, looking between Jack and the officer for some sort of clarification. When she came to the realization that she seemed to be a suspect, she blurted, “I didn’t kill her!”

  “We aren’t saying you did.” Jack had a way of not alarming people. His words were gentle. “But we did find this scarf around her neck and we are pretty sure she was strangled.”

  Fluggie put her hands on her head. “I swear I didn’t kill her.”

  “That’s fine, but we still have to ask you some questions.” Jack gestured to the police cruiser. “Would you like to ride in the deputy’s cruiser or drive down yourself?”

  “I guess I’ll drive down myself.” Her voice was flat. She jerked her keys out of her pocket and stalked toward her car. She didn’t look at any of our prying eyes.

  “What is going on?” I asked Jack when he came back over to me. It wasn’t like I didn’t hear what had happened, but I sure wasn’t grasping the fact that I had heard Jade Lee Peel was murdered.

  He grabbed my hand and dragged me over to the side and out of people’s earshot.

  “Your granny found Jade Lee Peel dead with Fluggie’s red scarf around her neck.” Jack’s words went in my ear, but they didn’t register.

  “Dead.” I confirmed what I had heard for the second time. I shook my head as if there were cobwebs strung from ear to ear inside my head. “Wait.” I shook even harder. “Around her neck as in stran—”

  “Strangled.” Jack Henry finished my sentence.

  I turned around and everyone was staring at us. Even a couple of people were taking cell phone photos of us. This was definitely not how I saw Jack Henry Ross and I making the Sleepy Hollow News Societal page.