by Rose Pressey
I finally reached the door, but not in time. The bell rang out again and I cringed, thinking what Cora would say. Without even looking, I opened the door wide.
The woman standing in front of me stepped back. She seemed a little startled by the way that I’d answered the door. She had chin-length blonde hair and was probably about my age. She wore a tan skirt, tall black boots, and a tweed jacket.
“Sorry if I scared you,” I said.
She forced a little smile on her face. “That’s perfectly all right. I guess I needed to get my adrenaline pumping this morning anyway.”
“It works better than coffee,” I said with a chuckle. She didn’t laugh in return, so I asked, “May I help you?” I didn’t recognize her.
“I’m looking for a room. I saw you have a vacancy listed on your sign.” She gestured.
I couldn’t believe this had happened again. Another guest. What was going on? I’d never had this many guests at once. Well, not real ones at least. She watched me expectantly, waiting for an answer. Of course even though I was suspicious, I had to say yes and invite her in.
“Yes, I have a room. Please come in.” I stepped out of the way and allowed her to enter.
She grabbed her bags and stepped inside, peering up around the expansive foyer. Her eyes sparkled when she smiled, putting off a good vibe. Usually, I picked up on people’s bad auras, and I didn’t sense that from her. Apparently, the new sign I’d displayed out front was really starting to work. Well, that and the fact that Annabelle was recruiting people too.
“Do you need a room just for one?” I asked, hoping she would give me more info soon.
She stared across the foyer and into the parlor as if she hadn’t heard a word I said. Finally she seemed to snap out of it. “Yes, just one.”
“I just need to get some information from you.” I gathered my paperwork.
“Sure, whatever you need,” she said in her cheerful voice. “I’m new in town. I just got a job, so I’ll need a place to rent. Hopefully it won’t take long to find a place.”
She was talkative too. I hadn’t even asked her why she was in town yet. It was nice that she offered the information.
“Sure, I understand.” I handed her the papers.
She filled out the paperwork and handed it back to me. “I’m really looking forward to being an Enchantment Pointe resident. I think it’s going to be great.”
Her chatty nature was a good sign. Her friendliness put me at ease about my earlier feelings. I looked down at the page and saw that her name was Jolene.
“Nice to meet you. My name is Hallie LaVeau.”
She stuck out her hand and I shook it.
“Do you own the manor?” She peered around.
I nodded. “Yes, this is my place.”
She looked around. “Wow, it’s amazing. I love it. You’re lucky. Are you the only one living here?”
“Yes, it’s only me.”
She raised an eyebrow. “This place is huge. You don’t have any help? That’s a lot to take care of. You must spend all of your time just cleaning the place.” She touched the small table next to the wall, as if she was searching for dust.
“Well, I did have some help from my mother and my best friend, but I just take the house in sections, so it’s not too bad.”
There was a pause in the conversation and then I asked, “Would you like to see the room now?”
“Yes, thank you,” she said.
I motioned and she grabbed her bag, following me up the stairs. I wasn’t sure which room to put her in to avoid causing any stress on Cora. I paused at the second-floor landing. What if this woman was noisy? Cora would be most unhappy. Finally, I decided to take Jolene up to the third floor to the room across from where Arthur was staying. I didn’t want to put anyone near Cora for fear that would upset her.
We’d reached the third floor and traveled down the hallway when Arthur stepped out of his room. Arthur looked at us and attempted a half-hearted smile.
I paused and motioned. “This is Jolene. She’ll be staying here for a few days. Jolene, this is Arthur.”
She took his hand. “Nice to meet you.”
Arthur didn’t seem nearly as friendly with her. Was he in a bad mood? Did he not feel well? “Likewise,” he said and then continued down the hallway.
I showed Jolene to her room. It was almost identical to Cora’s room. The only difference was a dark blue duvet.
“Please let me know if you need anything,” I said.
Jolene placed her bags on the bed and said, “Thanks.”
She turned her attention back to her bags, so I figured she was ready for me to leave. I stepped out of the room and closed the door. As soon as I got downstairs, I grabbed my phone and dialed Annabelle.
“You’re on fire.” Annabelle’s excitement boomed through the phone. “I told you that this would be a success. You just took a little while to get started.”
“I suppose,” I said.
“Do you need me to stop by later?” Annabelle asked.
“Perhaps,” I said.
“Is something wrong?”
I sighed. “Maybe it’s just my imagination, but the guests seem… I don’t know. Maybe they don’t really like their rooms. What if I’m doing something wrong?”
“Always second-guessing yourself. I’ll be there in a little while,” she said.
After ending the call, I settled in at my desk. The manor was quiet, which was a great feeling. I was finally doing magic well and I had guests, so what was the problem? It didn’t get much better than this. I pushed the thought to the back of my mind. Now I had to do work for the Underworld. I was working on my discussion for the next board meeting.
Just as I’d gotten into my work, a strange sensation fell over the room, in contrast to how I had just felt ten minutes earlier. I didn’t like the feeling. I just wanted things to run smoothly.
I had picked up my pen again when the doorbell rang. I froze on the spot. This was just getting too weird. Now I was beginning to think it wasn’t that sign out front attracting people. Something else was going on at LaVeau Manor.
One thing was for sure, I had to get to the door before the loud noise woke up Cora. I jumped up, almost tripping I’d moved so quickly. I slid into the foyer like a baseball player sliding into home plate. Finally I made it to the door without another ring. Even so, I had to look first this time before I opened the door.
When I peeked out, I saw a man, probably in his mid-forties. He glanced at his watch. Slowly, I opened the door. The man stared at me. He wore a short-sleeved khaki shirt and black pants. He had salt-and-pepper hair and gorgeous crystal-clear blue eyes. Maybe he wasn’t in search of a room after all. I stared at him for a couple seconds. He probably thought I was crazy.
Finally, he said, “This is the bed-and-breakfast, right?”
Okay, so maybe he was here for a room too.
“Are you looking for a room?” I asked. I hoped I didn’t sound too rude.
“Yes, I am.” He gestured at the brown leather luggage at his feet.
I opened the door further and motioned for him to enter. “Then you found the right place.”
The man stepped into the foyer. Of course I was on high alert for any strange behavior. I didn’t need a repeat of someone trying to steal the Book of Mystics. He placed his bag on the floor and peered around the room, just like everyone else had. Sure, they could just be looking at the lovely detail in the trim, but they could be looking for something else too.
Chapter 8
How could I possibly have this many guests at once? I knew this wasn’t a coincidence and I wasn’t going to let this go without confronting my latest guest.
I placed my hands on my hips and glared at him. “Just exactly what do you think you’re doing?”
He quirked an eyebrow and said, “What do you mean?”
“You know what I mean. Why are you here? If it’s because of the Book of Mystics, then you can just forget about it. The book is
locked up tight and there’s no way you would ever find it.” I’d learned my lesson with that.
“Look, I really don’t know what you’re talking about. Maybe it would be better if I just found someplace else to stay. I saw a sign for a Holiday Inn about ten miles from here,” he said, gesturing over his shoulder.
I stared for a few seconds longer and realized that maybe I was wrong. It was possible that he was only here as a guest. Now I was upset with myself. Look at the way I’d treated him. I was really letting the Book of Mystics thing get to me. I was pretty sure that my face was red like a tomato.
Now I had to apologize. “I’m terribly sorry. I must have mistaken you for someone else. I hope you’ll forgive me.”
He stared at me. “Okay, I understand, but do you have a room for me?”
Thank goodness it looked as if he was going to accept my apology.
“Yes, please make yourself at home.” I gestured across the foyer with a wide sweep of my arm.
Maybe I just needed to get used to the fact that life running a bed-and-breakfast was hectic. Maybe this was the busy time of the year and I just didn’t know it.
He watched me suspiciously as he stepped farther inside the house. I couldn’t blame him for that.
“I just have a few papers for you to fill out and then I can show you to your room.” I tried to sound as professional and cheerful as possible after the way I had talked to him. I hoped he liked cupcakes because a batch of chocolate ones with double fudge frosting were definitely coming his way.
I handed him the papers and watched as he hurriedly scribbled down the info. The gold ring on his right hand glinted under the overhead light. The design on the ring was unique, a dark silhouette of a man. I wondered what it stood for.
My mind wandered as I waited. I still couldn’t get over the fact that I’d never had this many guests before. I only had a few rooms left. There was no way that I would be completely booked, so I didn’t think I had to worry about that.
He handed me the paper back. His name was Ben O’Malley.
“Nice to meet you, Ben,” I said in a cheerful voice.
“Likewise,” he answered in a clipped tone.
Apparently he wasn’t in the mood for small talk. I motioned for Ben to follow me up the stairs. I gave him a little history about the house. Of course I left out the one about my ancestor possibly being hidden somewhere in the house. I mostly talked about the design of the home and surrounding scenery outside. He listened as we made the trip upstairs.
I opened the door and walked into the room. A canopy bed with a white comforter took up a lot of space in this room. Not the most masculine room I had, but he didn’t seem to mind.
“I think you’ll really enjoy your stay here. If you need anything please let me know.”
He attempted a smile, but I knew that he was still upset over the way I had acted. His chilly demeanor made that evident.
I left him alone in the room and headed back down the stairs. Just as I reached the bottom of the stairs, a loud noise echoed through the foyer. It sounded like it came from outside. I was pretty sure that Cora was still in her room, so it couldn’t have been her. I raced over to the front door to take a look outside. I was almost afraid to discover what might have made the noise.
When I peeked outside, I spotted two women on the front lawn. The clothing had popped out of their luggage and was scattered everywhere. They were frantically trying to pick it up and shove it back into their suitcases. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. No way were they here for a room. It couldn’t be. I just refused to believe it. I hated to be so suspicious, but I just couldn’t get over the past events enough to believe that this was real. I didn’t think anyone would blame me for feeling that way.
I opened the door and stepped out onto the porch. For a few seconds I watched the women. They hadn’t even noticed that I was out there. They were still shoving clothing into their suitcases and trying to get the tops closed.
Finally, I said, “Excuse me, ladies, is everything all right?”
They spun around and looked at me with startled looks on their faces. For a moment, they didn’t say anything. Finally the taller woman said, “We’re here for rooms at your beautiful inn.”
Just as I had suspected. Maybe I should have learned my lesson from the last encounter, but I was determined to confront these women also.
I raised an eyebrow. “So you’re looking for rooms, are you?”
The women placed their luggage on the steps. The brunette said, “Yes, we need rooms.”
I crossed my arms. “How did you find out about my place?”
“The lady in town directed us here,” one of the women said.
“Oh, is that right? And who is this woman?” I asked.
The other woman said, “I don’t think we got her name, sorry.”
Okay, now this was going to sound rude, but I had to blunt with them. “If you’re here for the Book of Mystics, it’s not here.” I stared straight at them, not backing down.
They gave me confused looks again, but I wasn’t falling for it. “I’m afraid we don’t know what you’re talking about.” Williamina stiffened, as if offended by my words.
Sure, likely story. I wouldn’t fall for their innocent act.
The women picked up their bags and moved down the steps. “If you don’t have a room for us we can leave.”
Now just like before I felt bad. “No, wait, I have two rooms left.” I moved down the steps after them. “My name is Hallie LaVeau. I’m the proprietor,” I said with a smile.
The women stared in unison. My magic might have improved, but my customer service skills hadn’t. I wasn’t going to win an award for bed-and-breakfast of the year that was for sure. I stared, wondering if they were going to volunteer their names. After a few seconds of awkward silence, I realized that they were not.
“I have two lovely rooms if you’d like to see.”
The women stuck their noses up in the air and then grabbed their bags. I fully expected for them to turn around and stomp the other way down the driveway. I didn’t see a car. Had they walked here or taken a cab? They must have noticed my look.
One of the women said, “The Uber driver dropped us off.”
The women walked up the steps and stopped in front of me. The auburn-haired woman nodded and said, “We’re ready to see the rooms.”
At least they hadn’t left. I really needed to get myself together. “Please come in,” I said, motioning over my shoulder.
They stepped inside the foyer and looked around critically. They reminded me a lot of Cora. They would probably check for dust too. Once I gave them the papers to fill out I would find out their names.
I handed them the keys and said, “I think you’ll like the rooms.”
They gave me a look that said, We’ll see about that.
I tried to pick up on any strange vibes, but I just couldn’t quite put my finger on anything. Maybe my instinct was off. I waited as they filled out the information and then handed it back to me. I looked down at the names. Beth Sallee and Williamina Hamilton. I figured I’d remain formal for the time being and call them by their last names only.
“Nice to meet you, Ms. Sallee and Ms. Hamilton.” I attempted my most polite hostess smile.
They peered into the other rooms. The brunette asked, “Where are the rooms?”
“They’re up on the third floor.” I gestured.
“Oh, no, that won’t work for us. It’s too many stairs. Don’t you have anything closer?” Ms. Hamilton asked.
I really didn’t want to put them on the second floor. Cora would not be happy. She was obviously easily disturbed. But what choice did I have?
I smiled and said, “Yes, I have rooms on the second floor.”
I headed up the steps yet again with the ladies following me. No need to do a cardio workout today. I’d already gotten enough exercise on the staircase. As we neared the stairs, voices drifted down. It was almost as if whoever was talkin
g was making sure to whisper. I wondered if I had another ghost.
As we made it to the second floor landing, I peered up. Arthur and Jolene were talking in the hallway. Well, I thought it was Arthur. I only saw Jolene, but I thought I recognized his voice.
She looked down and spotted me. The talking immediately stopped. It was kind of odd. I wondered what they were talking about. She stared at me for a second, and then walked away.
“That was just the other guests,” I said, trying to sound casual.
The women gave me blank looks and kept walking. I couldn’t believe that Cora was still quiet. I needed to have do not disturb signs made. I showed the women to the first room. After opening the door, they stepped inside and immediately started checking out everything just as Cora had. They even ran their fingers along the furniture to look for dust.
“I suppose this will do,” Ms. Hamilton nodded.
After leaving Ms. Hamilton in the room, I led Ms. Sallee to the one down the hall. After instructing her where to find the towels, I hurried out of the room. I’d told the women to let me know if they needed anything, but honestly, I was hoping that they wouldn’t. I was definitely going to have my hands full dealing with all the guests.
I’d just made it to the bottom of the steps when Arthur came back inside. He smiled widely. I thought for sure that I’d seen him upstairs talking with Jolene.
Chapter 9
“That was a fast meeting,” I said, still trying to figure out if my mind was playing tricks on me.
“Unfortunately, it was rescheduled,” he answered. “Since I have nothing to do now, I was wondering if you would like to get lunch in town? I saw this great little café on Main Street.”
I wasn’t so sure that this was a good idea.
He studied my face. When I didn’t answer right away, he said, “Actually, I need your help.”
I quirked an eyebrow. “Oh, really?”
This should be interesting. I couldn’t wait to hear.
“You see, I’m moving to town and I really could use some inside information. You’d really be doing me a huge favor by sitting down and talking to me about it.” He gave me a sad-eyed look.
