Walt stepped back and sat on the foot of Danielle’s bed, his gaze never leaving her. “Go ahead and ask.”
“Do you think I should cut my hair?”
Walt arched his brows. “Cut your hair?”
Danielle nodded. “Yes. I’ve been braiding my hair for a long time, and I really think I need a new look.”
“I like your look,” Walt told her.
Letting out a disgruntled sigh, she asked, “You don’t think I should cut it?”
Instead of answering immediately, Walt studied Danielle a moment, his head tilting slightly to one side and then another. Finally, he said, “I think you’ve changed me.”
“Changed you? What are you talking about?”
“There was a time I wouldn’t hesitate telling you exactly what to do.”
Danielle frowned. “And now?”
“I think you should do whatever you want to do. I’ll admit, I’m partial to long hair, and yours is beautiful. But as I recall, you look rather adorable in a Castle Bob.”
Danielle smiled, recalling that long-ago dream hop where Walt had taken her dancing. In the dream, her hair had been cut short like a flapper’s. With a cheeky grin she said, “Well, not sure I want to cut it that short.”
“It’s your hair, Danielle. I’m sure you’ll look lovely however you decide to wear it. If you feel you need a change, then that’s what you should do.”
“I think I’d like to cut it.” Danielle stood up. “Melony gave me the name of a hairdresser she likes. I think I’ll see if I can get an appointment.”
“Today?”
“I doubt she’ll be able to get me in today. I probably won’t be able to get an appointment for a couple of weeks. That’s why I need to call her now.”
“Danielle’s cutting her hair?” Marie said after Walt told her about his recent conversation with Danielle. The two spirits sat alone in the parlor.
“Yes,” Walt said dully. “She called a hairdresser Melony suggested. Apparently, there was a last minute cancelation, and she’s going down there in about an hour.”
“You don’t seem too happy about this,” Marie noted.
Walt shrugged. “Don’t say anything to Danielle. It’s something she really wants to do, and it is her hair.”
Marie chuckled.
“What?”
“You surprise me sometimes, Walt Marlow. You sound quite liberated for a man who was born in the 1800s.”
“Almost the 1900s,” Walt reminded her. “And the fact is, Danielle is a woman from this time, and even if I told her she shouldn’t cut her hair, I don’t imagine that would stop her.” He chuckled at the thought.
“I certainly hope not!”
Walt grinned.
“I wonder if Danielle would mind if I tag along while she gets her hair cut? I rather miss going to the beauty parlor,” Marie wondered aloud.
“Thank you for letting me go with you,” Marie told Danielle. She sat in the passenger seat of Danielle’s new Ford Flex.
“Nice to have the company,” Danielle said as she backed out of the driveway. Glancing over to Marie, she smiled. The spirit looked just slightly younger than Marie had been at death. Instead of portraying herself as the ninety-one-year-old woman who had been smothered at the nursing home, Marie chose to shave off a little more than a decade—a younger version, eighty. Unbeknownst to Danielle, when with Eva, Marie presented herself as an even younger version—not much older than Eva had been at the time of her death. Marie never knew what other spirit she might run into when with Eva, and she was vain enough to want to look her best.
Twenty minutes later, Danielle sat in a chair at the beauty parlor, looking into the mirror, Marie at her side.
“You have beautiful hair,” the hairdresser noted as she ran her fingertips through the ends of Danielle’s hair. “How short do you want to go?”
“I was thinking above my shoulders, but below my chin. It has some natural curl. I’d like lots of layers. I don’t want to spend a lot of time fixing my hair. I’d like something I can wash and comb out with a blow dryer. Maybe use a curling iron if I have to.”
Thirty minutes later, the hairstylist had washed and cut Danielle’s hair and was just combing it out when Marie walked to the front window. She looked outside. Just down the street was Adam’s office. She turned to Danielle and said, “I think I’ll pop down to Adam’s. If I’m not back when she’s done, please meet me there.” Marie disappeared.
Adam Nichols sat alone in his inner office. His receptionist, Leslie, had left for an early lunch a few minutes earlier, so he decided to take the time to check out a few of his favorite websites. He didn’t visit them as much as he used to—but he was a little bored this morning, with time on his hands.
Leaning back in his desk chair, his right hand on the desktop moving the mouse, Adam smiled lazily at the monitor. He watched as a scantily clad blonde appeared on the screen.
The next moment—unbeknownst to Adam—his grandmother’s spirit appeared by his side.
“Oh, here you are, always working hard,” Marie said to deaf ears. She smiled lovingly at her favorite grandson. “What are you doing, checking out properties for a new buyer?”
Marie stepped closer to the desk and looked at the monitor. The moment she caught a glimpse of what Adam was watching, she began to sputter, “What in the world? Oh my!” Marie’s eyes widened.
Adam chuckled and shifted in his seat, his attention on the blonde, who was about to remove what little clothing she had on.
“Adam Nichols, what in the world are you watching?” Marie gasped. With a huff, her hands clenching, she scowled menacingly at the screen, focusing all her energy—not quite sure herself what she hoped to accomplish. In the next minute the electricity went off in the office—and then went on again, causing the computer to reboot.
“What the…” Adam frowned, sitting up in the chair.
“And if you turn that trash back on, young man, I’ll do it again!” Marie snapped.
It wasn’t Marie’s warning that prevented Adam from returning to the website—he could neither see nor hear her—it was the fact he heard the bell ring in the front office, signifying someone had come in. He wondered briefly if Leslie had returned early. Just as he stood up to see who had entered the office, he heard a male voice call out, “Hello, anyone here?”
Still annoyed with her grandson, Marie angrily followed him as he walked to the front office of the property management company. Once there, they were greeted by a young man about Adam’s age. Technically speaking, Adam was the only one acknowledged, as the newcomer could no more see or hear Marie than Adam could. Marie thought there was something familiar about the man, but she couldn’t quite place him.
“Chet?” Adam asked.
The man laughed and put out his hand to Adam. “You better recognize me, Nichols.”
Breaking into a smile, Adam heartily shook the man’s hand. “Hey, good to see you, Chet. I heard you’d moved back to town!” The two men shook hands for a moment, and then Adam motioned to the chairs sitting in the waiting area.
“I’ve been back for almost a month now. Staying with my sister until I can find something more permanent.” Chet sat down in one of the chairs.
“Did you just come to say hi, or are you looking for a rental, or maybe something to buy?” Adam sat down.
“Both. I’ve been meaning to look you up. I’ll be needing something of my own if I decide to stay permanent, but I don’t need anything right now. Wondered if you could give me a list of available rentals so I can get an idea of what’s out there.”
“Sure. No problem.” Adam stood up and walked to Leslie’s desk. He grabbed one of the flyers she had sitting in a rack. When he returned to Chet, he handed him the flyer and asked, “So what brought you back to Frederickport? I thought you were living in Kansas or something.”
Chet glanced at the flyer as Adam sat down again. “Kansas City, Missouri. It’s a long story.”
“Oh, I remember him no
w,” Marie said with disgust. “Never liked that boy. He was more useless than Bill.”
“So you aren’t sure if you’re going to stick around?” Adam asked.
Chet shrugged. Setting the flyer on his lap, he looked up at Adam and grinned. “You know who I saw last night? I wasn’t sure it was her or not, but I asked around. Melony Carmichael!”
“You saw Mel?” Adam asked.
“Damn, she looks hot. I remember you two had quite a thing. How long has she been back in town?”
“She moved back last year, after her mother died. Where did you see her?”
“She was at Pearl Cove with some girlfriends. I have to say, Frederickport’s looking promising in the women department. Is it true Melony’s divorced now?”
“Stay away from Mel,” Adam grumbled.
“That’s more like it,” Marie said with a nod of approval.
Chet laughed. “Not surprised. But no worry. I’m kind of interested in one of her friends. I almost had her going home with me last night, but then Melony and her other friends barged in. I don’t think Melony knew who I was; she didn’t say anything to me.”
“Taking her home to your sister’s house?” Adam snorted.
“Well, to her house.”
“One of her friends? Which one?” Adam asked.
“We didn’t exchange names. Who needs names?” Chet laughed.
“He’s delightful,” Marie snipped.
“Do you at least know what she looks like?”
“Hot little brunette. She had her hair in a fancy braid.”
“Braid? You mean a fishtail braid?” Adam squeaked.
“Heavens, you’re the one Danielle told me about!” Marie gasped.
Chet frowned. “You know the name of braids?”
“I know Danielle wears a fishtail braid.”
“So her name is Danielle? She doesn’t have a boyfriend, does she?”
“I thought she was ready to go home with you?” Adam asked.
Chet shrugged. “You know me. Boyfriends never stop me. But it’s nice to be prepared if one shows up at my door the next morning.”
“You mean your sister’s door,” Adam said under his breath before saying, “Danielle’s a friend of mine.”
Chet arched his brows. “How good a friend? Melony and Danielle?”
“You have a dirty little mind,” Marie snapped.
Before Adam could answer Chet’s question, the subject of their conversation barged into the office. Danielle came to an abrupt stop when she saw who Adam was with.
“Well, hello again,” Chet said from the chair, making no attempt to stand up.
Adam stood up and looked nervously from his old high school friend to Danielle. “You cut your hair?”
“I see you’re busy,” Danielle told Adam, ignoring Chet. “I’ll talk to you later.” She turned and headed from the office, Marie trailing after her.
The moment the door closed after Danielle, Chet slapped his knee and started to laugh. “She’s mine!”
“What in the world are you talking about?” Adam asked.
“She cut her hair!” Chet laughed again.
Three
I love it!” Lily insisted. She stood with Danielle in the Marlow House foyer, gazing into the entry hall mirror, studying the reflection of her best friend and her new shorter hairstyle.
Lily’s red hair was now much longer than Danielle’s, and for once hers was the one wound into a braid. Of course, it was a traditional braid—nothing like the fishtail style Danielle used to wear or a French braid. Lily called it her Anne of Green Gables braid—yet unlike the storybook Anne, who typically wore two braids, Lily wore just one. Her reason for taking to wearing a single braid to work was for practical purposes. It was easier to keep her hair tidy when working with second graders all day; plus, she had a secret aversion to catching lice from one of her students should she wear her hair loose at school.
Lily had arrived at Marlow House five minutes earlier. She had been on her way home from work when she had received Danielle’s text message showing a picture of her new haircut. Lily wanted to see it in person, so instead of going straight home, she stopped first at Marlow House, which was just across the street from where she lived with her husband, Ian.
“I think I do too,” Danielle said with a grin. Still looking into the mirror, she gave her hair a gentle fluff with the tip of her fingers.
“How does Walt like it?” Lily asked.
“I think it’s adorable,” Walt said when he appeared the next moment.
Danielle flashed Walt a smile and said, “Thank you, Walt.” She turned to Lily and said, “He likes it.”
If Lily could see Walt—which she couldn’t—she would know he was wearing his gray, three-piece pin-striped suit, minus the jacket and tie, the sleeves of the white shirt unbuttoned and pushed up to his elbows.
Lily turned from the mirror, looking in the direction Danielle had addressed her hello. “Afternoon, Walt.”
“Tell her hello, and let her know, that according to Evan, her students love her.”
After Danielle conveyed the message, Lily chuckled and said, “I understand Evan and you have been exchanging emails. You have no idea how it’s killing that poor kid not to let his friends know he’s pen pals with a ghost.”
“You know he hates that word,” Danielle reminded her.
Lily shrugged. “Get over it.”
Together they started walking toward the open parlor door. “Does Ian know you’re here?” Danielle asked.
“Ian’s not back yet. Remember, he was helping his sister move today,” Lily reminded her. “I don’t expect him home before four.”
“That’s what I don’t get,” Walt said, shaking his head. He followed Lily and Danielle into the parlor.
“What’s that?” Danielle asked.
“Before you remind me—again—that I lived in what you call the Roaring Twenties—I’m not sure I will ever get used to how everyone now is so—well, blasé about everything.”
“Is this about Kelly moving in with Joe?” Danielle asked. “Without being married?”
Lily glanced at Danielle. She had an idea what Danielle and Walt were probably talking about.
“I know people lived together without the benefit of marriage back in my day,” Walt began. “But for a brother, like Ian, to actually help his sister pack her bags and move in with a man. In my day, a brother was expected to beat the crap out of the palooka for taking advantage of his sister.”
Danielle chuckled. “That’s kind of a funny image; Ian beating up Joe.”
“Okay, what are you talking about?” Lily asked.
After Danielle recounted Walt’s words, Lily rolled her eyes and said, “Kelly doesn’t need Ian protecting her honor. She’s a grown-up woman.”
“But you didn’t move in with Ian until you were married,” Walt reminded her.
Before Danielle had a chance to repeat Walt’s words, the doorbell rang. Lily took a seat on the sofa while Danielle went to answer the door. A few minutes later Danielle returned to the parlor with Adam Nichols by her side.
“Hey, Adam,” Lily greeted him. She had removed the band holding her braid and was in the process of untangling her hair with her fingers.
“Hi, Lily. Get any apples today?” Adam teased as he took a seat in one of the chairs across from the sofa. Unfortunately for Walt, it was the seat he was using. With a grumble, Walt moved to the sofa with Lily.
“I wouldn’t mind if the kids brought me fresh produce. But I would prefer chocolate,” Lily said with a sigh and then added, “But no, nothing. The ungrateful children. So what brings you here?”
“I just stopped by to see if Danielle needed something,” Adam explained.
Danielle walked to the empty chair and sat down. She looked at Lily and explained, “I stopped at Adam’s office after I got out of the hairdresser. Just to say hi. It was down the street. But he was with someone, so I just left.”
“About that…” Adam t
urned and faced Danielle. “Please tell me he’s not the reason you cut your hair.”
Lily frowned. “What are you talking about?”
Danielle groaned. “He said something to you, didn’t he?”
“I told him he was crazy. Hey, I may be straight, but even I know Chris is a much better catch than Chet.”
“Would someone please tell me what you’re talking about?” Lily said impatiently.
“I’d like to know that myself,” Walt said.
Letting out a sigh, Danielle looked at Lily. “Remember that guy who tried that negging crap with me last night? He was the one with Adam when I stopped by his office.”
“Ahh, so you know about negging?” Adam sounded relieved.
“Your generation has such odd dating practices,” Walt told Danielle. Before leaving for the beauty shop earlier that day, Danielle had told Walt and Marie about her experience the night before at the Pearl Cove bar.
“Well, I didn’t until I met your friend. Kind of a jerk, by the way,” Danielle said.
“Yeah, Chet’s not exactly the classiest guy,” Adam said with a shrug.
“That’s pretty obvious,” Walt muttered.
“Melony said he was a friend of Adam’s,” Lily reminded her.
“Hey, I wouldn’t call him a friend exactly. I mean, we were friends in high school, but I haven’t seen him for a couple of years, and even before that, we didn’t really hang out anymore.” Adam paused and looked at Lily. “Ahh, so Mel did recognize him. He didn’t think she had.”
Lily shrugged.
Adam looked back to Danielle and asked, “So why did you cut your hair?”
“I’ve been thinking about cutting it for some time, and last night Mel gave me the name of a hairdresser she likes. I called to make an appointment, and she had a cancelation, so I took it.” Danielle grinned.
“Just so you know, Chet is convinced you rushed out and got it cut because of what he said to you at the bar.”
“Your friend Chet is delusional,” Danielle said.
The Ghost and the Doppelganger Page 2
