Ghost of a Gamble (Granny Apples Mystery)

by Jaffarian, Sue Ann

  Quinn adjusted himself on the crutches and looked at Phil. “So did you ask her?”

  “Ask me what?” Emma looked at the two men with suspicion.

  Phil cleared his throat. “I’m thinking that instead of sticking Quinn on a plane in the morning, he can ride back to Cali with us. He could stay at one of our places in Julian until his leg is better.”

  The surprise on Emma’s face melted into a smile. “I think that’s a great idea, but you don’t need my permission to have a sleepover with your little friend.”

  The two grown men laughed, then Quinn said, “Please, Mom, please. I don’t have school for at least three weeks.”

  “School?” Emma asked.

  Quinn nodded. “I’m giving a short lecture series at a university in about a month. I can prepare while my leg mends.”

  Emma laughed. “Okay, but don’t call me Mom. Save that for Phil’s aunt Susan. It won’t matter if you stay at my house or Phil’s; she’s going to fuss over you until you beg for mercy.”

  Quinn grinned. “Sounds great to me.”

  “Did I hear right?” Granny floated over. “Is Indiana coming to stay with us?”

  “Yes, Granny, he is,” Emma confirmed. “For a couple of weeks until his leg heals.”

  “Hot diggity!”

  “Granny votes yes,” Emma told the men.

  Quinn looked around until Emma pointed him in the right direction. “Thanks, Granny.”

  “He can rock with me and my man Jacob on the porch. Does he like CSI? Old movies? We can watch TV together. I need someone to work the remote when you’re not around.”

  Emma laughed. “Granny has plans of her own for you,” she told Quinn.

  “And I can teach you how to communicate with her,” added Phil.

  Quinn was surprised. “You understand Granny?”

  “I don’t hear her, but we’ve worked out a little routine.”

  Phil’s demonstration was interrupted by an exclamation from Dolly. “Oh my!”

  All eyes turned to Dolly, then to where her eyes were fixed. She was staring at the entrance to the hallway. Coming down it was Tracy and Milo, arm in arm. Milo was dressed in a dark suit and Tracy in a white tea-length lace dress. Her hair was pulled up. She was wearing makeup and holding a bouquet of sterling roses, which Emma knew were her favorite flowers. No one spoke, but gaped at the two of them with open mouths.

  Tracy nudged Milo. “Welcome to our wedding,” he announced, his voice a little shaky.

  “What?” exclaimed Emma, going to her friend. She turned to Dolly. “Did you know about this?”

  Dolly shrugged. “I was sworn to secrecy.”

  Emma looked at Tracy with tears in her eyes. “You didn’t tell me?”

  “We wanted it to be a surprise,” Tracy said with a big grin. “Surprise!”

  “Can I hug you or will it mess you up? You look so beautiful.”

  “Emma Whitecastle, if you don’t hug me right this minute, I’m going to smack you with my flowers.”

  The two women embraced, then Emma hugged Milo. “But what about your family in Chicago?” she asked Tracy.

  “They can give us a big reception if they want,” the bride answered. “But after what happened this week, we decided to get married now while we’re all together safe and sound.”

  “And while Lenny is with us,” added Milo. He looked over to his right, where the ghost of Lenny Speidel beamed with pride. Milo looked at Dolly. “What more can I ask for than to have both of my parents here on this special day.”

  Dolly touched a tissue to her eyes and smiled.

  With her hands on her hips, Granny said to Emma, “Maybe this will give you and the cowboy the kick in the pants you need.”

  Emma frowned at the ghost, but Milo laughed out loud. Everyone else looked confused until Milo said one simple word of explanation: “Granny.”

  Emma touched Tracy’s shoulder and grinned. “I can’t believe you pulled this together in just two days. You usually need a week to decide which movie to see.”

  “It wasn’t rocket science,” the bride explained with a smile. “There are only eight guests and the dress is off the rack.” She linked an arm through Emma’s. “Now, come with me. There’s a bouquet for you in the kitchen because you’re my maid of honor.”

  Milo approached Phil. “I was hoping you’d be my best man.”

  Phil stuck out his right hand to Milo. “I’d be honored.”

  The ceremony was held on Dolly’s patio under a trellis of flowers, performed by a justice of the peace who did not look like Elvis.