The Ghost and the Bride

by Anna J. McIntyre

  “You guys are going to have a great time.”

  “I’m going to miss you, Dani.”

  “No, you aren’t.” Danielle laughed.

  Lily’s grin broadened. “You’re probably right.” She threw her arms around Danielle, wrapping her in a hug.

  “I’m so happy for you,” Danielle whispered.

  When the hug ended, Lily placed her hands on Danielle’s shoulders, looked up into her eyes, and smiled. “You’ve been such a good friend, Dani. Don’t tell Laura, but if it wouldn’t have hurt her feelings, I would have asked you to be my maid of honor.”

  “I suppose technically it’s matron of honor—but that’s really sweet of you to say. Laura was the best choice, she’s your sister.”

  “You’re my sister too,” Lily insisted.

  “Sister from another mother?” Danielle asked with a smile.

  “Something like that. But seriously, Dani, I owe you for so much. You rescued me from crazy Stoddard. If it wasn’t for you, I would have never met Ian.”

  “I suspect you’ve repaid any imagined debt tenfold. After all, didn’t you come to the rescue when I was stuck at Presley House?”

  “Technically, Heather saved us that time. And now that I think about it, you almost got me roasted like a marshmallow at Presley House!”

  Together Danielle and Lily laughed and then exchanged another quick hug.

  “I love you, Dani.”

  “I love you too, Lily.”

  Lily felt as if she was walking down the stairs for a second wedding ceremony as she and Danielle made their way to the first floor, each carrying a piece of luggage. She stopped at the spot where she had tripped earlier and looked down. There, looking up at her, were the wedding guests—family and friends, along with her new husband, who looked incredibly handsome in his tan slacks and linen shirt he had changed into for their drive to Portland and flight to Hawaii.

  Still standing midway on the staircase, Danielle at her side, Lily set her suitcase down for a moment, resting it on a step. It grew quiet as everyone looked up at her.

  “I’d like to thank you all for sharing this day with Ian and me,” Lily said in a loud clear voice. “It was wonderful having the week together—letting our families get to know each other. And thanks to Dani for sharing her home—not just for the wedding, but over the last year.” Lily smiled at Danielle, who continued to stand by her side. She then looked down and spied Joanne. “I’d like to thank Joanne for all her help with the wedding—for everyone’s help. And I’d like to give a special thank you to Walt Marlow. If Walt hadn’t left this house to Kathrine O’Malley, I would have never come here—I would never have met Ian. I’d like to thank Walt for letting me wear his mother’s wedding gown. It was my dream wedding dress—for my dream wedding. Walt Marlow and Marlow House have a very special place in my heart.”

  Adam Nichols, who stood between Melony and Brian Henderson, looking up at Lily and Danielle, muttered under his breath with a chuckle, “As if Walt Marlow had a say in any of that.”

  Brian, who overheard what Adam had just uttered, glanced over to him and smiled. I don’t know about that, Brian thought.

  Melony elbowed Adam and playfully shushed him. In a whisper she said, “I think it’s sweet.”

  Just as Lily picked up her suitcase and started down the stairs, she felt something on her cheek—a kiss. Touching her cheek briefly with her free hand, she whispered, “I love you too, Walt.”

  After Lily and Ian took off for Portland, the guests began leaving. A few lingered for a while, some helping the family members clean up. MacDonald’s sons helped Brian and Cory gather up the folding chairs in the entry hall, neatly stacking them for the rental company, who would be picking them up around four that afternoon.

  Outside, Heather, Chris, Joe, and Kelly gathered up the folding chairs and tables there, while Laura, Pamela, and the mothers helped Joanne in the kitchen and dining room, along with rounding up stray dishes and glasses. Kent claimed to be feeling poorly and retreated to the downstairs bedroom.

  Brian had just helped Evan with one of the chairs when he noticed Danielle lingering by the doorway to the living room. Minutes after Lily and Ian had driven away, Brian had noticed a peculiar change in Danielle. Her smile had instantly vanished and she headed upstairs. When she returned fifteen minutes later, she was wearing jeans and a T-shirt.

  She now seemed agitated and appeared to be looking for something. He noticed she kept taking her cellphone out of her back pocket and looking at it, as if checking for a text message.

  “Is everything alright?” Brian asked Danielle a moment later.

  “Do you know where the chief went?” Danielle asked.

  “He said something about taking the trash out for Joanne.”

  “Thanks.” Danielle abruptly turned from Brian and dashed down the hall to the kitchen.

  With a frown, Brian stared after Danielle.

  Danielle found the chief outside by the trash bins.

  “I need to talk to you, alone,” Danielle told him, nervously looking back to the house.

  “Something wrong?” He pushed the bag of trash into the can and then picked the lid up off the ground.

  “Yes, but we need to talk alone.”

  MacDonald fitted the lid onto the can. He then walked with Danielle over to the side wall, away from the people bringing in the folding chairs and tables.

  Thirsty, Brian headed to the kitchen to get something to drink. En route there, he noticed Joanne—and the others who had been helping her—now sitting at the dining room table, taking a break and chatting. When he entered the kitchen a few moments later, no one was there. He had seen Danielle enter the room ten minutes earlier and assumed she had gone outside.

  Grabbing a soda from the refrigerator, Brian opened it and then wandered to the kitchen window and looked outside. He noticed Danielle and the chief standing together—far from those cleaning up the side yard. They stood by the back gate, talking. To be more specific, Danielle seemed to be doing most of the talking. She was animated, her hands moving about erratically, punctuating whatever she was telling the chief, while he intently listened.

  “I wonder what that’s all about?” Brian muttered before taking a sip of his soda.

  Danielle stood alone on the sidewalk in front of Marlow House and watched the equipment rental van drive away. Looking down at the phone in her hand, she noted the time. It was almost 4:30 p.m.

  The chief had left with his sons not long after she had talked to him. Ian’s family had headed back to his house a little before four, to get ready to go out to dinner, while Lily’s family retreated to their rooms, for the same purpose. Those guests who had lingered to help after the departure of the bride and groom had since headed home.

  Tucking her phone into her back pocket, Danielle headed up the walk to her front door. Once inside, she found Walt waiting for her. She was about to ask him a question when Tammy walked out of the living room, purse in hand. No longer wearing the dress she had worn to her daughter’s wedding, she was now dressed casually in slacks and a blouse.

  “Are you sure you don’t want to go out to dinner with us?” Tammy asked.

  “I’m sorry. I would love to. But I’ve really got a headache. I need to lie down.” Danielle made a show of rubbing her forehead.

  Kent walked out of the downstairs bedroom with Pamela. He eyed Danielle. “You really should go out with them. You deserve a nice dinner out after all the work you went through for the wedding.”

  “He’s obviously trying to get rid of you,” Walt told her.

  “Have you changed your mind?” Danielle asked sweetly. “Are you going?”

  Kent shook his head. “I’d love to. But my back is killing me. It does that sometimes, just flares up. I just need to lie down.”

  Walt eyed Kent’s impostor, who fidgeted nervously with his hands. “He doesn’t look thrilled about you staying here. If you want to keep him inside instead of him deciding to meet her at the beach,
you might want to say something that will make him think you won’t be in his way. The last thing we need is for him to get himself killed, and then she comes gunning for you.”

  “It would serve him right if he got killed,” Kent’s spirit grumbled when he appeared a moment later. “That way Pamela would be rid of him forever.”

  “I’m just going to go upstairs and go to bed. Probably won’t see me until tomorrow morning.” Danielle smiled at Kent’s impostor, who, by his expression, seemed relieved she didn’t intend to hang out downstairs.

  A few moments later, the rest of Lily’s family joined them in the entry hall.

  “I’m so sorry about your headache,” Tammy said sympathetically. “Do you want us to bring you anything?”

  “Thanks, Tammy, but no. I’m fine.” Danielle smiled at Lily’s mother.

  Kent’s impostor glanced at his watch. “You guys better get going.”

  “What, you having some wild party and want us out of the way?” Laura teased.

  Thirty-Six

  It was a quarter to five when Lily’s family finally left Marlow House. Danielle stood at the living room window and watched them drive away with Ian’s family. When she walked back into the entry hall, she found Kent’s impostor lingering by his bedroom door. Also in the entry hall were Walt and Kent’s spirit.

  Danielle knew the impostor was waiting for Felicia. By the way his gaze darted nervously from her to the front door, she suspected he was trying to figure out how to get her out of the way.

  She decided to make it easy for him. “Hope you feel better, Kent. I’ll see you later. I’m going to head up to my room and try to take a nap.” She started for the staircase.

  “You too, Danielle,” the impostor called out, watching her walk away. “I’m going to lie down myself. My back is killing me.”

  “Oh please,” Walt grumbled. “I’d bet Chris’s bank account there’s nothing wrong with his back. I’ve seen how he moves when no one’s watching.”

  Danielle and Walt had agreed that she would stay in her bedroom, out of the way, until the chief arrived. However, she needed to stay at Marlow House in case the impostor changed his plans and decided to meet Felicia somewhere else. In that case, Walt—who was keeping a close eye on the fake Kent, would convey that information to Danielle, and she would then call the chief and let him know. Until then, they agreed it best if she stay out of harm’s way.

  Ian’s mother had insisted on taking Sadie back to Ian’s house while they went out to dinner. She said there was no reason for Danielle to bother with Ian’s dog, especially since Danielle had a migraine. Danielle didn’t argue with Mrs. Bartley. She didn’t want to worry about Sadie when Felicia was in the house—especially considering what Felicia’s brother tried to do with Sadie. But tomorrow, when hopefully all of this was over, Sadie would be coming to stay with her when Ian’s parents went home.

  Danielle glanced back at Walt and flashed him a smile. Kent’s impostor, who assumed Danielle was smiling at him, leered when she turned back to the stairway, no longer looking his way.

  “Why did you look at me like that?” impostor Kent said under his breath, not loud enough for Danielle to hear, but loud enough for Walt. “I’ll be damned. You want me to follow you up to your room. Now I know why you didn’t go to dinner with them.”

  The impostor’s low chuckle was cut short when his head jerked suddenly to the left and his cheek began to throb. Stunned, his hand moved to his face—if he didn’t know better, he would have sworn someone had just slapped him.

  The impostor looked around warily. “What was that?” With narrow eyes, he continued to rub his cheek as he looked around, trying to figure out what had just happened.

  “I would love to be able to do that,” Kent’s spirit said with a sigh. “You’ve no idea how many times I’ve wanted to slug him when he’s treated Pamela so poorly.”

  “I saw that,” Eva said with a chuckle as she appeared in the room.

  “Eva, have you met Kent?” Walt introduced them.

  Meanwhile, Kent’s impostor continued to wander around the entry hall, peeking around, as if he imagined someone was about to jump out at him at any minute.

  “Ahh, this is the poor soul who has been displaced from his body,” she said sympathetically.

  “I’ve heard of you,” Kent told her.

  “Good things, I hope,” she said brightly.

  Kent smiled.

  “Two visits in one day? Remarkable, considering it’s been about a century between your last two visits,” Walt noted.

  “I thought you’d want to know Felicia is almost here. Remember that place along the highway where the Bluebell Diner used to be?”

  “Yes. What about it?” Walt asked.

  “She was just driving through that area when I left her. I imagine she’ll be here in the next ten minutes or so.”

  “Eva, can you go up and stay with Danielle in her room? That way, she won’t be tempted to come down here to see what’s going on,” Walt asked.

  Danielle stood at her bedroom window, the blinds closed, as she peered through the narrow gap between the curtain and window frame.

  “She’ll be here in about ten minutes,” Eva said when she appeared in the room.

  Startled by the unexpected voice, Danielle turned to face Eva.

  “Felicia,” Eva explained. “I assume that’s who you’re looking for.”

  Danielle nodded. “Does Walt know you’re here?”

  “Yes. He’s the one who sent me up here to keep an eye on you.” Eva moved to the sofa and sat down, sending the skirts of her long gown momentarily furling. “He wants me to make sure you stay up here. Of course, I don’t know what he expects me to do if you decide to go downstairs. It’s not like I have any of his special powers.”

  “How do you know Felicia will be here in ten minutes?”

  “I am, of course, assuming she’s coming directly here. Considering where I last left her, I estimate her time of arrival should be approximately ten minutes, give or take five minutes.”

  Danielle removed her cellphone from her pocket and looked at it, noting the time.

  “Walt certainly gave that nasty man a good smack. I remember when he was my protector. Yet it appears he’s no longer my knight in shining armor, he’s yours.” Leaning back casually in the sofa, she smiled at Danielle.

  “What do you mean? Who did Walt smack?”

  “The body thief of course. The man foolishly made some crude comment about you, and Walt let him have it. A good slap.”

  “What did he do—the thief—when Walt slapped him?”

  Eva shrugged. “Looked confused. Although, I suspect the damage to the man’s nerves is far greater than any injury caused by a slap to the face.”

  Danielle turned back to the window and peeked outside. A car was just pulling up in front of the house. It parked. Danielle watched as a woman got out of the vehicle and started walking toward the front door.

  “I’m imagining things,” Tagg grumbled as his eyes darted nervously about the entry hall. It sure felt like someone just slapped me, but no one’s here. It must be all that haunted house crap they’ve been talking about.

  Tagg paused at the mirror hanging in the entry hall and looked at his reflection. Turning his head slightly to the left, he inspected his right cheek, gently running his fingertips through his beard.

  The doorbell rang. All thoughts of the recent slap were pushed aside. He rushed to the door and threw it open, not even considering for a moment that it might not be Felicia.

  Tagg froze momentarily at the sight of her. It had been so long. Over a year now. But she still looked great, he thought. Her blond hair was longer than he remembered, at least eight inches past her shoulders. She still wore it straight, no bangs. It looked good. He had always loved her blue-green eyes and the way she lined them with heavy dark green eyeliner flared slightly at the outer edge of each eye. It gave her a catlike look.

  She stood on the front porch, clutching
her purse, eyeing him suspiciously. He wanted to laugh. He knew that look. To someone who didn’t know her, they might imagine she was nervous, apprehensive. But he knew what it meant. She was prepared to pounce if necessary. It was one thing he loved about his Felicia, she never let anyone push her around.

  “Kent Harper?” she asked.

  Opening the door wider, he motioned for her to come inside.

  Hesitantly, she entered. “Where’s the money?”

  “You haven’t changed, Felicia. But don’t worry, baby, I have your money.” He shut the door.

  “I’m not your baby. So cut the crap and let me see the money,” she snapped.

  He pulled ten crumpled one-hundred-dollar bills from his pocket. He handed them to Felicia, who quickly began straightening the pile while counting to make sure they were all there.

  With her eyes on the money in her hand, she asked, “Who else is here?”

  “Danielle Boatman.”

  Felicia looked up at Kent, a slight smile forming on her lips. “Where?”

  He nodded to the stairs. “She went up to her room to take a nap. She has a headache.”

  Shoving the money into a side pocket on her purse, she asked, “So what did you want to tell me?”

  Tagg glanced nervously to the stairs. He then remembered the unexplained slap. Without thought his hand lightly touched his right cheek. “Maybe we should go outside to talk about this. I don’t want Danielle to walk in on us and overhear. There’s a bench swing on the front porch we could sit on.”

  Felicia glanced briefly to the front door and then shook her head. “No. I don’t want to talk out there—where people will see us.”

  Tagg licked his lips nervously and then glanced down the hall. “Then let’s go in the kitchen. That way if Danielle gets up and looks downstairs, she won’t see us.”