In Love With a Haunted House (Contemporary Romance) Read Online Free PDF Page B
Author: Kate Goldman
problem. But now, now that other people wanted it, she just had to have it. She wasn’t sure what that said about her.
She said, “Ms. Lewis, you didn’t want those old biddies that you never liked in your house when you were alive. If you don’t want them in your house now, you better do something about it.”
She turned away from the window and went out the front door, crossing the yard to meet with Blake, who still stood under the alley of trees next to Lonnie. The front door burst open and the women came out. All of them were making a rather undignified and hurried exit.
One was not just in a hurry, she was actually running like her feet were on fire and her butt was catching, as the rather quaint little Southern saying went. She went so fast her wig flew off, hovered in the air like a weird little bat and then it landed at the feet of another woman, who gave it a hurried little kick as she went past it.
Lonnie stuttered out, “Ladies…ladies…What are you doing?”
Blake said, “It looks like the historical society has become the hysterical society. I doubt they want the house, Lonnie.”
The tires squealing as the women left seemed to emphasize that point. Lonnie was not one to let a minor setback sway him, though. “No worries. I got a developer coming tomorrow. He wants to tear the place down, put in a little apartment house complete with swimming pool and a gym for the residents.”
He swaggered off. Blake and Mallory stared at each other and then Mallory said, “That is it, then. I could fight the society if I had to but a developer, no way. I can’t afford any other house in the neighborhood or much of anywhere else to be honest. I hope you really want it.”
Sympathy welled up in him and an affection he had not expected. “What I want is breakfast. What do you think made those women run so fast? A rat maybe?”
“You’d think if they were frightened of rats they would have spooked at the sight of Lonnie.”
“You have a point there.”
Neither of them wanted to say what they were thinking. The ghost of Gray Oaks had struck again.
**
Well, they are right although they’re wrong too. The only person who haunted this house all those years was me and I’m still here. I keep hoping you’re going to show up, George, and tell me everything is going to be okay and that you forgive me for doing what I did to our son. I hope he had a good life, he would never have had one here and we both know that.
My family’s reputation was bad enough, I didn’t want our child to be born out of wedlock too, I saw my own aunts and father deal with that stigma and it was never pretty. Times sure have changed, though, hardly any child is born in wedlock these days.
Oh well. Did you see that silly woman lose her wig? That was the funniest thing I’ve seen in a dozen years.
I really like that girl, the one that lived next door. Did you know she used to come by on Christmas Eve and stuff cookies into the mail slot in the front door? The things would fall apart before they ever hit the floor but it was the sweetest thing. She’s the sweetest thing.
Well, maybe she should have this house then. I know she should and I’m going to keep helping her to get it. I got nowhere else to go right now anyway. I said I would wait right here for you and I will, no matter how long it takes.
No matter how long it takes.
Chapter 4
Blake and Mallory were sitting in a little neighborhood diner a few blocks away from the house. They were sipping strong and hot coffee, and applying their attention to giant plates filled with fluffy scrambled eggs, potatoes, toast and pancakes.
“Have you ever noticed that breakfast in a diner consists of starch, sugar and grease?” Mallory asked as she forked up a giant mouthful of syrup-dripping pancake and placed it in her mouth.
“That’s why I enjoy it so much. I mean, don’t get me wrong,
She said, “Ms. Lewis, you didn’t want those old biddies that you never liked in your house when you were alive. If you don’t want them in your house now, you better do something about it.”
She turned away from the window and went out the front door, crossing the yard to meet with Blake, who still stood under the alley of trees next to Lonnie. The front door burst open and the women came out. All of them were making a rather undignified and hurried exit.
One was not just in a hurry, she was actually running like her feet were on fire and her butt was catching, as the rather quaint little Southern saying went. She went so fast her wig flew off, hovered in the air like a weird little bat and then it landed at the feet of another woman, who gave it a hurried little kick as she went past it.
Lonnie stuttered out, “Ladies…ladies…What are you doing?”
Blake said, “It looks like the historical society has become the hysterical society. I doubt they want the house, Lonnie.”
The tires squealing as the women left seemed to emphasize that point. Lonnie was not one to let a minor setback sway him, though. “No worries. I got a developer coming tomorrow. He wants to tear the place down, put in a little apartment house complete with swimming pool and a gym for the residents.”
He swaggered off. Blake and Mallory stared at each other and then Mallory said, “That is it, then. I could fight the society if I had to but a developer, no way. I can’t afford any other house in the neighborhood or much of anywhere else to be honest. I hope you really want it.”
Sympathy welled up in him and an affection he had not expected. “What I want is breakfast. What do you think made those women run so fast? A rat maybe?”
“You’d think if they were frightened of rats they would have spooked at the sight of Lonnie.”
“You have a point there.”
Neither of them wanted to say what they were thinking. The ghost of Gray Oaks had struck again.
**
Well, they are right although they’re wrong too. The only person who haunted this house all those years was me and I’m still here. I keep hoping you’re going to show up, George, and tell me everything is going to be okay and that you forgive me for doing what I did to our son. I hope he had a good life, he would never have had one here and we both know that.
My family’s reputation was bad enough, I didn’t want our child to be born out of wedlock too, I saw my own aunts and father deal with that stigma and it was never pretty. Times sure have changed, though, hardly any child is born in wedlock these days.
Oh well. Did you see that silly woman lose her wig? That was the funniest thing I’ve seen in a dozen years.
I really like that girl, the one that lived next door. Did you know she used to come by on Christmas Eve and stuff cookies into the mail slot in the front door? The things would fall apart before they ever hit the floor but it was the sweetest thing. She’s the sweetest thing.
Well, maybe she should have this house then. I know she should and I’m going to keep helping her to get it. I got nowhere else to go right now anyway. I said I would wait right here for you and I will, no matter how long it takes.
No matter how long it takes.
Chapter 4
Blake and Mallory were sitting in a little neighborhood diner a few blocks away from the house. They were sipping strong and hot coffee, and applying their attention to giant plates filled with fluffy scrambled eggs, potatoes, toast and pancakes.
“Have you ever noticed that breakfast in a diner consists of starch, sugar and grease?” Mallory asked as she forked up a giant mouthful of syrup-dripping pancake and placed it in her mouth.
“That’s why I enjoy it so much. I mean, don’t get me wrong,
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