The Ghost Who Wasn't (Haunting Danielle Book 3) (21 page)
Read The Ghost Who Wasn't (Haunting Danielle Book 3) Online
Authors: Bobbi Holmes
“
I
feel
guilty taking the only downstairs bedroom at Marlow House,” Lily said as she hobbled into the room. Located adjacent from the parlor, the room’s window faced the street, unlike the kitchen and library windows, which looked out to the side yard. “It’s the only room you have for guests who can’t use the stairs.”
“You can’t use the stairs,” Danielle reminded.
“True that.” Exhausted from her short drive from the hospital to Marlow House, Lily plopped down on the side of the bed to catch her breath.
“You okay?” Danielle opened the curtains to let in more sunlight.
Lily glanced over at the IV stand, already set up next to the bed. “Are you sure you want to do this, Dani? I have a feeling I’m going to be more trouble than you bargained for.”
“Too late, friend. Your clothes are already in the closet,” Danielle said cheerfully. “Anyway, Joanne comes back to work tomorrow, the nurse will be coming over in a couple hours for your next IV treatment, and then there’s always Walt.”
“Where is he anyway?” Lily glanced around.
“He’s probably in the attic. Said he was going to stay out of the way until your parents go home. But I think he wanted to give us a chance to talk without him lurking.”
“While I’m glad to be back—in my body—I have to admit I’m going to miss being able to see and hear Walt.”
“There’s still the dream hopping,” Danielle muttered.
“Hey, what’s wrong?”
“Nothing.” Danielle shrugged.
“Come on, out with it!”
“You and Walt went skydiving,” Danielle said with a pout.
“We didn’t really go skydiving—it was a dream.”
“But did it feel real?”
“Well…” Lily considered the question a moment. “They have a different quality from regular dreams. But yeah, it felt real without the fear of death factor.”
“Do you always know it’s not a regular dream?”
“I do now. The first two times he visited me, I didn’t. Hasn’t he ever hopped in your dream?”
“No.” Danielle shrugged indifferently. “No reason to, since I can see and hear him.”
“I’m surprised he hasn’t.” Lily scooted back on the bed, grimacing a bit from the pain.
“Can I get you anything?”
“No. I took a pain pill before I left the hospital. Are my folks still across the street with Ian?” Lily pulled the blanket and sheet up over her body.
Danielle looked out the window. Ian had taken the Millers across the street to show them his rental. “Looks like it. He’s giving them the grand tour.” Danielle turned from the window and took a seat on one of the two wingback chairs in the room.
“My folks seem to really like Ian. I think at first Mom thought he was just a summer fling, but after seeing how he stuck by me, even going to California to see if he could find out anything about the accident, I think that really won them over.”
“He’s definitely crazy about you.”
“I’m pretty crazy about him.” Lily yawned then asked, “Dani, do you mind if I take a nap?”
“No problem. You want me to shut the blinds?”
“No, that’s okay. Just turn off the light please.”
Danielle walked to the doorway and looked back at the bed. Lily lay curled up on her side under the blankets, her eyes closed. Danielle smiled and turned off the light, then walked out of the room and shut the door behind her.
“
I
thought
I’d find you up here,” Danielle said when she walked into the attic and found Walt at the window, looking through the spotting scope across the street at Ian’s house.
“Lily’s folks have been over there for quite a while,” Walt said, turning from the window to face Danielle.
“I called Ian. Told him Lily was taking a nap. Wanted to warn Lily’s parents so they don’t come barreling in and wake her up.”
“I noticed the Millers aren’t exactly a quiet family,” he said with a chuckle, turning back to the window.
Danielle stood by his side looking across the street. “It will seem a lot quieter around here when they leave tomorrow.”
“You never mentioned, are you planning to take any reservations while Lily’s laid up?”
“I was thinking about it. But after the fiasco with the fake Stewarts, and all that’s gone on, I think I’ll wait until Lily gets back on her feet again. It’ll be easier for her to rest if we don’t have strangers coming and going. I figure I can open again by Halloween.”
“That might work. After all, you are running a haunted B and B.”
Danielle grinned. “I suppose I am.”
“Have you told Lily yet about the police chief?”
“No, I haven’t had the opportunity. Either her parents or Ian have been around when we’ve been together.”
“Does she know anything about Justina?”
“Only what the police told her. She doesn’t know Justina’s spirit was wandering around here and the hospital. But I think she’s moved on. After all, her family and friends now know she’s dead. Although, I have a feeling she’s not going to be thrilled with the next leg of her journey.”
“I wonder if she’ll be seeing Roger,” Walt smirked.
Danielle chuckled at the thought then said, “Mrs. Miller asked Lily today if she was going home after she recuperates.”
“What did she say?”
“Lily reminded her mother that she technically does not have a home anymore. Mrs. Miller got all apologetic about moving Lily out of her apartment. Lily told her mother it was probably for the best, since she couldn’t go back to work anyway. Basically, she just wants to take everything one day at a time.”
“Do you think she’ll eventually go back to California?”
“I don’t know,” Danielle shrugged. “I suppose part of that will depend on what happens between her and Ian.”
“And what about you, Danielle?”
“What do you mean?”
“I heard Joe, he keeps asking you out.”
“That will never work.”
“You know, he just wants to save you—take care of you. I see it, in his eyes.”
“I know. And I find it very irritating.”
“Most women would find it flattering.”
“Maybe women from your era, not mine. At least not me.”
“What about the chief?”
“What about him?” Danielle frowned.
“He accepts your abilities. He’s single. And apparently his grandmother thinks you’d make a wonderful wife and mother.”
“Sheesh…” Danielle looked over at Walt, a frown on her face. “What are you trying to do, get me married off?”
“No. I was just curious.” Walt feigned indifference, yet silently studied her reaction.
“The chief is a nice enough guy and not bad to look at. But he’s really not my type.”
“What’s your type?”
“I don’t know. I just know he’s not it.”
“Joe’s not your type either?”
“He could have been, at one time. But not now.”
“If you don’t know what type you like—how do you know you have one?”
“I just know I’d like someone who accepts me as I am, has faith in me. And…” Danielle paused a moment.
“What?”
“My type likes to dance.”
I
t was after 11
:00 p.m. when Danielle finally crawled into bed on Monday night. Exhausted, she hugged one of her pillows as she slipped off to sleep.
Someone was playing music. It was a happy beat. She wanted to move her feet. Danielle opened her eyes and looked into the mirror. She let out a gasp, her hand flying to her hair. It no longer fell down her back but was cropped into short curls. She had never considered cutting her hair so short, but she had to admit, it made her eyes look enormous.
“It’s called a Castle Bob. Quite the rage you know. It suits you,” Walt said.
Danielle looked from the mirror to Walt, who stood by her side. He wore a pinstripe suit she had never seen him wear before. He looked rather dapper, she thought. Reaching out impulsively, she touched the cuff of his jacket.
“What fabric is that?” she asked.
He only smiled. Danielle looked down; she wore a short, fringed skirt. It felt silky against her nylon clad thighs.
“I’m dressed like a flapper!” She laughed, looking back in the mirror.
“Of course, we’re going dancing.” Walt took Danielle’s hand in his. Without question, she went with him.
They stood in the center of a huge dancefloor, surrounded by other couples, all dressed in a similar fashion as Danielle and Walt.
The music began to play. Walt showed Danielle how to move her feet—her arms—until it was second nature and together they moved with the music, dancing the Charleston on the crowded dancefloor.
Danielle laughed; she moved her feet faster, leaned forward, her arms swinging back and forth in a steady rhythm with the music. Walt’s dance steps matched hers, and at one point, he caught hold of her hands and twirled her around the floor. She threw her head back and laughed, never wanting the night to end.
“Lily was right,” Danielle said breathlessly, her feet still moving at a rapid speed. She and Walt locked gazes as they danced.
“How so?” he asked.
“It doesn’t feel like a regular dream.”
“Are you upset?” Walt asked, still keeping up with Danielle’s steady dance movements.
“How so?” she managed to say.
“This probably isn’t going to burn up any chocolate cake,” he said.
Danielle laughed and grabbed Walt’s hands, urging him to twirl her again. “That’s okay, sometimes the dance is enough.”
The Ghost Who Wanted Revenge
Return to Marlow House in
Haunting Danielle, Book 4
With his dying breath, Stoddard Gusarov names his killer: Danielle Boatman.
Danielle had a score to settle with Stoddard Gusarov, but murder him? Never.
Proving to the police she is innocent is the least of her problems. She has an angry spirit to contend with, the ghost of Stoddard Gusarov—and he’s out for revenge.
