Page 5 of Falling for the Grumpy Stranger

“My grandmother used to tell us stories about it, but mostly we just thought of it as the obligatory neighborhood haunted house. It’s been empty for most of my life.”

“Last month, I spoke to the realtor trying to sell the place.” She glanced down at the paper. “Hannah Jensen. She said the place had been on the market for years with no offers. She mentioned that there were lots of old things, books, journals,photos left behind through the years, mostly in the attic. She said she’d be happy to let a journalist inside to have a look around. You might find some interesting artifacts that add to your articles. Ms. Jensen thought the publicity might help sell the place.”

My heart sank with each word. How could I possibly do this assignment after my run-in with the new owner? “Actually, Andie, the place sold since you last spoke to Hannah. The new owner paid cash. I doubt he’d appreciate me traipsing through the house on my quest to prove that he purchased a cursed manor. I do have an inside scoop on a new bakery coming to Whisper Cove. I could write about that.”

Andie frowned, and I worried I’d just blown my job offer to bits.

“A new bakery is certainly fun, but it’s not a story. I would really like you to write about Grimstone Manor. Maybe the new owner wouldn’t mind letting you look around. If not, there are plenty of news articles about the various owners. I just think firsthand artifacts will give the stories more pizzazz. So, can I expect the first episode next Friday?”

I took a deep breath. “Yes, next Friday. Great. I’ll get to work on it right away.”

“Terrific. I’ll send you some employee forms to fill out and the details on what we expect in your first assignment. Again, Ella, we’re happy to have you on board.”

“Thank you for the opportunity, and I won’t let you down.”

We signed off, and I released a long, disappointed sigh. It had been going so great, right up to the moment when I heard about my assignment. If it had been any other cursed old house, I would have been thrilled. It would have been a fantastic first assignment. A month ago, I would have been excited to write about Grimstone Manor. I knew a few details here and there about the place but not many. There were enough misfortunesconnected with the house to earn it a spot as one of the west coast’s most cursed homes. But now there was a new owner, and I’d managed to get off to a really bad start with the man.

My phone buzzed. It was Layla. “How did it go?”

“I got the job.”

She sent back the celebration emoji. I set my phone down. “Cookies,” I muttered. Nonna always took a plate of cookies to new neighbors, and they loved her instantly for it. The man was new in town. Maybe a plate of cookies would help him forget that I basically called him a strange, grim sucker.

I deflated in the chair and sank down in despair. “Seriously, El, you and your big mouth.”

Chapter Five

ELLA

Hannah Jensen’s grandmother had been good friends with Nonna. The two women often got together for knitting sessions where they’d eat warm apple pie and create plush scarves and hats out of balls of fuzzy yarn. I decided to give her a call. Renee mentioned that Hannah had been rather tight-lipped about the new Grimstone owner, but that might have had more to do with the person on the receiving end of the conversation. Renee could whip out gossip at tornado speed and velocity. I decided to call Hannah and see if she’d be more forthcoming with me.

“Whisper Cove Realty, Hannah Jensen speaking. We’re here to meet all your real estate goals. What can I do to get you in your dream home?” It was such a long greeting I nearly forgot why I called.

“Hello, Hannah, it’s Ella Lovely, Maeve’s granddaughter.”

“Ella, yes, of course. How are you? And your sisters? I was in Aria’s café just yesterday morning enjoying Declan’s sublime quiche.”

“Yes, it melts in your mouth, doesn’t it? We’re all good. How about you and your family?”

“Very good, Noah is in kindergarten now, and Grant is working at a real estate brokerage in Fairview. What can I do for you?” She gasped. “Are you selling Maeve’s cottage? I’ll have ten offers before the day is out. It’s such prime real estate for a big, shiny two-story or a sprawling ranch.” And that was exactly why we’d decided never to part with the cottage. People wanted the land but not the wonderful, slightly lopsided cottage that came with it.

“Sorry to disappoint you, Hannah, but we don’t have any plans to sell the cottage. It holds far too many memories.” I could literally hear her posture deflate as she exhaled in disappointment.

“But you will call me first if you ever decide to put it on the market?” she asked, inflating again.

“Of course. And I’d like to ask you a favor as well.” Her plea helped lead me to my next question. Tit for tat and all that, not that I’d ever be holding up my end of the promise. “I understand there’s a new owner at Grimstone Manor.”

She chuckled. “Word sure zips around this town fast. He only moved in this past weekend. I took him a basket with wine and fruit, but he didn’t have much furniture. I think he’s planning some heavy-duty renovation. The place sure needs it. Looks far worse on the outside than the inside, but it still needs a lot of TLC.”

It was my turn to chuckle at her categorizing the renovations as “tender loving care.” Dynamite and bulldozers were more like it. “Hannah, do you think you could introduce us? I’m writing an article about the curse of Grimstone Manor for the online publication I work for.” I smiled to myself. It felt good to say that. I was a legitimate journalist. As long as I could deliver with this first assignment.

“I hardly think the poor man needs to hear that he bought a cursed home. Besides, as far as I know, that was all just a lot of rumors piled on top of rumors. A few incidents of bad luck...”

“Nonna told us every owner of the manor had terrible luck once they moved in. But I don’t want to bother him with that. You’re right. Just a lot of nonsense. Something to keep people entertained. You told my editor, Andrea May, that there were a lot of books and photos and artifacts from previous owners still in the house.”

She paused. “Well, that was before the house sold. I don’t know if that’s still there or not. Maybe Mr. Lockwood tossed all of it out.”

I jotted down Lockwood on the notepad I’d pulled out for the call. “That seems like quite a chore if he only moved in last weekend. So, his name is Lockwood?”

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