Page 22 of Take My Love
“Is that what yours is too?” I quip.
“No, mine’s on the back so it doesn’t count.”
I chuckle. “If you say so.”
“I do. Now, can you leave so I can get dressed?”
“Sure thing, roomie.” I shut the door behind me and hear her groan at me calling her that.
Grabbing my luggage, I bring them to my new room and set them on the bed. Sadness washes over me that my life is condensed in these two bags.
“Oh look, you found the right room.” Posey leans against the doorway.
“I haven’t been in here since it got remodeled.” I helped Warren and his dad fix it up several years ago. It was a fun summer project. “Looks nice all decorated and furnished. I’m surprised they didn’t end up usin’ it as a guest cabin.”
“They tried at first but once word got out that someone died in here, no one wanted to rent it out.”
My hands freeze midair from pulling out my clothes. “What? Someone died inhere?”
“Yeah, before the remodel,” she explains. “But her spirit never left.”
“Whaddya mean? Whose spirit?”
“The woman who died. Her name’s Marjorie.”
“You’re fuckin’ with me, aren’t you?”
She’s talking way too calmly about this.
“I’m being dead-ass serious. She likes movin’ shit and openin’ cabinet doors, so try not to freak out. I don’t think she knows she’s…” She lowers her voice. “Dead.”
I bark out a laugh, shaking my head. “Now I know you’re messin’ with me.”
“Why would I lie about that?” she asks, defensively. “When no one wanted to stay here, I volunteered since I didn’t wanna live at my parents’ anymore. I needed more privacy.”
“So this Marjorie…” I walk toward her, lowering my voice. “How do you know when she’shere?”
“Things will go missin’ or they’ll be moved. Cabinet doors open after I’ve closed ’em. Sometimes things are left out that I already put away. She’s usually harmless, but sometimes she lets me know she doesn’t like somethin’ or someone,” she explains, walking through the hallway.
“Someone?” I follow her toward the kitchen.
“When I have friends or guys over. She’ll flick the lights or slam a door to get my attention.”
The silence lingers between us as I glance around the room for any weird movement. A cold shiver runs down my spine, sending goose bumps over my arms.
“Did you feel that?” I blurt.
“What?”
“Like a gush of air…cold air.”
“No. But I wouldn’t be surprised. She’s not a fan of company.” She shrugs, glancing over her shoulder.
“You couldn’t have told me this little detailbeforetellin’ me I could move in?”
“You didn’t ask.” She grabs a glass out of the cabinet, then opens the fridge.
“I didn’t know that was somethin’ to ask about!”
