Page 21 of Halloween with a Daddy
I grab a couple of fresh beers from the fridge behind the bar before we begin our tour.
“Unfortunately, these rooms aren’t as interesting as the ones upstairs.” I motion to a couple of them as we pass. “This part of the house was used for parties and events, which required some updates. A lot of the original flavor has been lost.”
“It still looks amazing, to me at least. All I’ve seen are a few photos, and they don’t do it justice.” She still has a wide-eyed look of awe as she takes everything in. “Maybe the party tonight will lead to more events in the future?”
“I don’t think I have time for something like that.” A sigh passes across my lips. “I trust Mark, but letting strangers in here regularly could lead to damage and repairs that cost more than it’s worth. The trust that keeps this place going won’t last forever.”
“You could get insurance.” She shrugs. “I took a class on it, and they do offer coverage for damage from guests. You could also put it in the contract that they handle any damage caused during their event.”
“Yes, that’s easy enough if you look at it from the point of view of a textbook.” I nod. “But then you have to deal with insurance companies that don’t want to pay, customers that don’t have the means, and then what? Lawsuits? Those get expensive too. I don’t have enough time to deal with all of that.”
“It’s just such a shame that it’s nothing but a landmark people talk about when they drive past.” She stops and turns to face me. “I bet you could turn into an awesome Bed & Breakfast.”
“That would require me to investmymoney in it.” I shake my head. “Honestly, going through Grimwillow Manor with you has brought back a lot of old memories, but if selling it was an option, I’d let someone else figure out what to do with it.”
“I wish I could buy it.” She turns with a sigh.
I used to have those same dreams and aspirations as well, before I realized how hard it was to keep the place up. I wish something could be done with this place, but I’m trying to think of ways to free up more time, not take away what little I have.
The tour continues, and I fill our time with stories my dad told me, much like I did when we were upstairs. There are a few interesting tales, some of them ghost stories I don’t believe, but I tell them anyway. Bethany seems to cling to any piece of history about this place I can give her. By the time we get to the last hallway, we’re holding hands, walking close, and gently teasing each other. Things are heating up between us again.
“Where does that door go?” Bethany motions to one at the end of the hallway.
“We can open it, but there isn’t much to see, I’m afraid.” I hold her hand against my chest as I lead her towards the door. “There was a fire in this wing. Rather than rebuild, the owner at the time repaired what was necessary and sealed this part of the house off.”
“That’s too bad.” She looks a little sad hearing the news. “Nothing was sealed off upstairs.”
“Nah, the door up there is walled off now. There’s another set of stairs in here, but with it sealed off, there was no reason to leave the other door.” I use my set of keys to turn the lock and open it up.
We don’t get to go far. There are doors on the other side that need keys my family has lost over the years. I explain what I remember and Bethany tries to open a few of the doors herself, with no success. I spent little time in this wing of the house. By the time my dad would allow me to look around in here on my own, I didn’t have any interest in doing so. The stories still seem to fascinate Bethany, so I go through them in vivid detail until we are back in the living room.
“You might like this area.” I motion ahead. “There’s a courtyard.”
“I saw that earlier.” She nods. “And I believe there’s a pool that’s closed off as well?”
“Yeah, but there’s no water in it. It was cheaper to drain it than keep it up.” I shrug. “It used to be a small fish pond before someone got the bright idea of turning it into a pool.”
“I’m not sure which one I would like better.” She turns to me. “Thank you for finishing the grand tour.”
“That was the price for your life story, wasn’t it?” I walk closer.
“It was.” She grins. “I guess it’s time for bed.”
“Which guest room would you like?” I ask, taking her hands in mine, hoping for the best.
“I looked at a couple of them, but I didn’t see the one you’re in.” She looks down and bites her bottom lip. “Will you show it to me? I might want to stay there instead.”
“I’ll give you the grand tour of my room.” I say, pulling her closer. “But that’s going to cost you extra.”
“Oh?” she asks, lifting her head. “What’s the price? I’ll all out of stories about my life.”
“Well, if you can’t tell me another story, I guess I’ll just have to take my payment another way.” I put a hand under her chin and lean in for a kiss.
Kissing Bethany’s soft, pouty lips feels like paradise. It hasn’t been long since our last one, but I already miss them. My hands explore her body and tug at her clothes while we kiss. I don’t want to push for more since she didn’t seem ready earlier, but there’s a difference in her hunger. Our tongue swirls. We kiss until she has to pull away to draw a breath. It isn’t just her hunger that’s different. Her eyes reflect it too. A need that is almost as primal as mine.
“Did that earn me a tour of your bedroom?” A devious grin teases the edge of her lips.
“You’re going to get a lot more than a tour.” I exhale sharply.
