Page 1 of Ghostly
Chapter 1
Nobody saw Ida as she floated out of the music box. The visitor hadn’t heard her either, which by now came as no surprise. The woman straightening the coverlet in Ida’s bedroom had to be the new landlady. Ida didn’t remember when she last saw the previous one—one, two, three years ago? What happened to her? Did she give up on the house, like everyone did in the end?
The landlady headed downstairs; Ida followed, gliding through the railing of the creaky, narrow staircase. As the landlady picked up her phone in the living room, Ida spied on her from the hallway, taking in all the changes she could discern from a single human being. Haircuts hadn’t changed much. Phones were bigger again. Was beige in fashion this year?
“Yes, yes, I have it all ready.” The woman’s voice was polite, with a hint of enthusiasm. She ran a finger down the coffee table and inspected her fingertip. “I’ll run a quick cleanup and he can move in right away.Wonderful! Thank you, George.” Ending the call, she strolled into the kitchen and checked the cabinets.
Move in? Someone finally rented the house? Ida giggled, twirled, and almost knocked over a delicately painted porcelain vase before she calmed down. He’d probably ignore her, like all the other tenants did. But at least she’d have company. He’d bring books, watch TV—hopefully90 Day Fiancé—maybe even revive the garden. Oh, so many exciting things! She couldn’t wait for him to arrive.
She bet he’d be simply lovely.
***
Seventy-five hours to go
“Wakey, wakey, sleepyhead.”
Gabriel opened one eye and waited for the image to clear up. Wynona stood in the doorway in a perfect dutch angle, wearing one of his shirts, half- buttoned, and holding a steaming mug of… “That had better not be coffee.”
“Of course it’s coffee. You love it.”
“Yes, but I make my own.” He opened the other eye, rose to a sitting position, and checked the alarm clock. One past seven.Shit.He headed for the bathroom.
“Gabe.” Wynona drew out his name and ended with a well-practiced pucker of her lips.
“Sorry.” In a few fast strides, he crossed the bedroom and gave Wynona a quick kiss. “Thanks, but let me get ready first.”
“You’re negating the point of a morning coffee!” Her laughing voice followed him to the bathroom. Gabriel listened to her retreating steps and clinking noises in the kitchen for a few seconds, then got to work. Starting at seven, precisely, would’ve been preferable, but life didn’t always turn out perfect.
Except today. Today was Winning Day.
One, two, three, four, five, six minutes. Wash up, brush teeth. One, two, three, four, five, six. Shave. One, two, three, four, five, six. Style the hair. It was getting a little long, but in Gabriel’s case, passable. One, two, three, four, five, six, dress. A perfectly white shirt, but he’d go daring on the jacket. They said gray; no-one said a gradient of gray cubes was too much. Tie… He waved his fingers over the double line of folded ties in the drawer. Gray, navy blue, navy blue striped… no, it had to be the Lucky Red. He checked it against the jacket in the mirror.
“Really? Blood orange?” Wynona was back in the doorway. “Isn’t that a little provocative?”
Yes, it was. “Judge Barrett likes me. She won’t mind. Anderson will, though.” Gabriel raised a cocky eyebrow as their gazes met in the mirror. Anderson hated that Gabriel walked on the edge of the appropriate dress code for court. So, of course, Gabriel had to wear this for Winning Day.
Wynona walked up, turned him around, grabbed the end of the tie and began a knot.
“I can tie my own tie.”
“Won’t let me bring you coffee, won’t let me tie your tie. Please, babe, don’t say you’re turning into Harvey.”
“He didn’t let you keep your job. That’s different. He’s a territorial prick.”
“Not unlike you with that coffee machine.”
“You don’t have to be jealous of it.” Gabriel raised his chin as Wynona worked on the knot. The coffee machine meant nothing, but bringing someone coffee in bed—that was an act of intimacy, a sign of affection. Which he held for Wynona, it was just that…
“I can’t wait until this is all over. Have you booked the ski resort?”
“A deluxe suite. They said it’s popular with newlyweds.”Ah, sweet irony.
Wynona laughed and turned him around so he could check her work in the mirror. She’d done his tie in an intricate, layered knot he’d never seen before. Not bad.
“It’s my special,” her seductive breath whispered near his ear. “I call it the half-open lotus.”
“Wasn’t that one of the positions we tried last night?”
