She was cold to the touch. Her fingers were icy, her breath coming in frosty gasps even though the temperature in the theater had returned to normal. Her eyes were glassy, and for one terrifying moment, Jake feared she’d been possessed or somehow taken over by whatever haunted this place. But then she shivered and her eyes focused, and she smiled up at him, clear and lucid.
“It listened,” she exclaimed. “Did you see that? It stopped! It listened when I told it to stop!”
Jake, who’d been shocked and terrified out of his mind, could hardly fathom this gleeful reaction to what—from his perspective—had looked like she was about to be absorbed into a metaphysical fog, or possessed by, or taken away…or something. He couldn’t speak. All he could do was pull her close and feel the warmth of her body against his while he tried to keep from trembling. And puking.
She hugged him back, then shrugged loose, still with that excitement in her demeanor. And that caused him to fear that shehadbeen possessed or her mind had been overtaken somehow—for how could she be so lighthearted and giddy after what had just happened?
“Jake, I think we’re making progress. If it knows we’re here as friends, it doesn’t have to be so violent. That’s got to be why it’s so angry—because it needs something from us, from me.Right?” The last word she shouted up and out into the theater as if delivering some important line.
A flicker of light from above beamed down, then was gone again immediately.
Jesus. Jake could hardly believe he was standing there while his…while Vivien communicated with a freakingghost. As if it was no big deal.
Chapter Seventeen
“Well, that was interesting.”Vivien’s voice was weak and thready as they walked out into the theater’s parking lot. She sounded exhausted.
Jake was feeling much the same way. It had been a long and emotional day, not even including the two—count ’em,two—ghostly appearances. Nevertheless, he looked around to make certain no one was lurking. Hopefully, being seen by a cop last night had scared away whoever was messing with things. He only hoped they wouldn’t transfer their attentions to Vivien’s home instead of her business.
“I thought ghosts were only supposed to haunt in the dead of night,” he said as they climbed into his car. “It’s all over the place with its haunting schedule.”
“I don’t know the rules. Maybe Liv can talk to them and clear things up,” she added with a bark of wry laughter.
He chuckled too, and realized with a start that he actually believed that was possible.
At this point, did he have a choice?
“I wish my hot tub was ready,” he said with a sigh. “It would be a great night to soak under the stars.”
“You’re getting a hot tub? Out on the patio, so you can simmer and soak while watching the sun set, with a glass of wine in your hand?” Her eyes were big and dreamy.
“I wasn’t really getting a hot tub, but I am now,” he replied with a grin. “That sounds perfect.” Then he looked at her. “My house or yours?”
She hesitated for a split second, then said, “I have work to catch up on. It’s home for me, and a nice glass of bourbon for company.”
Jake got the message, and, although he was disappointed, he understood. “I won’t argue if you promise me Helga’s bringing Butch over to chaperone you tonight.”
“I’ll text her right now.”
To Jake’s slight disappointment, Helga met them at Vivien’s house right away, as she’d had Butch with her on patrol. That meant he didn’t get to say goodbye to Vivien alone, and that he had to field questions about his pop. Apparently, Doug Horner had been filling in the Tuesday Ladies all about the events of the day, and the gossip trail went on from there.
Seeing that the two females were about to settle into a detailed discussion about Butch’s overnight requirements, he decided to throw in the towel for the evening. He had to get up early tomorrow anyway to get to the hospital and get Pop home. He’d already found someone to cover his shift in the morning, fortunately, but he had sourdough that was ready to be made into bread.
Mixing and kneading bread dough would be a very relaxing way to end a rollercoaster of a day—since he couldn’t have a hot tub or Vivien.
And it would also give him time to think.
* * *
“Soundslike you had lots of excitement yesterday,” said Orbra as Vivien ventured into the Tea House via the back entrance. She’d brought Butch to hang out with his great-aunt while she waited for Helga to come and pick her up.
“How’s Ricky doing?” Orbra continued after having given Butch an appropriate greeting. “Have a seat up there with Maxine and Juanita—if you don’t, they’ll just shout across the place at you until you do,” she added, shaking her head as they walked into the main seating area. “Not a good look for the customers.”
“Mr. DeRiccio should be coming home today. He was doing much better once they pumped some steroids into him,” Vivien replied.
“That’s what we heard. We’ve got a bunch of meals put together for him—Maxine and Juanita are going to take things over this afternoon after he gets home and settled.”
“That’s very nice of you,” Vivien replied, suddenly feeling guilty that one, she hadn’t thought to do the same, and two, that she didn’t cook, so she couldn’t even if the thoughthadoccurred to her. She supposed she could bring him a pizza—the guy was Italian; he’d probably go for that.
