There was a crack and a bang outside. I ran out. Morticia and Lilith sauntered behind me. Morticia raised a dark eyebrow as we inspected Garrett's car. A tree branch had split off and gone straight through the passenger-side window.
"It's the ghost, Bobby," Lilith said. "He doesn't like modern cars."
"He died right in the front room watchingAntique Roadshow," Morticia said.
"I don't care where he died, Garrett's going to killme. I can't believe I'm going to have to buy Garrett a new car," I groaned.
"It's a bad omen," Morticia said. "I'll burn some sage."
10
Garrett
Penny showed up the next morning with a black garbage sack billowing in the passenger-side window of my car. I sent Remy an email to have another car brought in and to send this one to a shop.
"My house is haunted," she said breathlessly. Music blared from the speaker as I buckled myself into the car.
"What is that?" I asked as we drove away.
"Oh, sorry!" she said, turning off the radio. "I was listening to Halloween carols."
I thought for a moment then turned her music back on, listening closely. "This is fromThe Nightmare Before Christmas," I said slowly.
"Yes," Penny said. "That's a Halloween movie."
"No, it's not," I said. "It is clearly a Christmas film."
"I guess you're entitled to your opinion even if it's wrong," she sniffed as she turned the car onto the main road. "Do you need coffee?"
Did I need coffee? Yes. Did I want to drink it out of a paper straw? No. Maybe I could drink it quickly.
* * *
"You know,you can call ahead for your order," Penny told me when we arrived at the Grey Dove Bistro.
"It's better to order it fresh," I countered.
"I have a surprise for you!" Hazel said as she took Penny's drink order. She was purchasing another huge container of pumpkin-spice latte.
"We have pumpkin-spice cheesecake lattes now," Hazel said. "I just invented it. Do you want to try it?"
"Um, yes, of course." Penny was excited.
I tried not to gag.
"We also have pumpkin hummus," Hazel said. "It's actually better than it sounds."
"I'll try it!" Penny said. "I need something for lunch."
"I thought you were eating another donut Danish," I said.
Penny nodded. "That too!"
Penny bounced up and down while we waited for our orders. "Stop it," I told her.
"You need to get with the Halloween program," Penny said, ignoring my tone. "It's not even October yet. Buckle up, pumpkin-cup. Oh!" She squealed when Hazel slipped the giant frothy orange monstrosity piled with whipped cream across the counter toward us. Penny took a long sip.
"It'ssogood," Penny said and made a moaning sound that was seriously destroying my concentration. "Garrett." She held the cup out to me. "You should try some. It will put you in the fall spirit."
