“It’s inevitable.” He shrugs. “Hey! Those look like my momma’s dishes.”
He points to the open box of Turkish platters I bought from Marmalade and Rye, sitting on the end of the table.
“She collected all sorts of stuff. Well... she called it collecting. Others called it hoarding.”
My breath hitches as I recall the words that Mrs.Hampson had said about Mrs.Craft.
“Are you Ollie Craft?”
His eyes close to mere slits as he watches me. “Who’s askin’?”
My eyes dart from him to Corinne. She shakes her head slightly. “Me. I’m asking.” His features turn hard, and I fear the wrathful spirit from earlier is about to return, so I rush on. “I know Mrs.Craft, and you look a lot like her son who recently passed.”
He lifts his chin in answer. The harsh snarl from moments ago evaporates into something closer to sadness. “She’s a good woman. Don’t judge her based on my actions.”
I shake my head. “I wouldn’t. She’s always been very kind.”
“Were those her dishes?” Corinne asks, finally speaking for the first time in a bit. She sits in the chair closest to her.
I nod. “The owner of the store I bought them from said so.”
“Hmm...”
“Hmm... what?”
I’m growing so tired of hearing my own voice speak that word. If she’d only just be straightforward, we’d waste a lot less time.
“He’s connected to those platters,” she muses. “Incredible.”
She might be on to something. Could he be in limbo because his actions caused his mom to have to part with her favorite collection? Mrs.Hampson said she had to sell them to pay for his wake.
“Do you know why she sold them?” I ask, turning toward the dirty ghost.
He shakes his head. “No clue. But I know it had to be the most difficult thing she’s ever done. Those were an early wedding present for my sister. She died.”
A lump forms in my throat, and now I truly feel awful about the purchase. I might not have known, but the need to right this terrible wrong is intense.
I might not have known Oliver Craft, but I have dishes that link me to him. If I return them, could it be the key to getting this particular ghost to move on?
Could something in this house be tied to Billy too? Something from the scene of both our accidents? Can it possibly be that simple?
“What’s with the creepy smile?” Ollie directs to me.
I wipe whatever goofy grin I was sporting from my face, notwanting to tip him off to my plan. He made it clear he doesn’t want to go. I have to hope that he won’t have a choice once Mrs.Craft’s dishes are returned.
One ghost potentially down.
However, one thing lingers in my mind. Who was the ghostly woman, and what happened to her?
King of Pentacles
SUNDAY MORNING ROLLSaround and for the first time in weeks, I feel rested. I’ve managed to actually get dressed, opting for a pair of black leggings and an oversized gray sweater. I spent some time applying a bit of makeup and curling my hair too.
Not that my attempts hide my split ends, darkened roots, and bags under my eyes. It doesn’t matter. The only thing on my agenda today is a quick visit with Gloria Craft.
We’d decided that the dishes would be returned, but with some quick detective work on Corinne’s part, we found that Mrs.Craft spends most weekdays at a community senior center two towns over and has in-home care most evenings. Sunday is her only free day.
I just finished loading the first box, taking my time, unwilling to risk breaking them and ruining this whole experiment, while Corinne reads cards to see if anything has changed.
