Page 13 of No Lies No Promises

“Wonderful.” Dropping a coffee pod in our machine, she reaches for a mug. “One more thing. I’m franchising our ghost business. I have six interested cities.”

Thank God. No more séances. “As long as Madam Woo Woo retires, I’m fine with whatever.”

“Great. I’ve decided on a completely different approach. Sit. I’ll show you.” She extracts a short brown candle and a flat glass holder from her apron pocket.

After placing them on the table, she flicks a lighter. A second later, my stomach churns.

“Holy crap, what is that? Eau de rancid meat?” Covering my nose, I open a window.

Meanwhile, Grams digs into the same pocket. As the candle smokes, she stares into the black fumes, waving a vintage baseball card over the flames.

“Trouble lies ahead.” Her face pales.

“Damn straight it does.” Sean’s face reddens as he snatches the relic from her fingers. “This is my 1987 First Bowman rookie issue. It’s worth over a thousand bucks. Where’d you find it?”

“Where I stored all your childhood toys, of course.” As if that explains everything, she licks two fingers, pinches the wick, then waddles to the door. “C’mon, Becks. Call for an Uber. Toodles, you two. We’re off to the senior center. More fortunes to tell.”

Rebecca shrugs. “Sorry about the smell. See you guys later.”

Strolling to the door, Sean whispers in her ear. “That candle needs to go.”

“I can’t promise, but I will try.” My sainted sister waves, then races down the hall. “Grams, wait up.”

After they’re gone, Sean and I stare at each other for a second, return to our food, then break into giggles.

Wiping my eyes, I kiss him. “Your grandmother’s a trip. You know that, right?”

Chapter 7

Sean

Lilly snatches a chunk of beef between her chopsticks. She chews, swallows, then points one at me. “My sister plus your grandmother equals too much drama. We may need to separate them.”

“Not going to argue.” Standing at the sink, I wipe the black residue from the vintage baseball card’s plastic cover, then set it on a top shelf. “Wonder if Grams remembers giving this to me?”

Lil smiles. “Tell me more about your collection… and for God’s sake, get off that leg.”

“Babe. I took a painkiller. It’s fine.” To make her happy, I ease into a chair, stretching my leg long. “Want me to drop my pants so you can kiss my boo boo?”

“Idiot. Don’t change the subject. Talk. Eat.” Sounding like Grams, Lil scoops rice into a bowl, covering it with spicy chicken and cashews.

As I snap apart my wooden utensils and rub them together, my mind drifts. “It was the start of summer vacation. I was so excited. Mom rented a place near the ocean and promised me two fun-filled weeks, but when her chauffeur picked me up from school, he explained she’d made other plans.”

Lil scoots her chair closer, then rests her hand on mine. “I’m so sorry, babe.”

“Long time ago.” Unwilling to meet her gaze, I stab at my food.

“Still sad.” She cups my cheek, waiting for my eyes to lift. “You should’ve come first.”

As I stare into the depths of her hazel eyes, I fall in love all over again.

“Says the woman whose father killed her mother?” It’s an assholey thing to say, but it’s time to change the subject.

“We were talking about the card, Sean.” Clearly, she’s not going to let this drop.

Given no other choice, I continue. “Mom’s driver dropped me off at Gram’s, who fed me homemade snickerdoodles. Later that evening, she brought out a cardboard cigar box crammed with tons of cards. Mostly Mets and Yankees. All season long, before bed, she held one between her fingers, telling me their paths to fame.”

“You’re so lucky to have such fond memories.” Pensive, her gaze drifts as she helps herself to more food.