CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
TAYLOR
Taylor pulled up to The Woodlands, eager to talk to GG about the Maynard family. She had a feeling that the real story behind Carol wouldn’t be found at the Historical Society or in a newspaper. Besides, she loved seeing her grandmother.
When she entered GG’s apartment, she was chatting with her new friend, Betsy Norris, who’d moved to the area to be near her son.
“Hi. I don’t mean to interrupt. Do you want me to come back later?” Taylor asked.
“Not at all. Come join us.”
“Actually, I have to leave for a doctor’s appointment shortly. I’d better go get ready. But it’s always lovely to chat with you, Genie.”
GG rose and walked Betsy to the door. “You come back soon. Good luck with your appointment.”
She returned to her. “Taylor, dear, how nice to see you. What brings you here?”
“A ghost,” said Taylor, grinning. “Actually, I wanted to talk to you about the Maynard family.”
“Oh? I don’t know how much help I’ll be. I wasn’t close to them. But sit down. We’ll talk.”
After GG got settled in her favorite chair, Taylor sat on the edge of the couch at the end closest to her. “We had one of Crystal’s friends hold a séance at the cottage to see if she could tell if a ghost actually was there.”
“And?”
“She said a spirit, a young woman named Carol, was present. That she’d had a lot of heartache. That Carol wanted us to find love and be happy.” Taylor couldn’t stop her shoulders from shivering. “It’s eerie, I know.”
“Strange, indeed, but possible,” said GG. “The older I get the more open-minded I am. Life is a mysterious gift.”
“What do you know about Carolyn Maynard?” Taylor asked, taking out a pen and notepad. “We’re wondering if she’s really the young woman called Carol.”
“Not much. As I said, I wasn’t close to the family. As a matter of fact, I didn’t care for Milton Maynard. I thought he was a bully to his family. Very controlling. Carolyn was never allowed to date like other girls her age.”
“But you reached out to Mrs. Maynard after he died,” said Taylor.
“Of course. Women must support one another, and she needed housing. It was the least I could do. And I know that while Addie Maynard lived at the cottage, she did the same for others who needed help.”
“Did her daughter move in with her?”
“I believe so,” said GG. “But there was some sort of painful rift between her and her mother, and she left. Addie wouldn’t talk about it. That’s all I know.”
“We know Carolyn died in December of 2002, and that Mrs. Maynard died Christmas Eve of that same year. But we don’t know anything else about her.”
“Look her up in the school yearbook,” said GG. “Perhaps her picture is there.”
“I wish I’d thought to go to the high school,” said Taylor. “Now, how about you? How are you?”
GG’s smile lit her blue eyes. “I’m fine. Just glad to be here when all you girls are finding love.”
Taylor frowned. “All except Whitney. She’s not sure she can be with Nick because his work is dangerous. She was very shaken by the shooting. And she still is receiving phone calls from some jerk threatening her.”
“Our lyrical, emotional Whitney will be fine,” said GG. “I’m not surprised she has second thoughts, but I think it’ll all turn out the way it should.”
“And how’s that?” asked Taylor.
GG chuckled. “With love, of course.”
Taylor shook her head. “And my sisters think I’m such a romantic.”
GG grinned. “Nothing like a little romance to make life full.”
Taylor threw her arms around GG. “I love you so much.”
“Love you too, sweet girl,” GG murmured giving her a strong hug back.