Chapter Two
Mr. Minegold never had to be invited in as her house was technically “vacant,” but he always waited politely for her answer to his courtly, “May I enter, Miss White?”
As always, Gloria smiled at the courteous vampire and concentrated hard, pushing her front door open wide.
“Indeed, Mr. Minegold. What brings you over so late?” It was almost dawn on Saturday morning.
Although Gloria didn’t have pressing errands to attend, Mr. Minegold was the unofficial mayor of Pine Ridge and a leader in the supernatural community—a community that blended seamlessly with the humans in town.
Most humans were terribly oblivious to things that they categorized as fictional or unexplainable, and the “monsters” of Pine Ridge were peaceful.
They gave no reason for humans to investigate.
And if any supernatural entity did cause trouble.
.. Mr. Minegold and several other residents of the Night Watch paid a visit.
Gloria thought rapidly. She hadn’t done anything unusual to attract attention. She couldn’t even leave the property of White Pines without assistance from someone well-versed in magic and spiritual matters. White Pines had been her entire world for decades.
“Jakob?” she used her old friend’s given name despite his stiff, formal manner. “What is it?”
“Sit?”
She pursed her lips. “I’ll try.” She could hover over a chair, but it was hard to force her noncorporeal essence to connect with a solid object and not go through it.
“No, never mind. There is no easy way to say this... Have you heard that Old Mr. Silverman passed away a few weeks ago?”
“The nice old man from the bank with whiskers in his ears?”
“The same.”
“I hadn’t heard. I haven’t... seen him, if that’s what you’re wondering.” Gloria was used to people asking if she could pass a message to their departed loved ones.
“I believe he has passed peacefully and is in the arms of his beloved Myrtle. No, the problem is with the bank. Mr. Silverman, who owned the bank, made sure White Pines was always kept in trust to the White Family. As some of us know, that account can be managed by you. But to the world...”
“I don’t exist. I know, dear.” Gloria gave Minegold a brave smile. It had been a century. It still hurt. For him, she thought, the pain must be worse. Minegold had lost his family in much more horrible circumstances, and his condition kept him from joining them.
“The bank is—was—managed by a board of directors until a new president could be installed. In the interim, a businessman from the city has bought the bank and all its assets. He’s going to place Mr. Silverman’s son as president.
Ahem. But he... He claimed White Pines for its market value and put the proceeds back in the trust. There’s some legal mumbo jumbo that allowed it.
I have been up all night with Jesse Smith and Alban Wymark, trying to see if we have any recourse. If you have any recourse.”
Gloria stared at the man across from her, his lean, sympathetic face and soulful eyes filled with worry.
“Wh-what will he do with it, this businessman?”
“He intends to live in it, according to Mr. Silverman. The younger Mr. Silverman, that is. He tried to dissuade the realtor acting for Mr. Creighton, but the realtor was most insistent. He said Mr. Creighton absolutely must have this house and would not take no for an answer. Alban looked up the man in question. He’s very wealthy and well-connected. ”
“Hm. A tycoon like my daddy.” Gloria forced a smile. She had loved her father dearly... except for his meddling in her love life and his clear preference for money over her and Mama. “Well. Lots of folks live in haunted houses.”
“Most without ever knowing it!” Mr. Minegold said excitedly. “I’m sure he’ll be no bother. Perhaps he’ll be a sympathetic sort and allow the book club and the flower show to continue here. And the All Hallow’s Ball.”
Gloria nodded. “Perhaps. Or perhaps...” She swallowed, throat somehow still tight even though it wasn’t made of flesh and bone any longer. “Perhaps he’ll be the sort to summon an exorcist.”
“You know perfectly well that won’t work in Pine Ridge. The only priest here who could perform an exorcism is not going to throw out an innocent woman from her home! You won’t harm the man or his family.”
“Family?” Gloria’s eyes suddenly glimmered with hope. “Has he a family?”
“I imagine he must. What man would buy such a spacious property for one person?”
Gloria didn’t comment. Her daddy built White Pines for three people. Well, three people and a dozen servants. Most families didn’t have servants now, from what she understood.
But a family! Now that put a different coat of paint on the picture!
People in Pine Ridge treated her like family, as a dear friend.
They helped her and supported her, but she was forced to admit that they weren’t truly her kin.
But if the Creightons moved in with a bunch of little ones.
.. Why, she could be their guardian ghost!
They could call her Auntie Gloria! She could watch them open presents on Christmas morning and help them inspect their haul after Trick-or-Treat.
Maybe they’d even get married on the grounds or in the ballroom, and she could watch it happen.
Life. Life with movement and love. Not a shadowy half-existence like hers, where things changed around her but she stayed the same, where she was forced to relive one night over and over each year. “Perhaps we’ll get on well together,” she said at last.
“I fervently hope so. Once they’ve settled in, Georgia can come up and ask to ‘rent’ the library for book club so you can still attend.
And we’ll talk to him about the other events as they come up.
” Minegold’s taut face relaxed. “You are such a brave spirit, Gloria. Ahhh. If I were but twenty years younger...”
“Don’t you mean twenty older, sweetie?” Gloria flirted back.
“You are ageless.” Minegold bowed.
“As are you.”
Minegold cleared his throat. “With the right maneuvers, it is possible to remove a spirit to a safe earthly location other than its home or the location of uh—expiration. I know Madge can do it with Tessa’s help.”
Gloria hesitated. Tessa Roscommon was an incredibly powerful witch, and Madge at the magic shop was an impressive magic user, as well. But if something went wrong... Fear gripped where her heart used to beat. Leaving home? Maybe she should.
But leaving this place would mean she’d never understand what happened the night she died.
Although a large part of her was tempted to ignore the mystery, some little piece of her soul was curious.
For a century, she had tried and failed to see past her own perspective and the terror that forced her to relive that horrible night once a year.
So far, she had failed. So far, she hadn’t given in to the temptation to quit.
“Where would I go?” Gloria murmured with a reluctant smile.
“Well... there are other houses in town. None so grand as this, but much closer to the center of things! Your friends could access you more easily. My home... You know that technically I’m the nearest neighbor.”
“It is tempting,” Gloria conceded with what she called her “demure” smile.
It was a smile she’d often put into use with her daddy’s business partners who made uncalled-for comments about her youth and beauty as well as with the young beaus who tried to take her onto the veranda and make time with her.
The smile was hard to read, but it was still a smile, and it typically made men be quiet.
Mr. Minegold wasn’t that sort of insincere, selfish man, though. “It’s so much to think about, my dear friend. You could always stay with me for a time. We would all help you find something permanent, posthaste.”
“I’ll remember that, Jakob. But I will plan to stay here and hope for the best!” She gave him a real smile. “The house is big. The Creightons probably won’t notice me. If they don’t bother me, I won’t bother them. We’re borrowing trouble, aren't we?”
Minegold’s eyes suddenly flashed a deep ruby red. “Trouble sometimes comes in unexpected forms. If they try to drive you out—we’ll drive them out. And we’ll get the property placed in the town’s name and we’ll... put up some sort of historical marker out front and have tours on Sundays.”
Gloria laughed. She felt warm suddenly, instead of her normal room temperature. “Thank you, Jakob. I’m not too worried.”
They locked eyes for a moment.
Gloria knew what his long, silent look meant.
The worst we could imagine has already occurred. A sudden searing pain hit her in the back, just where her spine met her hips.
She rose and pushed the phantom pain away. Her birthday wasn’t for another month. She could forget about it. The Creightons would distract her.
Minegold tipped his hat as he rose. “Good day, Gloria.”
“Good night, Jakob.”