Chapter 8 Garrick
Garrick
‘You should just text her,’ I tell Aldrich while we wait near the castle for my nighttime adventure to begin. It’s past ten, and all the lights are turned off, except a strategic few.
Aldrich shrugs, staring at the ground while he makes doodles with the rain-wet toe of his shoe on the cement. He can’t help himself – art is in his blood. He’s been accenting our walls with finger paintings since he was a toddler. ‘It’s not that easy for me. I’m not like you and Tristian.’
Fastening on my big brother mantle, I say, ‘You’re not like me, sure – but who is?
’ I nudge him with my shoulder to make him look up.
‘But Tristian? Please. He’s not at all smooth, and look at him – he got an amazing girlfriend.
Just slide into this girl’s DMs and ask her to come by for some rides or snacks. ’
‘Fine, I can send a message, sure, but what happens when she’s here in person?’ His cheeks are pink, and I don’t think it’s from the cold. ‘Like, what do I say? Every time I think about it, I get all tongue-tied and sweaty.’
‘Well, luckily it’s winter and you’ll be outside, so she won’t notice the sweat stains on your pits.’
‘Not helpful, dude.’
‘That was very helpful, actually. But since I’m such a kind and generous soul, how about I come along? We can do a double date or something.’
‘Aren’t you going to be a little busy with your reality show?’ He’s playing it off as a joke, but his lips dip a little.
‘Never too busy to help my little bro learn the finer points of courtship,’ I say, but he still looks skeptical. ‘Ivor and Tristian can have the true love. You and me –’ I fling my arm around his shoulders – ‘we’re just here for a good time.’
‘Love doesn’t sound that bad.’ He looks over at me with those big round eyes, his artist soul peeking out.
Great, I think. I’ve lost my last brother to the love boat.
‘Slow your roll, dude. Let’s get you a first date before you go drawing your future wife a wedding announcement.’
‘Thanks, G.’
My chest warms as his goofy smile clicks back into place.
‘Any time. But right now, I’ve got an adoring audience to entertain,’ I say as our group exits from the Fairytalers’ section and heads toward us.
‘So,’ I say, when we’ve all gathered, clapping my hands together so hard they sting – the frigid night air isn’t helping things, but it’s needed to set the mood.
‘Who’s ready for a ghost hunt?’ When Ripley asked me if I believed in ghosts, it took me about half a second to tell her that of course I did.
But I didn’t expect her to ask me to help her find one.
Melika jumps excitedly. ‘This is so cool.’ Frozen breath escapes from her wide grin, bright white teeth on full display.
‘I don’t know … I’m not really into tempting the spirit world,’ Nathan says, hand tucked into his plaid peacoat, shoulders pulled up to his ears to keep warm.
‘I give you my promise that all the ghosts here are friendly,’ I reassure them.
I glance over to Ripley, wearing her puffy jacket.
She must feel she’s being wrapped in a blanket.
Her face is unreadable – a look I’m realizing is her signature.
I can’t tell if she’s unhappy or excited.
I can never tell how she feels, which throws me off because I pride myself on being able to read people with ease.
I decide that my focus needs to be on the tour rather than deciphering the enigma that is Ripley.
I invited Tristian and Imogen along, as well as Aldrich and Tyrone – a nice size test group – thinking that maybe if I did a good job, Tristian and I could convince Ivor to host a Halloween ghost tour next year.
That’d be an awesome way to drum up more sales.
‘Dang, I was hoping for some vengeful spirits.’ Tyrone cracks a grin. ‘I brought my salt and everything.’
‘You watch too much Supernatural,’ Imogen counters. ‘FTG is more like chill spirits who just needed an eternal vacation. Right, Tristian?’
Tristian looks skeptical. ‘Or, you know, just an illusion brought on by mass hysteria.’
I slap him hard on the back. ‘Every show needs a naysayer. Glad you knew which part you were playing, brother. Speaking of, Aldrich, I need you to be my cameraman.’
He holds up his phone. ‘If there are ghosts, G, I’ll catch them.’
‘I knew I could count on you.’ With the roles set and the dark not getting any darker – it’s showtime.
‘To start our tour, we head down to the Village Center.’ I use a deep, low voice, adding a spooky rumble to my words.
The spookiness is offset by the cheerful Christmas decorations, but I’ll just pretend the vibe is A Christmas Carol, and I’m calling forth the ghosts of Christmas past, present and future.
They hang on my every word as I spin the scene. I walk backwards so I can adjust my performance should I see them losing interest. Luckily, I know this park better than anyone, so I could walk backwards with my eyes closed and never run into anything.
‘So, legend has it that many, many years ago, long before Fairytale Gardens was ever built, there was a murder on this very spot.’ Tristian tries to cover a laugh with a cough, but I take the high road and ignore him.
This isn’t a true story. But neither is the Fairytale Gardens epic and we pretend like it is all day.
All good narratives need a little embellishment.
‘Two men robbed a bank, and they were here trying to hide their loot, but one of them got greedy – let’s call him Simon – and decided he wanted the gold all for himself.
But the other man – Yanis – was no fool.
He sensed his partner was up to something, and before Simon could act, Yanis shot him in the chest and buried him, along with all the evidence of the crime, right here beneath these very cobbles you walk on.
Sadly, he never got to come back for the gold, for he died the next day in a freak carriage accident.
Some say the money from the bank was cursed, and that anyone who touches it will suffer the same fate. ’
Ripley gives a little scoff, and I look back at her. ‘Did you have something to add?’
She tugs on the ends of her ponytail. ‘No. Well, it’s just you might want to work on your story. Seems like you’re mixing a few too many cliches. I’d just streamline for believability.’
People might find this annoying. But I believe it shows engagement, which is essential. ‘You make some interesting points. We should brainstorm later, you and I.’ I wink.
I don’t wait for her response, knowing it’s probably a blank face. I lead us toward the Perilous Sea. It’s a cloudy night, and I’ve purposely left all the lights off to add to the eerie atmosphere.
‘Now, I know this is what y’all really came for.
Because this is where the real ghost lives.
’ I spin around, opening my hands wide as we reach Pirate Adventure.
‘It’s not just me who knows this story. If you search Fairytale Gardens online, you see lots of people talking about how they’ve seen a ghost among the pirates. ’
Aldrich chimes in, almost like we planned it – we did. ‘I’ve totally seen one.’
‘Tristian, get your camera ready. You’ll want to put this on the socials. If everyone wants to head inside, we’ll start the ride and I’ll point out the different places the ghost has been spotted.’
Everyone shuffles in, and Tristian gets the ride up and running, but I notice Ripley hanging back near the entrance.
‘Don’t wanna be stuck out here by yourself with the ghost, do you?’
Ripley holds herself tight as the wind cuts through. ‘I’m not that worried about it. I’ll wait at the exit for you.’
‘Ripley, I didn’t picture you as someone who was afraid.’
There’s a cute little uptick in her lips, and I’m going to say that it’s a smile. Her nose is pink from the cold. ‘I’m not scared of ghosts. I just don’t like theme park rides.’
My jaw drops as my eyes widen. I hold my hands up in retreat. ‘What? You don’t like theme parks?’
She plays with the zipper on her coat. ‘Technically, I said theme park rides. But also, you’re right, I don’t like theme parks either.’
‘That’s shocking, considering you approached me at a theme park.’
‘I don’t have to like the place to know it’s a good idea. So, go on with your ghost tour. I’ll wait out here.’ She slips her phone out of her pocket. ‘But if I see a ghost, I’ll make sure to send you a picture.’ She hops up to sit on the cement planter decorating the exterior.
I nod to Tristian and use our twin telepathy to tell him to go on the ride without me. I saddle up beside Ripley, spying a picture on her screen of her and a woman who must be her sister.
She looks over at me. ‘What are you doing?’
I shrug, kicking my legs out as I lean against the cement on one elbow, so I’m turned toward her. ‘I decided I don’t wanna go on the tour either. I’ve seen the ghost plenty of times. Me and Jeb are buds.’
‘Jeb?’ Her blue eyes are dark, like the deepest parts of the ocean.
‘Yeah, the ghost. You didn’t think his name was just ghost, did you?’
I watch the wheels turning behind Ripley’s eyes. ‘Good to know you and Jeb are on such good terms. We wouldn’t want him interfering with the filming.’
‘Ugh. I almost forgot about that.’ I scrub my hand across my face.
‘I thought you were excited?’
‘I am excited. I’m just ready to get started.’ Tilting my head back, I count the stars visible between the clouds. ‘All this prep is so much work. I’m usually “jump in and start” guy. I don’t like to plan.’
‘Good thing I’m here. Because this show won’t be successful without a lot of planning.’
I bump her shoulder. ‘Looks like we make a good team. But don’t worry, I won’t make you admit that. It can be our little secret.’
‘How chivalrous of you.’ She looks down, kicking her feet against the planter.
‘What?’ I ask as I study the change in her demeanor – tension in her shoulders and hands as she grips the cement.
‘I just – this is really important to my mom. I want this to go well for her. Beeloved needs this show to be a hit.’
‘You’re a great daughter. I can tell. I’m sure your mom knows you’re doing all you can to make this successful.
’ My throat tightens, and it has nothing to do with the cold closing my airways.
I like to think my mom knew I would help her with anything, but I was still so young when she got sick.
And I’ve done a lot of growing up in these last two years.
I just hope the kid I was then showed Mom how much she meant to me.
It’s a stupid thing to dwell on. I know there is nothing I can do about it now. But that doesn’t stop the thoughts from coming in uninvited.
‘But it’s not on me to make this a hit,’ Ripley adds, taking me out of my head. ‘You’re the star. There’s only so much I can do behind the scenes.’
‘We might have only just become friends,’ I say, and she scoffs. ‘But as I’m sure you can tell, I’m more than capable of carrying a show. I mean, look at my amazing ghost story.’
She turns her head, and I swear she’s hiding a smile. ‘Oh, trust me, I won’t be forgetting.’
‘Is that your sister?’ I nod to her phone.
‘Yeah, Anna.’
‘Older?’ I blow air into my hands to keep the feeling in them.
‘Yeah. She’s married.’ There’s a weird dip in her voice on the word married. ‘She has a little girl, Molly, the freaking cutest child ever. But Anna is set to have another baby soon – a boy – so, I guess I’ll have to amend that title.’
I can see the sadness in her eyes when she talks about them. It’s how I’d feel if my family wasn’t around during the holidays. ‘You should tell them to come by the park. I’ll give them a private tour.’
Ripley isn’t looking at me – her gaze is far away, like she really is seeing spirits from Christmas past. ‘The ghosts might be a bit much for Molly.’
‘All Christmas-themed, I promise.’
She bites her nail, before pulling away and shoving her hands into her pockets again. ‘I’ll consider it.’