“Busted,” Claire said with a laugh.
David pulled me into a hug. “I figured I’d come and help, and then we can grab something to eat before heading back.” He looked over my head at Claire. “And why do we need to find somewhere else to live? And no, I’m not so easily veered off topic.”
I’d discovered that firsthand when David started asking questions about the marks on my door a month ago.
She glanced from my pleading face to David’s. “Oh, you know. It has to be difficult for Ellie to live in the house where she grew up.”
“You mean the house where she suffered a horrible trauma?” David was quiet for several seconds when Claire didn’t give him an answer. “We’ll definitely keep that in mind. Now what do we need to do to finish up here?”
We spent the next half hour cleaning. When we were done, I stood in the doorway and spent a moment surveying the only place that had ever been completely mine. I had to wonder if Claire was right. I knew I should tell David the whole story—that she wanted me to tell him—but there was someone I needed to talk to first. I hadn’t seen him in weeks, and just the thought of it made me nervous.
Before I left for Chapel Hill, I needed to talk to Collin.
CHAPTER THREE
The next morning I texted Collin. It felt wrong and underhanded, but I knew it was the right thing to do. Although I had a hard time convincing myself of that fact since I was hiding my plan from David. We had promised not to keep secrets from each other. I justified my decision by telling myself that I’d tell David everything after I talked to Collin. For some reason, I felt the need to get his take on the situation before putting it out in the open. If Claire really could see ghosts, if they really did want her to help me, it might be a game changer.
Of course, I ran the very real risk of Collin refusing to tell me anything at all. But he knew much more than I did about demons and spirits, and his expertise in the supernatural might extend to ghosts. It was worth asking.
I composed the text after I put two breakfast casseroles in the oven and quickly sent it before I could change my mind.
Something’s come up. I need to talk to you as soon as possible.
I wasn’t sure the last part of the second sentence was necessary, but I wanted answers before we left for Chapel Hill later in the afternoon.
David walked into the kitchen and poured himself a cup of coffee. “Is Becky okay with running the inn this weekend?”
I shoved my phone into my jeans pocket. “Yeah. She’s happy to do it. She really likes the added responsibility.”
He kissed me and then looked around the kitchen. “Anything I can do to help?”
“Nope. Got it under control. It’s not so humid this morning. If you want, you can take your coffee out to the front porch before you leave for work.”
His forehead wrinkled. “And leave you in here working? Not likely. Besides, I’ll have plenty of time outside today.” He sat on a stool in the corner and studied me for a moment. “I’ve been thinking about what Claire said. Have you called Myra yet to arrange a time to meet her?”
“No,” I murmured, not looking at him. “I haven’t had a chance.” But that wasn’t why I hadn’t called. Considering the way she’d been brushing me off lately, I was worried how she would react to a suggested visit. What if she’d decided she preferred her new life without me? I wasn’t sure I could bear it.
“And Claire said a lot of things,” I said, wiping a counter and avoiding eye contact. My guilt over texting Collin was already eating at me. “Especially after Drew joined us for dinner and she and I split a bottle of wine.”
“I really like Drew. He seems like a good bloke.”
“Yeah, I like him too. We’ve been friends for even longer than Claire and me. Did you know that Drew’s had a crush on Claire since she first moved to town in the third grade?”
“You’ve mentioned that about ten times, and I’m talking about when Claire said we should find somewhere else to live.” He quirked an eyebrow before taking a sip of his coffee. “I’m on to you, love. I know when you’re trying to steer the conversation in a different direction.”
I rested my butt against the counter to watch him. “She’s just being a protective best friend.”
“I know. But I can’t help wondering if she’s right.”
I released a heavy sigh. “David.”
“No, hear me out. I know you hate your bedroom, but we’re staying in there anyway since you refuse to invade Myra’s room. Let’s give the boarders notice, search the house from top to bottom again, then put the property up for sale.”
My muscles tensed. “You want me to give up on it just like that?”
He cringed. “I didn’t mean to put it so flippantly.”
“This house has belonged to my family for over one hundred years. My father did everything he could to save it. What would he think of me if I just left?”
“Ellie, the way I see it, you have two choices: you can either be an innkeeper or you can be the Curse Keeper. The inn is a distraction for you. You constantly worry about money and making sure the guests are happy. It’s draining you. You can’t deny it.”
I stayed silent.
“If your father were here right now, you know which one he’d choose.”
I pushed away from the counter and moved to the sink. “I don’t want to talk about it.”