a crime against walking now?”
“No,” Teddy said. “I’ve just never known you to be much of a walker.”
“And The Overlook is ten miles away,” Dad added. “That’s a long walk for someone of your … advanced maturity.”
Thistle snorted. “That was just a fancy way of calling you old, in case you missed it.”
“I didn’t miss it, trouble,” Aunt Tillie said. “I’m choosing to rise above it. That’s what a lady of proper breeding does. I’ll have you know, Warren, I’m in the best shape of my life. I could run a marathon.”
“When have you ever run anywhere?” Bay asked.
“Focus less on me and more on your boyfriend,” Aunt Tillie said. “He’s obviously feeling neglected.”
Landon shook his head. “Nope. I’ve decided to get hammered.” He poured himself another glass of wine.
“I thought you were worried about a hangover?” Jim asked.
“It doesn’t matter at this point,” Landon said. “This night is just going to keep going downhill. I might as well be drunk for it.”
I glanced over at Sam. His face was unreadable, but he was downing his own glass of wine in tandem with Landon.
I leaned in closer to him. “Are you okay?”
“Well, let’s see,” Sam said, his tone flat. “We were supposed to have a romantic weekend alone, and instead we’ve been forced to hang out with people who hate me. There’s a rogue ghost on the loose, and Aunt Tillie is clearly up to something – which means this place could explode in the next few hours.
“I’m great,” Sam said, reaching for another bottle of wine. “Getting drunk sounds like a superb idea.”
I pinched the bridge of my nose. This was the worst weekend ever, and I once watched Aunt Tillie do a spell that caused every underground sprinkler in downtown Hemlock Cove to go off at once and flood the downtown – in zero-degree temperatures. It was like living in a skating rink for three weeks.
“Pass me the wine,” I said.
I needed to hide somewhere. Wine seemed like a viable option.
Seven
“This pork tastes salty.”
Dinner was going pretty much how we expected it to go. Aunt Tillie was zinging barbs left and right, and our fathers were trying to dodge them without reaching across the table and throttling her. As for the guests? They found Aunt Tillie delightful. I had no doubt it was because they thought she was crazy.
“It’s brined,” Dad said. “It’s supposed to taste salty.”
“Salt is bad for you,” Aunt Tillie said. “It gives you high blood pressure and heart attacks. That’s why we never use too much salt at The Overlook.”
“And the food is good at The Overlook?” Clara asked.
“It’s the best in the state,” Aunt Tillie said, guileless.
“That’s funny. Warren said that the Dragonfly had the best food in town.” Clara really was clueless. She was so busy flirting with Jack she’d missed every other clue tossed about the table that night.
Aunt Tillie narrowed her eyes. “Did he?”
Dad swallowed hard. “Taste is a matter of opinion.”
“Really? Hmmm.”
I didn’t like the look on Aunt Tillie’s face.
“So, Landon, do you think the food here is better than at The Overlook?” Aunt Tillie’s question was pointed.
Landon’s face was flushed from wine consumption, and he didn’t look like he had a care in the world. “I prefer the food at The Overlook,” he said. “You guys always make my favorites.”
Aunt Tillie beamed, her anger with him fleeting – as usual.
“You’re just saying that because Tillie is here,” Jack grumbled.
“No, I’m saying it because I happen to like the food at The Overlook,” Landon said. “I eat there several times a week. I think I know what I like. I particularly like breakfasts.”
Landon was purposely baiting Jack. I think the wine was going to his head, and he appeared to be spoiling for a fight.
“You eat breakfast there a lot, do you?” Jack was also ready to fight. This had been brewing for a while, but it looked
“No,” Teddy said. “I’ve just never known you to be much of a walker.”
“And The Overlook is ten miles away,” Dad added. “That’s a long walk for someone of your … advanced maturity.”
Thistle snorted. “That was just a fancy way of calling you old, in case you missed it.”
“I didn’t miss it, trouble,” Aunt Tillie said. “I’m choosing to rise above it. That’s what a lady of proper breeding does. I’ll have you know, Warren, I’m in the best shape of my life. I could run a marathon.”
“When have you ever run anywhere?” Bay asked.
“Focus less on me and more on your boyfriend,” Aunt Tillie said. “He’s obviously feeling neglected.”
Landon shook his head. “Nope. I’ve decided to get hammered.” He poured himself another glass of wine.
“I thought you were worried about a hangover?” Jim asked.
“It doesn’t matter at this point,” Landon said. “This night is just going to keep going downhill. I might as well be drunk for it.”
I glanced over at Sam. His face was unreadable, but he was downing his own glass of wine in tandem with Landon.
I leaned in closer to him. “Are you okay?”
“Well, let’s see,” Sam said, his tone flat. “We were supposed to have a romantic weekend alone, and instead we’ve been forced to hang out with people who hate me. There’s a rogue ghost on the loose, and Aunt Tillie is clearly up to something – which means this place could explode in the next few hours.
“I’m great,” Sam said, reaching for another bottle of wine. “Getting drunk sounds like a superb idea.”
I pinched the bridge of my nose. This was the worst weekend ever, and I once watched Aunt Tillie do a spell that caused every underground sprinkler in downtown Hemlock Cove to go off at once and flood the downtown – in zero-degree temperatures. It was like living in a skating rink for three weeks.
“Pass me the wine,” I said.
I needed to hide somewhere. Wine seemed like a viable option.
Seven
“This pork tastes salty.”
Dinner was going pretty much how we expected it to go. Aunt Tillie was zinging barbs left and right, and our fathers were trying to dodge them without reaching across the table and throttling her. As for the guests? They found Aunt Tillie delightful. I had no doubt it was because they thought she was crazy.
“It’s brined,” Dad said. “It’s supposed to taste salty.”
“Salt is bad for you,” Aunt Tillie said. “It gives you high blood pressure and heart attacks. That’s why we never use too much salt at The Overlook.”
“And the food is good at The Overlook?” Clara asked.
“It’s the best in the state,” Aunt Tillie said, guileless.
“That’s funny. Warren said that the Dragonfly had the best food in town.” Clara really was clueless. She was so busy flirting with Jack she’d missed every other clue tossed about the table that night.
Aunt Tillie narrowed her eyes. “Did he?”
Dad swallowed hard. “Taste is a matter of opinion.”
“Really? Hmmm.”
I didn’t like the look on Aunt Tillie’s face.
“So, Landon, do you think the food here is better than at The Overlook?” Aunt Tillie’s question was pointed.
Landon’s face was flushed from wine consumption, and he didn’t look like he had a care in the world. “I prefer the food at The Overlook,” he said. “You guys always make my favorites.”
Aunt Tillie beamed, her anger with him fleeting – as usual.
“You’re just saying that because Tillie is here,” Jack grumbled.
“No, I’m saying it because I happen to like the food at The Overlook,” Landon said. “I eat there several times a week. I think I know what I like. I particularly like breakfasts.”
Landon was purposely baiting Jack. I think the wine was going to his head, and he appeared to be spoiling for a fight.
“You eat breakfast there a lot, do you?” Jack was also ready to fight. This had been brewing for a while, but it looked
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