Page 56 of The Roommate Lie

I don’t tell her what’s waiting around back. I let Alice finish admiring the hotel parlor at the end of the block before I nudge her around the corner, and she gasps again.

From the street out front, those Old Ponderosa Museum buildings look like they’re nestled right against the mountainside behind them. But that’s only an illusion. A small grassy field lies in between, and the rest of the living history museum is sprawled every which way like a dream come true—Alice’s dream come true.

There are so many historic treasures waiting for her: a blacksmith shop, a stable, an old homesteading cabin. Even that familiar row of buildings we’ve already seen are better back here, their rear doors propped open and museum volunteers waiting inside. All of them dressed in full period outfits as they get ready to tell us what life was like in old Ponderosa Falls.

We explore everything. After watching the welcome video at the hotel, we try hardtack at the general store and sample Dr. Abernathy’s World Famous Traditional Ginger Tonic at the apothecary. We even have time for the blacksmith demonstration, and Alice volunteers to crank the handle on the forge.

But I save the best historic gem for last. The weirdest gem.

There aren’t any old mines in this part of town, but they built a replica for the museum. A mine shaft entrance that sits against the side of the mountain. I lead Alice inside, and she clings to my arm as darkness folds around us.

It’s a small, cramped space. The walls and ceiling are lined with a thin layer of rock, and it makes it feel like you’re actually down in a mine somewhere. A few lanterns flicker on the walls, but once our eyes adjust, it still feels darker than it should. The room has an almost eerie glow, and it takes Alice a while to let go of my arm. When she does, she reaches for my hand instead.

That isn’t why I brought her here—to hold hands in the dark—but it might be my new favorite part of this exhibit. I guide her around that small, cramped room as she admires the artifacts and reads the signs. Meanwhile, I try to survive the feel of herpalm against mine. How nice it is to hold on to her while she holds back.

Alice doesn’t seem to care about our hands. She’s too busy living her best historic life, until she spots the real oddity in the room: a wooden doll in a display case. The strangest artifact in our entire museum.

The doll has a long, pointed nose and giant elf-like ears. It looks like a leprechaun’s cave-dwelling cousin. Or a gnome’s evil best friend.

“Sweet mother of nightmares,” Alice whispers. “What is that?”

“It’s a tommyknocker.”

That explanation doesn’t help, and she glances at me, startled. “Like the Stephen King novel?”

She says that like she has a personal vendetta against Stephen King. As if he’s wronged her somehow or recently betrayed her.

“Not sure—I haven’t read that one. They’re actually an old mining thing, though. People thought tommyknockers were mythical creatures who lived in the mountains. If they blew out your candle, it meant the mine wasn’t safe anymore, and it was time to get out.”

I always loved that story when I was a kid, the idea of little creatures helping the miners stay safe. And I think Alice likes it too. A faint smile plays on her lips, an “isn’t history great?” smile. Though she still looks scared.

We wander around the fake mine a little more. When she’s done, Alice pulls me toward the exit, the sunlight outside stinging my eyes. But she stops before we reach it, as if Alice has spotted something far worse than that tommyknocker doll.

I can’t see anything, but a female voice echoes in the distance. One I wish I didn’t recognize.

“Jason, you know I don’t like museums,” Tiffany says. “Why are we here?”

Chapter Twenty-Nine

ALICE

That voice pins me in place. I hear Tiffany, and I’m useless.

What are they doing at my museum?

Jason has never liked this sort of thing. He’s grumbled his way through every museum date we’ve ever had, even when those dates were his idea. And Tiffany just announced her anti-museum manifesto to the world. Why have they invaded my new corner of paradise?

Not fair.

They pause outside the mine shaft entrance, and I beg the universe for salvation.Please don’t let them duck inside.Tiffany can have Jason—I’m over it. That man already broke my heart; the damage is done. He can move on all he wants.

But my new favorite museum is off-limits. And that includes this bizarre exhibit with its unholy tommyknocker doll. This creepy little slice of history ismine.

“Don’t get me wrong,” Tiffany says. “I love that you made a special list of stuff we could do on our week off. I’m just not sure why this was on it. Or why it was all starred and underlined like it was some kind of main event.”

I inhale a pained breath. There’s a lot to be upset about in what she just said. My ex made a fun vacation list for Tiffany, and it included a museum trip I would’ve loved. He took the week off.That man couldn’t commit to scheduling a few days off for me—he pretended he was so busy at work, I shouldn’t even visit—but now he can take an entire week?

Except…I’m not upset. Her words sink in, and they don’t sting the way I expected. Charlie thinks I’m upset, though. He gently squeezes my hand to comfort me, and the most pleasant warmth spreads up my arm.

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