Page 96 of Treasure and Tarot

The first bunch of pages were full of old postcard greeting cards. Not like travel postcards. But the flowery, gorgeous old Christmas and Valentine’s and Easter cards.

Then the pictures started. Page after page of pictures with white borders, so many of them labeled things like Mama, 1912and Auguste, 1918. He loved the clothes, and Abby even stayed riveted by the people that neither of them knew.

But Sebastian felt it. These were his people.

“This is our family from a long time ago, baby girl.”

“Your parents?”

“No. No, this is their great grandparents and stuff.” Or maybe older? He counted back generations. Great-great? That was awesome.

He was looking at the 1920s when a knock sounded at the door, and he frowned. He started to lever to his feet, but someone pushed him back down.

“Hey! Stop that. I need to go get the door.” He stood, but his phone flew off the table and landed on his foot. “Ow! Abby, can you pick that up?”

“Uh-huh.” She hopped down to grab it. “Are you calling Papa?”

“You know what, my amazing girl? I think that that’s a perfect idea. Can you hold Daddy’s phone?” Colton was absolutely the right person to call.

The knocking came again, sharper this time, more demanding.

“Siri, call Colton and put it on speaker.” He managed to get to his feet, but it was like he was moving through molasses.

“Hey, babe, what’s up?”

“Papa, I have the phone.”

Colton’s voice automatically went sharp. “Abby, what’s wrong with your daddy?”

“Somebody’s banging at the door, Papa. Somebody’s hitting the door really hard!”

He raised his voice over the din. “I’m fine, but the ghosts are not happy that someone’s at the door. Like seriously. Can you come home now?”

“I’m on my way.”

“Stay on the line, okay? Abby’s got the phone. I’m going to the door.”

“Are you sure that’s a good idea?”

“No.” As he got to the door, an apparition appeared before him, just clear as a bell.

Or, more likely, a Belle.

The man wore a long white nightshirt, and he was frowning as he shook his head.

“Just leave the door, baby. I’ll be there in two shakes. Whoever it is, tell him to leave us alone.”

“Open the door. Open the door, you little slut. Money-grubbing gold digger.”

Abby’s eyes went wide and worried, and she started to cry. “They’re being loud, they’re yelling, Papa. Help!”

“I think it’s your parents, Colton.”

“Don’t answer the door. I’ll deal with it.”

Maybe he was supposed to deal with it. Sebastian didn’t know. He did know that he was aggravated though.

The ghost shook his head again.

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