Page 43 of The Ghost of Ellwood
“Morning, Ben.”
I jumped as Theo appeared directly in front of me. “Jesus Christ!”
“Oh, I apologize.” His wide-eyed look rang of innocence, but that damn smirk in the corner of his mouth gave him away.
“Uh huh.” I walked around him to grab a mug and pour my coffee. “It’s okay. I deserved it. I’m sorry for the things I said to you.”
Theo bowed his head. “Forgiven.” He followed me to the table. “I read more of Holmes and Watson while you slept. They, indeed, solved the mystery of the hound’s alleged curse.”
“Thank goodness for that.” I smiled around my cup as I took a drink.
“I should inform you that I hid the journal again.”
“Why?”
Shadows lingered in his eyes. “Because I’m not ready for you to read the final entry. The entry itself is painful to remember, but it’s what follows it that I’m not yet prepared to discuss with you.”
“If that’s what you want.”
“It is.” Theo straightened the sleeves on his shirt. “Besides, you need to work, and I will not let my journal be a distraction.”
He had a point there.
“Okay.”
A while later, I went to my office and he followed. And we eased into a comfortable silence together, me typing away on my laptop and him with his nose buried in a book.
It was peaceful.
Chapter Ten
Carter shivered as the evening breeze swirled around us. We walked through the downtown area, taking in the sights and smells. He had called me earlier in the afternoon and asked if I wanted to go out tonight.
“Not like a date,” he had said in a rush. “Just for coffee or something. It’ll do you good to get out of the house for a bit.”
I hadn’t argued.
Other than leaving for groceries, I hadn’t spent much time outside the manor. I had been too swept away by the mystery of Theo and the answers within his journal. Over the past three days, he had allowed me to read more of the entries—after I had written a little. But when I reached the last one, he had taken it from me again.
“How are things with Theo?” Carter asked, flicking his head to get his shaggy bangs out of his face.
“Great. I think we’re friends now.” I smiled at the revelation, though I felt more than friendship toward the hauntingly beautiful man in my home.
“Friends with a ghost.” Carter shot me a lopsided grin. “Like Casper.”
I snorted and bumped into him. “Dork.”
He chuckled as he was knocked off balance. “Jerk.”
“I found out something interesting,” I said, as we reached the coffeehouse.
“Yeah? What?”
I opened the door and entered the shop after him. The aroma of coffee and sweets was enticing, and so was the warm air. The October night wasn’t too cold, but it certainly held a bite to it.
“HarveyisEdward. It’s his middle name.”
“No shit?” Carter gaped. We ordered our drinks and sat at a table in the corner. “I’ve gone through more of the attic and found some things about Edward. I didn’t think much about it, though, because I was searching for a Harvey. But I’ll take another look and let you know what I find.”
