Page 46 of Save the Drama for your Mama
Alfredo grinned devilishly. “Do tell.”
I pointed to his plate. “Your bangers and mash are getting cold.”
“Hey—I’m just curious what you crazy kids are up to in that big old house all alone,” Alfredo said innocently, then turned to Melody. “I’m sure you have at least seen Cooper walking around in his undies.”
She snorted. “What makes you say that?”
“You’d be surprised what I can see from next door,” Alfredo said with an exaggerated wink.
I pulled out my phone and pretended to record a memo. “Note to self: get thicker curtains for the windows, or better yet, sell the house and move to Alaska.” I shook my head in amusement, slid my phone back in my pocket, and pulled out the engagement ring from the safe deposit box, holding it toward Alfredo. “Changing topics, why was my mom engaged to James Blade before she married my dad?”
Alfredo’s eyes went as wide as saucers at the sight of the engagement ring. He snatched up his beer mug and chugged half of it in one go, then set it down with a hollow thunk. “I’m afraid I can’t answer that.” He avoided my gaze.
“Because you promised my mom?” I prodded.
Alfredo held up his palms. “You know my word is my bond, Cooper. I swore to her I wouldn’t say a thing.”
I sighed, leaning back in my chair. “You’ve always been an honorable man. It’s one of the things I admire most about you, except for times like these when I really need information.” I chuckled and popped another squishy fry into my mouth.
Alfredo gave a sheepish grin and a shrug. “Sorry, pal. My hands are tied.”
“I guess we’ll just have to go through her old diaries until we uncover the truth ourselves.”
At this, Alfredo grimaced. “You won’t find anything there either.”
I blinked in surprise. “And why’s that? How do you know what’s in her diaries?”
My mom had always boasted of never missing a day in her diary since getting her first one at sixteen. She even found time for entries when she was in labor with me and Chad. There were decades of her diaries up in the attic.
Alfredo hesitated. “Because when your mom got sick, she gave several years of her diaries to me and asked me to . . . dispose of them.”
My eyes went wide. “And you did?!”
He held my gaze and gave a single nod.
I sighed and glanced over at the band setting up on the far end of the patio, frustration welling up inside me. There had to be some other clues up in the attic to piece together this mystery. Something didn’t add up, and I was going to find out what it was, whether Alfredo helped or not.
“Come on,” I pleaded. “Give me a hint about what happened. Is there anything else up in the attic? Some small detail you didn’t explicitly promise my mom you’d keep secret? Throw me a bone.”
Alfredo frowned, looking conflicted. “A picture is worth a thousand words.”
I leaned forward. “What picture? The one with James and my mom that I showed you?”
Alfredo held up a hand, cutting me off. “That’s all I can say. I told you I don’t want your mother’s ghost coming back to haunt me for breaking my vow.”
“Do you really believe in ghosts?” Melody asked.
“I’ve worked over five decades at the cemetery, and let’s just say I’ve seen and heard more than enough to be convinced,” he said. “If that’s not proof enough, there’s Kate Morgan’s story.”
In 1892, Kate Morgan checked into the Hotel del Coronado. Five days later, she was found dead. Since then, guests have reported flickering lights, moving objects, temperature changes, and sightings of Kate’s ghost in her former room and around the hotel.
“Researchers have documented unexplained activity in Kate’s room using cameras and sensors,” Alfredo added. “It happened.”
All the locals know that Kate’s story has intrigued visitors from all over the world for over a century, making her former room the most popular in the hotel. The gift shop is also said to be haunted by Kate’s ghost, with objects mysteriously falling off shelves without breaking.
“Enough of this silly ghost talk—it looks like you and I will be doing some research on James this evening after dinner, if you’re up for it,” I said to Melody, knowing full well she wouldn’t be able to say no.
Melody reached over and squeezed my arm with a teasing smile. “I thought you’d never ask.”
