Page 10 of The Curse Breakers

“He never made a big deal out of it. That’s just the kind of guy he was.” He shifted his weight. “So now I feel like I owe it to him to make sure you’re okay.”

“I’m fine, Tom. You won’t find me in the gardens again.”

“It’s not just that, Ellie. I can tell that you’re in some kind of danger.”

“I’m not. I assure you.” I hated lying, but I saw no other way around it. “Questioning Myra is only going to upset her more.”

Tom didn’t look convinced.

“Fine,” I lowered my voice and put my hand on his arm. “Talk to her but promise that you’ll be gentle. She looks like she’s handling all of this well, but I suspect she’s hiding most of her pain from me.”

“I wouldn’t dream of hurting her.”

“I know.” I dropped my hand. “I’ve got work to do. Thanks for sharing that story about Daddy with me.”

“You’re welcome. I suspect there’s a lot more stories about your dad that you’ve never heard before.”

I suspected he was right. If only some of them could help me now.

Chapter3

After Myra left, I went outside and called the phone number listed on the university’s web page and confirmed with a departmental assistant that Dr. Preston would have office hours from one until three. Which meant that if Claire and I left between nine thirty and ten, we’d have at least an hour to spare. I called her and arranged to pick her up at ten.

After changing the linens and starting the laundry, I told Becky that I needed to leave for the day. She was used to my sporadic schedule and didn’t say a word, but I had to wonder if she was getting tired of all my slacking lately.

Claire and I were on the road by ten, crossing the Virginia Dare Bridge to the mainland.

“This marsh gives me the creeps,” Claire mumbled, hunched down in the passenger seat.

“What are you talking about? We have marshes all over Manteo.” I was just grateful I wasn’t feeling the usual anxiety that troubled me when I left the island.

“I know, but something about this stuff doesn’t feel right.”

The reeds growing along the side of the highway looked exactly like the marshland on our island, but I had to admit that Claire was right. Something about it set my nerves on edge. I couldn’t help wondering if some of the spirits had hidden here, lying in wait as they preyed on squirrels and salamanders, growing stronger.

I shuddered. This is what my life had become—a constant battle with enemies, real and imagined.

We stopped a couple hours later and grabbed some deli sandwiches to eat on the way. The closer we got to the university, the more nervous I became.

“Do you know what you’re going to say?” Claire asked.

“I don’t know. I can’t tell him the truth, obviously.”

“I agree. You can’t be in my wedding in a couple of weeks if you’re locked up in the psychiatric ward at the Outer Banks Hospital. Then I’d have to move Melanie up as maid of honor, and all that fighting will have been for nothing.”

“I still feel bad that you and Melanie fought over me being your maid of honor.”

“Hey, it’smywedding. That’s something I get to choose. You and I are much closer than she and I will ever be.”

“Hmm…” I twisted my lips together as I thought about it. “Do you remember when Melanie dated Tom Helmsworth?”

She rolled her eyes. “I think he’s spent the past nine years trying to forget it. She treated him like crap.”

“He came by the B&B to talk to Myra today.”

Claire sat up and grabbed the dashboard. “About you? He’s really making the rounds, huh?”

“Yeah. He drove my car back to my apartment from the Elizabethan Gardens, and he was bringing her the keys since I wasn’t home. He was actually off duty…He told me he felt a responsibility to watch over me.”

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