Page 84 of A Haunting at Keystone Manor

Tom surprises me when he speaks up. “I like to go fishing when I start feeling the jitters. You should come with me next time, kiddo.”

“Yeah, I’d love that,” I say as I fail to keep the smile off my face. I’ve never been fishing, but I want to try.

He nods and stands up. “If you’ll excuse me, I need to go find the little boy’s room. This wine is going right through me.”

“Dad, oh my god! It’s through the kitchen to the left. Next to the laundry room.”

“Thanks, son,” he says and walks off.

Debbie looks after him fondly. “We’ve been talking about selling the house and finding a place out here. I’ve loved being here with you guys, and I want to be close. What do you think?”

“I would love that,” Alex says with tears in his eyes. “I want you to be close, too. You guys can stay in one of the cabins if you want, so you have some privacy from these hooligans until you find a place.”

She nods. “Easy decision, then. I can be close to both of my sons year round.”

I choke up at that. Both of her sons. No one’s ever treated me like a son before. Alex reaches a hand out to grab mine as I drop my gaze to the table, feeling embarrassed. I let him hold onto me and absorb the comfort he’s offering as I look around the table at everyone sitting here tonight, heart happy that this hotel that was once the cause of so much of my pain is now a place I can find comfort in.

“Thank you,” I say quietly.

After dinner, Sasha and Seth help Alex clear the table and clean up the kitchen. Brandon’s gone out front for a smoke, and Kayla scurried off with Frankie after one last failed bid for my attention. I sit with Debbie and Tom in the empty dining hall, not knowing exactly what to say, but feeling at ease in their presence in a way I never was with my actual parents.

“Well, son, you and Alex have really outdone yourselves with this place, I tell ya,” Tom says, looking around the room. The walls are papered in a faded red pattern, and the chandelier is a gaudy, solid gold monstrosity that somehow manages to fit the space.

“Thank you, sir. We’ve just gotten started, but it’s been great bringing the hotel back to life. My parents never cared enough to actually put any effort into it. Alex is the one who’s done all the heavy lifting.” I look down again. “I owe him everything, I guess.”

“Don’t call me sir, son,” Tom says gently.

I look up in surprise, and nod.

“As far as we’re concerned, you’re family now. You make my kid the happiest I’ve ever seen him, and I can’t tell you how grateful I am for that. All we’ve ever wanted was for him to be happy, and you’ve given him a place here.”

“I love him,” I say.

Tom nods his head. “That’s good. Once Alex has decided something is his, there’s no getting away. He’ll attach himself like a barnacle.”

I chuckle. “Yeah, that’s pretty much what happened. I wouldn’t have it any other way though.”

Debbie looks thoughtful. “Do we need to have the birds and the bees talk? I know you’re adults, but you should be practicing safe sex. Can ghosts get pregnant?” she muses.

I feel blood run to my cheeks. “I’m not going to get him pregnant.” As soon as I realize what I just said, I bury my face in my hands. “Oh my god, that’s not—I just mean, I’m always careful with him. Always. I never want to hurt him that way.” I look up to see them studying me intently, and I wish something would crawl out of the woodwork to kill me again.

“We know you wouldn’t, sweetheart,” Debbie says kindly.

Alex comes back in from the kitchen and plops down in my lap. “What are you guys talking about? I hope you’re not terrorizing my boyfriend too much.”

“We were trying to give him the sex talk honey, but it sounds like you’ve got things covered,” Debbie says.

Alex squawks. “Oh my god, mom! You guys are so embarrassing.”

I wrap my arms around him and chuckle into his hair as they continue chatting. I’m not paying any attention though, I’m too focused on the feel of Alex in my arms.

Eventually, we say our goodnights and head to our room for the night. Alex looks up at me with heat in his eyes and waggles his eyebrows. “You want to get frisky?”

I laugh and shake my head. “I don’t know if I can get it up after that conversation with your parents. All I can think about right now is getting you pregnant.”

“Sounds hot. I don’t know if that’s possible, but you’re welcome to try.”

I walk up to him and grab his hips. “Why don’t you get on your knees for me, brat, and get me ready. I can’t knock you up if I’m not hard.”