Page 42 of Purrfectly Haunted

“They better clean after themselves,” she says.

The four of us sit on the floor around the tray to eat our sandwiches and drink our tea. The firelight dances on Ewan’s face, and he looks at peace, at last. We are still drunk from our night out, and none of us can seem to act normal. Lana almost chokes on a slice of ham and drops her mug on the carpet.

The seven cats all appear one by one and find spots to nap on the many chairs around us. For once, I’m unbothered. I’m warm and in pleasant company, sobering up in the best way possible, with a warm cup of tea and Ewan’s shoulder touching my thigh. He stayed on the floor after eating his sandwich. Shirley is sitting by his side, and Lana by mine on the couch. We’re like four peas in a pod.

I’ve been travelling all over the UK for a few years now, going from one odd job to the next, the anxiety of my twenties dodging my every step. I want to experience it all, have fun, meet new people. Thinking about finding a place to live and put down roots is daunting. What if I miss opportunities because I stayed put for too long?

I won’t lie, sometimes this life is exhausting, and I feel like I’m never really taking time to breathe. My parents are divorced and I don’t have a childhood home to go back to.

But maybe home isn’t a place. Maybe home is where your weird friends are, I think as I watch Ewan and Shirley play with one of the cats. Two ghost hunters hanging out with a couple of colourful women living in a haunted house.

I chuckle. Booze makes me sentimental.

I watch the flames as we’re bathed in gentle heat. None of us have fed the fire, and yet it’s still burning bright. Is the house watching over us?

Lana drops her head on my shoulder. “I love this house,” she says, voice drowsy. Maybe she’s been thinking about the same thing as me. “I won’t let it crumble.”

I nod and let my cheek touch her head. “We’re here to help.”

To my horror, one of the cats jumps on me. It’s the white one, Misty. She watches me, purring like an engine, then curls on my lap. Now that I know the felines are probably part of the house, I can’t help but to think maybe she approves. I don’t shoo the cat.

The other two are winding down, too, and Ewan’s head rests on my thigh now. I slide my fingers in his hair and stroke it gently. He melts under my touch.

The four of us drowse in front of the fire, this moment so perfect I want to make it last forever.

ten

A Shakespearean revelation

EWAN

Around six in the morning, guests find the four of us still in front of the fire, snoozing. We help Lana and Shirley ready the breakfast station in the kitchen by pulling out the butter and jams, and refilling the cereal dispensers and the pitchers of orange juice. Then we all drag our feet to our respective bedrooms, leaving the hostel to be managed by the cats and the employees who didn’t party with us last night.

Lana kisses us both on the cheek, and Shirley hugs us. They walk away, hand in hand, and I feel envious of their easy friendship.

For a moment, I worry about finding myself alone with James. I’m still holding the fort, trying not to succumb to temptation, but I’m so tired, I don’t have it in me to think of a convoluted plan not to get in bed with him.

Thankfully, James just pushes me into bed with my clothes still on, settles by my side after closing the curtain on the narrow window, then falls asleep almost instantly, his hand simply resting on my forearm. I feel disappointed against my will.

I drift off, lulled by his deep breathing while trying not to dwell on all the ways he was kind to me during the night. I can still feel his fingers in my hair.

Shirley wakes us up around four in the afternoon, and we all trudge to the staff kitchen for a late breakfast. The three of us are bright-eyed and relaxed—drinking tea and feasting on club sandwiches after a night out seems to be the trick to sober up nicely—unlike Emma, Luigi, and Noah who look miserable. They avoid our gaze and each other’s as they make their coffees. Shirley, of course, doesn’t spare them shame by bringing up their little visit to the library. They scuttle away, mumbling about having work to do. James is laughing openly, eyes crinkling, and his joy is contagious. I find myself grinning, too.

Lana appears, dressed in a pink velvet robe, her red hair unbound, and she kisses us both on the cheek again. She’s been up and about for a few hours, apparently.

“So what are your plans tonight?” she asks as she makes herself a green smoothie.

“Ghost hunting,” James says. “You hired us, remember?”

Lana laughs merrily. “Oh yeah! That’s right.”

He smiles fondly. “There are two ghosts left on your list. The Lady in Red and the French Nobleman. Which one should we exorcise first?”

“The nobleman,” I say too quickly.

I don’t have it in me for another horny bout tonight, not when I’m still trying to bury my newborn feelings for James. I need more time.

Shirley offers me a knowing look, but James just nods.