Page 28 of Sugar Plum Serenade

“I can imagine.”

First things first. “Is there a pirate ghost living in my house?”

Anna’s back straightened. “You saw…”

“Not me. My niece, Ava.”

“Come on.” Anna indicated with a wave of her hand that Olive was to join her.

What she really wanted to do was finish her coffee, get back to work, then maybe ask if it was too late to stay with Dawn and her family. What difference would that make? Ava had other “invisible friends,” like Rosaline. Were they everywhere? Olive stayed rooted to the spot. What had she been thinking to come here? Why ask questions she didn’t really want answered?

When Anna was halfway across the room, she turned and motioned again, since Olive hadn’t moved. “Since I spilled the beans, might as well make the best of it. Colt could use your help.”

Reluctantly, Olive headed in Anna’s direction. She stopped to take a sip of coffee. For courage? Maybe. She walked slowly, uncertainly. When she reached Anna she asked in a lowered voice, “How can I possibly help?”

Together they walked toward the back of the depot. “I’m not sure, but Maude is driving Colt nuts. Until this thing with Tuck is resolved she won’t move on and she won’t give Colt a moment’s peace.”

Maude must be Tuck’s grandmother. This was more than Olive had bargained for, more than she was willing to take on. Sleeping with Tuck was one thing. Running interference between him, a man who saw ghosts, and a dead grandmother was a different story.

The back room was bigger than she’d expected, dimmer, not as colorful as the public space. It really did look like a place ghosts would haunt, if they could. If they did. As they approached a small room near the back, they heard Colt talking. She couldn’t make out the words, but he was definitely talking to someone. Living or dead? When they could see through the open doorway, it appeared Colt was alone. So, dead. If not for Ava and her pirate friend, Olive would think he was off his rocker.

Anna called out, a simple, “Hey,” which was both a greeting and a warning to let him know he was no longer alone. The conversation stopped.

“Sorry, I was just talking to myself,” he said.

Anna walked into the small room, gave Colt a quick kiss, and then said, “She knows.”

He didn’t look happy to hear that news.

“Her niece saw the pirate in the Jasmine Street house. Also, she and Tuck are friends or dating or something and the subject of ghosts came up. I’m afraid I told her about Maude before I found out she didn’t already know. Sorry.”

We’re not actually dating, Olive started to say, but… in a way they were. Or something was more accurate. Even if dinner a couple of days ago hadn’t been an actual date, tonight’s dinner would be. What was she to Tuck? What was he to her?

“How old is your niece?” Colt asked.

“Four.”

Colt nodded, then tossed aside the microfiber towel he’d been using. “If she holds to form, she’ll stop seeing them in a year or so.”

“Them being ghosts,” Olive clarified.

“Yes.”

She had a million questions; she didn’t know where to start. So she took another sip of coffee while she tried to decide what to ask first.

“I’m glad you’re here,” Colt said after a pause of his own. “Maude thinks you can help.”

She’d come here to ask about Giles, but she’d stumbled into something entirely new, and complicated. Would it be cowardly to turn and run?

It would. “I don’t know what I can possibly do, but… I’m listening.”

Olive walked home briskly,with a spring in her step in spite of everything Colt had told her. She didn’t want to think about it, didn’t believe there was any way she could help. Best, for now, to focus on the evening ahead.

She’d have plenty of time to get ready, since she’d told Tuck to pick her up at seven instead of his suggested six. Six would’ve been better. She could’ve rushed! Now she’d be ready early and she’d sit, twiddling her thumbs, waiting for him to arrive. A shower, some makeup, a bit of time on her hair and then she could slip into the new red dress and those shoes.

She didn’t want to think about ghosts, not Giles and not Maude. For a few hours maybe she could make herself focus only on the living.

As she approached her house she couldn’t help but notice the changes to Tuck’s place. When she’d first arrived at her rental, she’d appreciated that he hadn’t decorated for the holiday. While she’d been at work today, that had changed. There was a wreath on the front door. A Christmas tree in the window, colorful lights sparkling. There was even greenery on the porch banister.