AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“As in fairy tales and happily-ever-after?”
His stomach hitched, because for the first time in his life, he might let himself believe a happy ending was possible. Because he could totally see being happy ever after with her. Their gazes caught and something shifted between them.
“Tell me why you picked this one as one of your favorites.”
He took a deep breath, reluctant to break the spell by talking about architecture. “This house is mostly done in the Greek Revival style, but it has English Regency influences and lots and lots of ghosts.”
“Stop!” She made a face at him and pretended to swat him. When her hand brushed his arm, he pulled her in for a kiss. They stood there on the sidewalk lost in each other’s embrace, and the rest of the world—the haunted house, the tourists who had to walk around them and all the fears and ghosts that had haunted him and made him so uncertain—faded away.
He had no idea how much time had passed when they finally broke apart, but he put his arm around her and they continued up Bull Street.
“Elle Clark?” a woman called to them from a street-side table at The Public on Bull Street. “Is that you?”
Daniel recognized Daisy Carter. They’d gone to high school with her at Savannah Country Day. He kept his arm around Elle, prepared for her to pull away, but she didn’t.
They stopped and Daisy got up from her table. As she approached, she glanced at Daniel and her eyes flashed as if she’d uncovered the scoop of the century.
“Well, look at that,” Daisy said. “It is you and look who you’re with—Daniel Quindlin. Of all people. This is a surprise. It’s like old home week. I haven’t seen either of you since—”
The wedding. She didn’t say it, but she didn’t have to. He read it in the way her smile faltered then turned smug.
A wave of heat rushed through his body.
“Hi, Daisy.” Elle said.
Daisy stepped forward to hug Elle.
“Are you back in Savannah now?” Daisy asked Elle as she eyed Daniel.
“I’m a teacher in Atlanta and I’m home for a visit during the holidays. What are you up to these days?”
“I married Lance Drayton three years ago. Do y’all remember him? He graduated three years ahead of us. We have two kids—a little girl named Annabelle and a boy. Our Chase is the oldest. I am absolutely loving life as a stay-at-home mom. Lance and I are having dinner with another couple.” She gestured toward the table. “Would you like to join us? We can see if we can pull up two more chairs.”
The table for four was cozy with the way the surrounding diners were packed in. It would’ve been tricky to wedge in two more chairs. Plus, it was clear that they were nearing the end of their meal. Daniel wondered if Daisy was simply unaware or if it was an empty offer because she hadn’t liked him in high school. He and Aidan were scholarship kids at a school with mostly rich kids. He was pretty sure her feelings hadn’t changed. It wasn’t the first time he’d seen her around town. It was, however, the first time she’d spoken to him. The rebel in him wanted to call her bluff and agree to join them, but why would he want to do that when he and Elle were having a great time on their own?
They politely declined and made the appropriate noises when Daisy said that the four of them should get together for dinner. It would never happen, despite Daisy’s promise to give Elle a call soon so they could set up something.
“We obviously have a lot of catching up to do,” Daisy said.
As they walked away, Daniel was relieved when Elle slid her hand into his, as if silently saying, “Let’s give them something to talk about.” After they were a safe distance away, he said, “I suppose it was bound to happen sometime.”
“What?” Elle asked, sounding unfazed.
“That we would run into someone we knew.” Someone from high school. Someone who had been at the wedding and witnessed him nudging Roger and Roger bolting, leaving Elle alone and mortified.
“Sure you don’t want to go back and spend the rest of the night with Daisy and company?” he asked.
She made a face at him. “Thanks, but I’ll pass. Ironic that we should run into her next to the granddaddy of all haunted houses.”
