Double Dating with the Dead by Karen Kelley (best fiction novels to read .txt) 📗

Angela opened her mouth, then snapped it closed.

“I’m going to town for a bit,” Trent continued as if her mother wasn’t about to explode. “I won’t be gone long, so if you see any ghosts, tell them I’ll be back in an hour or so.” He sauntered out of the room without a backward glance.

“Disbeliever,” Angela spat with enough venom to make a rattlesnake slither away. As soon as Trent was gone, she turned to Selena with a bright smile as if nothing out of the ordinary had just taken place. “Isn’t this a lovely old hotel?”

From hot to cold, that was her mother. And Selena knew her bark was a lot worse than her bite. She’d never met a kinder, sweeter person than her mom.

Selena leaned her elbows on the center island and looked around the kitchen. A row of windows along one wall let in the morning light, casting the room in warmth. Her gaze moved around the room. Beautiful crown molding and tall cabinets with frosted glass fronts decorated the walls.

She looked back at her mother. “Yes, it is beautiful.”

“Do you feel its heartbeat?”

Selena nodded. Her mother didn’t have to be a psychic to teach her that each place or object had a life of its own. Some houses emitted a good feeling, like when you stepped through the front door and just knew you’d come home, while other dwellings made you want to leave as soon as you pulled into the driveway.

The hotel had good, strong vibrations. It was a shame it had been let go like it had. There was a sadness surrounding the place. A feeling that it was unloved.

“I feel the heartbeat,” she quietly told her mother.

They walked to the foyer, admiring the fine workmanship they’d uncovered beneath the layers of grime and dirt. Not that they’d been able to clean the whole place. For the most part, they’d only given it a lick and a promise.

“After you leave here it’ll probably go back to the way it was. All covered in cobwebs, dirt and grime. A few more years and it’ll fall to the ground.” Her mother sighed.

Ouch. She didn’t want to think about that.

The sound of a car pulling into the driveway drew their attention. They walked closer to the window and peered out.

Not Trent.

Selena walked to the door as a woman carrying a brown paper sack climbed out of her car and strolled toward the hotel.

“Now, who could that be?” Angela asked.

“I guess we’ll find out soon enough.” She pushed open the door. “Can I help you?”

Startled, the woman looked up. “Oh, hello.” A smile brightened her face.

Selena returned it. The slender woman wore a powder blue skirt and a white top with a row of ruffles down the front. She had a beautiful cameo pinned at the neck; it spoke of age and a time gone by. The woman could’ve stepped right off the cover of a Victorian magazine.

She made her way up the steps. “I’m Winnifred Sanders, Trent’s mother. I thought he might need some staples.”

This was Trent’s mother? There was no resemblance, but when Selena looked closer, she could see a bit of his brother, Tye. She felt her mother stiffen beside her.

“Please, come in, Ms. Sanders. I’m Selena, and this is my mother, Angela. Trent went to town, but should be back soon.”

“Oh, just call me Winnie. I was on my way to the store and thought I’d drop off this food. Trent doesn’t always eat like he should.” She looked at Angela. “But I guess you probably already know that since you have a daughter.”

Why did she suddenly feel as though she were on trial? Not that it mattered as her mother relaxed beside her and beamed at Trent’s mother. Angela might not like Winnie’s son, but she’d apparently accepted his mother.

“Selena’s the exact same way. That’s why I’m here. I brought a casserole.”

Lord save her from meddling mothers.

“Oh, my, what a beautiful place.” Winnie set her sack down on a nearby table and slowly looked around the room. “I couldn’t be here to help clean the day they moved in. My assistant was ill, the flu that’s been going around. I had to open the shop.” She returned her gaze to them. “I own an antique store.”

Angela’s eyes widened. “Antiques?”

“I’ve always been fascinated by very old objects. It’s almost as if they have a life of their own, like a bit of the last owner’s spirit was captured within the piece. Do you know what I mean?” She blushed. “I guess I’m sounding fanciful.”

Angela grinned and looked at Selena. “Not on your life. We absolutely know what you mean. Do you have time for a cup of tea or coffee?”

She glanced at her watch. “Actually, I do. I even have some lemon cream cookies with me.”

Cookies?

Not chocolate, but they’d do in a pinch. Now she knew she liked Trent’s mother. But she did have to wonder what Trent would think when he returned. She had a feeling his mother was more open to what lay beyond their world.

Interesting that she would have a son who was such a close-minded ass.

Trent turned down the street the hotel was on. He’d bought a few groceries. No big deal. He liked to cook. He wasn’t out to impress anyone. Especially not Selena. She’d invited him to share what her mother had brought, so turnabout was fair. He’d invite her to dinner tonight.

Besides, he could take only so much prepackaged and take-out food. He lived on the stuff when he was in the middle of writing a book. His only decent meals came from his mother and her care packages, as he called the food she’d bring over.

It was an entirely different story when he was in between books. He liked to indulge in finer cuisine. So he’d added a bottle of wine to his shopping cart. It was to replace the one he’d helped polish off.

But when he pulled into the driveway, food was the last thing