well. Let’s just say they weren’t interested in preserving history. We all cheered when Hattie and Charlotte ran them off.”
Jordan hadn’t really thought about the remodel in those terms, but Felicia was right—the restoration of Longen House would affect the entire neighborhood, as well as enhance the town’s appeal to visitors. If she could pull it off, and she was beginning to have doubts on that score.
“But really, Hattie and Charlotte will be far more able to answer your questions,” Felicia continued, not seeming to notice Jordan’s startled reaction. “And we all want you to know we think it’s simply wonderful Hattie and Charlotte will now have someone to stand up for them.”
Jordan slid her eyes toward Jase, who didn’t look as if he thought she’d said anything out of the ordinary.
“Of course, we’ve been aware of how unhappy Hattie and Charlotte have been over the years,” Felicia added. “I mean, we’ve all sensed it. But now that you’re here, they’ll be able to tell us what they need.” When Jordan failed to respond, she rushed on a bit more nervously. “This, of course, represents a very unique opportunity. We won’t be solely dependent on surviving documents or construction plans for the restoration.”
Jordan cleared her throat. “Okay, wait a minute—”
“You’ll have to excuse Jordan’s reticence; she’s still getting used to the idea of having Hattie and Charlotte around,” Jase interrupted, ignoring Jordan’s glare.
“Oh.” Felicia looked momentarily confused. “Ohhh . You mean you didn’t see ghosts when you lived in L.A.?”
“No. I saw a lot of strange things in L.A., but ghosts were not—”
“Well, that puts a new spin on things.” Felicia frowned. “You must find this all very disconcerting.”
“That would be an understatement,” Jordan muttered. “Look, I’m still not convinced—”
“I’m sure Jordan would be glad to discuss this more with you after she gets unpacked,” Jase said smoothly.
“Oh, of course.” Felicia beamed at him. “Well then, I’ll just be going.” She turned to Jordan. “If there’s anything you need, don’t hesitate to trot over and knock on the door.”
“Thanks again for the casserole,” Jordan managed. “I’ll be sure and return the dish.”
Once Felicia was out of earshot, she looked at Jase. “Gee, thanks.”
“No problem,” he said, his expression amused. “Probably not a good idea to start off on the wrong foot with the local preservation group.”
“So who else knows that I supposedly talk to ghosts?” she demanded.
“By now, I’d say most of the town. People have had most of last evening and this morning to get out the word. I’d already received several calls this morning before I dropped by, asking for details.”
Jordan gaped at him. Clearly, living in a small town was going to take some getting used to. Even with the paparazzi tracking her every move in L.A., she’d had moreprivacy than this. Apparently, she’d moved from being in a fishbowl to being under a microscope.
“What did you tell the callers?” she asked uneasily.
“That if they wanted to know more, they should talk to you,” he replied. “I don’t gossip.”
“Oh.” She relaxed a bit. “Well. Okay, then.”
“But I’m sure they found someone from the pub last night who would tell all,” Jase added, dashing her hopes.
“So let me get this straight: Roughly half the town thinks I may have killed my husband, but everyone thinks I’m crazy and can see and talk to ghosts.”
Jase nodded. “Though I’d phrase it slightly differently … People probably don’t think you’re crazy if you talk to ghosts.”
“Oh, sure— that makes sense.”
He eyed her, looking concerned. “You okay?”
“I’ll get back to you on that.” Shaking her head, she carried the casserole into the kitchen, then returned to help him unload the rest of her purchases from the truck.
Hattie and Charlotte watched
Jordan hadn’t really thought about the remodel in those terms, but Felicia was right—the restoration of Longen House would affect the entire neighborhood, as well as enhance the town’s appeal to visitors. If she could pull it off, and she was beginning to have doubts on that score.
“But really, Hattie and Charlotte will be far more able to answer your questions,” Felicia continued, not seeming to notice Jordan’s startled reaction. “And we all want you to know we think it’s simply wonderful Hattie and Charlotte will now have someone to stand up for them.”
Jordan slid her eyes toward Jase, who didn’t look as if he thought she’d said anything out of the ordinary.
“Of course, we’ve been aware of how unhappy Hattie and Charlotte have been over the years,” Felicia added. “I mean, we’ve all sensed it. But now that you’re here, they’ll be able to tell us what they need.” When Jordan failed to respond, she rushed on a bit more nervously. “This, of course, represents a very unique opportunity. We won’t be solely dependent on surviving documents or construction plans for the restoration.”
Jordan cleared her throat. “Okay, wait a minute—”
“You’ll have to excuse Jordan’s reticence; she’s still getting used to the idea of having Hattie and Charlotte around,” Jase interrupted, ignoring Jordan’s glare.
“Oh.” Felicia looked momentarily confused. “Ohhh . You mean you didn’t see ghosts when you lived in L.A.?”
“No. I saw a lot of strange things in L.A., but ghosts were not—”
“Well, that puts a new spin on things.” Felicia frowned. “You must find this all very disconcerting.”
“That would be an understatement,” Jordan muttered. “Look, I’m still not convinced—”
“I’m sure Jordan would be glad to discuss this more with you after she gets unpacked,” Jase said smoothly.
“Oh, of course.” Felicia beamed at him. “Well then, I’ll just be going.” She turned to Jordan. “If there’s anything you need, don’t hesitate to trot over and knock on the door.”
“Thanks again for the casserole,” Jordan managed. “I’ll be sure and return the dish.”
Once Felicia was out of earshot, she looked at Jase. “Gee, thanks.”
“No problem,” he said, his expression amused. “Probably not a good idea to start off on the wrong foot with the local preservation group.”
“So who else knows that I supposedly talk to ghosts?” she demanded.
“By now, I’d say most of the town. People have had most of last evening and this morning to get out the word. I’d already received several calls this morning before I dropped by, asking for details.”
Jordan gaped at him. Clearly, living in a small town was going to take some getting used to. Even with the paparazzi tracking her every move in L.A., she’d had moreprivacy than this. Apparently, she’d moved from being in a fishbowl to being under a microscope.
“What did you tell the callers?” she asked uneasily.
“That if they wanted to know more, they should talk to you,” he replied. “I don’t gossip.”
“Oh.” She relaxed a bit. “Well. Okay, then.”
“But I’m sure they found someone from the pub last night who would tell all,” Jase added, dashing her hopes.
“So let me get this straight: Roughly half the town thinks I may have killed my husband, but everyone thinks I’m crazy and can see and talk to ghosts.”
Jase nodded. “Though I’d phrase it slightly differently … People probably don’t think you’re crazy if you talk to ghosts.”
“Oh, sure— that makes sense.”
He eyed her, looking concerned. “You okay?”
“I’ll get back to you on that.” Shaking her head, she carried the casserole into the kitchen, then returned to help him unload the rest of her purchases from the truck.
Hattie and Charlotte watched
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