HauntingMelodyStClaire by Ditter Kellen and Dawn Montgomery Page B

the photograph over. It took a moment to read the faded ink.
     
    Travis Santiago
    Haven, Texas, 1982.
     
    She flipped it back over and grinned. He sure as hell wouldn’t
look like that now. Melody picked up the rest of the albums and tucked them in
the chair. She tapped the picture against her palm. A man this handsome deserved
a frame.
    “I think I saw some in the linen closet upstairs.” She ran
her fingers along his cheek. “They just don’t make ’em like you anymore.”
    Melody put the photo in with the linens and hauled the load
up the stairwell. The first step creaked loudly beneath her feet. It was
annoying, but the stair came out so far, she had to use it every time.
    She reached the landing and rested the basket against the
lovely banister to get a better grip.
    Wood groaned and creaked, drawing her attention to the area
below. Her skin crawled and her heart thundered in her chest. Melody swallowed.
There was nothing there. She pulled the basket against her and hauled ass up
the rest of the stairs.
    Cool air ran up her legs and shivers followed in its wake.
    “Stupid ghost stories.” She hurried to the linen closet and
placed the basket on the floor. Melody glanced back toward the stairwell.
Nothing.
    Her fear gave way to annoyance and she flung the door open.
She put a hand to her forehead. “What the hell is wrong with me? I’m going
crazy.”
    She tried to shrug off the hebegeebees. The box of empty
frames sat on a high shelf and she stood on tiptoe to pull it down, nearly
spilling the bunch in her haste. Her heart stuttered and she caught the near
miss, bringing her treasure down to eye level.
    It was the most eclectic mix of frames she’d ever seen. She
smiled down at Travis’ sexy image in the basket. “I’m sure we’ll find the
perfect one for you.” She picked up his photograph and set it up on the shelf,
leaning it so that he stood.
    Melody rummaged through the box. A shiny cobalt one had a
huge gouge in it. “This one complements your eyes, but that scratch ruins it.”
    She held up a pink wrought-iron nightmare. “What do you
think of this one? Nothing says sexy like cotton-candy dreams.”
    Cold wind blew through the hallway and his photo fell
forward.
    Melody’s legs began to shake. She gripped the closet door
and peered around it. Nothing. She inhaled slowly and continued her search.
    “Yeah. I don’t think it’s quite what we’re looking for.” She
stood the picture up and skipped through the rest until she found one she
liked. It was gunmetal silver with elegant scrollwork. “This will do.”
    She turned the frame over and opened it up. “You’re
somebody’s good memory.”
    The photo went down, followed by the backing. “Now you have
a home.” She slid the clamps in place and turned it around. “Perfect.” She
winked at his smiling visage. “Looks good on you.”
    Melody set him aside and picked up the linens. She buried
her face in a towel and deeply inhaled. The fresh spring scent reminded her of
home, and sorrow knotted in her chest. Melody choked on a sob and ran her cheek
against the soft material.
    All motivation slipped away. At that moment she wanted
nothing more than to lie down, wrap up in one of the towels and just sleep. She
tucked it under her arm, grabbed Travis’ frame and walked into the bathroom.
Melody brushed her tears away.
    She tossed the towel on the sink and gazed down at his
image. “I hope you don’t mind keeping me company. This big ole house is
creeping me out today.” Melody shut the door and stripped out of her clothes.
She took her grandmother’s locket off and hung it on a hook by the mirror. Her
fingers traced the delicate chain. If she opened it, the first tinny bars of Time
in a Bottle would play her grandparents’ song. She smiled at the
photograph. “Travis, this is my grandmother. Nana, this is Travis. Get along.”
She chuckled and turned away.
    Melody hiked her leg up on the side of the tub and ran her
palm up over her