Janet McNulty - Mellow Summers 07 - Two Ghosts Haunt a Grove by Janet McNulty Page A

from pink cloud to pink cloud until we came upon the haunted inn. Then it took a dark turn as Ichabod Crane and a headless horseman charged us with Rachel running behind him wearing a yellow and white apron and brandishing a rolling pin.
    I threw the covers off and hopped in the shower relishing the warm water and my watermelon scented body wash. Okay, okay, I broke down and bought a bottle after Elise introduced me to it. But it smelled really good, like real watermelons.
    Jackie had breakfast prepared when I finally arrived in the kitchen all dressed, my hair still dripping wet. I spread cream cheese on a bagel and poured myself an orange juice.
    “Ready for work?” asked Jackie, cheerily.
    “Kind of,” I yawned. “Can’t I just play hooky?”
    “No,” said Jackie, pulling me from my chair. “Come on or we’ll be late.”
    Intense, sticky heat slammed into us the moment we exited the building and stepped into the parking lot. Guess I was wrong in thinking that the heat wave was ending.
    “Think it can get any hotter?” asked Jackie.
    “Probably,” I mumbled.
    We arrived at the Candle Shoppe just in time to open the doors to a crowd of people waiting to escape the oven that the outdoors had turned into. I had a feeling it was going to be one of those days where we were crowded, but had no sales. Luckily, Tammy wasn’t working today. I don’t think I could have handled her perkiness.
    The day dragged and I found myself looking forward to two o’clock rolling by. The second hand on the clock crept along the clock face taking its time, as though it knew I wanted time to speed up. Tearing myself away from my wishes, I grabbed a box of votive candles and placed them neatly on a shelf. Soon we would be switching over to our Fall collection.
    A customer placed a bunch of items on the counter. I carefully rang up the assortment of candle holders, incense, and scented oil that went in our warmers. “$22.69,” I said.
    The lady handed over the money, “Keep the change.”
    “Thank you.” I handed her the bag and she smiled sweetly as she left.
    The door jingled as another customer walked in: Kyle. What was he doing here? He didn’t strike me as the candle type. I watched as he strode over to a display rubbing his chin as though he were deeply interested in it. A part of me knew he only pretended. Casually, Kyle browsed the line of shelves slowly working his way towards me.
    “Why, Mel,” he said; I caught the mock surprise in his voice, “fancy seeing you here.”
    “I work here,” I replied, keeping my voice even.
    “Oh, yes, there’s your nametag,” he said.
    I studied him closely trying to discern what he was up to. “Can I help you find something?’
    “Well, I’m not sure,” he replied. “Funny thing happened yesterday.”
    “Oh?”
    “Yes, my aunt threw a party—her usual end of the summer type get together—and I would have sworn that I saw you there.”
    Okay, so he was fishing and he had recognized me. “Really,” I said, keeping my voice and expression unreadable. “That would be interesting considering I had never received an invitation.”
    “Yes, it would,” Kyle’s voice took a darker turn.
    “Mr. Kellmore,” I said, “I don’t know who you saw yesterday, but I can assure you that it wasn’t me. I’m here almost every day. And I have better things to do than to crash some party.”
    Kyle’s face indicated that he didn’t completely believe me. I didn’t care. He had no real proof and I knew Jackie and Greg would back me up. And Tiny was always willing to provide me an alibi.
    “Are you certain?” asked Kyle, leaning in closer.
    I pulled away. “Why don’t you ask Tiny? He’ll tell you exactly where I was.”
    That had some effect. Kyle immediately backed away, his demeanor changing. “My mistake,” he said, “Good day.”
    I watched him leave. My story may not have convinced him entirely, but for now he was off my back.
    “Mel,” said Jackie, “what was