Spellbound by Michelle M. Pillow

on the edge of the property. The air was decidedly colder, and she could instantly see the reason for the change in temperature. Spirits had gathered around the home, standing on the lawn as if they waited for something.
    “Shoo,” an older female ghost ordered. Her translucent form glittered when she moved through the spirit crowd. The unusual sparkling came from her emerald green ball gown. “Get off my lawn. Go on now. Get outta here. There’s only room for one spirit here, and that’s me.”
    “Gramma Annabelle, what are you doing, you crazy old bat?” Charlotte Carver ran out of the side door of the home. She worked for Lydia’s lotion-making business, Love Potions . Jane had heard someone mention Charlotte had just moved into the old Victorian as Lydia’s roommate. If Annabelle thought this was her house, it must mean she was Lydia’s dead grandmother. Continuing after the ghost, Charlotte grumbled, “What are you doing out here?”
    Jane didn’t move. What had the MacGregors meant when they said Charlotte was sick? The young woman didn’t look too heartbroken or ill. The ghosts on the lawn turned toward Charlotte. Jane watched to see if Malina, Lydia or Erik would join them. No one else came.
    Jane always thought Charlotte had a bit of a hard edge to her. Maybe Jane only assumed the woman had an attitude because she was so exotically pretty—tanned complexion, dark brown hair, light brown eyes. Or maybe the attitude was because Charlotte had the same secret Jane did. They both were constantly trying not to acknowledge ghosts.
    Charlotte chased the sparkling Gramma Annabelle across the yard. She gasped in pain and then hopped onto one foot while holding the injured foot in her hands. The gathered specters surrounded the woman, but Charlotte didn’t seem to notice them. Maybe Charlotte wasn’t like Jane after all. Charlotte could only see Annabelle.
    “Jane the gardener,” Annabelle said, catching her spying on them.
    Jane quickly averted her eyes.
    “Jane?” Charlotte repeated, dropping her foot as she searched the shadows. When her gaze found Jane, she asked, “What are you doing here?”
    Jane tried to smile and focus on Charlotte. It was hard with all their undead company. “I didn’t mean to startle you. I was taking the shortcut down the hill. The MacGregors hired me to do some work for them.”
    “Do you see…?” Charlotte looked at Annabelle and then Jane.
    “Yes, she sees me,” Annabelle said. “There’s something interesting about this one. She’s glowy.”
    It was only with years of practice that Jane managed to pretend not to hear the ghost. Annabelle drifted before her face. Jane focused her eyes through her at Charlotte. “Do I see what?”
    “Uh, well, a ghost?” Charlotte gave a nervous laugh and again glanced at Annabelle as the ghost drifted away from Jane toward the others.
    Jane pretended to look around the yard. She felt the eyes of those gathered on her. The last thing she wanted was for the crowd to follow her home. “No, sorry, I don’t see anything out here but us. Though I once saw a white dog running in the shadows and was convinced it was a spirit until it tried to lick me. I’m sure it’s nothing to be concerned over. You’re probably just seeing shadows.”
    “I’m sure you’re right,” Charlotte said.
    Seeing the woman’s lost expression, Jane almost relented and told the truth. She knew what it was like to be surrounded by the unknown. Even if Charlotte couldn’t see her undead crowd, that didn’t mean they weren’t affecting her. “Do you feel haunted? I know I sometimes feel like there are a hundred people around when I’m all alone.”
    “No, not a hundred, just one very big pain in the ass,” Charlotte muttered.
    “Hey,” Annabelle protested. “Who are you calling a pain in the ass? I’m only trying to help you and my granddaughter.”
    “How is jumping inside me and wearing my body as a human suit helping?” Charlotte demanded