Haunted Ever After Read Free Page A

to be over. As soon as I could say my piece to this woman, I’d go straight to sleep and leave this crazy night in the past where it belonged.
    I switched on the kitchen light. A sudden noise sounded to my left and I flipped my head to the side. A photo in a frame lay face down on the floor. Had she knocked it off, or was it a draught? Where was she? I inched closer to the fallen photo, cautiously, as though it might spring up and hit me in the face if I got too close. I picked up the frame. The photo was of Greg in his golf attire, proudly standing with one foot crossed over the other, his hand resting on his expensive golf club set like it was his most prized possession. Well, it probably was. Apart from me, of course. Not that I was a possession, but I’m sure if there was a fire he’d grab me first and not his golf clubs.
    Hang on. If she did knock it over. That probably meant…
    ‘Uh-huh.’ Ghost Woman manifested right in front of me, nodding. ‘Me and Greggy-boy were once an item.’
    I glared at her. ‘So you think you can just come in here and get in our way, huh?’ I whispered in the harshest whisper I could muster. ‘Well you can go jump. Greg’s mine, so leave us alone!’
    She stepped backwards and seemed to shrink, then sat on the floor and hugged her knees, her head bowed.
    Oh geez. Talk about giving me the guilts. Maybe I shouldn’t be so hard on her. She wasn’t exactly in the most enviable position right now, being dead and all.
    ‘Hey, what’s your name?’ I asked. ‘Do you want me to, ah, let Greg know what happened to you? Is that it?’ She shook her head. ‘Then what do you want?’
    She stood and glanced around as if she was considering her options, then her gaze focused beyond the kitchen window and her eyes widened. ‘I want to swing on that!’ A swirl of colours replaced her form, then nothing. I dashed to the window and peered outside into the small yard, the moonlight casting an eerie glow on the roof of our shed. Colours swirled again and she appeared outside, her hands gripping the clothesline as she swung around in circles, a childlike grin of delight on her face.
    I shook my head in disbelief, and as I turned around my gaze fell on the invitation stuck to the fridge with a Basic First Aid instruction magnet. Bridal Bonding Weekend . My shoulders relaxed. Only one week to go and I’d be enjoying a couple of rewarding days away with my best friends. No ghosts invited.

CHAPTER 3
    YOU ARE INVITED TO SALLY’S BRIDAL BONDING WEEKEND!
    Join us for a long weekend of fun, frivolity and food as we celebrate Sally’s upcoming transition into wifehood .
    When?
    Friday 21 st June (Winter Solstice) to Monday 24 th June (one week before the wedding!)
    Where?
    Barron Springs Country Guest House, Barron Springs
    Who’s invited?
    Sally, of course (last one to get hitched!)
    Mel (leave the kids at home please)
    Georgie (our appointed bridal bodyguard — and chef)
    Moi — aka, Lorena (maid of honour and organiser extraordinaire!)
    What’s on the agenda?
    Several exciting ‘Bridal Bonding Activities’ — you’ll have to wait and see!
    RSVP ASAP (or else)!
    It must have been a fluke. A one-off. I hadn’t seen Ghost Woman all week, and thank God for that, because I’d told myself if I saw her again I’d book in for an MRI and neurology assessment at the hospital. A bonus of working in one meant I had connections and could get the odd favour granted if needed. I’d decided I’d say I was suffering with constant headaches, or dizziness, or something so they’d have to do immediate testing to rule out anything sinister. But luckily it hadn’t come to that. Maybe I imagined the whole thing, somehow. Pre-wedding jitters? Pre-wedding psychosis? Women could get pre-menstrual psychosis, although rare, so why not pre-wedding? All the planning, decisions, flowers, dresses, hair, makeup, guest lists, music, calligraphy place cards, menus…it was enough to send anyone bonkers. Even an