K.J. Emrick - Darcy Sweet 13 - Ghost Story Read Free

you too, as I recall.”
    “Sure, sure.  But usually it’s you.”
    Darcy started to argue that point but realized she couldn’t.  “Fair enough.  How about I cross my heart and promise not to get involved in any mystery solving today?”
    “Deal,” he said quickly, before she could take it back.  “We’ll just have a nice, quiet lunch with our friends and then we’ll get back to planning that special day of ours.”
    She settled down against him again, happy to be talking about normal, everyday life things.  Her mother had just gotten remarried.  Just last month her sister Grace had given birth to Darcy’s first niece.  Darcy thought she was past due to have a little normal in her own life.
    A few more turns brought them to a short side street where Helen’s sprawling two story mansion sat on three acres of land.  Helen came from one of the founding families of Misty Hollow and the house and the land both had been passed down through the generations to her.  Darcy’s family was one of the older families here, too.  People tended to stay in Misty Hollow.  It was just that kind of place.
    Helen put a lot of pride into her family home.  Hedgerows marked the edges of the property line.  Lower shrubs with purplish flowers budding all over them had been trimmed to evenly flat tops, and then behind those was a row of ones taller than Darcy that sprouted white blossoms.  Flowers had been planted artistically in circular patterns up closer to the house in autumn colors of orange and yellow.  In the middle of the lawn a ceramic birdbath jetted a fountain of water from its center.  A little pretentious for Darcy, but very pretty.
    The house had been recently repainted a light blue with a white trim around the doors and windows.  The last time Darcy had been here the whole thing had been white.  After her husband had been arrested and sent to prison, Helen had apparently wanted a change.  Somehow that little difference made coming here that much easier.
    “Hey, look who else is here,” Jon said to her, pointing at the driveway.
    A yellow sedan was parked up near the house.  Darcy recognized it immediately as the one Grace and Aaron had only just bought.  Darcy made fun of her sister for buying something so practical, but Grace had only growled at her and said she had to think of her baby now.
    “I didn’t realize Helen was inviting them, too.”  Darcy wondered what Helen might have up her sleeve.  She knew that she and her boyfriend Andrew Lansky had been dating for a few months now but she doubted they would have any big announcement to share.  Not this soon.  It was always possible that she had just wanted to have a get-together with friends, but just out of the blue like this?
    “I guess it’s going to be a real party.”  Jon shrugged.  “Maybe I should have worn something besides jeans.”
    “I like you in your jeans,” Darcy said as they parked behind Grace’s car.  “I hardly ever get to see you dress down.  Besides, I’m in my jeans too.”
    “Sure, but you look better in yours than I do in mine.”
    “Oh, I don’t know about that,” Darcy said coyly.  “Come on.  We can ask my sister who looks better.”
    They were both laughing as they got out and went up to ring the front doorbell.  Jon balanced the cake box in the crook of his left arm, and they waited.
    A middle aged man answered the door to them with a smile.  His hair was dark and thick and Darcy was fairly certain that it was still its natural color.  He was wearing a baker’s apron with the words “Bean There Bakery and Café” printed on the front, over a comfortable flannel shirt and dark blue slacks.  Helen’s boyfriend seemed very comfortable in her house, Darcy thought to herself.
    “Hi there, guys,” Andrew greeted them.  “Come on in.  I’ve got everything ready and Helen’s just putting it out on the table now.”
    “Thanks Andrew.”  Darcy gave Andrew a quick kiss on his cheek.