The Ghost of Christmas Never Read online

  The Ghost of Christmas Never

  A Spooky NovelByte

  By

  Linda V. Palmer

  Uncial Press Aloha, Oregon

  2012

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and events described herein are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events, locations, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  ISBN 13: 978-1-60174-150-9

  ISBN 10: 1-60174-150-2

  The Ghost of Christmas Never

  Copyright © 2012 by Linda V. Palmer

  Cover design

  Copyright © 2012 by Judith B. Glad

  All rights reserved. Except for use in review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means now known or hereafter invented, is forbidden without the written permission of the publisher.

  Warning: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to five (5) years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000.

  Published by Uncial Press,

  an imprint of GCT, Inc.

  Visit us at http://www.uncialpress.com

  The Ghost of Christmas Never

  Blah. Blah. “…kiss the bride.” Blah.

  All my hopes for Mia’s future settled into a final, fatal nosedive when she kissed her new husband. But I pasted a smile on my face and clapped along with the other three witnesses in the rent-a-chapel, hoping everyone would think my tears resulted from joy.

  “I now present Mr. and Mrs. Robert Brody.” The justice of the peace, his piano-playing wife, and Rob’s brother-slash-best man beamed at the bride and groom.

  I couldn’t bear to look at them until Mia turned to me and held out her arms. Of course I gave her the hug and the words she obviously expected. After all, her welfare had been my responsibility for the past ten years, and even though she’d turned her life in a direction exactly opposite to what I wanted, she was still my baby sis. “You make a beautiful bride.”

  “Thank you.” She released me and moved to Rob’s older brother Jake. Grinning like a goof, he lowered his video camera and scooped her up in a one-armed bear hug that made her laugh.

  “Congrats.” Jake set Mia on her feet and turned to offer the groom a handshake. “You, too, bro.”

  “Thanks.”

  “There’s some paperwork,” said the JP, “and then you lovebirds had better hit the road. I don’t know where you’re planning to honeymoon, but the streets are already treacherous, and this snowstorm is just going to make things that much worse.”

  “I’ve never seen anything like it.” The JP’s wife handed Rob some papers. “Talk about your white Christmases… This one’s going to be a whiteout Christmas, instead, and it has happened so fast.”

  Rob put an arm around his bride, who wore a brown off-the-shoulder sweater dress, tights and knee boots. He wore dark pants and a leather jacket, as did his brother. I’d gone with black everything, to match my mood. “We’ll be fine. Jake’s reserved three rooms at the Starlight Inn, which isn’t that far from here.”

  The silver-haired JP and his wife exchanged amused glances before she spoke. “I’ve never stayed at the Starlight, but I hear it’s as lovely on the inside as out. It’s Eureka Springs’ oldest hotel, you know, and supposedly haunted.”

  Rob burst out laughing and slapped his brother on the back. “So that’s why you picked it. Should’ve known.”

  I must’ve looked confused because Mia quickly filled me in. “Don’t you remember me saying Jake has his very own television show on cable? It’s called “Ghost Chasers”. The pilot aired just a month ago, and he’s already been offered a multiyear contract.”

  “Is that so?” I flicked a glance at Jake, surprised that someone who lived in Little Rock could have a cable series. I suddenly understood why he hadn’t cooperated when I called begging him to help me talk our siblings out of marrying in haste. He was obviously killing two birds with one stone and getting an episode out this. Since my sister was one of the targeted birds, I didn’t appreciate the tactic one bit and opened my mouth to say so…until caught sight of Mia’s worried eyes. I immediately switched gears. I’d get him later.

  After Rob and his bride did the legal stuff, everyone who had a coat put it on. We exchanged cheery merry Christmases with the JP and his friendly wife, who waved their goodbyes.

  “Don’t forget the bubbles,” Mia said as we started up the carpeted aisle lined with bright red poinsettias.

  “Oh yeah.” I dug into the pocket of my puff jacket for one of the tiny bottles she’d given me before the ceremony. Glancing at Jake, I made myself ask, “Got bubbles?”

  “Excuse me?”

  I plucked out another bottle and tossed it to him. “We’re supposed to blow bubbles on the bride and groom as they leave the chapel.”

  “For chrissakes.”

  His response surprised me since it didn’t exactly match his supportive stance. Turning my back on him, I opened my bottle and obediently blew through the built-in loop in the lid. A shower of bubbles floated through the air, reminding me of the days when Mia and I had done the same thing in our two-room apartment. Though we’d both been too old for that kind of fun, bubbles were cheap as far as entertainment went. And I was big on cheap at the time.

  Mia laughed and ran through them, pulling Rob behind her. Seeing the adoration in his eyes, I honestly felt sick to my stomach. Yeah. Just call me Scrooge.

  I did not have my sibling’s romantic heart, which meant all I could think of was her nursing degree—once a year away but now in the toilet—and his preposterous dreams of being Nashville’s next big name. I’d so hoped she’d fall for a wealthy doctor, live in an elite suburb, and have beautiful babies.

  Well, maybe I’d still get the babies.

  “Would you look at this?” Rob’s comment yanked me back to the moment. Following him and Mia through the double front doors, I walked onto the porch, now covered in snow that a freezing winter wind had blown there. Just ahead, blizzard conditions compromised my view of the sidewalk and our cars. “Take care, Mrs. Brody.” He took Mia’s hand and carefully descended the steps with her.

  Jake offered me his elbow. I ignored it and moved on, still irritated that he’d not only ignored my pleas for help, but had actually encouraged the wedding by paying the exorbitant costs of a last-minute Christmas Eve ceremony in the Ozark Mountains. To find out he was actually on the job was the last straw for me. How self-serving could he be?

  Rob and Mia got into their car. Jake headed to his SUV. I took my time, walking carefully so I wouldn’t slip. When I paused to brush snow from the windshield of my sensible sedan, it cleared easily, which meant no defrosting or scraping would be necessary. I slid behind the wheel and pulled down the visor. A quick glance in the mirror revealed snowflakes already melting in my long brown hair, which I’d tamed into a prim knot at the nape of my neck. I waited until Rob pulled onto the snow-covered street before easing forward. I hated driving in these conditions. Not that I did it that much. Little Rock had more icy days than snowy ones, and four or five of those were the limit even during our worst winters.

  With only my thoughts for company, it was hard not to wallow in disappointment. I’d so hoped Mia would make something of herself. She was, after all, a ten-year project on which I’d pinned my highest hopes. Her successes in life meant I’d done my job as caretaker, a long-term task thrust on me at the tender age of twenty, when our parents died in an au
tomobile accident. Mia had been twelve at the time. Thinking back, I didn’t know how we’d made it.

  Rob’s brake lights drew my attention to the road. I saw their black Toyota fishtail, which made me grip my steering wheel a little tighter. But my car did fine, and I could just make out the festive lights of the Starlight Inn ahead. Rob turned to the right and entered the parking lot.

  I followed, careful to keep ample sliding distance between us. I was nothing if not cautious and not only with my driving. Based on years of practice, I never did anything in a rush, which was one of the reasons Mia’s decision to marry a guy she’d known six short months really rankled. Had I taught her nothing?

  Since snow covered the white lines that delineated parking spots, I guessed where one might be and pulled into it, carefully braking. Jake parked next to me. All of us got out of our vehicles and hurried toward the hotel, ducking against the blinding snow. After stomping our feet on the outside mat, we went into the lobby. Rob pointed to the restaurant entrance, just ahead and to our left. A hostess showed us to the table reserved earlier, where a wedding cake now waited.

  Mia squealed her surprise at the sight of it and spun to face me, her golden-brown eyes brimming. “Oh, Libby. It’s incredible. You’re so talented. Isn’t she talented, Rob? Isn’t she?”

  “Absolutely.” Grinning, Rob gave me a hug, and I was glad I’d gone to the trouble of sneaking the confection into the restaurant earlier. My heart had not been in it.

  As owner and sole baker of The Sweet Stop, I had skills, and wedding cakes were my specialty. How could I not bake one for Mia? I’d decorated it with her favorite flowers, daisies. The fondant blossoms wound their way around the layers to the top, forming a bouquet on which I’d set a tiny brunette bride and her redheaded groom.

  “Thanks so much.” Mia hugged me for the longest time. “I know you think I’m making a mistake, but you’ll see. Everything is going to be perfect, and now you’ll have some time to find your own Rob.” She kept her voice low.

  I nodded, touched by what she’d said and not trusting myself to answer without bawling.

  We took off our coats and sat. I blinked to clear my vision and noted with approval the crisp white tablecloth, spotless crystal and cleverly folded napkins. I picked up a fork. It felt heavy in my hand as only good silver could. The tasteful décor simply added to the atmosphere of elegance past its prime, and under other conditions, I’d have appreciated it. Hopelessly mired in my pity party, I couldn’t muster much enthusiasm about anything.

  A waiter brought a bottle of champagne that he opened with a pop! We toasted the bride and groom. Salads arrived, followed by steak dinners. Finally Mia and Rob cut the cake while Jake happily filmed.

  He’d been nothing but enthusiastic about the wedding except for that nanosecond when I’d handed him the bubbles. Was that slipup an indication that he had doubts, too? If so, he hid them better than I did. And since he was currently too busy to notice me, I stole a minute to study him.

  Tall and lean, he had a roguish air that I blamed on his whiskery face and messy auburn hair. Or maybe it was that mischievous twinkle in his eye. Whichever, if I’d still had a so-called “type,” Jake’s brand of guy would definitely be it. And that, no doubt, explained why I’d felt oddly drawn to him from the moment we met, in spite of our being on opposing teams.

  Rob and Mia shared their cake with other diners, most of whom had been watching our reception with smiles on their faces. Finally it was time to go to our rooms. Relieved, I let Mia and Rob lead the way into the hotel lobby where a man, woman, and three children stood. The oldest child, a little boy who couldn’t have been more than four, clung to his young father’s leg. The other kids were twins, girls who looked around two or so. Their parents appeared harried and distressed.

  “The guy at the Hilton called you. He said there was a room.” The woman, who had one of the twins propped on her hip, sounded near tears.

  “No one called here, ma’am. There is simply no vacancy at the Inn tonight.”

  “But we’ve tried five other hotels,” said the guy. He held the other twin. “You’re our last resort. Surely you have something. We can’t go one bit farther on these roads and definitely can’t sleep in the car.”

  As a man, probably the manager, explained the he really had nothing to offer them, my heart went out to the family. What would Mia and I have done if a neighbor hadn’t been kind to us all those years ago when our house went back to the bank? The offer of his garage apartment had saved us for sure.

  Jake’s warm breath suddenly fanned my ear. “Shall we flip for the bed? Or do you prefer rock, paper, scissors?”

  I looked up at him. “Maybe the girls could take one room and the guys could take another.”

  Mia’s chinned dropped. “We’re on our honeymoon!”

  “Well, it’s not like you two haven’t—” I stopped before I put my foot all the way inside my mouth, probably because she looked so outraged. When had I turned into such a grouch? Shifting gears, I caught Jake’s eyes. “Which room are we giving up?”

  “Yours. I specifically asked for mine.”

  “Why?”

  “Tell you later.” He pivoted and strode to the check-in counter. I followed. When we told that family they could have my room, the mom burst into tears and hugged me, which put her daughter right in my face. I blinked, suddenly nose to nose with a blond-haired, blue-eyed angel who smelled like heaven. I felt a stab of envy that surprised me. I’d set aside my dreams of marriage long ago and without regrets. Too many other things had taken priority, with Mia being first on the list.

  “You two are amazing, you know that? I have to call my parents right this minute. They’re absolutely frantic.” She put a cell phone to her ear, automatically dodging the little fingers that reached for it. Her husband pulled his wallet out of his pocket.

  “My treat.” Jake touched the guy’s shoulder. “Merry Christmas.”

  I’d never seen anyone look as shocked as that daddy.

  “I’ll just get my bag.” I turned to walk down the hall, never noticing that Jake had followed until I couldn’t get the card key to work.

  “Let me.” He took it and swiped. Of course the green light blinked. I opened the door and went inside with him on my heels. “How many are there?”

  “Just one.”

  “I travel light, myself.”

  While I held the door open, Jake got my suitcase. We stepped back into the hall just in time for Rob and Mia to wave and duck into their honeymoon suite. I followed Jake to his lodgings, just a few doors down. When we went inside, I saw that his room looked exactly like mine: king-size bed with maroon comforter, small table with two chairs, TV cabinet and dresser. “Got a quarter?”

  “The bed’s all yours.”

  So he wasn’t a self-serving jerk. But what, exactly, was he? And where did he really stand on the wedding? Suddenly, I had to know. “Do you think they’ll make it?”

  To Jake’s credit, he didn’t pretend to not understand. “Since I don’t know your sister that well, it’s hard for me to say. I will tell you that Rob is happier than I’ve ever seen him, and believes he’s found the woman of his dreams. So if you’re worried about his commitment to the marriage, don’t be. He’s a true blue kind of guy.”

  “Mia’s just as committed.”

  “Then maybe it doesn’t matter that they’ve only known each other for a few months. Just because we’re into our careers, doesn’t mean that every person who isn’t has it wrong.”

  Was it that obvious that I was unattached and worked too much? Or had Mia been telling tales? “I guess I was just hoping for more than—”

  “A wannabe country crooner for a brother-in-law?”

  “Well, yes.”

  “With the support of my parents, my brother has been preparing for Nashville since the age of five. He’s sung at churches, weddings, rodeos, county fairs, and football games. He has an agent. That agent has some auditions lined up. Rob’s a man with
a plan and definitely has better odds at success than any “American Idol” finalist. Besides, his degree is in music. He can always teach if he needs to.”

  Had my sister told me all this? I realized there was a chance she had, only I probably hadn’t been listening. “Good to know. Now if I can just get Mia to finish college.”

  Jake gave me the oddest look. “According to Rob, she’s already been accepted into Vanderbilt.” He got the remote control and sat on the foot of the bed in front of the TV. “I think they took all her credits, too.”

  Disconcerted that I hadn’t known this, I walked to the window, pulled aside the curtain and looked out at the night. Multicolored holiday lights blinked gaily in the distance, blurs that gave the falling snow a rainbow glow. I suddenly wondered if I’d been an even bigger Scrooge than I knew. “If I’ve been rude to you today, I’m sorry.”

  “You haven’t been, but if you had, I’d understand. They’re very young.”

  He had that right. Mia was only twenty-two and Rob just two years older. “Is he your only sibling?”

  “Nope. I was the first of five kids. Rob’s the baby.”

  “Are your parents upset that they weren’t invited to the wedding?”

  “If they are, they haven’t mentioned it. Besides, it’s Christmas Eve, and they have enough other kids and grandkids to keep them occupied.”

  I glanced outside again and began to feel a little better for some reason. “I’ve always loved white Christmases. We don’t get that many in Arkansas.”

  “I had a shoot in Cheyenne this time last year. You should’ve been there.”

  I turned to him, actually seeing him as a person instead of an obstacle. I could easily picture him as charismatic host of a television show. Was he as handsome inside as out? I suspected he was and left the window to find out more about him. “So you’re a ghost hunter.”

  “That’s right.”

  “Ever actually seen one?”

  “I’ve seen my share, beginning when I was sixteen. A friend who’d committed suicide came to me with a message for his parents.”

  Unsure how to take that, I sat in one of the chairs and crossed my leg so I could unzip my boot. “Did you tell them what he’d said?” I kicked it off and wiggled my cramped toes. Then I went for the other one.