Ever After Read Online Free Page B

leaned closer.
    “Not everything that goes wrong around here is my doing. Either way, it appears…” She paused. “We’ve lost the casket.”
    “Lost the—” Thomas’s face reddened, but he composed himself. “How do you lose a casket?”
    “It was in the parlor near the living room. You know, where the wake was being held.” She made eye contact with Thomas, wincing, waiting.
    “And?” His face went from red to purple.
    “And now it’s not?”
    Kaitlyn bit her bottom lip, staring at an interesting place on the carpet.
    “With all due respect, in the future, please speak with me about these matters in private. It’s terribly inappropriate to burden Miss Knowles with such morbid occurrences.” Thomas shook his head disdainfully. “Please excuse me. These tyrants need to put a leash on their kids. One of them must have rolled it—her—out of the parlor.”
    “Because that’s a good explanation. It doesn’t explain why the chairs weren’t moved to make way for it to be rolled through.” She followed behind Thomas who waddled down the hall.
    I leaned against the wrought iron banister.
    Down stairs, Kaitlyn and Thomas headed into a room Thomas hadn’t taken me into. Probably where the body was supposed to be.
    A few children ran through the vestibule, giggling and throwing dirt clods at one another. Any one of them could have rolled the casket into another room and moved the chairs back as a prank.
    Resolving to take a shower, and possibly get in a quick nap, I turned back to my ridiculously huge set of rooms. A happy couple in an embrace standing on freshly polished hardwood floors beside the large four-poster bed faded before my eyes.
    True love.
    It either existed in dreams or lived in times before I was born.
    Forgetting the story, I stepped into the bathroom. Mirrors formed the walls reflecting my flushed olive-toned cheeks. Despite the flowerbed ordeal, ghostly visions, and the lost dead body, my eyes sparkled. A week ago, I would have thrown my head back and horse-laughed if someone had told me I’d board a plane or ever spend the night in a house like this.
    Hot, steamy water in the huge clawfoot tub soaked away the day’s exhaustion.
    * * * *
    Scrubbed up and refreshed, I wrapped a blanket-sized white towel around me and rifled through my scant luggage. My spirits drooped. I had the wardrobe of a bum compared to my elegant jewel-ensconced surroundings. A pair of khaki capris and a creamy yellow sleeveless shirt were the best casual I had, so they had to do. I tossed them out of the suitcase and dried off.
    I called Mama.
    “Tell me everything. What’s it like? Is the house big? Are the people being nice to you? Did you make it through the plane ride okay? I mean, that was your first plane ride. I should have warned you that they can be bumpy.” Before Mama stopped talking, I’d forgotten her first question.
    “I’m fine, Mama. It was a short plane ride. And the head groundskeeper, Thomas Warren, has been wonderful. I did just get here, though.”
    “Well, good. I was worried you’d be all by yourself. So, have you found out why they asked you there?”
    “Not enough to matter. So far, I’ve been on a tour of a ridiculously huge old house. It’s like a museum. Slightly smaller than the Biltmore Estate, but not much.”
    “Oh, honey. You love houses like that.” Mama sighed happily. “At least if it is a mistake, it will be a nice vacation. You earned it.”
    “Yeah.” I paused. “Well, let me call you back after I find out more. Thomas expects me downstairs soon for an outside tour.”
    “Don’t forget to call. Love you, sweetie.”
    “I won’t. Love you, Mama.”
    * * * *
    I woke from a dreamless nap.
    When I pulled the door to my room shut, two male voices filtered from the first floor.
    “…and you knew how it would make me feel. Do you have to adhere to every one of that old bat’s ridiculous wishes?” The masculine voice echoed through the halls.
    “This is no