The Curse Keepers Collection Read Online Free

hands, I shook my head. “Nothing like that happened. I just wondered if perhaps you felt a little short of breath.”
    The older woman placed her hand over her heart, her chest rising and falling in short pants. “I didn’t this afternoon, but now I am. What were we exposed to?”
    I shook my head again. “No! You weren’t exposed to anything! It was nothing. I had an asthma attack is all. It must have been the pollen.” My smile was now cemented onto my face.
    The woman’s shoulders slumped in relief. “Well, why didn’t you say so?”
    Myra approached from behind and placed her hand on my shoulder. “How are you doing this evening, Mr. and Mrs. Crabtree? I see you’ve met my daughter, Ellie.”
    They gaped in surprise. Myra was second-generation Chinese, and you couldn’t find anyone more Caucasian looking than me—fair complected, freckles on my nose, and long dark red hair. Some days Myra was ornery enough to let the guests puzzle it out. This must have been one of those days. “So where are you two planning to go for dinner?”
    Mr. and Mrs. Crabtree were still trying to figure out our genetics.
    “If you’re looking for seafood, I highly recommend the Carter House on Highway 10, headed toward Nags Head. Their own employees often catch some of the seafood they serve.”
    “Is that so?” the man asked, squinting from me to Myra. It was obvious they wanted to ask about us, but politely refrained. “Sounds good.”
    Myra took a step backward toward the office. “If you’ll excuse us, Ellie and I have something we need to attend to.”
    They waved us aside, and I cringed. Was I in trouble? Myra usually understood when I was late.
    She led me to the small office and lowered her voice. “You and I both know you’ve never had an asthma attack in your life. What’s going on?”
    Leaning into the door frame, I screwed up my face and gave a half shrug. “It was nothing.” I paused. “How’s Daddy today?”
    Her eyes narrowed in suspicion as she studied me. Then she shook her head and smiled. “He’s better today, actually. He was asking about you.”
    I forced another smile. I’d done quite a bit of that in the last few hours. “It looks like things are under control here. How about I go fold towels and talk to Daddy?”
    Myra knew I was up to something, but Daddy’s good days were fewer and far between so it was hard for her to call me on it. “I left him in the screened-in porch. He was watching the neighbor’s dogs.”
    “Thanks, Myra.” I kissed her on the cheek and spun around.
    “Ellie . . . ”
    I turned around, surprised at the worry in her voice.
    “You know you can talk to me about anything, right?”
    I smiled again, and this time it was genuine. “Of course, Myra. And I love you for that.” I gave her another quick kiss and bolted out the back door before she could ask any more questions. Myra knew about the curse, but Daddy had the answers I needed.
    I walked across the yard to the main house and grabbed two baskets of bath towels from the laundry room, carrying them through the living area to the porch off the front of the house. Daddy sat in a rocking chair, staring out toward the sound. You couldn’t see it from here, but we were close enough that you could smell the salty air and feel the breeze.
    “Hey, Daddy.” I sat in the chair next to his, dropping the baskets in front of me with a loud thud.
    He turned to face me, his gaze wavering before it cleared. A smile lifted his mouth. “Hey, Elliphant.”
    Tears burned my eyes. He hadn’t called me that in weeks. He hadn’t recognized me at all in days. “I miss you.”
    His eyebrows arched in surprise. “Did you go somewhere?”
    I suppressed a groan, annoyed with my stupidity. Making comments like that only confused him. “No, Daddy. I’ve just been so busy I haven’t had time to stop by and see you in a few days.” Which was a lie. I’d seen him every day for the last six weeks.
    He sat back in his chair and