“I bet they love you.” Patrick was captivated. When she spoke of the children, her expression became dreamy. “What do you do for fun?” He wanted to know every detail he could before he left. And he intended to find out more as they communicated online.
She caught her lower lip in small pearly-white teeth and looked down. “I read and cook, but that’s boring.” Glancing up at him through thick, dark lashes – she smiled. Then she gave him a quick little wink and whispered. “And I’m about to venture into a new hobby. The television show PROOF has contacted the Cultural Center and they’re coming to investigate some of the plantations on the River Road and I’m going to help. So, I’m learning everything I can about ghost hunting. Of course, one of the focal points of our work is Louisiana folklore. I love to spend time talking to the old people and recording tales of hauntings and unusual happenings.”
“Ah, so you believe in things like fortune telling. What did the old woman say again? That you’d meet a warrior? You have to admit, that’s a bit unusual. Don’t they usually tell you that you’ll meet someone tall, dark and handsome?”
A bit of mischievousness came over Savannah. “I don’t want to scare you, and I won’t sue you for breach of promise, but this particular woman is rarely wrong. She comes from a very powerful hoodoo family that is famous for their healing powers as well as their magical gifts.”
They came to their picnic spot and Patrick helped her gather up their gear and carry it toward the car. “Really? So, you think we should pick out china patterns? If we’re gonna get married, I’m really glad you reconsidered the ban on kissing.” He was teasing – and he wasn’t.
Yea, she had kissed him. That was one thing she wouldn’t forget for many a day. Running a finger over her lips, she shivered at the memory. “If the Saints win the Superbowl, we’ll talk about it.”
Her quick come-back made him laugh. “I enjoy being with you, Savannah.” He opened her door, and then put the other items in the trunk before climbing behind the wheel. “Do you plan on investigating Evermore Plantation? Many people that live around it say that it’s haunted.”
“I don’t know. It depends on how the session with PROOF goes. Our first endeavor will be The Grove up close to Baton Rouge, I think. But if they schedule more sessions, I will be sure and recommend Evermore. Those curved staircases on the front are so beautiful. I can just imagine spectre ladies floating up and down them in their ball gowns. Did you ever sense anything when you lived there?” Savannah loved a good ghost story.
“I did. We lived in the caretaker’s cottage, of course. But sometimes, I would spend the night in one of the garconieries. They were two story buildings designed for the young unmarried men of the family to live in. There they could be typical boys and not be a bad influence on the younger children, especially the girls. Anyway, when I was about six, I was sleeping there one night and I woke up to see a little boy standing at the end of my bed. But there were no other little boys there; it was just me and my grandfather.” While he talked, Patrick drove out of the park and hit the road back toward town. “What was wild – was that he followed me back to the caretaker’s cottage. He would play with my toys. Sometimes he broke them and I got blamed for it.”
“Were you afraid of him?”
“At first, but I was so lonely that I started to look forward to his visits. He was a little shy, but friendly.”
“Did he talk to you?”
“A few times,” Patrick admitted. “Now where’s that drug store?”
It was just down the street so Savannah helped him hunt a parking place. “What did he say?” She bombarded him with the question as soon as he opened her door.
“You like this stuff, don’t you?” He took her by the hand and helped her out. Before Savannah could answer ‘yes’, he pulled her into his embrace. “Here’s what I like – sweet Savannah sugar.” He kissed her hard and quick because the street was crowded and the sun was beating down on them.
="Calibri"ize="+0" face="Calibri">This time Savannah made no protest. Their time together was drawing to a close and she was hoarding every moment away in her treasure chest of memories. “Yes, I like the ghost stories, but I like your kisses more.” Her admission seemed to make him happy. “Now, what did the little boy say?”
“He said he didn’t like the people at Evermore. He told me that they had hurt him. And he said his name was Felix.”
“Wow, did you ever ask any questions about it or try to find out who Felix was?” He stopped long enough to order and collect their lemonade, but he never turned loose of Savannah. Leading her back to a booth, he let her sit down then scooted in right next to her. “Lord, you’re big,” she playfully fussed as his pressed close to her.
“Parts of me are,” he gave her a hot look and a devastating smile. “No, as I got older, I saw him less and less. Until you started talking about ghosts, I hadn’t really thought about him in a long time.”
“Wouldn’t it be wild to investigate the house and see if Felix is still there?”
Her enthusiasm was contagious. “Yea, I guess it would be.”
“Proving that we don’t cease to exist when we die is an age-old
