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was unseasonably warm for this time of year at this elevation, so I couldn’t see my breath as I walked. It was actually pretty concerning when I thought about the big picture of the planet, but it was nice for right now.
Other than the talking to herself, the week with Collins had gone…fine.
“Do you need any help?” Honestly, no. There were eight chairs, and they were light. I could probably carry them into Ms. Papadakis’s house two at a time, so imagine my surprise when I said, “Yeah, that would be great.”
“This town is held together by grudges—grudges and chewed-up gum, Brady. It’s part of our weird little ecosystem.”
Brady’s truck dipped into a crevice in the road that was akin to the Grand Canyon, and both of us got rightfully jostled.
“It’s creepy out here, okay? Any normal person would be at least a little apprehensive while walking toward a church that looks like it was the scene of at least six exorcisms.” “Seven,” Collins corrected. Oh god.
and Chicken Soup—Chicken for short—the world’s teeniest (and meanest) Chihuahua mix.
“What’s his name?” I said, crouching to scratch the new pup’s head. “Phillips Screwdriver,” Boone said, and my head whipped up. “You cannot be serious,” I responded. Boone shrugged. “I call him Phil for short.”
Boone also didn’t have any regular ghosts—at least, not any human ones. Occasionally, though, we’d see a few old horses, dogs, or barn cats. They were anchored to Boone. They loved him.
I don’t think Collins gave me a second thought, but I gave her a lot of thoughts.
Did I think she was kind of insane? Yes, absolutely without a doubt.
“Oh my god,” Collins said. Her face was stretching into a grin. “You really are like a nerd, aren’t you? A big, giant, adorable nerd?”
“You brought me to a murder house!” “Again, it’s an accidental murder house.” Brady’s eye twitched. “And we’re not hanging out in the murder area. We’re going to the attic.” “Yeah, because the attic in a murder house is so much better.”
I can be very persuasive. I’d talk the ghost out of it—tell them you’re not worth possessing.” Brady looked like he was fighting a smile. “I don’t know if I should be offended that you don’t think I’m worth possessing.” “Oh my god. Do you want to get possessed or not?”
“She was the reason I started exploring up here on my own—thought she could benefit from a little girl talk.”
wait precious
I felt weirdly protective over this upholsterer.
“So,” Brady said to break the silence. “I think I believe in ghosts now—in case you were wondering.” I burst out laughing, and neither of us stopped for a long time.
Her body was angled toward mine and her arm was on the back of the couch, and she was looking at me with her head resting on her palm. If I moved my knee two inches, I’d bump her. I moved my knee.
facing him instead of the sun now, but with the grin still wide and bright on his face, it was basically the same thing.
“Another Collins spot?” “For now,” I nodded. “It’s about to be a Collins and Brady spot, just like the rest of them, though.”
