Free Secrets of Hallstead House by Amy M Reade Page A

sorry if I underestimated you,” he said with mock formality. “Maybe I can find something for you to do after all.” He smiled, and I softened a little bit, in spite of myself. I followed him into the boathouse and stood watching while he took down several ropes from a large cabinet. “It’s busywork, but you can start by getting all of the knots out of these lines,” he said. “When you’re done, if you’re still looking for something to do, come and find me and I’ll get you started on another job.”
    “Thanks.” I smiled. Pete picked up a wrench and walked toward the mahogany boat I had ridden to the island. I turned and put the twisted pile of ropes on a large workbench in the rear of the boathouse. The ropes were damp and it took me quite a while to get all the knots out. When I finished, I coiled the ropes on the workbench and called out to Pete, who was still working on the boat.
    “I’m done with these ropes, but I think I should go check on Alex. Could I start a different project on another day?”
    “Sure. And thanks for helping—I appreciate it. Tell Alex I said hi.” He smiled at me and went back to his work.
    I found Alex working in her office again.
    “HSH Oil must be a great success, since the lady in charge so rarely takes a break,” I teased.
    Alex laughed. “I love my job,” she said happily.
    “It’s almost time for dinner,” I noted. “Are you going to join us in the dining room tonight?”
    Alex’s smile faded. “No, Macy, not tonight.”
    “I wish you would. It would be good for you.”
    “I know. I like eating in my sitting room, though. Sometimes I talk to Forrest while I have dinner. I can’t do that in a room full of people.”
    I felt a stab of pity for Alex. I could imagine her sitting on her beautiful gold sofa, alone, talking to a ghost. “You’re right. But you might enjoy conversation with Stephan and Will and me too. I’m not trying to force you. Just think about it,” I said softly. After seeing this glimpse of Alex’s pain and vulnerability, I felt somehow closer to her. We shared the ache of loss, and I thought again of my own parents. Alex sensed my thoughts.
    “Do you ever talk to your parents, Macy?”
    I thought for a moment. “I think about them all the time, and I feel like they’re with me, but I don’t actually speak to them aloud. Maybe I talk to them silently, without even realizing it,” I said slowly.
    Alex nodded. “I’ll bet you do.” She opened her mouth as if to say more, then apparently changed her mind. She brightened and asked, “Have you been in the boathouse? I smell grease.”
    I smiled. “Yes, I helped Pete while you were resting and working this afternoon. I didn’t realize that I stink! I should shower before dinner.”
    I left her with a promise to see her later, and I went up to my room quickly to shower. When I went to the dining room for dinner, Stephan and Will were already there, talking. Stephan pulled out my chair and we all sat down together.
    Dinner was quiet. We talked benignly of stories from the newspaper. A couple of times Will tried to steer the conversation to New York City, but that was a topic I was bored of discussing with him, since his main interests tended to be high-end places I did not frequent. How like Alan he is , I thought, surprising myself. I had not thought consciously before of the similarities between Will and Alan, but there were several. They were both handsome and knew it; they both enjoyed patronizing trendy hot spots. Just thinking of Will’s similarities to Alan was enough to make me find him disagreeable.
    Alex did not join us for dinner. I thought of her talking to Forrest in the soft lamplight. It must be very comforting for her.
    After dinner I went to check on her and found her reading in her sitting room. She seemed tired and said she might go to bed early. I was concerned, since Alex didn’t seem the type to tire easily, but when I checked her pulse, blood pressure, and