Free The Ghost House by Helen Phifer

What more do you want?
    She wanted for her to be in a different situation; in a fun-filled loving relationship. She had never really liked being on her own and had always been a homebody. When she was younger, clubbing wasn’t really her thing nor was dating. The thought of having to start over filled her with fear.
Maybe I should buy some fake tan, get my nails done and see if the hairdresser can do anything with what is left of my hair. Have a bit of a pampering day and make an effort. Time to stop being a victim and become a survivor
.
    She refilled her wine glass, hoping it might calm her down and went into the kitchen to feed Tess,. She looked across at the table and the diary on it. Her phone began to ring and she didn’t move an inch for fear of losing the signal.
    ‘Well then, what did he want when he had you all to himself?’
    She decided not to give Jake an ounce of satisfaction. ‘He was very nice and asked me to show him around the old house. There was nothing more.’ She didn’t tell him that Will was coming back in the morning. She thought about Will and his sandy blonde hair – so soft you could run your fingers through it – and his bright blue eyes that crinkled when he smiled, and what a smile: perfect white teeth. Then she thought about herself: short, twenty-six pounds over her ideal weight, her once luscious black hair shaved off to reveal a wound a cage fighter would be proud of. Yes, her and Will were such a match made in heaven that she laughed.
    ‘What’s so funny? You’re so mean keeping me in suspense. But to be brutally honest with you I was phoning up to give you some really good Uncle Jake advice.’
    ‘What would that be Uncle Jake?’
    ‘Don’t go there, with Will, I mean. You know what his reputation is like and I don’t want you getting hurt again so soon. He’s my mate and everything but I would never trust him with my sister or even my mother, come to that.’
    ‘Thanks for the advice. I’m going to bed so can you please stop bugging me. Give my love to Alex.’ She ended the call then picked up the diary.
What about you, Alice? Did you ever fancy anyone out of your league?
    A gentle breeze blew across the back of her neck making the hairs stand on end. If she didn’t know any better she would say someone was standing behind her. She felt her legs begin to quiver
    Oh God, what is happening to me? Please leave me alone
. Afraid to turn around she lifted her eyes until they were level with the window and glanced at her reflection. There was no one behind her. A whisper of cold air passed through her body making every nerve tingle and then it was gone: the room felt lighter and so did she. Annie tipped the rest of the wine into her glass and held it up in the air
. Here’s to you, Alice, I don’t know what is going on or why I get the feeling that I’m involved but I think you were probably a very nice person and I hope that whatever it is you are trying to tell me brings you some comfort
. She downed the wine and grimaced. What was going on? Was it all her imagination or had she encountered a ghost? She wished she had someone to talk to about it that wouldn’t section her. It was a shame all her friends were coppers.
31 st October 1887
    Edward returned from London yesterday. He is so much taller than I remember. I had finished my chores and was sitting near to the piano listening to Lady Hannah play a new piece of music she had learned especially for his coming home. Upon seeing me with his mother he stormed into the room and hugged her tight whilst pulling a face at me behind her back. I could not stop myself and stuck my tongue out at him like a sullen child. Realising my own insolence I stood up and hurried from the room, down to the kitchen, afraid to look back in case he was watching me. I wanted to be as far away from him as possible. I asked Cook if she needed some help and she pointed to a sink full of potatoes. She asked me to peel them so I did. I know she is