Free The Trouble With Snowmen by Dorlana Vann Page A

they arrived at the multiplex where Larry had attended the séance a week earlier. The place where he’d met Haley. He stared at it for a minute, and then he questioned Brenda as to why they were there.
    “Come on,” she said, getting out without answering his question and left him sitting in the car.
    Brenda wandered up the path to the house and stood on the front porch, her phone up to her ear.
    Larry wondered what in the world kind of surprise she would have for him in there. He loosened his tie and pulled it over his head. As he exited the car, he unbuttoned the top couple of buttons of his shirt.
    Larry met Brenda on the porch as the front door opened. He immediately recognized the lady from the séance, the one who’d talked about the dead guy owing her rent money. She held out her hand. “Hi, nice to meet y’all. I’m Regina Rogers. Come in.”
    They shook hands and followed her inside.
    “I haven’t told him about the big surprise yet,” Brenda said.
    Larry scratched his head. He didn’t remember telling Brenda where this house was even located, but it most likely had been during one of those awkward moments when she asked what he was thinking. During those times, he found himself rambling, trying to tell her anything except the truth. The truth being he’d been thinking about Haley.
    “This is my present to you. I bought it for you.”
    “Excuse me?”
    “This house is all he’s been talking about,” Brenda told Regina. “I’ve heard nothing but ‘the house is so awesome, like right out of the twenties, and it has a haunted room. What ambiance, what a great setting for a murder.’ I told you he’s a horror writer, right? Larry White.”
    “You did,” Regina said, turning her attention to Larry. “I’ve read everything of yours. I’m a huge fan. Miss Fisher told me you were here the other night, but I’m sorry, I really don’t remember seeing you. It was dark, and there were a lot of people.”
    “No, no, that’s okay. I was just doing a little research.” He turned to Brenda. “Now, what did you say? You bought this house?”
    Brenda nodded. “I did. I bought it for you. I searched online the other day, thinking that if you had your own place out this way, we would be able to spend more time together. I know it’s difficult for you to work with distractions. And I saw this place for sale and remembered how much you loved it and thought what a great place for you to write.”
    Larry clenched his jaw. What was Brenda trying to do? Keep him under her thumb? He swallowed his anger and looked around the wide hallway with wooden floors, high ceiling, and old-fashioned candelabras. It did have a wonderful atmosphere, but what the hell did she expect for such a big gift? “Thanks, but it’s too much.”
    “Nonsense. It will practically pay for itself. There are already two renters. Besides, it’s in my name, so if you ever don’t want it anymore, I’ll sell it and get my money back.”
    “Huh,” Larry mumbled.
    “I did tell her about the haunted apartment,” Regina said.
    Brenda wrapped her arm in Larry’s. “I figured that would be the apartment you would want to write in, and we could rent out Regina’s apartment.”
    “You did agree that I could stay for a few days, until I moved out of the country, right?” Regina asked.
    “If it’s okay with Larry.”
    “Of course,” Larry said, trying to process everything. “But I already have a house. My house. Where I live. I don’t need a house.”
    “I know. I’m not an idiot. I don’t expect you to move , this gives you an extra place to write. Maybe you’ll be able to finish your novel. You’ve been so reluctant to go home, I figured you were at odds with yourself and not wanting to leave me. I wanted you to have everything—a place to write and me.”
    Did she really think that? Did she really think he’d been reluctant to leave her? He might have made it seem that way. “Right.”
    “Do you hate it? You hate it,