Free Grave Misgivings by Lily Harper Hart Page B

rumble of thunder followed, loud enough to shake the patio.
    “I didn’t know it was going to storm,” Lauren said, disappointed.
    “We should probably move this party inside,” Aaron said. “We’re going to get wet in exactly thirty seconds.”
    “I need to get Maddie,” Nick said, turning his head as the wind gusted. She was still by the water, but her eyes were fixed on a spot behind a nearby tree and her back was to him. Nick had no idea what she was doing, but something told him her attention had been drawn to something only she could see. “Take these inside for us,” Nick said, handing the beers to Christy.
    “What is she looking at?” Max asked, tilting his head to the side.
    “There’s probably some deer out there,” Aaron said. “They’ve been coming closer to the house over the past few days.”
    “I’m sure that’s it,” Nick said, exchanging a quick look with Christy. Both of them knew Maddie’s attention was more likely fixed on something supernatural.
    “Let’s go inside,” Christy said, jumping into action. “Nick is fully capable of collecting Maddie.”
    “I’ll be right back,” Nick said.
     
    MADDIE stared at the ghost, conflicted. The woman looked to have been in her early forties when she died, her dark hair shot through with gray, and the beginnings of some heavy lines colliding in the corners by her eyes. Her eyes were an odd color, more gray than blue or green, and she looked like she was wearing some sort of uniform – although Maddie couldn’t identify it.
    “You can see me, can’t you?” The woman was studying Maddie with the same intensity as Maddie was looking at her.
    “Yes,” Maddie whispered, making sure to keep her back to the patio so no one could see her lips moving. “Who are you?”
    “Who are you?”
    “My name is Maddie Graves.”
    “Are you Maude’s daughter?”
    Maddie stilled, surprised. “I’m her granddaughter. Do you know my grandmother?”
    “She shouldn’t be old enough to be a grandmother,” the ghost mused. “Olivia is still so young. I didn’t even know she was pregnant.”
    Maddie was confused, although she had a feeling she was nowhere near as confused as the spirit. “What year do you think it is?”
    “It’s … um, I don’t know. Time doesn’t mean anything to me now.”
    Maddie pressed her lips together. “That’s okay. Um … did you die here?”
    “Someone is coming,” the ghost hissed, drifting to the side and hiding behind a tree.
    Maddie turned, not surprised to find Nick moving in her direction.
    “It’s going to storm, Mad,” Nick said. “We need to get inside.”
    “Umm … okay.” Maddie glanced back at the woman.
    Nick didn’t speak again until he was at Maddie’s side and could keep his voice low. “Who are you talking to?”
    “There’s a ghost here,” Maddie said, tilting her head. “I … how did you know I was talking to someone? Does everyone up there think I’m talking to myself?”
    “Calm down,” Nick said, rubbing her back and leaning closer. He wanted prying eyes to think they were being romantic. “Everyone thinks you’re looking at deer and that’s going to be your story when we go back inside. It’s fine. No one besides Christy suspects anything.”
    “Are you sure?”
    “I’m sure, Mad. Tell me about the ghost. Do you recognize her?”
    “No,” Maddie said. “She hasn’t told me her name. Do you want to tell me who you are?”
    The woman remained silent, her eyes flooding with suspicion as they fixed on Nick.
    “She knew Granny, although she thought I was her daughter,” Maddie said.
    “She thought you were Olivia?” Maddie and her mother shared mesmerizing eyes and lithe figures, but Olivia’s coloring was much darker than Maddie’s. Nick had never met anyone who confused the two women.
    “No, she just asked if I was Maude Graves’ daughter,” Maddie replied. “She has no idea what year it is. In her mind, Granny shouldn’t be a … well … granny,