Free The House on Serpent Lake (Ghost, Romance, Fantasy) by Brenda Hill Page A

feel, especially when she didn’t want to tell him why it was so important.
    He stood cracking eggs into an iron skillet, and when she heard them sizzle in the hot bacon grease, she realized she was hungry.
    “Decide to join the living?” He turned the eggs with a spatula. “I heard you upstairs and thought I’d surprise you with breakfast.”
    It was such a sweet thing for him to do that she couldn’t help but be pleased. Wrapping her arms around his waist, she reached up to give him a light kiss. “Eggs and bacon will do it every time. You just now having breakfast?”
    “I had some cereal earlier but thought I’d make my special BLT with fried eggs. Got enough for two if you’re hungry.”
    “Starved.” Leaving the security of his arms, she turned to rummage through the grocery sacks for paper plates and napkins when she noticed the dish drainer, coffee pot, and toaster from their California home standing on the counter. Looking around the kitchen, she realized all the moving boxes were gone. “You unpacked the kitchen?”
    “Open the cupboards and see.” While he said it in a nonchalant way, pride filled his voice.
    She opened the cupboards and everything, including the silverware and pots and pans, was neatly put away.
    “Oh, honey, how wonderful!”
    “Look in the pantry.”
    She opened the door to rows of canned soups, vegetables and packages of dry goods, all put away on the shelves as if they’d always been there.
    “You’ve certainly been busy this morning.”
    Shrugging, he slid the eggs onto platter alongside strips of bacon. “Self-preservation, you know. With a wife who sleeps all day—”
    She grabbed a dishtowel and snapped him on the rear. When he yelped, she smiled. Then her earlier fatigue caught up with her and her knees went wobbly. She slid down on the closest chair.
    Rubbing his backside, he turned to her. “Hey, not fair. I was going to return the favor, but you look pale. Aren’t you feeling well?”
    “I don’t feel ill, just extremely tired. Must be some kind of bug.”
    Eric prepared a plate for her and joined her at the table. “Might as well spend the rest of the day resting. Nothing’s so urgent you have to get it done now.”
    “So much I want to do,” she said, wiping a glob of runny yoke from her chin. “Since you’ve done the kitchen, I’m not sure whether I want to get our bedroom unpacked or do the living room next. And the reading nook. It’s such a perfect place to relax and read. Then, of course, there’s my studio.” Feeling somewhat stronger after her breakfast, she sipped her coffee and looked through the window to the blue sky and sunshine.
    Such a perfect summer day. The maple and oak branches swayed gently in the breeze from the lake and the sound of motorboats and ski-doos echoed across the water. Birds sang.
    “Just listen. I love to listen to the birds. That’s what I missed most. I don’t know if I’ll ever have the radio on again.”
    He paused in mid-bite. “You missed the birds? When? We had birds at home.”
    “I said that? Guess I meant … oh, I don’t know. It’s not important. Honey, feel. No humidity. Let’s shop in town for some bookcases and perhaps an area rug for the attic. We can top it off with dinner at one of the local resorts.”
    “Can’t, sorry. I’m expecting a call from Mark.”
    “He can reach you on your cell.”
    “We’re going over spreadsheets, so I have to be at the computer. You and I can explore later.”
    “Oh.” Disappointed, Lindsay picked up their plates. At the sink she slipped off her gold watch and set it in the windowsill before running hot sudsy water.
    She had hoped that spending the summer away from the frantic pace of southern California would allow Eric to relax so they could spend more time together. Finding him after so many years spent alone still felt like a miracle and she wanted to nurture their relationship, attend to it and watch it grow rather than have it wither from