Free Stitches in Time by Terri Dulong

with their sleepover?”
    The evening before was a bit foggy in my mind, but I nodded. “Yeah, I think they did. They’re still sleeping.”
    â€œI’m so happy that Haley has found a new friend. Tina seems like a nice girl.”
    I nodded. “I like her too.”
    Chloe folded up the newspaper. “Anything else going on?”
    â€œWell, let’s see. My mother changed her mind about coming here at the end of March.”
    I saw Chloe raise her eyebrows. “Oh, she’s not coming to check out the area for retirement?”
    â€œAh, no. She already made a decision on that. She’s arriving in about three weeks and . . . she’ll be staying permanently.”
    Now surprise covered Chloe’s face. “Really? What brought this about?”
    â€œWell, it seems her mind had really already been made up about moving here. So she figured why bother with the pretense of a hotel. She found a townhouse to purchase in The Trails and got everything arranged.”
    â€œHmm, yeah, that’s quite a shift in plans. So she’s bought a place sight unseen?”
    I took a sip of coffee. “Apparently so. She said the photos online were very descriptive.”
    â€œWell, that is how I originally found Henry’s condo to rent. But I had never planned to stay there permanently.” She let out a chuckle. “Gee, and look how that worked out.”
    â€œSo she’s arranged for the movers and will be flying down the day before, on the twenty-fifth.”
    â€œYou’re not happy about this, are you?”
    â€œNo. Not really. I mean, she’s been out of my life for thirty years. And now, what? She thinks she can just wiggle her way back in? Hey, she can do what she wants. Haley might be happy to have her grandmother in her life, but it doesn’t mean I have to be involved.”
    â€œHmm, true,” was all she said.
    â€œOh, I wanted to ask you about my room and Emmalyn.”
    Chloe’s head shot up. “What do you mean?”
    â€œI remember you said you had some weird dreams when you stayed in that room.”
    â€œAre you having dreams?”
    â€œI did last night. Didn’t you say she was quite beautiful, with long auburn hair, and she always wore a red evening gown in your dreams?”
    Chloe nodded.
    â€œWell . . . I think she’s back. I mean this is just plain silly. I never even knew her. Why on earth would I be dreaming about her?”
    â€œRemember I also told you we think Emmalyn never really left this house? She loved it here and Mavis Anne is convinced that her sprit has remained.”
    I waved a hand in the air and laughed. “You’ve got to be kidding. You sound like you believe that foolishness too.”
    Chloe remained quiet.
    â€œWell, do you?”
    She let out a deep sigh. “I can’t discount it. I’ve had too many experiences here involving Emmalyn not to consider the possibility. What was your dream about? Was she out by the fishpond?”
    I shook my head. “No, she was right there in my bedroom. At first she was sitting on the edge of the bed and I was sleeping on the lounge. Then she walked over to the French doors and opened them. She told me that I just didn’t get it, whatever that’s supposed to mean. But the really bizarre part was after I woke up, I went into the bathroom and when I came out . . . the French doors were wide open just the way she left them. With all the rain yesterday, I sure as hell had not opened those doors.”
    Chloe’s lips were pursed as she fiddled with the handle of her coffee mug.
    â€œSo am I to believe that I’m sharing my room with a ghost? Is that what you’re saying?”
    Chloe smiled and shrugged. “I honestly don’t know what to tell you, Isabelle. All I can say is that if it is Emmalyn, she’s harmless.”
    â€œOh, gee. Thanks. That’s very comforting.”
    â€œWill you and Haley be here