Me and My Ghoulfriends Read online

  "Hello,” she said cheerfully.

  Words would not form, nothing came out of my mouth.

  "Larue, is that you? Are you all right?"

  I could sense the concern in her voice. Still, I couldn't force the words to materialize. I tried to move my mouth to speak, but I was too weak.

  "Larue, are you there?” Mindy was becoming increasingly alarmed.

  With my luck, Mindy probably thought I'd accidentally dialed her number. I'd made that mistake in the past. One time, while driving down the highway with my phone stashed in the bottom of my purse, I'd accidentally called her phone. She'd gotten the treat of listening to me sing along to the radio for at least five minutes on her voice mail.

  "Sick.” That was the only word that finally sputtered out of my dry lips.

  "I'm on my way."

  Relief glided over me, it was good to have a best friend I could count on, and Mindy was always there for me. Sure, she got on my nerves at times, but she really was great. Lying on the floor, I opened one eye to see the squad of spirits hovering over me.

  "What do you think is wrong with her? What do we do with her?” I heard their voices chatting.

  Their voices were muffled, as though I was hearing them through a tin can. They were talking amongst themselves as if I couldn't hear them. For all they knew I couldn't.

  Mindy was there in what seemed like hours, but in reality was more like seconds. I heard the faint sound of her key pushing through the lock and then the rattle of the knob as the door opened. The bell above the door chimed, the sound exaggerated in my mind as the tone swirled in my head.

  Mindy burst through the door and fell to my side. “Oh My God, Larue. What happened? Never mind. Don't try to answer me. Let's get you home."

  Mindy draped her arms under mine and lifted me up in one big heave. I guess those pole dancing classes were paying off for her, after all. Struggling with me down the sidewalk, she eased me into her car, and hurried back to lock the door behind us.

  I couldn't even help myself sit up. As I slumped over in the seat, all I remembered thinking was I didn't want to hurl in her nice new Audi.

  The next thing I knew, I was waking up in my bedroom. Everything seemed exceedingly bright, like a thousand fluorescent lights were shining down on me. My ghostly friends were huddled around the bed, waiting for me to come to life. I must have looked like hell, but that's the good thing about having dead friends—no matter how bad I looked, I always looked better than they did.

  They smiled down at me, and I gave my best attempt at a smile back. Thank God for a comfortable bed. My down comforter had never felt so good. As I opened my eyes to see the sun dancing through the window and bouncing off my bedroom walls, I was grateful for the decision to paint my walls a soft yellow. On that particular morning it was more soothing than ever.

  I really didn't remember any of my trip home the evening before. I'd been drifting in and out of sleep the entire time. Apparently Mindy had stayed with me, because I could hear her in my upstairs shower. My head was still slightly foggy, and I felt as if I'd been drugged. I felt like I had the worst hangover in the history of hangovers. The thought that instantly popped into my mind was: What the hell kind of candy did my mother send me?

  Trying to move as little as possible, I fumbled for the phone on the nightstand beside my bed. Still hazy, I punched in my mother's number.

  "Hi, Dear. This is a treat. I'm so glad you called.” My mother had finally discovered Caller ID.

  "Mom, why did you sent me that horrible candy?"

  "What do you mean, sweetheart? Are you all right? Your voice doesn't sound right."

  "The chocolates you sent me. I got them yesterday and they made me really sick. I mean like deathly ill.” I was a little frustrated.

  "I didn't send you candy."

  I really was confused. “What do you mean you didn't send any candy?"

  "I mean I didn't send you anything, sweetheart. I wouldn't tempt you like that. I don't want to spoil my chances of being a grandmother. With your nice figure, I think you'll eventually attract a husband. At least I hope you do."

  Ugh. Here I was on my deathbed, and she was worried about my marital status and whether or not she'd have grandchildren to torture.

  "It had your name on the package. Diana Donavan was clearly marked on the return address. I remember looking at it."

  "That's impossible, dear. You must be mistaken. Perhaps you looked at the package wrong."

  Was my brain so fuzzy from being sick I'd imagined her name on the package? No, I was sure I'd been alert when I'd opened it, but maybe I'd already been starting to become ill then. I was so confused. Maybe she was right—somehow I had simply looked at it incorrectly.

  "I guess I made a mistake then,” I said warily.

  "Are you sure you're all right? You said you were sick. What's wrong? Is it the flu?"

  "I just ate something that didn't agree with me, I guess. I'm feeling fine now."

  "Do I need to come take care of you, sugar? I can bring you some soup."

  "No, no. I'm fine.” That's the last thing I needed right at the moment. I didn't want her to find out about my feud with Brianna.

  "I have to go to work, Mom, I'll call you later."

  "You promise?"

  "I promise."

  "All right, sugar, if you promise. I love you."

  "I love you too, Mom."

  Stumbling out of bed, I opened the door of my bedroom and crossed the living room floor into the kitchen to retrieve my purse. It contained the dreaded box of chocolates. Or, should I say ‘box of evidence.’ I yanked the package out of my purse and held it up in front of my face for close examination. Looking at the front of the package, I realized there was no return address. That was really strange. Evidently, I was losing it.

  Just then, Mindy came bounding down the stairs. And a smidgen too cheerfully for my taste that early in the morning, I might add. Maybe I was only cranky from being sick, but I'd never understand how she could be so energized that early. And I thought of myself as a morning person. I guess I had that perception all wrong.

  "How are you feeling this morning?” She placed her hand on my forehead like my mother always had when checking for a temperature.

  "I'm much better."

  "You still look pale. You should go back to bed and get more rest.” She frowned.

  I shrugged and nodded. “I have to open Book Nook."

  "I'll open the store for you. You just go back to bed and rest."

  "No, really, I'm fine. You get to your class. Those little old ladies need their pole fitness.” I tried to snicker, but it hurt my stomach.

  "I guess you are feeling better.” She shot me a wry smile.

  "You're darn right I am. Now scoot,” I said.

  "I'll come by and check on you later."

  "Thank you, Mindy. I mean it, thanks for everything."

  "You're welcome."

  She hugged me goodbye, and then I trudged off to the shower. My knees still felt weak, but I wasn't about to share that detail with her. She needed to work just as much as I did. If she thought I wasn't well she would have hung around for sure. We both had homes to pay for and countless other bills that wouldn't go away. I sucked in a deep, breath expanding my lungs as the hot water eased the tension in my body. What was going on? Was I losing it? I was positive my mother's name had been on that package.

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  Chapter 19

  Working the morning after you thought you were almost dying is no picnic. Luckily, I had those comfy leather chairs to snuggle into and relax. I had always loved the idea of curling up in front of a fire with a book, and that's what had given me the idea to place the dark leather chairs in front of the old fireplace in Book Nook.

  The fireplace hadn't worked when I'd bought the store, but after a few weeks, the handyman had it in top operating condition. So when I didn't have customers wandering around the store or other work to do, I planted myself
in one of those cozy chairs and tried to get my bearings back. After thinking over what might have made me sick, I finally figured I'd simply gotten a bad batch of something. That was the only logical explanation. As to who'd sent the package, well, I was too troubled to think about it.

  True to her word, Mindy waltzed through the door at lunch time, in typical Mindy style.

  "I brought lunch!” She dangled the bag in front of her face.

  I groaned as I stretched like a cat, from my position in the chair.

  "I'm not sure I'm ready to eat yet. My mind says yes, but I think my stomach says no."

  "Don't be silly. You need your strength, and you're not going to get it from not eating,” she said gleefully.

  "All those fitness classes are seeping into your brain,” I said sarcastically.

  "Don't you want to be healthy?"

  I grunted as I grabbed the bag from her. “No.” I smirked. “Of course I do. What did you bring?"

  "Healthy food, of course."

  "You call this healthy?” I said, opening the bag and peering in. I stuck my hand into the bag and pulled out the meal. I placed the food on the small end table that sat between the two chairs.

  "Sandwiches are healthy."

  "Not when they have this much mayonnaise. I think they added an entire jar to it.” I snatched up a napkin and began scraping at my bread. As Mindy gaped at me, I tried to wipe the condiment off as much as I could. It was a losing battle.

  "It was the easiest thing to pick up on the way over. You know I have to go all the way on the other side of town for anything else. Now quit complaining and eat your sandwich."

  "Oh, well ... In that case that makes it all right. Forget healthy, if it means driving across town.” I laughed.

  "Don't be so picky. You'll eat it and like it."

  I smirked as I took a big bite of my sandwich. I prayed it wouldn't upset my stomach again. It was still queasy and I didn't think mayonnaise would help ease it.

  Mindy stared at me; she obviously had something on her mind.

  "What? Whatever you're thinking just spit it out.” I smirked.

  "Did you ever stop to think that just maybe these,” she raised her fingers and made air quotes, “'accidents’ aren't really accidents?"

  "Actually...” I placed my sandwich down.

  I hadn't told her about the candy yet. I knew she'd blow a fuse when she found out. I was reluctant to tell Mindy I didn't even know where the package of candy had come from, but I didn't want to hide anything from her, either.

  "I got a package with candy in it. I thought they were from my mother. But I called her and she said the chocolates weren't from her."

  "What does that mean?"

  "Well, it means that I don't know who the candy was from and I'm sure that's what made me sick. I got sick right after eating the candy. I mean, it only took about an hour."

  "Oh. My. God. Larue. See, I knew it! We have to go to the police. We have to tell them Brianna is trying to kill you."

  "Whoa, hold your horses. How do we know it's Brianna?"

  Mindy flashed me a glare.

  "Well, how do we know she's trying to kill me? Maybe it is someone else, or maybe she's just trying to scare me. We have no proof that it's her.” I took a sip of my drink and eyed her for a response.

  Mindy stared at me for a second, then said, “Maybe they could find her fingerprints on the box?"

  "Somehow I think she's smarter than that. Don't you?” Besides, the police won't test it just because I tell them to. They have more important things to do.” I took another bite of my turkey sandwich. Still too much mayonnaise.

  "I'm worried about you, Larue,” Mindy said with a pained look on her face.

  "There's no reason to worry. I'm fine, really."

  Abe was standing next to Mindy shaking his head in agreement with her.

  "Sure, there is reason to worry. I mean, you are working next to that monster every day, and she is evil. Pure evil.” Mindy inclined her head in the direction of Brianna's boutique.

  "I'm just trying to avoid her. I think that's the best plan,” I said before taking another sip of my drink.

  "But she's coming to you now. Sending you packages. You can't avoid her like that. God knows what she'll try next."

  "If I get any other packages I'll be extra cautious. I promise.” I twisted my mouth into a grin.

  "That's not funny. Not funny at all.” Mindy frowned.

  In that moment of silence, we both gazed out the window at the innocent-looking boutique across the way. The fashionable mannequins posed in the window. The chic sign above the door. Tiny shivers climbed up my back. A store that looked so innocent really housed something incredibly mean.

  "She must still feel like you're a threat to her.” Mindy wolfed down the last bite of her tuna sandwich. “Like maybe you'll come between her new-found relationship with Callahan,” she added.

  "I don't want him. I told her already. She can have him. I don't want sloppy seconds,” I said crabbily as I crossed my arms over my chest.

  Immediately, a flashback of Callahan's kisses rushed through my mind, and there was no denying my feelings. I was angry. Angry at myself for falling for his tricks and allowing him to kiss me so passionately. I had let myself be swayed by his smile and bulging biceps. But never again. I would never fall for it again.

  Mindy stretched and stood, then said, “So, let's see. You have the car that almost hit you. And then the sign just fell for no good reason and almost smashed you in the head.” She was ticking each incident off on her fingers as she spoke. “Then you receive a mysterious box of candy you thought was from your mother, but turned out was from some unknown person. And I have my suspicions who that person was. And their name starts with a B. Hmm. B for bitch.” Mindy laughed at her joke.

  "I'll admit that all of that had crossed my mind already. But she has Callahan. Why does she still want me gone?"

  "It's simple. She just doesn't like you, that's all."

  "Thanks for the insight, Sherlock."

  "You're welcome. Let me know if you have any other cases you need solved.” Mindy gave a grin, and then held a fake pipe up to her mouth.

  "Now I feel like I have to keep myself hidden inside the store all the time. I never know when something is going to fall from the sky or come at me from out of nowhere. It's like being in prison.” I repositioned myself in the chair, the leather making a swooshing noise as I did.

  "Well, you do have secret bodyguards, right?” She glanced around the room as if she were trying to spot the apparitions.

  I shrugged. “I suppose I do. Unfortunately, they can't do much to help me with this situation."

  Mr. Haynes and Abe smiled an acknowledging smile.

  The sidewalk outside was eerily empty. It was a quiet afternoon. No customers had appeared since early morning, but for once that was fine with me. I needed the alone time to relax. All the tension was really finally catching up to me.

  Mindy flipped the switch on the wall, and the fire instantly roared, dancing in front of us. Fall was in the air, and I was so glad I had invested in the repaired fireplace. A flip of the switch and it was on—no wood, matches or anything to worry with. Nothing to clean.

  As I sat there looking around the room, I realized how much I truly did love my job. I was my own boss. I did not have to answer to anyone, well except for the ghosts. Other than that, I was on my own. If I needed a break, I could take it. And, for once, I needed one.

  "And you're sure you won't go to the police? I really think you should.” Mindy said, breaking through my reflections.

  "I'm sure. I know how the police department works around here. They would never believe someone was trying to kill me. I can hear them now, ‘A woman scorned.’ They'd just think I was jealous of Brianna for being with Callahan. No thanks, I don't need that headache.” I waved my hand in disgust at the thought. “I'll just wait it out and maybe she'll leave me alone."

  "Wait it out? Maybe you'll wait to
o long and she really will hurt you.” Mindy rubbed her hands in front of the fire. “Or,” she paused, “God forbid, kill you."

  "Oh, Brianna's not going to kill me. She just wants to scare me, that's all. It's just a little game to her,” I said, throwing my legs over the side of the chair.

  "I can't understand how you can be so blasé about all of this."

  "I'm not being blasé. I just don't want to deal with the police, when they won't do anything about it anyway."

  "Have you told your mother or grandparents about what's going on?"

  "Heck no, they would just worry. You're the only one who knows. And I want to keep it that way, so do not tell anyone. You promise?"

  "I promise."

  "I have to agree with Mindy, there. I think Brianna is dangerous, and you should be very careful,” Mr. Haynes cut in.

  "I will, Mr. Haynes. Thank you for your concern."

  "I don't know what he said, but I can tell he's on my side by your answer,” Mindy said. “He agrees with me. He's concerned, too. See? I know what I'm talking about. Even the ghosts think so."

  "I'll have to watch what I answer from now on."

  "I know what I'd do to her if it were me,” Mrs. Williams said, popping up from behind us.

  "I'm sure you do,” I said.

  "She's a nasty person. I never did like her."

  "Well, fill me in. That's not fair. You can't have a one-sided conversation without telling me what's said,” Mindy demanded.

  "Mrs. Williams said if she were in my shoes she knows what she would do to Brianna."

  "And what is that?"

  "I don't know, I didn't ask. But do we really need to ask to know it wouldn't be very nice?” I laughed.

  "No. I suppose you're right. After what I've seen her do to your customers and books, I think I know what she'd do. I have to get to work. I'm having a new customer for class today,” Mindy said, as she hoisted her purse over her shoulder.

  I never would understand how she carried that heavy thing around.

  "How about you come over tonight? We can down a pitcher of delicious margaritas?” I asked, wiggling my eyebrows at her.