Between Worlds (Cemetery Tours Book 2) Page 2

  Now that Trevor had moved on, Gavin had made a full recovery. But the damage done to Kate’s relationship with her parents had persisted.

  Kate was trying really hard to remember that her parents had acted with her best intentions at heart, but the way they had been behaving ever since she’d confronted them about Trevor was making it very difficult for her to forget their past transgressions.

  Instead of giving her time to adjust to her new reality, her parents were demanding she seek immediate counseling, that she move out of her apartment, and that she cut off contact from Michael completely. How they had the audacity to blame him for everything after they were the ones who had lied to her... the thought made her blood boil.

  “I guess I’m not really telling you anything you don’t know,” Kate said to Trevor. “I know you’re watching over us. Maybe you can send us a little heavenly guidance. I know I could use it.”

  “Kate?”

  Kate was so startled by the voice that she jumped half a foot in the air. She whirled around to see a short, plump woman she didn’t recognize standing a few yards away, and staring at her with wide, bewildered eyes.

  “Is... is it really you?” the woman asked, reaching out to her. Although she had no memory of the woman’s face, Kate knew who she must be.

  “Mrs. Hanson?” she asked. The woman choked back a sob.

  “You remember?”

  “No,” Kate replied. “But I’ve... I’ve heard about you. And Trevor.”

  “Oh, sweetie,” Mrs. Hanson dropped her purse and the bouquet of flowers she was holding and embraced Kate. Though Kate knew that technically, the woman wasn’t a stranger, it was still awkward and uncomfortable to be hugged so tightly by someone she couldn’t remember ever meeting. “Oh, Kate... I thought I was never going to see you again.”

  “I’m sorry that it took so long,” Kate murmured into her shoulder.

  After a few more moments, Mrs. Hanson released her and held her at arm’s length.

  “Look at you. You look so beautiful,” she said. “How are you? Are you good? I mean... are you alright after... after everything that happened?”

  “Yeah, I am. I had a check-up last week. Everything is still good. Healthy as can be.”

  “But you still don’t remember.”

  “No,” Kate replied. “My brother has been answering as many questions as he can, but I know there will always be more.”

  “Well, I know I’m practically a stranger to you now, but know that you can ask me anything you want to know. You’re always welcome at our house. We wanted you in our lives so badly, Kate. It broke our hearts the day your mother told us we’d never see you again. You were all of Trevor that we had left. And even if you weren’t, we still loved you like you were our own. It was just devastating to think that you didn’t even know us... didn’t even know him...”

  Kate offered her a slight smile.

  “I think he felt the same way,” she said. Mrs. Hanson looked at her.

  “Who told you about him?”

  That was a very long story, one that Kate wasn’t sure she was ready to share. So to keep matters simple, she replied, “My brother. He’d kept a photo album full of pictures of us. I’ve looked through it so many times, I’ve basically memorized them. But they’re all new memories. None of the originals.”

  “Maybe one day you’ll get them back,” Mrs. Hanson said.

  “Maybe,” Kate replied.

  She would never admit it to Trevor’s mother, but she wasn’t sure she wanted them back. After Gavin had first told her about Trevor, she thought that sad memories would be better than no memories at all. But Gavin’s stories had left her with a strange sense of mourning for Trevor and everything that had been lost with him. She couldn’t imagine the heartache she would feel if she actually remembered.

  “So, tell me about your life now. Are you... seeing anyone new?” Mrs. Hanson asked. Kate could tell it was a difficult question for her to ask. Truth be told, it was a difficult question to answer as well.

  Was she seeing anyone? If “seeing anyone” meant being in a nice, normal, steady relationship with a guy who took her out on dates to dinner and to the movies, then no, she wasn’t seeing anyone. But if “seeing anyone” meant having had a brief almost-relationship with her cute new neighbor who could see ghosts and who had actually played a big role in revealing that she was being haunted by the spirit of her former fiancé, then maybe.

  It was just that ever since Michael had become a pseudo-celebrity, she really hadn’t been able to spend that much time with him. Alone, anyway. She knew it was due, in part, to his busy schedule. Whenever he wasn’t giving an interview or appearing on a late-night talk show, he was dealing with calls, emails, and letters from people who wanted him to contact their loved ones for them. No matter how many times he explained that his gift didn’t work that way, that he couldn’t just summon ghosts with his mind, it seemed someone had missed the memo.

  But even when they did get a moment alone together, they kept things strictly platonic. No holding hands, no kissing, never anything more than a brief, friendly hug. Kate knew that he’d been doing his best to give her time to get used to the idea of Trevor, and to grieve for him, but she couldn’t help but feel he could at least be a little flirty.

  Of course, it was Michael she was dealing with. It had taken Luke outright telling Kate that Michael liked her for him to finally come out and admit it. But she guessed that was part of his charm.

  “Sort of,” she told Mrs. Hanson. “It’s kind of a weird situation. We were dating when I found out about Trevor. He thought I might need some time to adjust, to get over him. We’re still friends and we still see each other, but we haven’t really picked things up again.”

  “Do you want to?” Mrs. Hanson asked.

  “Yeah, I do,” Kate replied honestly. “I was actually thinking about asking him if he’d be my date to a party next week.”

  “So why don’t you?”

  “I don’t know. He’s busy. And... and I’m still not sure it would be right.” Normally, this was the kind of conversation she’d have with her mother. But since Terri Avery wanted her daughter to have nothing more to do with Michael Sinclair, she probably wasn’t the one to consult on the matter.

  “Because of Trevor?” Mrs. Hanson asked gently. “Oh, sweetheart, you can’t feel that way. Trevor loved you so much. All he ever wanted was for you to be happy. If you want to honor him, do so by living a wonderful and vibrant life. That’s the kind of life he wanted you to live. And if this boy makes you happy, then you need to go and get him.”

  “Really?”

  Mrs. Hanson nodded. “If there’s one thing I’ve learned from all of this, it’s that our time here is too precious to not be spent with the ones we love.”

  Truer words were never spoken, Kate thought. She shouldn’t have to have anyone reminding her of that, especially after everything she, and the people she loved, had been through that year.

  Before she left the cemetery, Kate embraced Mrs. Hanson one last time, and promised to come over for dinner sometime in the next few weeks. Then, with one quick, “See you later,” to Trevor, she walked back to her car.

  ~*~

  When she got home, she made the familiar climb up the stairs to the second landing. Ever since she and Michael had decided to keep things platonic, at least for the time being, she had made a point of bypassing his door, but today, she didn’t even hesitate. Knowing that he’d be home, she tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear and knocked on his door. He answered a few moments later.

  “Hey.” He was obviously surprised to see her.

  “Hey,” she replied. “What’s up?”

  “Not a lot. Just the usual. Looking for a job and trying to keep an eighteen-year-old ghost entertained.”

  Kate grinned. “How is Brink?”

  “Oh, you know. Whiny. Impatient. Plaid. Brink.”

  “Well, that being said, do you think he’d mind if I stole you next Frid
ay night for a party that one of our clients is throwing?”

  “You want me to go with you?”

  “Yeah. That is, if you want to. I think it’ll be a lot of fun. The lady who’s hosting is literally dripping-with-diamonds rich and she throws all these extravagant parties throughout the year. We decorate for all of them. This is going to be the first one I’ve ever been to. Well, technically, I’ve been to several but this is the first one I’ll have been to since the accident, so it’ll be the first one that I remember... I’m sorry, I know I’m rambling.” She didn’t really know why she was nervous. It was just Michael. She knew he liked her. He’d taken a bullet for her. But for some reason, asking a guy out was always a nerve-wracking experience. She hadn’t even been that anxious the first time she’d asked him to a party. Of course, that was just a friendly invitation to Gavin’s birthday. She wasn’t asking him to be her date.

  “No, it’s okay. I’d love to go,” Michael told her, looking genuinely happy for what seemed like the first time in months.

  “Great,” Kate smiled. “It’s a Halloween party, so of course, everyone’s expected to come in costume, but not cheap, ten-dollar costumes. Karen expects actual costumes. I think I’m going to borrow a dress from one of Gavin’s friends. He used to work in a theater, so he has a lot of friends with costumes. If you want, I can ask if one of the guys has something you can wear.”

  “That would be great since I have no idea where I’d find a legitimate costume,” Michael confessed.

  “Do you have any preferences? Knight? Zombie? Jedi-Master?”

  “Just nothing with lace,” Michael grinned.

  “Are you sure? You’d make such a cute fop,” Kate teased. Then, not wanting to overstay her welcome (not that she thought Michael would actually ask her to leave), she said, “Well, I’d better be getting home. It’s my turn for dinner tonight and Gavin gets

  grouchy if he doesn’t feed.”

  Michael laughed. “Tell him I said hello.”

  “I will. Tell Brink the same.”

  “You should come over and see him sometime. I think he misses you.”

  Kate looked up at Michael and smiled.

  “I miss him, too.”

  Chapter 3

  “So you’re trying to tell me that you are actually going to walk out of this apartment and allow yourself to be seen... in public... by actual people... looking like that?!” Brink asked, staring over Michael’s shoulder into his friend’s reflection in the bathroom mirror.

  “That’s a lot of smack talk coming from the guy who once admitted to having a mullet,” Michael rebuked.

  “Hey, the mullet was in back in those days. That monstrosity you’ve got on hasn’t been in style since like, the 1500s.”

  “Brink, it’s a Halloween party. We’re supposed to be in costume. Besides, I think this is more like 1700s.”

  “Whatever. You couldn’t have picked anything a little less... feminine?”

  Michael didn’t know what Brink was griping about. He didn’t think he looked half bad, actually. The outfit Kate had borrowed for him was a pirate costume with brown pants, a flowing white shirt, a brown leather vest, and a red sash that tied around his waist. The guy who had loaned it to him had even thrown in a prop sword and pistol. He kind of felt like Johnny Depp in Pirates of the Caribbean. Of course, he couldn’t admit that to Brink. Not unless he wanted to be teased and taunted for the rest of his life.

  “I didn’t pick it. I borrowed it.”

  “Well, I guess that makes it a little better. But you still look ridiculous.”

  “I’ll try not to let your opinion ruin my evening,” Michael remarked.

  “So what’s Kate gonna wear?”

  “I don’t know.”

  “You think it’ll be something sexy? Maybe she’ll be like, a tavern wench. You know, with the short, skimpy skirt and the corset and -”

  “I think she’s a little more wholesome than that,” Michael interrupted Brink before he could fantasize further. Though he couldn’t deny, he was a little curious himself.

  “I don’t know. I mean, if this is a date, she might try something a little... risqué.” Brink smirked and wriggled his eyebrows before his expression fell serious again. “This is a date, right?”

  “I don’t know.”

  “It’s got to be a date. I mean, she asked you to a party with things like sexy costumes and alcohol! How is that not a date?”

  “Brink, I know this might come as a shock to you, but this isn’t a frat party. This is a work party. There won’t be any Spin the Bottle or Beer Pong.” Brink looked like he couldn’t possibly figure out what they were supposed to do at such a party, but before he could question it, someone knocked on the front door. “Okay, that’s Kate. Please behave.”

  “When do I not?” Brink asked innocently.

  Michael ignored him. When he reached the entry hall, he paused just for a moment, took a deep breath, and opened the door.

  Although he’d always known Kate was beautiful, and had seen her in an array of outfits, nothing could have prepared him for how gorgeous she looked standing there in the glow of his porch light. She was wearing an exquisite blue gown, adorned with intricate gold embroidery and a glittering gold and sapphire headpiece. Her hair was knotted up with a few blonde strands falling into her eyes. All in all, she was the most beautiful girl Michael had ever seen.

  “Trick or treat,” she greeted him.

  “Wow. I - I mean,” he cleared his throat. “You look... wow...”

  “Holy sh - ”

  “Thanks,” Kate grinned, interrupting Brink’s rather inappropriate commentary. “You look pretty wow too.”

  “Um... thanks.” That was the right response, right? At the moment, he was having a difficult time remembering his own name. “I... uh... I’m almost ready if you’d like to... um... if you’d like to come in.”

  “Alright,” Kate replied. “Just so you know, there’s no hurry. It’s more of a come and go type thing. It’s not so much of a party as it is her giving people the opportunity to see her house and all her cool Halloween decorations. But there will be food, which, if you ask me, is the most important part.”

  “Oh, yeah. Absolutely. Food is the best.” As soon as the words were out of his mouth, Michael wanted to kick himself.

  Oh please, for one night, can you not make a complete idiot of yourself? Can’t you at least try to be cool?

  Fortunately, Kate just laughed.

  Ten minutes later, they were in her car, on their way to the party. Michael had offered to drive, but Kate had explained that the woman’s house was in such a rich and exclusive neighborhood, that she’d had to give her license plate number to the security guard ahead of time. Michael hadn’t even known that people that rich actually existed. They were very real, however, as the mansions, all alight with their big glass doors and dazzling crystal chandeliers, testified. Michael could only stare, mouth agape, as they drove through the neighborhood of three and four-story houses, all of which looked like they belonged in Beverly Hills, not North Dallas.

  Karen’s house turned out to be the most extravagant of all. A three-story white mansion near the end of the street, it reminded Michael of a palace he might have seen in a storybook. In front of the lavish front doors, which were made of crystal and decorated with intricate and glittering gold, orange, and umber wreathes, stood four men in red jackets.

  “She has valets?” Michael asked, incredulous.

  “I told you. She is really rich,” Kate replied, pulling up to the walkway and handing her keys over to one of the valets as she climbed out of the car.

  Two greeters opened the front doors for them before either got the chance to knock or ring the doorbell. There in the entry hall, a spirited woman dressed in a black evening gown, adorned with pearls and shimmering diamonds, stood in the entry way, chatting loudly with a group of guests.

  “That’s Karen Borden, our hostess” Kate explained.

  “She seems very fri
endly,” Michael observed.

  “Oh, yes,” Kate confirmed. “She has a story for everyone. But she’s a real sweet lady, very genuine. And there’s nothing she loves more than a good party.”

  It was only after they made it past the entry hall that Michael finally got a good look at the house’s interior. It actually seemed more like a museum than somebody’s home. The living room was a wonder in and of itself, even without all the decorations, artifacts, and antiques. The back wall consisted entirely of windows, revealing a lavish backyard complete with a large swimming pool and several trees, all illuminated with orange, yellow, and purple lights.

  The living room itself was so full of people that Michael had a hard time taking in all of its grandeur, but he could see enough. Although the everyday furnishings were beautiful, elegant, and obviously expensive, they paled in comparison to the exquisite decorations that Kate and her crew had assembled. They weren’t your stereotypical Halloween decorations, like spider webs or skeletons. Instead, golden candelabras, brass Jack-O-Lanterns, wreathes and garlands of sparkling gold and orange leaves, acorns, pinecones, and pumpkins adorned the walls, mantle and tabletops.

  “So, what do you think?” Kate asked.

  “I’m sort of afraid to touch anything,” Michael confessed. Kate laughed. “So did you guys put up all the decorations?”

  “Yep. Val even made some of the wreathes. When she’s not decorating, she loves doing crafts and making her own decorations.”

  “That’s incredible,” Michael marveled as a young woman dressed in an outlandish and sparkling witch’s outfit approached them.

  “Well hello, darling,” Valerie Banks greeted Kate with a warm embrace.

  “Your ears must have been burning,” Kate told her.

  “Burning? Is it because I’m a witch?” Val asked dramatically.