Love and Curses by Carrie Pulkinen

Author:Carrie Pulkinen [Pulkinen, Carrie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2022-03-27T16:00:00+00:00

“This is crazy.” Trish wiped her clammy palms on her jeans as Eric pulled his car into the driveway. “Surely your grandma wouldn’t have asked me to run the house if she knew it was cursed.”

He killed the engine and turned to her. “She would never do anything to hurt you intentionally, but she might have heard rumors. It’s possible the story was passed down through the generations, and they stopped believing it was true.”

“Then why wasn’t it passed to you?”

“I don’t know. Maybe because they stopped believing it. Maybe because I’m a man.” He slid out of the car and closed the door.

Trish pulled down the visor to check her makeup. As suspected, her mascara had smudged beneath her right eye, so she took a tissue from her purse, wet it with her tongue, and cleaned up her face.

As she flipped the visor into place, Eric opened her door. He stood there with his arm extended, so she placed her hand in his and allowed him to help her from the car. She didn’t need help getting out, but Eric seemed to enjoy doing gentlemanly things like this. Who was she to deny the man such a simple pleasure?

Okay, she enjoyed it too. She could admit as much.

When they reached the front porch, Eric opened the door and rested his hand on the small of her back to guide her inside. Betty Landry met them in the foyer and smiled, her gaze bouncing between them. She wore navy pants with a beaded cream blouse, and she’d swept her light blonde hair up in a perfect twist. “Good afternoon, you two.”

“Hi, Mrs. Landry.”

Eric dropped his hand from Trish’s back. “Are any guests in the parlor? We’ve got some questions for you.”

“They’re all out for the day. Come on back.” She led them through a house filled with antiques and period furniture, and Trish tried to imagine Eric as a little boy growing up in this place. Cast iron lamps sat atop dark wood tables, paintings of what must’ve been his ancestors adorned the walls, and porcelain sculptures occupied the shelves and mantles. Everything looked expensive and breakable. It was no wonder Eric was such a gentleman. He probably had to be on his best behavior at all times here.

“Have a seat, dear.” Mrs. Landry gestured to a loveseat, so Trish sank onto the cushion, her back ramrod straight, her knees together, and her hands folded in her lap. She felt like she needed to be on her best behavior in a house like this, and she made a mental note to make her B and B feel warmer and more inviting.

“Eric, honey.” His grandma sat in a chair across from Trish. “I put a fresh pitcher of tea in the fridge. Go pour us some.”

“Yes, ma’am.” He glanced at Trish before disappearing down the hall.

“How are the renovations going? Will you open on schedule?” She crossed her legs and rested her hands on her knee.

Trish cleared her throat. “It’s all moving along.

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