The Folcroft Ghosts by Coates Darcy

Author:Coates, Darcy
Language: eng
Format: epub, azw3
Published: 2017-01-09T16:00:00+00:00

15

Spectres

Tara laid out the photographs in a neat line before May. The woman glanced over them and smiled. “I’m so glad to see you like the camera.”

“Look here.” Tara pointed to the smudges and the white-clad figure in the window. “Do you see them?”

May’s expression was perfectly serene as she met Tara’s eyes. “Yes, my dear.”

“Well… what are they?”

“What do you think they are?”

Tara was quiet for a moment, and May’s smile twitched wider. Tara licked her lips and glanced at Kyle, who nodded for her to continue. “They’re ghosts.”

“You’re right, darling.” May lifted her cup and sipped the tea.

May’s calmness was unnerving. Tara squeezed her hands into fists below the table. “Yesterday, you made it sound like there might be ghosts. But now you’re talking like you’ve known all along.”

May drew a deep breath and let it out slowly as she looked towards the ceiling. For a moment, Tara could hear only the quiet ticking clock in the hallway and a cricket outside the window. Then May said, “One of the hardest parts about welcoming you into our home was knowing how much to tell you. Peter and I talked it over for hours. We wanted you to know the truth… but on the other hand, you were—are—only children.”

Tara tightened her fists. The palms were sweaty, but she kept her face neutral as she watched her grandmother. She didn’t need to look at him to know that Peter was examining her over the top of his coffee mug.

“In the end, we decided on a compromise. If you were curious enough to uncover it on your own, we’d be open about it. If not, we wouldn’t say anything.” May smiled. “You’re both so clever. I’m glad you found out. I didn’t like keeping secrets.”

“So… so…” Tara struggled to find the right words. “There are ghosts here. And you see them… a lot?”

“Not too often. Perhaps every couple of days. More often, if you’re looking for them.”

“Oh.” She turned to Kyle. His eyes were huge and his face pale, but the set to his lip told her he wanted answers just as much as she did. “How many are there?”

“A few. Your great-grandma and great-grandpa. Peter’s sister and brother.”

Peter shifted forward. “I told you I go to the lake sometimes to talk to Anna. I don’t often see her, but I can feel her.”

“This is insane,” Kyle muttered. He dragged his fingers through his hair. “Why can we see them? I’ve never heard people talk about ghosts like this before. I’ve never seen a ghost before.”

“Oh, poor dear.” May reached out to touch him, but Kyle shied away. She sighed and leaned back in her chair. “Truthfully, I don’t know why they linger here. We have always cared deeply about family; perhaps they didn’t want to leave us after death? It might be something in the ground. It might be something in the family genes. I couldn’t tell you.”

Tara squeezed her hands together. “And you’re just… happy to let it happen? Haven’t you thought about calling a priest or something?”

May laughed.

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