Page 60 of Starry with a Chance of Nightshade
The minute I said it, I wanted it all back.
They stared at me.
Torid moved around me, putting himself between me and the others in a protective manner.
I did a silent prayer that whatever he’d decided to eat last wasn’t going to show itself by way of another fart.
“It’s fine,” I said softly to him.
He vanished and appeared near the man with the newspaper again.
Jeffrey eyed me. “Where is it you’re staying? The creepy place, I mean.”
Everyone continued to stare at me. A few even leaned in. They’d all figure it out soon enough, so I gave in. “It’s a large, older home, on Gallows Lane. It’s in rough shape.”
Faye and Angela shared a look of disbelief.
Peggy’s gaze darted to her granddaughter and then back to me.
Stratton shook his head, his gaze never leaving me. “You’re not staying there. No way.”
“I’m not?” I asked.
“Why does everyone look so freaked out about the mention of Gallows Lane?” asked Dana. “I drive down it on my way to the office daily. There isn’t anything hinky about it. Well, unless you count that house on the corner. The big one that screams haunted.”
I cringed.
Her eyes widened. “Are we totally counting that one?”
I nodded. “That would be the one.”
Her lips pursed. “Yeah, take Stratton up on the apartment above his garage. Then the only thing you’ll be at risk of having in you ishim, not a ghost possession or something.”
I couldn’t help but laugh. “Really. I’ll be fine. I just kind of chickened out last night. By the time I got over there, the sun had set, and I opted for sleeping in my car rather than going in. I’m embarrassed enough. Can we change the subject now?”
Faye and Angela were suddenly around the counter, flanking me, looping their arms through mine.
Faye stared up at me. “Oh hon, there is no shame in being leery of that house, especially after dark. We’ve got spare rooms at our house. Come stay with Jim and me.”
Angela tugged on my arm. “My husband and I have plenty of room for you too.”
Dana nodded, pulling the phone down from her ear slightly. “We have a spare room too. You’ll need to deal with construction though because my husband has decided his already huge cabin wasn’t big enough. He’s having an addition put on with more rooms.”
Jeffrey grinned. “I’m planning ahead, Legs. I want a big family. And it’sourcabin. Not mine.”
“Keep it up, husband, and you’ll be using one of your mom’s spare rooms,” she warned. “I’m not living on a small cup of coffee a day from now until you decide we should stop pumping out babies. Nope. One and done. Then I want gallons of coffee.”
“I got a lot of spare rooms,” said Mr. Shieber, surprising me and everyone else. “My house is big, but I never had a family so there is plenty of space for you if you want it, Star-whatever-your-name is.”
A tall man came walking out of the hall that led to the restrooms. “Don’t go showing your softer side, Shieber. My woman might decide to leave me for you.”
“Nah. Peggy loves you, Marvin,” said the older man.
I glanced at Peggy to find her smiling still.
Yolanda came to stand next to her grandmother. “Looks like you have a lot of options, Astria.”
I started to cry and had to take a few deep breaths to get hold of my emotions enough to talk. “T-thank you all so much. But I’ll be fine at the house on Gallows Lane. I’m planning to head over when I’m done working today and get settled in.”
