Page 36 of Manors & Mischief

“So about the manor…”

I perk up, wondering if this is when the mood of the night will change. Dread fills my stomach.

“You and Rose said something about a kids’ haunted house. I think it’s a great idea.”

I nearly stumble over my feet. “You do?”

“Kids growing up in Harvest Falls are always terrified of the manor. There’s so much lore passed down from generation to generation. Even when the Lewises owned it. Ghosts. Spirits. Hauntings. It’s ripe with it.”

“So, you’re saying…?”

“I’m saying I think kids will beg their parents to come to a haunted house there.” He switches my gallon of apple cider to his other hand. “And the doughnut and cider idea is genius. Plus, you’ll get the tourists.”

Nerves settle in my stomach, but I’m bursting with ideas, and I just can’t stop myself. “So, I’m thinking the foyer could be used as a waiting area, and maybe half the ballroom is the haunted house, and the other has tables and places to grab the cider and doughnuts. I was even thinking of having stations set up. Bob for apples, maybe some fun, age-appropriate games.”

“You’re going to need people to help run it. Someone taking the tickets, a person at the concession stand. If you’re going to have games, game attendants.”

I bite my lips. He’s right, but I want this so badly. “And someone to help build the haunted house.” I peer up at him, waiting.

“I suppose that someone is me, considering I’m the best carpenter in town.”

“Naturally.”

“I’ve never built a haunted house before.”

“Really?” I fake gasp. “I’ve built so many. Hundreds. Thousands, even. I’m surprised someone with your talent has never done it. What a travesty.” He shakes his head at me, but I forge ahead. “We’ll figure it out together.”

His pensive face is back as he looks me over. I wait for his decision, knowing that if he says no… I don’t want to say I might as well pack up and go home, but everything will be so much harder. Though, I suppose there are video tutorials online with basic carpenter skills.

“I’ve already started a Pinterest board,” I tell him like that will push him to agree.

“The answer to our problems,” he says mockingly.

“Is that a yes?”

He doesn’t even think about it. The answer comes smoothly, like there was never any doubt. “Let’s start tomorrow.”

My heart soars. I’ll put my mark on Harvest Falls before I know it.

14

DEVON

There’s a different feel now that Ember and I are trying to work together. It’s good to also have a different focus other than the attraction I feel for her. Not that I don’t notice it every time I look at her, but I can drown it out with work, and if I start to look at her a little too much, I just put my head down and drown myself in even more work.

Currently, though, Ember is playing another new YouTube video for me, so we’re huddled so close I can smell the apple-scented body spray she’s started using. It fills my nostrils, and I have no problem inhaling so deep that it overwhelms me.

On the screen, two men are erecting a haunted house with PVC pipe and black curtains. It’s actually not a bad idea. They erect hallways and full rooms filled with child-appropriate scariness. The ballroom is so huge that it could definitely support a rather big haunted house for kids.

“You can make the structure, and I can sew the curtains.”

“Have you sewn before?”

“No, but I can figure it out. Doing it like this might make it easy to erect year after year if we label it properly.”

“I like it,” I finally say.

She turns toward me. “You do?”