Page 92 of Manors & Mischief

“Hey Randy, it’s Devon Lachey.”

I can almost picture him over in Heritage almost falling off his chair, but like my mom said, sometimes you have to grovel, and right now, Harvest Falls needs him.

“I’d like to talk to you about a few things.”

Even if I can’t be everyone’s handyman right now, I can still figure it out. That thought was lost on me just this morning, but I’ve finally come to terms with the fact that just because I’m injured doesn’t mean my life is over.

And I’m going to show Ember what I can do, laid up or not.

34

EMBER

Sleepy Hollow Manor envelops me in a warm hug. The single light on in the foyer is like a beacon of providence. I take my coat off, hang it up, and smile. “We did it,” I tell the walls and furniture. The cement and wood. The bones. But I already know that I’m speaking to much more. The house has heart. “We did it.”

The board couldn’t approve Devon’s surprise proposal to change the law right away, but the board approved the Children’s Haunted House can begin again…starting tonight.

Lucky me, I’d gone through the house this morning and picked up. I only have thirty minutes to bring the house to life…or to death, I mean.

Chuckling to myself, I turn on all the fake candles, their glows flickering in a dance. Then I move to the ballroom and start setting up everything in there, turning on the spooky music and making sure the game tables are all ready to be manned. Knocks come on the door, and immediately, I notice no one waits for me to let them in, they just swarm the area, waiting to be told what to do.

Bea is the first. Then Travis. They act as my helpers, delegating people to where to stand and what to do. Even though we had such a short amount of time to start it this time, I almost feel more prepared.

“How do we get the word out?”

“Oh, the word is out,” she says. “Everyone knows that if they had tickets for yesterday or today, they can come and use them. If they can’t, they can use them at the upcoming haunted houses if they sign up for a different slot.”

I hug her, and she hugs me back. “Plus, whoever doesn’t hear it will read about it in tomorrow’s paper. The gazette’s motto is there is no small news.”

Trav comes up to us next. He and Bea share a look that undoubtedly has to do with Devon. I don’t ask though. Every time someone walks in the house, I expect it to be him, but it hasn’t been. He probably won’t even come. He’s been on his feet a lot today, and it’s probably been too much.

I swallow the lump in my throat when I think about what he said at the meeting. The proposal he’d already written up with a way to change the law that would be beneficial to everyone. He wasn’t just thinking about me, he was thinking about all of Harvest Falls as well. I swear he should take over his mother’s job when she decides to retire. He’s just like her.

Whatever their exchange meant, neither of them explain it to me. Trav squeezes my shoulder. “I’m going to turn the lights on outside. You’ve got this.”

In a way, it feels like an echo of yesterday. The nerves, the excitement. But in other ways, I’m much more calm. All the people who showed up outside the town offices earlier, and then again during the meeting, I know that they support me. Even if everything wasn’t perfect, they would come together and help. I can’t even imagine doing this without everyone at this point.

“It’s almost time!” Bea squeals. “Everyone take your places! If you haven’t been given a station, kindly find me and ask, and…” She throws her arm over my shoulders. “Ember and I are so extremely grateful that we have such amazing neighbors who step in at a moment’s notice. You all are amazing.”

“Truly amazing,” I call out, trying to look each one of them in the eye so they know how grateful I really am.

The doorbell chimes, and Bea practically pushes me toward the front. We’re a couple of minutes ‘til but that’s okay. I close the ballroom doors behind me, take one more sweeping glance around the area, and then whip open the front doors.

I suck in a breath. Devon Lachey is standing on my porch. He steps out of the way and Randy Shue walks inside. “Mr. Shue.”

Devon tells him to head into the ballroom, and he’ll be right there.

Within moments, we’re alone again. Devon leans against his crutches. “Well, sit down,” I tell him.

He shakes his head. “I’m fine.”

I want to roll my eyes. He’s so obstinate.

“I have something to say.”

“I have something to say first.”

His lips try to quirk but he keeps it under control. He motions for me to start. “Devon Lachey, you are a pain in my ass. From the first moment you realized I’d purchased Sleepy Hollow, you have been a thorn in my side. First, because we butted heads, and you refused to be a gentleman about anything. Second, because you snuck up on me. I hadn’t planned on coming to Harvest Falls and falling for someone. Especially someone like you.”