Page 110 of Land of Ghosts

I snorted and giggled at the same time.

Trust Lulu—it was all about looks for her.

“That’s better,” Dylan said and leaned back as he held me by my shoulders. “I’m sorry,” he added, his voice tight with anxiety.

I swallowed. “I’m sorry too.”

“Go swim,” he said.

I ran upstairs to retrieve my towel. On the way down, I ducked into the kitchen and handed Madame Gombert her money back. I saw Dylan at the table, drinking a beer and reading a novel.

Madame Gombert smiled at me. “Merci, ma petite,” she said.

“Your shorts are very short,” Dylan said and scowled at the offending clothing.

Oh no. Where was he going with this?

“Cooler that way,” I answered with a sweet fake smile and turned and left before he could say anything else.

I ran down the driveway toward the gîtes and knocked on the door of number two. Patrick answered dressed in long swimming trunks.

He smiled. “Come in.”

The interior of the gîte was charming—painted white but with furnishings in various shades of pale green. In the large main room, there was a dining table and two sofas, a small kitchen off to the right. There was a flat-screen TV on the wall and French doors that led to a small deck that overlooked the pool. The pool was smaller than the one at the house, and it was surrounded on three sides by the gîtes, which all had French doors leading to the pool area. Jack was swimming lengths.

“Hi,” he called and hauled himself out of the pool. “Do you want a drink? My dad’s got some beer, or you can have a Coke.”

“Coke, thanks.”

“Pat!” he yelled. “Bring us some Cokes.”

He wore long flowery trunks like Patrick and a braided necklace with a strange symbol on it.

“What does your necklace mean?” I asked, curious.

“Life everlasting. You like it?”

“It’s cool.”