There's Always Plan B (19 page)

She thought she might have gotten through, but she wasn't sure. Especially when her daughter sighed and said, “I'm still mad about the belly button ring.”

“Me, too.”

“But everyone has one.”

“Name me twenty girls at school who have one.”

“Okay, not everyone.”

Carly smiled. “Name me ten.”

Tiffany sighed again, then grinned. “How about one?”

“You are
so
not getting a belly button ring on my watch.”

“Fine. I'll put it on my to-do list for when I turn eighteen. I'm gonna be really busy that day.”

“I'll bet you are.”

Tiffany grinned. “Want to come with me and get one yourself?”

“We'll talk.”

 

Carly walked into her bedroom that evening to find Adam sitting on her bed. She came to a stop, not sure if she should be happy, angry or simply order him out.

“I don't want it to be like this,” he said before she could speak. “I hate that you're mad at me.”

“Do you expect me to be happy with what you're going to do?”

“I expect you to understand.” He stood and moved toward her. “Dammit, Carly, we have something special here. Are you going to let that go because of some fake ghost?”

He was furious. She could see the temper in his eyes.

“What are you talking about?” she asked.

“Us. What we could have together.”

Was he insane? “There's no us. You've been really sweet to me, and I appreciate that, but Adam, you live in Virginia. I'm here. At least until I have to move. You're seven years younger than me.”

He grabbed her arms. “Do you really think that matters?”

“Of course.”

He swore again and released her. She couldn't believe he was so upset.

“I thought this was just about sex,” she said. “I thought—”

“What?” His gaze narrowed. “That I didn't care? That this was all just an easy game for me? That you were one more notch in the bedpost?”

Honestly? “Yes.”

“No!” He cupped her face in his hands and kissed her with a desperation that made her knees go weak. “I care about you, Carly. More than I have cared about anyone in a long time. You're amazing. I want us to make this work.”

What
us?
What
this?
She couldn't get her mind around the fact that he thought they had a future.

“For how long?” she asked. “At what point will you want someone younger and newer?”

“Why does it always have to be about age?”

“Because age matters. I'm forty. I have a fifteen-year-old daughter. You're going to want kids someday and I'm not interested in doing that again. I don't even know if I
could
get pregnant, but I can tell you I don't want to.”

“I've never been that interested in kids.”

Ha. Like she believed that. “You say that now, but you'll change your mind.”

“So you won't have a relationship with me because of something that might happen in the future?”

There were other things, too, although she couldn't think of them now. Truthfully, she'd never allowed herself to consider a future with Adam. Sure he was great and pretty much everything she'd ever wanted in a man, but
so
not for her.

“I can't deal with any relationship right now,” she told him. “I just got a divorce. I'm not looking to get involved.”

“So this is just bad timing?”

“Some of it. Plus I know you think you're in the right on the ghost thing, but I don't want to be with someone so willing to ruin me.”

His eyes darkened. “That's too bad because I can't be with someone who wants me to lie for her.”

“I don't want you to lie,” she began, then stopped. Wasn't not telling the truth as he saw it a lie of omission? “I guess I do.”

“I won't.”

“I know.” Perhaps in time she could appreciate his honesty, but right now it was just too hard.

“I'm leaving in a few days. I don't want it to end like this.”

“How do you want it to end?”

“With a promise for the future.”

“I can't give you that. There's too much in my life right now. I don't know what's going on. If the B and B closes, I don't even know where Tiffany and I will live.”

“Then come back to Virginia with me. I have a house. There's room.”

She stepped back. “I've known you less than three weeks. I can't move in with you. Even if I wanted to, what kind of example does that set for my daughter? I'm having a hard enough time trying to keep her following the rules now.”

“But I…” He reached for her. “I care about you.”

She stepped back a second time. “Sometimes caring isn't enough.”

“It has to be.”

For the first time, she actually felt every one of the seven years that stretched between them and then some. He was so earnest and determined. As if he could will things to be the way he wanted.

She'd learned a long time ago that wanting had very little to do with anything.

“I'm sorry, Adam. It's not.” She walked to her door and held it open.

He stared at her for a long time, then he shook his head and walked out into the hallway.

“You'll regret this,” he said.

He might be right. There
was
something between them. There had been from the first second she'd seen him. But for now, her gut told her it was time to let him go.

 

The only good thing about feeling so crappy was that she didn't want to eat, Carly thought three days later as she sat at her desk and reached for her fifth cup of coffee. Maybe she could drop a couple of pounds and have to buy all new clothes because her old ones were hanging on her. It could happen.

Adam was leaving that afternoon and she had yet to speak with him. She hadn't—not since their last, very painful, encounter. She didn't know what to say.

She doubted he would want to know he was the best lover she'd ever had. Not only was that not much of a compliment, she had a feeling he wanted their time together to be about more than sex. And it was. She had feelings for him, but she didn't know what they were. Everything had happened too fast. She was too close to her divorce. He wanted the impossible, all the while planning to destroy her.

And she'd thought her life was complicated before.

She returned her attention to the spreadsheet in front of her. Once again she tried to make the numbers work without the ghost. If they could get enough business
before
word got out, maybe people would keep coming because they enjoyed the experience. Or if they could—

“I really like what you have done with the house. All those bookings. Isn't that lovely? I haven't seen the board so full in ages.”

Carly froze in her seat. The voice was unfamiliar. Soft, female, British. Not sure she believed she'd heard it, terrified to turn around and see nothing, she could barely breathe.

“Have you seen Maribel? She's so round. In my day a woman was never allowed to show herself while she was in such a delicate condition. How things have changed. Carly? Are you all right?”

Carly swallowed, grabbed the arms of her chair and slowly turned to her left.

There, shimmering in the middle of the office, stood a slender young woman of twenty or so in a pale floor-length dress. Everything was the same, Carly thought in amazement. The way the fabric moved slightly, as if disturbed by a light breeze, the intricate braids in her hair, the glow, as if she were lit from within.

“M-Mary? Is that really you?”

“Of course.” Mary turned from the bookings board and smiled. “I'm glad you're back. It wasn't the same around here after your father passed away. Oh, how rude. I never said I was sorry. I know how much you loved him. You must have been very sad.”

Carly pushed to her feet. Her heart raced and her legs shook. Was this really happening? “I, ah, was. My mom's had a difficult time, as well. We…Where have you been?”

“Traveling.” Mary pressed her lips together. “I don't mean to speak out of turn, but your mother can be difficult. Always dithering.”

“Okay. You're real, right? You're really here?”

“Of course I'm here. You've known me all your life. Why would you question my presence?”

“I just…You were gone for so long and my mother told me you never existed. That what I remembered were just stories I'd heard or made up.”

Mary sniffed. “No imagination. That's why I never appeared to her.”

Carly laughed. “Are you staying? I have had so many people asking about you.”

Mary folded her hands together at her waist. “That depends. How are things here these days?”

“What? Oh, I'm taking over. My mother is going to retire to Las Vegas in a few years. That's in Nevada.”

“I know. I've visited a few times. Interesting place. Well, if you'll be here, I would very much like to stay. Travel is so tiring at my age.”

“I would imagine.”

Her mind whirled. This was real. Mary had returned. The house had a ghost. Carly wanted to dance with delight, she wanted to scream and cry and she didn't know what. But she also didn't want to upset Mary by “dithering.”

“There's been an interesting development while you've been gone,” she said, trying to stay calm. “A gentleman is staying here. Adam Covell. He doesn't believe in ghosts. In fact his purpose is to discredit the B and B. He's going to write a paper. I've been trying to convince him you're real, but it hasn't worked.”

“How intriguing. Tell me about this man. Is he young?”

“Younger than me. Very handsome.”

“You smile when you say that. Is he of some import to you?”

“I don't know. I like him a lot, but…It's confusing.”

“Men generally are.” Mary smiled. “Have you been intimate with him?” She held up a slender, glowing hand. “I know, I presume with that question. You have every right to refuse to answer, but I hope you will not.”

Carly grinned. “Oh, yeah. We've been intimate.”

“How lovely.” Mary's smiled widened. “I was married for a time, before my demise. At first the intimacies of the marriage bed were quite distasteful, but after a time…” She paused and delicately cleared her throat. “I will only say that I did not turn my husband away.”

You go, girl, Carly thought. “He's leaving in the afternoon. Can you help me convince him you're real?”

“It will be my pleasure.”

Carly
took the elevator to Adam's floor. Mary would, of course, make her own way there.

She was real, Carly thought with equal parts delight and amazement. She hadn't made it all up. Mary was still very much a part of her past.

She'd already thought about several things they could do together and she very much wanted her friend to meet Tiffany. Talk about an interesting relationship if the two of them hit it off.

Still smiling at the thought of the nearly two hundred-year-old ghost and her fifteen-year-old chatting about boys and fashion, she stopped in front of Adam's door and knocked.

He opened it at once and when she saw him, she was stunned by the dark circles under his eyes.

“What's wrong?” she asked.

“What the hell do you think?”

She wanted to believe he was upset at the thought of leaving her, but that didn't make sense, did it?

Without saying anything, he grabbed her arm, pulled her inside, shut the door behind her and kissed her.

She felt herself responding to his touching, wanting him with more passion than was humanly possible to contain. She tried to get closer, to make his need and her need meld.

“How can you say there's nothing between us?” he asked bitterly as he stepped back.

“I guess I can't.”

“What?” He stared at her.

“I have feelings for you,” she said slowly. “I just don't know what they are.”

He growled and pulled her close again. “You're damned annoying. Do you know that?”

“I'm aware it might be a possibility. But before we get into this, I have someone I want you to meet.”

She moved away and turned to see Mary standing in the room. The ghost looked amused.

“Am I interrupting?” she asked politely.

“Not really. Adam, this is Mary.”

Carly waited for his shriek or gasp or something. Instead he picked up a shirt he'd already folded and tucked it into the open suitcase on the bed.

“Nice to meet you.”

Carly stared at him. “Adam, she's a ghost.”

He didn't bother looking up. “Nice trick with the lights. How are you doing it?”

“I'm not doing anything. She's really a ghost. This is Mary. I told you about her. She's been traveling and now she's back.”

He glanced at the shimmering presence again and shrugged. “I like the detail with the costume.”

Mary frowned. “I am not wearing a costume, Mr. Covell.”

“Uh-huh.”

Carly wanted to stamp her foot like a two-year-old. How could Adam not believe?

“It's all right,” Mary said soothingly. “Mr. Covell, if I may have your attention for a moment?”

Adam glanced up as Mary glided through the wall, then returned.

“Hologram,” he said, sounding particularly unimpressed.

Mary nodded, then levitated a chair and turned it slowly in the air.

“I saw that when I was eight and my parents took me to Disney World.”

“I've been there,” Mary said as she lowered the chair. “Lovely, lovely place. All those happy children.” She turned her attention to Adam. “You, sir, are most difficult.”

“Thanks.”

“He thinks he's really smart,” Carly said.

Adam smiled. “I
am
really smart.”

Carly ignored that and pointed at his equipment. Various lights were blinking and several gauges seemed to be vibrating.

“Doesn't that mean anything?” she asked.

“Nope. I have to get everything recalibrated when I get home. Your magnet really screwed it all up.”

Oh, wasn't that just perfect!

“Mary, you have to think of something. If Adam doesn't believe in you, my mother is going to have to sell this place.”

Mary sighed. “Not more new owners. It took me nearly fifty years to adjust to your family.” She eyed Adam. “Very well. Although I do protest having to go to this length. It is very disconcerting and far too great an intimacy when we have such a short acquaintance.”

She seemed to draw herself up to her full height, then she glided purposefully to Adam. He watched with interest, but didn't seem the least bit afraid. Not even when she slipped right inside him.

Carly gasped. What on earth?

At first nothing happened. Then Adam stiffened, went completely white and swore. Mary left him as smoothly as she'd entered. She paused in the center of the room and stared at him.

“I trust you are now more inclined to believe I exist.”

Adam staggered a few steps, then sank onto the edge of the bed.

“Holy Mother of God,” he breathed. “What the hell just happened?”

Carly rushed over and sat next to him. “Mary sort of merged with you. Are you all right?”

“He is perfectly fine,” Mary told her. “Just a little muddled by the experience.” She raised her eyebrows. “He's very fond of you. Were you aware?”

Adam shook his head, then turned to Carly and grabbed her by the shoulders. “She's a ghost.”

Carly grinned. “I believe I mentioned that earlier.”

“No. A ghost. A real ghost. We connected. I know her history, her thoughts. I know about her family.” He stared at Mary. “You're real.”

“For someone with as much education as you have, sir, you're not very bright, are you?” She shook her head. “My work here is complete. Good day.”

She glided through the wall and disappeared.

 

“I don't want to leave,” Adam said as he loaded his equipment into his SUV.

“Mary isn't going anywhere,” Carly reminded him. “She's promised to make an appearance from time to time, just to keep the guests on their toes. I think she's looking forward to it.”

“I still can't believe she's real.”

“Having your body momentarily inhabited by a spectral phenomenon is enough to convince even the staunchest cynic?”

“Absolutely.” He pulled her close and kissed her. “But I was talking about not wanting to leave you.”

Carly didn't know what to do with that information. “Adam,” she began, before he cut her off with a quick kiss.

“Stop. I know exactly what you're going to say and I don't want to hear it. I'll be back to convince you in a couple of months.”

“You don't have to do that.”

“I want to.”

She had to admit his intensity was appealing. While she wasn't sure what she wanted from the future, having Adam around wouldn't be so bad.

“Just so we're clear, I'm not interested in getting married again,” she told him.

He grinned. “You say that now, but I'll change your mind.”

“I don't think so.” She was more interested in sex than something permanent.

“Don't go falling for any math teachers while I'm gone.”

“You don't have to worry about that.”

“But you'll be dating him.”

“Occasionally.” Steve had called and asked her out for Friday.

Adam shook his head. “That guy's too old for you.”

He kissed her again, then climbed into the SUV. After opening the window, he leaned out.

“I'm coming back,” he promised.

“You know where to find me.”

 

Carly hung up with the reporter and grinned. Ever since Adam's article on the house and Mary had been posted on the national registry Web site and had been picked up by several newspapers, she'd been flooded with calls. Everyone wanted to hear the story and then come stay for the night. They were booked solid every night through the summer and every weekend through the first of the year.

“Not bad,” Carly said aloud as she added the reporter's name to the growing wait list. He'd wanted to bring his wife up for their seventh anniversary.

The phone rang again. If this kept up, she was going to have to get a full-time assistant.

“Chatsworth-by-the-Sea, may I help you?”

“I need to speak with Carly Spencer,” a woman said.

“This is Carly.”

“Oh, hi. I'm Annie Carter. My daughter is in school with your daughter. I was calling to find out what you knew about the party last Friday night.”

“Party? I don't know about a party. Tiffany spent the night at a friend's house.”

“Jessica something?”

Carly got a bad feeling in her stomach. “That's right. But I called and spoke with Jessica's mother.”

Annie sighed. “So did I. Unfortunately the person we spoke with was Jessica's older sister who thought this was all pretty funny. There was a huge party at the house. It lasted until all hours and there were boys there. Some from college.”

The bad feeling doubled in size and Carly got very, very angry.

“I appreciate you telling me, Annie.”

The other woman chuckled. “Okay. I tell by the tone of your voice that you're pissed, too.”

“More than pissed.”

“I can't believe my daughter lied to me.”

“Right back at you,” Carly said. “Tiffany is in for some serious grounding.”

“I hear you. I just wanted to let you know about the party. I have a couple of other parents to call. Oh, doesn't your daughter know a boy named Jack?”

“Yes. They're friends—semi-boyfriend and girlfriend.”

“He was there, too.”

Carly's anger grew until it threatened to explode. It nearly doubled in size. She said goodbye, hung up and threw a pen at the wall for good measure.

She couldn't believe it. How could Tiffany have done this to her? She'd thought things were better between them. Obviously she'd been seriously wrong.

She stood and stalked out of the office, only to run into her mother. “Have you seen Tiffany?” Carly asked her.

“She's upstairs in her room. She said she had a lot of homework and wanted to get it finished before dinner.” Rhonda smiled. “I think our little girl is finally growing up and learning to be responsible.”

“Oh, I think our little girl is terrified I'm going to find out about her Friday-night activities and wants to make sure she doesn't get in too much trouble by being a sweetie now.”

“What happened?”

“Tiffany lied about spending the night at a friend's, and instead went to a boy-girl party that lasted until who knows when. Plus, her girlfriend's older sister played mom when I called to confirm there would be adult supervision.”

“Then she's going to be in big trouble,” Rhonda told her.

“Oh, yeah. I'm going to talk to Tiffany.”

Rhonda nodded. “I'll take care of the appetizers and wine.”

Carly glanced at the clock. It was nearly four. “Thanks, mom. I appreciate the help. You're the best.”

Rhonda looked faintly surprised, then smiled and left for the kitchen. Carly took the elevator to the third floor, then climbed the tower stairs. She knocked once on Tiffany's door, then entered.

Her daughter sat at her desk, hard at work on her homework.

“Hi, Mom,” she said cheerfully. “I'm nearly done here. Want me to help with the appetizers when I'm finished?”

If only this pleasant, happy child was really her daughter. But alas…

“I just received a call from a parent of one of the girls at your school. Apparently there was no sleepover Friday night. There was a boy-girl party. You went with Jack.” Carly felt her temper flare again. “You lied, Tiffany. You flat-out lied. Then Jessica's older sister pretended to be her mother to fake me out.”

Tiffany stared at her. Utter shock widened her eyes. “What? No. That's not…”

Carly held up a hand. “Don't make the mistake of lying to me a second time. That will only make things worse.”

Her daughter pressed her lips together, then pushed to her feet.

“But it's not fair. How did anyone find out? We all swore we weren't going to say anything. Who blabbed?”

“I haven't a clue. But here's the thing. You can kiss your sleepover privileges goodbye. You're grounded for the next month. You will lose phone privileges and you won't be seeing Jack.”

“What?”

“He was there, too. I expected better of the two of you.” Oddly enough, she was almost more disappointed in Jack than Tiffany. She expected her daughter to try to get away with things, but she'd thought he was different. Which was silly. He was sixteen. Just because he didn't screw up in front of her didn't mean he wasn't a regular kid.

“But I have to see Jack.”