That may not have been the best use of time. Though, in the case of the fall festival, everyone agreed, my attention to detail was important. This was our church’s biggest activity for the year and the most fun by far. Our festival was renowned, attracting vendors from across the state and visitors from across the country.
***
Several hours after dinner, the signs were almost finished. I was too perfectionistic—I couldn’t help it. It’s the reason the church always gave me lots of extra poster boards. I glanced at the stack; I’d used almost all of the extras.
“Can I help you with the last few?” Dad said, checking his watch.
The rest of the family were already upstairs in bed.
“No, I only have two more to do. They’ll be ready for you when you wake up,” I said, aware Dad was meeting his team at five to put out the signs and start coordinating the vendors.
He yawned. “Are you sure?”
“Yes, please go to bed,” I said, holding the paint marker in my hand as I tried to think of some more funny yet polite ways of saying “You can’t park here, and if you do, you will be towed.”
“Okay, if you’re sure,” he said, already heading up the stairs.
Thirty minutes later I stood and stacked the dry signs into a pile, leaving the wet ones to finish drying while I slept. I turned off the light and climbed the stairs. In my room I fell onto my bed, pulling the covers over me. I stared out my window as my eyes became heavy. I closed them. Painted words on neon blue backgrounds floated in my mind. I opened my eyelids to clear the image and perceived a faint light in the distance. I stood, going to the window. The light flashed softly.
“It’s at the inn,” I whispered. “It must be.”
I watched for a few more minutes, until the light disappeared. I turned in the direction of Luca’s house. It was dark. Was it him? Was he going into the inn at night?
I shifted my body to face the inn framed by the sea. No light. I was imagining things—my tired mind playing tricks. I slumped back to my bed and pulled the covers over my shoulders.
***
Sunlight woke me. I got up, went into my bathroom, put my robe on, and then went downstairs.
I yawned as I ambled into the kitchen. The place was deserted. I went to the fridge; a note was taped to it.
Took everyone to the fall festival.
I’ll be back by 10:30. Be ready.
Love, Dad
I glanced at the oven clock. “Shoot,” I said as I turned and ran upstairs.
I was so exhausted when I went to sleep, I hadn’t set my alarm and it was already after ten. When I reached my room I stripped off my pajamas and put on the nearest clothes. In the bathroom, I pulled my hair back and washed my face. I applied tinted moisturizer, added some mascara and lip balm, and ran down the stairs. Jackson raised his head when I entered the kitchen. I grabbed a banana as the garage door opened.
“Oh, good,” Dad said as we faced one another at the door to the garage. “Are you ready?”
“Yes,” I said, slightly out of breath. “Why didn’t you wake me?” I asked as we went to his car.
“There was no need. You helped last night. You deserved to sleep in a bit. Besides, your shift at the cantina doesn’t start until eleven. Want to drive?” he said, holding the keys out for me.
“Okay,” I said. I got in and adjusted the seat of the Range Rover. I didn’t have my own car because I didn’t need one; I could always drive whichever car wasn’t being used. If today were not the festival I would’ve driven Gigi’s car, but with parking at a premium, our family couldn’t have two cars at the church.
I backed out of the garage, the breeze from the car pushing the dry autumn leaves out of the way.
“Were the signs okay?” I asked as we waited for our gate to open.
“Perfect,” he said, leaning his head against the seat.
“The weather is nice,” I said, turning onto the main road.
“We couldn’t ask for better,” he said.
Something was bothering him. “What’s wrong?” I asked.
He hesitated before saying, “Gigi told me about your conversation the other night.”
“It’s okay,” I said. “I love Gigi, but when it comes to all of this, she’s a little … confused.”
He put his arm along the door, near the window, thumping his fingers against the wood grain of the door. “That’s the thing,” he said. “I’m not sure she is.”
“What?” I said, forcing myself to stay focused on the road.
“I’ve been praying about it, and memories of conversations with your mom have been popping up. She always believed Gigi. I never did, but she did, and I figure I’ve been remembering those conversations because I wasn’t being fair to her. Your mom was the smartest, most reasoned woman I’ve ever known, and if she were here, she’d probably be telling you all the same stuff Gigi is. I don’t agree with any of it, but I guess I thought you should know your mom would have a different take on the whole thing,” he said, facing me.
I glanced at him before returning my attention to the road.
“I’m not sure what to say.” I watched the yellow dashes in the road blur by.
“You don’t need to say anything, Siena. I still don’t believe any of that haunting stuff, and I think Luca has been through too much in his life to recognize fact from fiction—though that isn’t his fault. It’s simply the way it is. But as much as I don’t believe it, your mom believed it, so take it for what it’s worth.”
“So, you worry about people going into the inn because …?”
“Because it’s lasted decades longer than I thought it would, and one wrong step and the whole place will come tumbling down. I don’t want it tumbling down on top of my kid.”
I nodded, silently hoping he was right. “I’ve seen a light in the inn,” I said, surprised I was telling him this.
He said, “When?”
“Last night, and the night Gigi talked to me. I was up late both nights, and when I went to bed I spotted a light from my window. I was really tired both nights, so maybe I was mistaken.”
I slowed the car as we approached the crowds.
“I’m sure that was it. Besides, with all the crazy talk about the inn, it would be strange for your mind not to play tricks on you,” he said, comforting me.
I slowed the car to a walking pace, following crowds of festival-goers.
“Turn in here,” he said. “I hope you feel like you can always tell me things. I hope I’ve earned your trust in that way.”
A pang of guilt made my face flush red. I hadn’t told him about Luca watching the house and I didn’t plan to. I had good reason. Dad already didn’t like Luca and he would never believe Luca wasn’t staring into the windows. He’d convict Luca, sending him away before Luca even had a chance to explain—though what that explanation could be I had no idea.
A member of the Knights of Columbus moved a traffic cone from the parking spot reserved for my family. I pulled in and turned off the car.
“It’s going to be a busy day,” Dad said. “Have fun and don’t let those old ladies work you too hard.”