Ghost House Revenge by Clare McNally Page B

by with no sign of her. Well, that was fine. Maybe she had seen him
     with Liza and decided he wasn’t single and worth pursuing any more.
    Tonight he was dressing in his best clothes for the dinner with Sarah and Marc Kaufman.
     He had bought Alicen a new dress (much to her surprise). His child shouldn’t look
     like a street urchin around all this wealth.
    Down the hallway, Melanie was in Nancy’s room, busy tying and retying the blue sash
     to her daughter’s best dress. Kyle bounced on the bed, whining about his seersucker
     suit.Gina stood at the vanity table with Alicen, combing her friend’s hair.
    “Kyle, sit still,” Melanie said, at last finishing the bow. “You’ll mess up your clothes.”
    “How come I hafta wear these dumb pants?” Kyle asked, settling on the mattress. “They’re
     scratchy!”
    “Oh, Kyle,” Gina said in a motherly tone, “stop complaining. You look very nice.”
    Kyle clicked his tongue and jumped from the bed, heading for the door. Just as he
     reached it, Gary entered the room, on crutches. Kyle stopped short to avoid a collision,
     his arms spread out at his sides.
    “Where are you going so fast?” Gary asked, laughing.
    “Downstairs to the kitchen,” Kyle said, ducking past him.
    “Stay out of the food!” Melanie called. She smiled at Gary. “Say, you look great.
     It’s been a long time since you wore a suit.”
    “And a long time since I was walking,” Gary said. “I hope I do okay tonight.”
    “You’ll do fine,” Melanie reassured him. This was the first time Gary would be using
     his crutches in front of strangers. Melanie went to him and slid her arms around his
     waist. They kissed warmly.
    “We make a beautiful couple,” she said.
    “You’re beautiful,” Gary said, running his hands over her peach-colored jersey dress.
     “And you’ve really done a great job tonight. I’ve never seen the kids so immaculate.”
    He looked over his shoulder at his daughters. Gina was dressed in an eyelet-trimmed
     denim jumper, while Nancy wore a red-and-white flowered dress. Even Alicen was attired
     neatly. Her father had bought her a stylish shirtdress with tiny vertical stripes
     that made her chubby body look a little thinner.
    “You’d think it was Easter Sunday,” he said.
    “It isn’t going to kill you,” Melanie responded, picking up a comb from Nancy’s dresser
     to brush her hair for the fifth time.
    Now Nancy opened her little jewelry box, revealing a tiny dancing ballerina. She lifted
     out a silver and turquoise bracelet Gina offered to help her put it on, but Nancy
     refused, insisting that her father do it. Gary obliged, smiling at his little daughter.
    “Why don’t you kids go downstairs?” Melanie said after he had finished. “You can make
     sure everything looks right.”
    “Yea,” Gary said. “Your mother’s expecting the queen of England.”
    “It’s just the mayor,” Nancy said.
    “The way your mother’s got you kids dressed up,” Gary said, “she might as well be
     the queen of England.”
    “Gary!” Melanie cried.
    Gary left the room laughing. Melanie had to admit he was right, though.
    Sarah arrived wearing a pale pink suit. Four gold chains hung from her neck, and gold
     earrings dangled from her ears.
    “Boy, she looks rich,” Kyle whispered.
    Melanie aimed a swat behind her to hush her son, then smiled and greeted Sarah and
     Marc Kaufman. Marc, who had brown hair just turning gray and a thin mustache, offered
     a stark contrast to his wife in his plain, though expensive, gray suit.
    “Sarah and Marc,” she said, “I’d like you to meet my husband, Gary.”
    “Glad to know you,” Sarah said.
    Marc hesitated to extend his hand, seeing Gary’s crutches. But Gary reached out and
     took his firmly. Marc grinned.
    “This is Derek Miller,” Gary said, “my therapist.”
    Derek and Marc shook hands, then Melanie introduced the children. Sarah leaned down
     to Nancy and chucked her under the chin.
    “My,