How Simon coped once Luke left at the end of his term, however, wasn’t something Holly was looking forward to facing. But it was easier to think about that than how she would feel. “Dad said the youth center’s about ready for its grand opening?”
“If I can get the mayor to commit to coming to the opening ceremony.” Luke aimed a grateful look at Paige as she delivered a coffee.
Holly smirked. “It was your project. Don’t see why you want to give him credit for it.”
Luke shrugged, the black T-shirt he was wearing tight across his chest. “I didn’t do it for the credit,” Luke said. “And if I give him public credit for supporting the project, it’ll be harder for him to turn down funding activities for the future.”
Holly rested her chin in her palm. “Now, that’s amazingly devious. I like it.”
“Thank you. Where’re Simon and Charlie?”
“Excellent question.” Those worry wobbles returned as they did whenever she wasn’t sure what Simon was thinking. “They took off on their bikes this morning. Said something about finding some secret hideaway Simon heard about. They were going to check it out.”
“Let me know if I need to send out a search party,” Luke said. “I’m heading over to Thelma’s thrift store in a bit. You feel like taking a walk?”
Luke was inviting her out? “Yeah, I’d love to. Paige?”
“Got you covered,” Paige said. “I promised Charlie mac and cheese for lunch, though. Something hearty before the camping trip.”
“I’ll be back by then. Feel free to make it here, though.” Holly’s eyes blinked innocently.
“I’m not risking Ursula getting her hands on my recipe.” Paige wagged a finger at Holly. “Stop trying to get it out of me.”
“Then, stop making it so darned good.” Holly totally understood why Paige’s comfort-food extravaganza worked wonders on her daughter. Holly would have given up national secrets for a serving, had she any to give. She grabbed her sweater and purse and joined Luke outside. “So these ghosts of yours?” she asked Luke once they were outside. “Gone for good?”
“I hope so.” Luke blinked into the sun as they made a right on Beating Wings Way. “Gutted my father’s bedroom. Took care of his shed. Made a list of all the furniture I don’t want. Whatever Thelma at the thrift store doesn’t want, I’m donating to charity. I did find something interesting, though. In a box in his closet.” He pulled out an old black-and-white photo from his pocket. “I don’t remember ever seeing this before.”
Holly looked down at the image of a young woman holding a toddler who was obviously Luke. His smile hadn’t changed one iota. “Your mother?”
Luke shrugged. “I guess. Dad wasn’t much of a sentimentalist. Not as if we had a family scrapbook lying around. The dates match, though.”
“How old were you when she died?” Toddler Luke was all grins and dimples, eyes shining and happy as he reached for the camera while clinging to his mother.
“Four, I think?” Luke shook his head. “I’m not sure. My dad’s story changed from one drunk night to the next. She was pretty. I could always feel her there. Not anymore, though.” The wistfulness in his voice bounced against Holly’s heart.
“She was beautiful.” Now Holly knew where Luke got his eyes. And that rich, black hair. “I’m sorry you never knew her.”
“Yeah. Me, too. Seeing this, it made me want to visit her, take flowers maybe, to her grave.” He shrugged as if it wasn’t a big deal. “But my father never told me where she was buried.”
Holly didn’t think she could loathe Luke’s father more than she already did. All these years and Luke hadn’t been able to even visit his mother’s grave? “Maybe you’ll find it in his papers.”
“Yeah.” Luke nodded. “I’m boxing them up. I’m thinking about talking to Abby about renting one of those cottages at the Flutterby. Make a clean break of things. Maybe burn the old house to the ground. Make a nice bonfire.”
“I thought you were joking.”
“I was at the time. Now? The property would be worth more without the house on it. Besides, it’s falling down. There’s no salvaging it as far as I’m concerned. The place is toxic. What happened inside is stuck in the walls, in the floors. I wouldn’t wish that place or those demons on anyone.”
Neither would Holly, but there was more to putting demons to rest than setting them on fire. Making a break of things, moving somewhere new, was a good start.