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“Oh shit, Sophie, stop it! No one was murdered in this house. The real estate agent would have told me. Besides, I don’t think that little pop tart that lived here would’ve stayed as long as she did if she thought the place was haunted, or if someone had been killed in the house.”

“We don’t know that for sure. It can’t hurt to look into it,” Sophie said.

“Yes, it can. What if someone at The Informer found out the editor in chief’s mother thought she was living in a haunted house? I can just imagine the headlines The Enquirer and The Globe would have splashed across their front pages!”

“Okay, you’re right. I didn’t think of that.”

“You can’t think of everything, Soph. So…” Toots looked at her three closest friends in the world, Abby’s godmothers. “Do I have your word that what happened here tonight won’t leave this house?”

“Of course,” Sophie said. “I don’t run my mouth.” She looked at Ida.

“Are you insinuating I do?” Ida asked.

“No. It’s not a matter of ‘insinuating’ anything. You have been known to run your mouth, and you damn well know it!” Sophie said a bit too loud. The booze was getting to her.

“We all swore we wouldn’t tell. I trust all of you,” Toots said.

They all nodded, agreeing that what they’d witnessed wouldn’t leave the confines of the house.

In order to change the subject, Toots said, “Then let’s get back to our routines. I am so behind on my e-mail, it will take days for me just to catch up.”

“Yes, and I have been longing for a soak in the tub,” Ida said.

Mavis and Sophie just nodded. They were too drunk to do anything else.

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Three weeks after that night, which is the way Toots and the godmothers referred to the night of the first séance, Ida checked her image in the mirror one last time before heading downstairs. She wanted to look her best for her first official public date with Sammy. She’d chosen to wear a pale yellow skirt that clung in all the right places and an opalescent blouse that shimmered in the light. She’d used two gold combs to pull the sides of her hair away from her face. She wore a simple gold chain around her neck and her smallest diamond earrings, along with a slender gold bangle bracelet. That was all the jewelry she wore. Sammy had hinted that he had something special to give her tonight. Ida was sure he was going to propose and that the “something special” he had mentioned was an engagement ring.

She looked at the clock on her night table. He would be there any minute if he wasn’t already. He was very punctual, something she was not. Toots, Sophie, and Mavis were downstairs waiting for her. She felt like a schoolgirl facing her boyfriend’s parents for the first time. Mavis was thrilled for her. Toots and Sophie hadn’t let up when she had finally told them she was dating Dr. Sameer. Ida had to admit that they hadn’t been too hard on her. Sophie said she’d suspected as much, and Toots had warned her to be careful. Of what, Ida had asked, but Toots hadn’t elaborated.

Just in case Sammy was waiting at the bottom of the staircase, Ida practically floated down the stairs. When she reached the bottom, she was greeted by none other than Coco, Mavis’s spoiled Chihuahua.

“Grrr,” the small dog growled at her, then ran up the stairs. Ida hated the dog and wished Mavis would train her to behave.

She heard voices and followed them outside to the deck. Toots, Sophie, and Mavis were gathered around the new patio table with Sammy. She took a deep breath. “Hello, it looks like you’ve started without me.” Ida observed that their glasses were almost empty.

“You take too long to get ready. Your date was thirsty,” Sophie informed her.

“Oh Sammy, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to keep you waiting.”

Dr. Sameer, Sammy, stood up, then walked over to where she was standing. He placed a light kiss on her cheek, then stepped back to admire her. “You are as beautiful as ever, my dear. Take as long as you need. Your friends are very entertaining,” he said, smiling.

Ida feared what her “friends” would tell Dr. Sameer now that they were out of his office in a relaxed atmosphere. Ida prayed Sophie hadn’t said anything that would embarrass her. “Yes, they are very, very entertaining, to say the least. Now, if you don’t mind, I am famished. You did say we were going to dinner?” Ida asked, knowing that he had but wanting to get away from the house as soon as possible. Ever since that first ghostly séance three weeks ago, Ida felt strange just being in the house. Other than the regular séances they held, there hadn’t been any remotely ghostlike encounters, or at least she hadn’t had any. And if any of the others had, no one had told her about them. But maybe that was because they knew that she was uncomfortable in the house, that she felt like someone or something was watching her. Sometimes she wished that they had not acted on Toots’s suggestion that they have a second séance the night after the first one, which since then had grown into twice-a-week meetings with the spirits.

“Ah, yes, I did. Now, if you ladies will excuse us. Ida…” He linked her arm through his, leading her inside. The trio followed them like lost puppies. Ida smiled. She liked the idea of her friends trailing behind her.

“Don’t be late,” Toots said.

Sophie chimed in, “And don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.”

“Just enjoy yourself,” Mavis said. “Take good care of her, Dr. Sameer.”

“Of course. Now if you ladies will excuse us.” Ida let Sammy lead her outside. When she saw the limousine, her heart fell flat to her feet and back. She had hoped Sammy would drive tonight. If they were going to get married, she would have to tell him how she felt about his driver once and for all. Of course, she wasn’t totally sure Sammy was going to propose, but she wasn’t stupid. She’d been this route more than once and knew when a man was about to ask her to marry him.

Mohammed jumped out of the driver’s seat and opened her door, “Ma’am.”

Ida simply nodded. She eased into the backseat, inching over to make room for Sammy.

Once they were situated, Sammy spoke to his driver. “Take us back to the house.”

Ida was crestfallen. Sammy just wanted to have sex tonight. She’d been sure he was going to propose! Damn. She’d gotten all dressed up for nothing. Not that an evening in bed was a bad idea, just that she’d thought this evening was going to be special.

“Ida, my love, do you mind if we have dinner at my house? I wanted us to have some privacy tonight. You look disappointed.”

She did, but she wasn’t going to tell him that. “No, not at all. I just assumed since this is our first date…I just thought we would be going somewhere besides your place to celebrate our decision to take our relationship public.”

Sammy took her hand in his. “Ida, love, I am afraid I have disappointed you. I can change our plans. Where would you like to go? I feel like such a fool, you must forgive me. I am an old man, remember? It has been many years since I’ve taken a beautiful woman to dinner. Please forgive my thoughtlessness.”

Ida took a deep breath. Poor Sammy. He wasn’t as worldly as he wanted her to think. “There is nothing to forgive. I don’t mind not going out, truly. Now put it out of your mind. At least we don’t have to sneak around like teenagers anymore.”

“That is true, but if you would rather we have dinner out—”

Ida placed a finger over his lips. “Not another word about it. Now tell me, what have you prepared for our dinner?”

“Ah, I see you are intrigued. I must admit I am a terrible cook. Amala has prepared something for us. She said it was a surprise.”

Ida looked at Sammy. Really looked. Olive skin, deep brown eyes. Sammy was extremely handsome for a man his age. Ida was sure his raven-black hair was dyed, but she hadn’t the heart to ask him about it. For a man who was sixty-seven years old, he was in excellent shape. His body was still lean and muscular, with only the beginnings of an old man’s paunch visible when he was naked. He was a superb lover, and he was rich—two qualities Ida required in a man.

“I do love surprises, Sammy.”

“Good, my dear, very good,” Sammy said, then patted her hand. “I am pleased this makes you happy. You are very dear to me, Ida. You do know that?”

“Yes, yes. Of course I do. You sound…” Ida thought he sounded weak, old. “You sound as though you’re having doubts about us. Are you?”

Sammy smiled, revealing chalk white teeth. “If I keep up this behavior, I will scare you away. No, my dear I am not having doubts about us. Never! It’s the—” Sammy waved his hand in the air. “Please forgive me for telling you this on such a special night. I just received some very disturbing news today concerning the clinic. Forget I said that.” He leaned over and kissed her on the neck. “Tonight is for us to celebrate. You don’t need to be burdened with an old man’s troubles.”

Ida wished he would stop referring to himself as an old man. He was only two years older than she. If he thought of himself as an old man, then surely he must think of her as an old woman. She wanted to tell him that, but if that wasn’t the case, she didn’t want to bring attention to her age any more than necessary.

“Sammy, if there is something you need to talk about, please do. I am not the delicate flower you believe me to be.” Ida thought that was an understatement, but he didn’t need to know that.

“You are my delicate flower,” he said with a trace of possessiveness.

Ida loved that he felt that way. She needed to feel this sort of love, she thrived on it. Maybe Toots and Sophie were right, and she did need a man in her life. That wasn’t the worst thing in the world. She could be a drunkard or a thief. Or even worse, she supposed, a serial killer.

Mohammed steered the limousine up the winding road leading to Sammy’s house. Ida decided that if they were going to get married, she would have to redecorate. The beach house was all chrome and glass, the furniture modern and sterile. While Ida wasn’t quite as talented as Toots in the decorating department, she did know a thing or two about what she liked and disliked. Soon she would have Sammy completely wrapped around her little finger. He would allow her to do as she wished with his home.

As soon as they came to a stop, Mohammed jumped out of the driver’s seat to open their door. Ida hated that. Hated Mohammed. There was something about him that gave her the creeps. She would have to discuss it with Sammy. He would have to decide just how important a limo driver was if he wanted to marry her.

The door was yanked open. Sammy got out first, then assisted her before turning to his driver. “That will be all for tonight. You may park the car.”

“Sure thing, Pops,” Mohammed said, then smacked Sammy so hard on the back that Ida about jumped out of her skin. If that was the way he treated Sammy once they were married, she would fire him regardless of what Sammy said.

“Do not pay any attention to Mohammed, this is just his way. He means no harm,” Sammy offered as an explanation for his driver’s behavior.

“I don’t like him, Sammy.” There, she’d said it.

“Yes, I am aware of that, but there is more to the man than meets the eye. Someday I will tell you his story, then you will understand why I am so tolerant. Now, forget Mohammed for tonight. Let’s not allow him to spoil our time together.”

“If you insist,” Ida said a bit too sharply. He’d already ruined their evening by showing up, she wanted to say, but stopped. She would give Sammy a chance to explain himself, but not just then.

He was silent as they entered the dimly lit house. Windows facing the Pacific provided a stunning view. Outside on the deck, which ran the length of the house, Ida saw that a table for two had been set up. On it was a white linen tablecloth, a single rose lying across each dinner plate, and a candle flickering in the slight evening breeze. A bucket filled with ice and a bottle of wine or champagne was placed to the side of the table. A scene for seduction. Ida smiled. Her Sammy was a die-hard romantic. Seeing this and all the preparations he’d made for their evening, Ida forgave him for not taking her out to a fancy restaurant. She couldn’t wait to see what kind of ring he’d chosen.

They stepped outside together. “Please sit.”

Ever the gentleman, Sammy pulled her chair out, waiting for her to sit down before seating himself.

“This is perfect,” she said, meaning it.

“I am glad you approve.” He removed the bottle resting in the bucket of ice. Ida saw the label, recognized the Dom Pérignon, and was disappointed that he’d picked something so common. She must remember to tell him that after they were married. He uncorked the bottle, filled two crystal flutes with the bubbly liquid, and handed one to her.

“I would like to propose a toast.” Sammy held his glass out in front of him. “To the future, to our future.”

Ida clinked her flute against his and again felt a deeply rooted seed of disappointment begin to sprout. This was so…trite and common. She had expected more from him. Or at least something original, more classy and polished.

“The future,” she said glumly.

Maybe it was only the chase that was so tantalizing. She’d had better marriage proposals from younger, less experienced men. But he hadn’t really proposed yet. She owed it to him to wait and see if he measured up.

“You sound so bleak, Ida. Have I upset you?” Sammy asked, concern all over his face.

He hadn’t. Not really. It was just her. She had been anticipating this date all week, and now that it was happening, she’d been let down by her own expectations. Straightening up, she took a sip of her champagne. At least she had good sex to look forward to.

She smiled at her thoughts, thinking she sounded just like Sophie. “Not at all, Sammy. I was just woolgathering.” Wasn’t that what Toots would’ve said? She was more like her friends than they gave her credit for.

“Good, because I have something I want to ask you. I wouldn’t ask if you were upset.”

Here goes, she thought. “What is it you wanted to ask me, Sammy?” She knew but didn’t want him to know she knew.

He took a deep breath, reached for her hand, placed a soft kiss on her palm. “Do you remember our conversation a few weeks ago when I explained the clinic wasn’t doing well?”