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“This is so cute.”
“Told you.” Max smiled as he parked the car. Ever the gentleman, he hurried to the passenger door to open it for Zoey. His wife.
His wife. Max still couldn’t believe it. They were on the final stop of their honeymoon. After a two-week trip to Portugal and Spain, they flew back to the US and stopped in NY to see Max’s parents.
—-------------
Two days earlier, Zoey found the Woodstone B&B online while perusing a “10 Best Places to Leaf-Peep in the Hudson Valley” article on a website called Chronogram.
“Hey babe. Did you go to school with him?” Zoey showed Max the article, with a smiling couple standing in front of the B&B. “It says that he grew up in the same town on Long Island and he’s your age.”
“Holy crap. Jay Arondekar. Yeah, we used to be in a DnD club together. I think we had a few classes together too. He’s the owner?”
“Yeah, with his wife Sam.”
“Well, clearly we need to go visit. I heard he became a professional chef so you know the breakfast will be good.”
Zoey smiled. “I’ll call them right now.”
As luck would have it, there had been a cancellation and Zoey managed to snag the last room for Thursday to Sunday.
____
“Welcome to the Woodstone B&B Max and Zoey! I’m Sam, and I think you know Jay?”
“Maxwell Richman, how the hell are you? Long time no see.” Jay enthusiastically shook Max’s hand, and then Zoey’s. His personality was very warm and inviting, and Zoey liked both of them immediately.
Jay led them upstairs to their room, chatting with Max about life. Zoey looked around at the beautiful old building. She heard a faint whistling behind her. Zoey turned, but didn’t see anything. Strange. Probably just the wind.
“...and here we are. I’ll leave you to settle in. We have cocktail hour at 5pm with nibbles and local wine. Hope to see you there.”
“Zoey, oh my god look, a plate of homemade cookies. And tiny little handmade soaps from a local company.” Max fluttered around the room, positively giddy. He stopped. “Zoey. Earth to Zoey. You okay?”
Zoey put her finger to her lips. “Do you hear that?” she whispered.
Max looked around the room. “Hear what?”
Zoey tiptoed to the door and looked out, but the hallway was empty. But it was clear as day.
Father and I went down to camp,
Along with Captain Gooding,
And there we see the men and boys
As thick as hasty pudding.
Yankey doodle keep it up,
Yankey doodle dandy,
Mind the music and the step
And with the girls be handy
She raced back into the room and shut the door quickly, leaning with her back against it and breathing heavily.
“Zooeeyyy…what is going on?” Max gave her a pointed look, with one eyebrow raised.
“Nothing. Nothing at all, I’m fine, it was probably the wind. Uh, I think I need a nap.” She quickly stripped down to her underwear and climbed under the covers.
Max took the opportunity to climb into bed with Zoey. He wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her close.
“I can think of something to distract you from whatever…that…was.” He wiggled his eyebrows at her and Zoey laughed as she leaned forward to kiss him.
She pulled away suddenly and sat up. A man’s voice, loud and clear.
And there we see a thousand men
As rich as ‘Squire David
And what they wasted every day
I wish it had been saved
Yankey doodle keep it up,
Yankey doodle dandy,
Mind the music and the step
And with the girls be handy
Max looked bewildered. “What is going on?”
“I’m hearing songs but there is no one here. I have no idea what’s happening except…oh god.”
“Zoey. You’re scaring me. Tell me.”
“I think this place is haunted and I’m hearing the ghosts sing.”
Max and Zoey looked at each other.
“What. The. F-”
::guitar riff::