Broken Past

tared, and I star

how to react. My mind blanked, and all conversation and manners flew out the window. My

ke an eternity, he r

H

eplied, unsure of

h that?" he asked i

omething about those deep brown chocolate eyes that

a little angry with it.

e up again. I looked down at the table and spotted the object of both our interest. "Ooh,

sit?" H

. sure, have a seat. I apologize for my lack of manners ...and the mess." I flashed ano

d sat down. He turned aroun

of coffee?" He asked p

eting the agent. Perhaps I could find out more about the exact location of my house

I said

e, giving me his complete attention. I fidgeted with the pen in my hand, trying to thin

re not the only one forgetting their manners today. I should

he have gorgeous brown eyes – the likes of which I had

is hand, "Gwen. Ni

ing grounds earlier to

That would be me, " I said pointing at myself. I wanted to smile, but I th

t and looked at me curiously.

cked I guess?" I shrug my sh

for watching if that's wha

hinking. The tension seemed to flow out of

used cup and placed two fresh white cups before

With milk and sugar added?" I aske

t the coffee. "If you'd like something fancier

very different ... simple. No fuss. A refreshing chang

cup back on the table. "So what brings you here? Business or pl

ss, " I reply, not want

e speaks. "So if you're not bus

lse to be?" I asked not wa

e day off." He winks at me,

ou're just the man for the j

ns forward and places both elbows on the table. H

d a little paper towards him and pointed at it. "That's the address, I think." By now I'm thoroughly embarrassed. Not only do I not know how to figure out a map,

ere?" He asked pulling the p

ook at him

Wood's place. Did

s, " I said furrowing my brows, "but if

e on the crossroad to the post office?

iastically "You know it right?

ce? It hasn't had an owner for oh, like maybe a century or so." He asks me s

ly like home to me." I think back to the way I connected with the h

ce?" He asks sipping his coffee. He seems

and decide they need something to do. I lean forward and lift my coffee cup. Perhaps he thinks I don't know about the plumbing

o be haunted?" This time his

n my chin. That, I hadn't expected. I clumsily r

ods looking o

rable devil's peak. His forehead is smooth; I don't see any tension lines. Perhaps he doesn't frown as much as I do. His eyebrows are evenly placed and rather straight, perfectly complimenti

ly smooth. I realize I am staring, but again I can't see

was staring. I cringe, blink a few times and try to focus. I wave my hand and nod. "I'm all right, just thinking" I reply. With the way my chee

eting your agent?" he as

r" I replied after l

g up and reaching into his

I say quickly, digging

he table. He folds my map and slips it

ise a hand to shield my eyes. He hooks his thumbs into his back pockets

s and waits for me

look at him and prompt our next conv

ks looking at

y of how it came to be hau

s soul aren't you?"

all around. The ground is bare; there seems to be no grass. A few swing sets sit lazily in the park. There is absolutely no movement inside the compound. I don't see people wal

t recall the exact year. Sometime in the early 1800's, I believe. But she rarely visited. At some point, she sent h

g to interrupt,

but one day the house burned down. Miss Woods was never seen or heard fro

haunti

sed to frequent the place. I haven't seen her. But s

e. He feigns being insulted. "Miss Gw

us look, I turn towards him and reply in a snooty accent, "Why

ffect. He bumps his shoulder into mine playfully and I

play acting. "Why Miss Gwen" he exclaims lo

never worked out a day in my life.

ontinue walking. We rounded a corner just as I was s

I see you found the hous

t. He looks at JT curiously

resting his briefcase on his left knee a

d pulls out a neatly clipped set of documents. He tuc

nd 9 then we can consider the transaction final." He be

s JT handing

ake the one JT offers, no

s?" I ask the agent, quickly scanning

watches me sign the papers and fills the silence with an explanation of the work done to accommodate a ki

s and waves. Once he disappears around the corner we just c

se, and my thoughts turn to his recount of the haunt

ow me around?" he says

s way, " I say waving my hand melodramatic