Page 9 of Under the Island Moon (Brookwell Island)
The next afternoon, Trina took a moment to gather her composure before approaching the stage.
Everyone seemed to be enjoying the special tea blends and menu for the afternoon.
Nearly everyone had dressed up and leaned into the spirit of the event.
She’d made the rounds to each table, and now—with everyone settled—she was ready for the big reveal.
“Thank you all for coming.” Trina smiled at the packed tea room.
Everyone looked so happy and the decor was positively atmospheric.
Every detail, from the wispy cobweb effect on the chandeliers, to the layered lace tablecloths and sweeps of black roses framing the windows, added to the pleasantly spooky mood.
“I hope you’re all enjoying yourselves at our first annual haunted tea.
I wanted to give a special thanks to Island Bloomers for the arrangements, my own kitchen as well as the Bread Basket for the refreshments.
The Pelican Pub and the Book Well teamed up for your goodie bags.
Please give a round of applause to the Brookwell Bugle for sponsoring the selfie station and the photo cut out scene. ”
When the warm appreciation and cheers died down, Trina took a deep breath. “And now, it’s my pleasure to introduce our special guest.” She had to work to keep her gaze away from Lola and Uncle Bruce as she made the announcement, “Gentry Carver is here to read us a few ghost stories.”
Bruce had leaned in close to Lola and whatever he whispered in her ear had her laughing. If Gentry had told his mother he was coming to the island, she managed to keep the secret.
Walking onto the stage to big applause, Gentry shook hands with Trina. “Please enjoy the rest of your afternoon,” she said, “and thank you again for making our first haunted tea a wonderful event.”
Once Gentry was seated in the wingback chair with the microphone placed just so, he opened a thick book. Goosebumps trailed over Trina’s arms as he read the opening lines of the first ghost story. The audience was immediately mesmerized, by the story as well as the man reading it.
In the shadows off stage, she felt Rhett come up behind her, and she leaned back. “You, my love, are the rock star of the Fall Festival,” he murmured for her ears alone.
“You really think so?”
“Sweetheart, you knocked it out of the park. People will be coming to you for lessons on how to make a community event shine.”
“You say the sweetest things.”
“Because you pull off the most incredible feats.” He kissed her ear. “Sneak upstairs with me.”
“I will not.” She twisted around to grin at him. “What kind of example would that be?”
“The courtyard then. The moon is coming up.”
How could she resist him? “For a minute. And don’t think I’m oblivious to your motives.”
“I just want some private time with my wife.”
She wasn’t buying his attempt to look innocent. “No, you want me away from Gentry Carver.”
“Two things can be true,” he admitted.
Laughing, they dashed outside to the deserted courtyard, seizing a few minutes for themselves under that big full moon rising into an early twilight sky.