Read Online Ghoul Interrupted by Victoria Laurie - Free Book Online Page A

he said.
    Gil seemed to think of something then, and he took another huge bite, cocked his head to the side, and said, “Runeral wooday?”
    I froze. Oh, God! Had I forgotten to tell Gil about Heath’s aunt? Yes. Yes I had. “Uh, Gil,” I said. “Sorry to fill you in so late, but Heath’s aunt was killed in a car accident yesterday morning. The funeral for his uncle has been postponed until the family can make arrangements to have them buried together.”
    Gil’s eyes bulged.
    I nodded. “I know. It’s awful.”
    Gil flailed his arms around in some sort of air origami pattern.
    “Yes, he’s taking it hard,” I said.
    “Gahkwrk!” Gil said, shaking his head.
    I interpreted for Heath. “He wants to know if you’ll be okay and he’s here for you.”
    Heath, however, was staring hard at Gilley. “Actually . . . ,” he said, dropping his fork and pushing back from the table before hurrying around me to stand behind Gil.
    I watched as he grabbed Gilley around the middle and pulled him up so violently that he lifted Gil right out of his chair. “What’re you doing?” I cried. “Heath! Put him down!”
    In the next second there was a strangled sound from Gil; then Heath swung him around again, thrusting his fists into Gilley’s middle. I was so stunned that I didn’t realize what was happening until a small wad of food flew out of Gil’s mouth and onto the floor.
    Gil took a huge ragged breath. “Thank you, Baby Jesus!” he gasped, holding his throat. Heath let him go and Gil sank to his knees. “Gilley Gilleshpie. Gilley Gilleshpie. Gilley Gilleshpie!”
    Heath bent down and lifted Gil up gently from under his shoulders; then he eased him back over to his chair. Meanwhile a manager had come running over to us and most of the patrons were staring. “Is everything all right?” the manager asked.
    “Yes,” I said quickly, placing a hand on Gil’s arm to make sure he was okay.
    “I almost died!” Gilley shrieked, then smiled tightly at the manager and said, “Gilley Gilleshpie.”
    The poor man visibly paled.
    “He’s fine,” I said evenly, shooting Gil a warning look.
    But Gil was having none of it. “That fajita almost killed me!”
    Heath calmly took his seat again. “But it didn’t,” he said. “Gil, you’re fine.”
    “No I’m not!” he snapped. “First I had a stroke on the plane, then I caught SARS, and just now I almost died eating the house special!”
    “I’m so sorry!” the manager said. “Please, let me take care of your check. And if there’s anything else I can bring you, please let me know.”
    Gil’s eyebrows rose.
    Uh-oh, I thought.
    “Well, in that case,” Gilley said, “I’ll need to see the menu again.”
    For the next hour, Gilley ate his way through most of the menu, completely over his near-death experience(s). At least for the moment.
    I, on the other hand, was still really shaken. How had I misinterpreted Gilley’s choking for conversation? “Hey,” said Heath when he caught me staring as Gilley ate each bite. I felt his hand on my arm. “You okay?”
    I turned to him. “I should be asking you that.”
    Heath smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “I have to call my mom again,” he said. “I need to check on her and see if she’s okay. When she’s upset, she sometimes forgets to take her medicine.”
    Heath’s mother wasn’t in great health. She had a heart condition and diabetes and her doctor had advised her not to stress herself out.
    I rubbed Heath’s back. I had no idea what to tell him to make it better and it was killing me.
    We left the restaurant and Gilley nearly needed to be carried to the car, he was so full. Behind his back, Heath and I left enough cash behind to more than cover the bill and we drove back to the hotel in silence.
    Gil went back to his room for a nap, and I followed Heath out to the courtyard, where he called his mom. It was a tough conversation and he looked very upset after he’d hung up.
    “Feel like