Read Online Haunting Jordan by P. J. Alderman - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: P. J. Alderman
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the lamp dropping with a deafening crash. The air sort of shimmered in the middle of the kitchen, and the two women materialized before her.
Charlotte’s image faded in and out like a spastic highway construction warning light, but Hattie’s was clear as a bell. At least Hattie had the decency to look chagrined.
Jordan glanced around surreptitiously for the dog, hoping for some protection, but he’d disappeared. She hyperventilated.
“Paper bag”—she gasped, waving her hands wildly—“cupboard.”
Charlotte floated over to the sink, her blue satin slippers barely touching the floor. The cupboard door slammed open and a paper bag flew through the air. Jordan managed to snag it as it winged past her.
She collapsed onto a kitchen chair and breathed into the bag, eyes closed. The bent lamp leapt from the floor to the table, wildly teetering back and forth on its base before settling. A hand patted her lightly on her shoulder, the feeling somewhat akin to static electricity crawling across her skin. The hairs on the back of her neck rose.
“You keep your paper bags by the kitchen sink?” Charlotte asked. “That’s what the butler’s pantry is for.”
“Now, Charlotte, don’t nag,” Hattie admonished, rubbing Jordan’s shoulder. “We can worry about the arrangement of the kitchen later—Jordan’s had a fright.”
“Well, she doesn’t want to unpack and arrange things in here twice, does she?”
“Nevertheless, she has plenty of time to think about where she’ll put her kitchen items,” Hattie said, her tone firm.
“I’m only trying to be helpful.”
Jordan raised her head to stare blearily at Charlotte. She was pouting again, which seemed to be her perpetual state. Something to look forward to, if Jordan had to live with her. On that note, she closed her eyes again.
“Can’t you see she’s shaken?” Hattie continued. “No one thinks about organizing their cupboards when they’re in shock.”
“A stylish home, along with a keen sense of fashion, are critical foundations of a well-ordered life—”
Jordan stood on shaky legs and walked over to the open cupboard. She dry-swallowed three tablets from the aspirin bottle she’d put in there earlier. Why the hell hadn’t she thought to pack something stronger?
“And look at that !” Charlotte’s tone was outraged. “She’s got medicine in there. Everyone knows herbal tinctures should be kept well away from the preparation of the food.”
“Times have changed,” Jordan managed. “Why don’t you two teleport yourselves to the local home improvement store? They’re probably still open, and you can check out the latest kitchen designs. That’ll give me the time I need to pack my bags and check into a hotel.”
“There’s no cause to get testy,” Hattie said mildly. “Or to leave. We have no intention of harming you.”
“Yeah, right. I’ve heard you two are a real joy to live with.” Jordan gripped the edge of the counter with one hand to hold herself up, since her knees were still nonfunctional. Though the roaring in her ears had begun to subside, she breathed into the paper bag again for good measure.
Charlotte sniffed. “If you’re referring to the prior inhabitants who ran that wretched boardinghouse—”
“Bed-and-breakfast,” Hattie corrected.
“—they got what they deserved. Why, they were considering knocking down the wall between the parlor and front hall!”
“Hell, no wonder you drove them to financial ruin,” Jordan muttered. “World peace hung in the balance.”
“Well, of course it didn’t … Oh, you meant that as a joke.”
Jordan could feel herself crashing as the adrenaline seeped away. “I don’t suppose I can talk you two into leaving for the evening and coming back in the morning, after I’ve had eight hours of sleep and some caffeine and can cope better?”
They glanced at each other with confused expressions. “We live here,” Hattie said. “Where would we go? You can’t
Charlotte’s image faded in and out like a spastic highway construction warning light, but Hattie’s was clear as a bell. At least Hattie had the decency to look chagrined.
Jordan glanced around surreptitiously for the dog, hoping for some protection, but he’d disappeared. She hyperventilated.
“Paper bag”—she gasped, waving her hands wildly—“cupboard.”
Charlotte floated over to the sink, her blue satin slippers barely touching the floor. The cupboard door slammed open and a paper bag flew through the air. Jordan managed to snag it as it winged past her.
She collapsed onto a kitchen chair and breathed into the bag, eyes closed. The bent lamp leapt from the floor to the table, wildly teetering back and forth on its base before settling. A hand patted her lightly on her shoulder, the feeling somewhat akin to static electricity crawling across her skin. The hairs on the back of her neck rose.
“You keep your paper bags by the kitchen sink?” Charlotte asked. “That’s what the butler’s pantry is for.”
“Now, Charlotte, don’t nag,” Hattie admonished, rubbing Jordan’s shoulder. “We can worry about the arrangement of the kitchen later—Jordan’s had a fright.”
“Well, she doesn’t want to unpack and arrange things in here twice, does she?”
“Nevertheless, she has plenty of time to think about where she’ll put her kitchen items,” Hattie said, her tone firm.
“I’m only trying to be helpful.”
Jordan raised her head to stare blearily at Charlotte. She was pouting again, which seemed to be her perpetual state. Something to look forward to, if Jordan had to live with her. On that note, she closed her eyes again.
“Can’t you see she’s shaken?” Hattie continued. “No one thinks about organizing their cupboards when they’re in shock.”
“A stylish home, along with a keen sense of fashion, are critical foundations of a well-ordered life—”
Jordan stood on shaky legs and walked over to the open cupboard. She dry-swallowed three tablets from the aspirin bottle she’d put in there earlier. Why the hell hadn’t she thought to pack something stronger?
“And look at that !” Charlotte’s tone was outraged. “She’s got medicine in there. Everyone knows herbal tinctures should be kept well away from the preparation of the food.”
“Times have changed,” Jordan managed. “Why don’t you two teleport yourselves to the local home improvement store? They’re probably still open, and you can check out the latest kitchen designs. That’ll give me the time I need to pack my bags and check into a hotel.”
“There’s no cause to get testy,” Hattie said mildly. “Or to leave. We have no intention of harming you.”
“Yeah, right. I’ve heard you two are a real joy to live with.” Jordan gripped the edge of the counter with one hand to hold herself up, since her knees were still nonfunctional. Though the roaring in her ears had begun to subside, she breathed into the paper bag again for good measure.
Charlotte sniffed. “If you’re referring to the prior inhabitants who ran that wretched boardinghouse—”
“Bed-and-breakfast,” Hattie corrected.
“—they got what they deserved. Why, they were considering knocking down the wall between the parlor and front hall!”
“Hell, no wonder you drove them to financial ruin,” Jordan muttered. “World peace hung in the balance.”
“Well, of course it didn’t … Oh, you meant that as a joke.”
Jordan could feel herself crashing as the adrenaline seeped away. “I don’t suppose I can talk you two into leaving for the evening and coming back in the morning, after I’ve had eight hours of sleep and some caffeine and can cope better?”
They glanced at each other with confused expressions. “We live here,” Hattie said. “Where would we go? You can’t
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