Alan Redman parked his black Lincoln beside the curb. A young woman in a blue Jaguar convertible pulled up behind him. Cash Wilkins and Billy Joe Johnson, his friend since elementary school, turned and stared. Cash wiped the sweat from his forehead, then shielded his eyes from the hot Georgia sun.

Billy whistled. "Woo-eee! Where's that fancy car from? I bet it traveled a fur piece."

Cash scratched his head. "The car tag says Massachusetts. She must be Ms. Paula's niece. I'd heard she'd arrive today."

"She's one purdy Yankee?" He sat on the large antebellum home's front steps and swiped his brow with a dirty bandanna, before adjusting his straw hat. "I'm gonna sit a spell and give this poor heart a rest." He leaned over and stretched his neck. "She sure is easy on the eyes."

"Don't forget you're hitched." Cash poked his friend's arm.

"I'm married, not dead. I can still look, just can't touch." He laughed.

"Maybe you'd better ask Mary Pat about that," Cash teased before he took a big gulp from the water jug and wiped his mouth. "I guess I'd better introduce myself." He walked toward the cars. "Howdy, Mr. Redman."

"Good afternoon, Cash. Ms. Swanson arrived a little over an hour ago. I've already gone over the legalities." He turned slightly. "Paige, this is the young man I told you about. Your aunt hired him to do the reconstruction of the house."

She offered her hand. "I'm glad to meet you. I'm Paige Swanson. You are?"

Cash wiped his hand on his blue jeans, then shook hers. "Cash Wilkins. This week we've been working on the cast-iron fence." He pointed to the cusped arched fence surrounding the house. "Mr. Redman told me to expect you. I thought once you get settled we could discuss the remodeling."

Mr. Redman patted Cash on the back. "Sounds like you have it under control. I need to get back to my office. Paige, call me if you have any questions." He shook her hand.

Paige nodded and watched the heavyset, middle-aged man get into his car and drive away. She turned toward Cash. "I was told you're an expert at Gothic Revival architecture. I'm not sure I can be of any help." She brushed a strand of long black hair from her face.

"There's a few decisions that need to be made." He turned toward his friend. "My associate, Billy Joe, and I, will help tote your bags." He motioned for his friend to help.

Once inside the house, Cash scanned the parlor. "Where'd you like them?"

"I guess upstairs." Paige ran her hand along the American Black Walnut banister as she climbed the curved stairway. "I miss the days of sliding down this."

"We're going to sand it down and give it a new coat of varnish," Cash offered, as he stood at the top and waited for the next instruction. When it didn't come, he asked, "There's five bedrooms. Where you want your bags?"

Paige glanced at each open door. "Aunt Paula's room was that one." She pointed to the far left. "When I'd spend summers with her, I stayed there." She pointed to the next room. "Now I own the house. Maybe I should take the master bedroom." After a hesitation, she continued, "But Aunt Paula's only been gone for five months." Tears welled in her eyes as she turned toward the men. "I don't know. I need to think about it. Just leave them here. When I make up my mind, I'll take care of them."

"We'll get back to work." The men set down the suitcases and left.

*****
"Looky there!" Billy Joe pointed toward Paige standing on the porch. "Figure she's found a room?"

"Reckon so." Cash glanced up but continued working on the fence.

"I'm going to the grocery store. I'll bring back some tonic and Heroes." She walked toward the car.

"What's tonic?" Billy Joe tilted his head.

"I figure you'll find out." Cash watched her walk.

"Can a Yankee woman wear Daisy Dukes?" Billy Joe grinned.

"She is." Cash wiped the sweat from his forehead. Her ponytail and her cute little butt swish the same direction at the same time. He watched her open the car door.

"Ouch!" She jumped as soon as she sat.

Billy Joe laughed. "I guess the Georgia July sun doesn't work too well with black leather seats."

Cash smiled as she jogged into the house. She burnt that butt.

Out Paige came, carrying a towel. She set it on the car seat, sat, and turned on the engine. After adjusting the radio, she got out and stood before Cash. "Where's the grocery store? I've been there with Aunt Paula, but I don't remember how to get to it."

As he gave directions, he smiled. "That's the one with the best prices." He continued grinning as he watched her walk.

"A Yankee woman who drives a Jaguar isn't interested in cheap prices." Billy Joe chuckled. "You never see a Jaguar parked at Wally World, do ya?"

"I reckon not, but you ever seen a grocery store just for rich people?"

Billy Joe scratched his head. "Nope, I ain't."

*****
When Paige pulled her car by the curb, she called to Cash and motioned for him to come closer. "I don't remember Aunt Paula using a garage. Can you recommend a shaded place to park?"

"Pull around to the right of the house." He scratched his head. "If you want, we can turn the stables into a garage."

"Will that stop the house from getting that historical thingy?"

"I doubt it." He paused. "We can check." Cash followed the car until Paige parked. "I'll help tote the sacks."

"I have five bundles and a case of tonic."

"Bundles of what?"

Paige tilted her head. "Groceries." She stood beside the car. "I have a feeling we may have some language issues. Aunt Paula and I used to tease each other over it." She smiled.

"Billy Joe's waiting to see what tonic is?"

She pointed to the case of coke. "Tonic."

He laughed. "Hey Billy Joe, tonic is Coca-Cola."

Billy Joe nodded and laughed.

"Why don't you two come in and I'll get some ice for your tonic and you can eat some Heroes?"

"Heroes are?" Billy Joe grinned.

"Cold cuts and cheese between two pieces of long bread." She held out her hands to show how long.

"Po Boys." Cash picked up four bags. "Can you get the last one?"

Paige lifted the bag and followed Cash. Billy Joe grabbed the case of bottled Coke. The three went into the house.

As they sat at the solid-oak antique dining room table, Paige's cheeks flushed. "I'm embarrassed to ask, but Aunt Paula used to tell me this house was haunted. I'm sure she was teasing, but ..."

Cash took a drink. "I don't know if the house is haunted or not, but folks in these parts say Savannah's the most haunted city in these United States." He paused. "Even if it's haunted, it must be friendly. Your aunt lived here as long as I can remember."

"I guess you're right. This will be the first night I've stayed by myself."

"If you have a piece of paper, I can write down our numbers in case you need anything."

"No, I couldn't impose." Paige shook her head.

"We're Southern boys. We help folks when they need it."

Billy Joe nodded. "Cash is right, that's what we do."

"Are you sure?" Paige sighed. After both men nodded, she took a pen and paper from her purse and handed it to Cash.

He wrote down the numbers and laid it in the center of the table. "We'd better get back to work or we'll be late for supper."

"Thank you."

*****
Paige decided she'd take the master bedroom and finished unpacking. She stared beyond the magnolia tree outside the bedroom window. What a gorgeous sunset. She grabbed her paints and a canvas and looked through each bedroom window trying to choose the best view. Finally, she began painting.

It was dark when she added the last stroke. I'd better make sure the doors are locked. Paige started at the front of the house, checked the three front doors, then went to the back door. She studied the pecan tree. Aunt Paula and I used to gather pecans and shell them. When we finished, she always made a pie. I miss the times we spent together. There's a light on in the old kitchen house. I wonder why. She continued staring out the window. "There's someone moving in there!" She checked to make sure the door was locked. Why'd I do that? Ghosts can walk through doors, can't they? Where's my phone? I'd better call the police.