Chapter Thirteen

After brunch, Cleo urges Sonya to dress up and they search storage for studio furnishings. They claim a mermaid floor lamp, a curved blue velvet settee found mysteriously uncovered in the attic, and a heavy L-shaped desk. They manage to move the settee to the studio before Trey and Owen arrive with dogs Mookie and Jones to help.

The group carries the Victrola, cabinet, and record boxes downstairs, then returns for the mermaid lamp and desk. Owen admires the craftsmanship, advises proper care, and agrees to take and repair a damaged chest of drawers after a sheet eerily slips off it by itself. In the studio, Trey and Owen confirm they have never seen Collin’s portrait of Johanna before, despite knowing the space well, suggesting it recently revealed itself for Sonya.

In the kitchen, they share beer and plan a future dinner with the Doyles. Conversation turns to the hauntings: Sonya describes doors moving, fireplaces reset, beds made and turned down, cabinets opened, the printer/throw incident, locked-out front door, pounding and an illusory blizzard, midnight piano playing “Barbara Allen,” and “7 lost” written on a steamed mirror.

Trey outlines the local legend: after Astrid’s murder and ring theft, a bride in each generation dies at the manor. He recounts Catherine Cabot, who left her wedding bed in a blizzard and froze; Sonya vividly recalls a dream matching Catherine’s death and the missing ring. They debate causes, but Owen and Trey emphasize Collin’s kindness and their support.

Cleo confirms she will move in soon, vows to consult her grandmother for advice, and cooks pasta while the dogs settle. Sonya rejects fear, claiming the house as hers and resolving not to be driven out. Music cues up “The Ramones,” and Trey and Owen share contact information, assuring Sonya she’s not alone.