She glanced at him, then out at the foggy darkness as if there was nothing to fear beyond the window. McFarland Leary is our resident ghost, cursed by the witch he betrayed. She swung her gaze back to him. Definitely nervous, making him pretty sure she didnt know much about
him. Seama was carrying Learys child when she caught him cheating on her with a mortal and she damned him for eternity. Then she disappeared with her unborn baby. Some people swear she later returned to town and her descendants live among us. She smiled at that. The town accused Leary of being a warlock and sentenced him to die. Warlocks were used for kindling around the stakes to get the fire going hot enough to burn the witches. But Moriahs Landing likes to be different. The town hung Leary from a big oak tree on the town green and buried him in St. Johns Cemetery as a warning to others who might want to consort with witches. Now Leary rises from his grave every five years to seek revenge on the town. Or at least thats what the chamber of commerce wants you to believe.
She took a breath as she finished her story and let out a little tense laugh. Welcome to Moriahs Landing.
Obviously, her real date wasnt from town. He smiled, gazing intently into her dark blue eyes, anxious to change the subject, no matter what it took, even if it meant flirting with a beautiful woman. I like it already, Katherine. At least Arabella had provided him with his dates name.
Kat. She dropped her gaze, a faint blush rising in her cheeks, making her even more appealing, as if she wasnt already. Everyone just calls me Kat.
Except for Arabella. He glanced toward Waterfront Avenue, the fog too thick to know if the man hed seen was still out there looking for him. You sound as if you dont like the town, he said, not sure how much he was supposed to know about her but determined to keep her talking about herself so she didnt start questioning him. What makes you stay?
She seemed surprised and he feared hed already messed up. He wasnt ready to go back out on the street. Even if it had been safe, he found his date intriguing. Maybe too intriguing.
She took a sip from her water glass, then picked up her menu. Ive never even thought about leaving. Can you believe it? I didnt even leave to go away to college.
So she went to the all-girl Heathrow College at the edge of town.
Im eighth generation, she said as if that explained it. In Massachusetts you arent considered a native unless you have at least eight generations buried in the local cemetery.
A local girl. Just his luck.
Your ancestors must have been fishermen, he guessed, opening his own menu, although he wasnt in the least bit hungry.
Seventh generation, she said. Dad died at sea when I was a sophomore in college.
Im sorry.
She nodded and peered at him over her menu, her wide blue eyes magnetic. Commercial fishing, she said, then dropped her gaze again behind the menu.
He nodded to himself, more than aware that the sea had always taken men from small fishing villages like Moriahs Landing and would continue to as long as men went to sea. And men would always be drawn to the sea. Some forces in nature pulled at you with a witchery that Jonah understood better than most.
What about your mother? he asked, hoping his question was general enough.
My mother he heard the catch in her throat, the hesitation in her voice died when I was three. I cant remember her. She closed her menu, clearly closing the subject.
Im sorry. I hope that isnt all the family you have here, he said, doing a little fishing of his own.
Theres my half sister, Emily. Shes seventeen and a real handful, but I love her. Shes all the family I have left and she graduates from high school next week. Tell me more about you.
More about him. He studied his menu wondering about the man she was supposed to be having dinner with tonight. He could only guess that they met online, considering her comment about getting her e-mail, and that they obviously hadnt met face-to-faceuntil tonight. He knew nothing about online dating. But it was pretty clear that she didnt know her date very wellnor he her. There isnt much to tell.
Your father wasnt a fisherman, Ill bet.
Far from it. He shook his head and smiled as he lowered his menu. Fortunately, the waiter saved him. I have to have lobster, Jonah told her. How about you?
I dont eat seafood. She shook her head. Not because of any moral stand or because of my father. Ive just never liked it. Ill take the chicken, she said to the waiter.
Kat, Jonah said, trying out the name. He liked it. It fit her. You must know practically everyone in town. Cause for concern.
Everyone, she said, and laughed.
She would know his family. The thought left him cold.
Its one of the problems of living in a small town, she said. Everyone knows everything about you. And you them. She shrugged. But its home,
you know?
He didnt know. He glanced out the window toward the wharf. The neon from the bars at the end of Waterfront gave the fog an eerie glow.