Page 18 of Ghost Hunters 1

Chapter Eleven

Dusting the dirt fromher knees Jillian then walked back to the house.She put the garden gloves and the little shovel away on the porch then she opened the back door.

Dino sat at the kitchen table, drinking coffee.

As she came in through the door, he looked up at her.

“Good morning.”Jillian smiled.

Dino nodded but didn’t say anything.

Jillian cocked her head at his rudeness.“I take it you didn’t sleep too well last night.”

Dino grunted but still didn’t say anything.

“Ok...”Jillian ignored him and went to the sink to wash her hands.She poured herself a cup of coffee and sat down at the table with him.

Neither of them said a word for a few minutes, then Dino broke the silence by asking, “So what’s on the agenda for today?”

Jillian set her cup down on the table.“Excuse me?”

Dino shook his head.“What is the next step?”

“I don’t know really.I’m new to this stuff too.”

“I’m worried about Matthew,” Dino commented.“Ever since we arrived yesterday, he’s been upset.I came with him to try to make sure that wouldn’t happen.I’m like...watching out for him.Then ever since we got here, he’s been getting more and more upset.This cruse thing is nuts.”

“Maybe the curse is real?”Jillian suggested.

Dino shook his head.“Life is what you make it.I don’t believe in this shit.Of a curse controlling things.Hell, I grew up on the streets pretty much so I know life is cruel but it is up to the person to change that.”

“What do you mean you grew up on the streets?Your grandpa didn’t take you in at least?”

Dino leaned back in his chair and informed her, “I’ve only known him for a year.”

“What?”Jillian asked in confusion.

“Look, it went like this...My mom was alone and she gave birth to me and she died.My dad never knew she had his baby.But that was a good thing, because he wasn’t father material in any way.So, I was in foster homes and then I ran from that.Believe me the streets were better than those hellholes.A woman then sort of took me under her wing as she helped....Well, people like me.Ones without a place and no family.”

“So how did you find your grandfather?”Jillian asked.

“I discovered my other grandfather.My dad’s dad.He had connections and he found Matthew for me.My grandma was gone already, having died pretty young.My mom hated Matthew and blamed him for her death.Matthew said it was because he never loved Rosanna’s mom like he loved Tilly and his wife never got over that fact.So, Rosanna changed her name to McGraw instead and made a new life for herself.One time I asked him about why he never re-married after his wife died and he told me he lost the only woman he would ever love a long time ago.He also said he was cursed and he wouldn’t wish that on another woman.”

“So, what makes you think the curse isn’t real?”Jillian asked.

“Curses don’t exist,” Dino insisted.“Matthew may have loved and lost but he’s not cursed.”

“How do you explain the supernatural things that have happened since you got here yesterday?”

Dino shrugged.“I don’t know, maybe they’ve all been due to something else, not a stupid ass curse.”

“Why is it so hard for you to believe in this sort of thing?”Jillian wanted to know.

“Why is it so easy for you to believeinit?”