Read MAGDALENA'S GHOST: THE HAUNTING OF THE HOUSE IN GALLOWS LANE for Free Online

selfish sod all day, ever since I saw Juniper House. But I haven’t meant to push you out, really I haven’t. It’s just that – well, I guess I just got so excited about it all. If you don’t want me to mention it again, I won’t – I promise.”
    She looked at his pleading face and melted. “Oh, okay, we’ll stay the night and see what he has to say about the place when the pub opens.”
    She knew she had relented against her better judgement, but she could see the day wearing on and they simply weren’t getting anywhere.
    “Really – are you serious?” His face almost lit up the dark sky.
    “Yes, but I’m going to rustle up something to eat first. I’ve packed a few tins of things and we’ve got eggs and bread. And I’m hungry!”
    Anton grabbed her again and gave her a long loving kiss. “At least it will be intimate here we’ve got the whole place to ourselves. We can do anything we want.”
    Lucy looked at him suspiciously and curled her lip. But she preferred not to make any comment on his dubious remarks – her look said it all.
    “Right let me sort out some food, I’m ravenous.”
    “Yeah me too, this house-hunting has made me work up an appetite.”
    Lucy frowned as she disappeared into the back to conjure up something to eat. She sighed to herself. She strongly suspected, as well as feared, that this house was going to be theirs no matter what; so she may as well start getting used to the idea. She knew Anton well, once he got a bee in his bonnet there would be no turning back.

4
BEFORE
    As Beryl approached the landing she stopped to get her breath back. The final suitcase had been deposited on the floor whilst she sat on the top step for a rest. Although she was in her sixties, she had acquired the demeanour of someone much older. The first sight of her mother, after all the years that had passed, was a shock. She had changed, that was true, but they would now pass for sisters, not mother and daughter, as the difference in their age was no longer apparent. Where her own hair was a stern grey, her mother’s was a gentle white which matched her personality as she remembered her. It wasn’t that her mother looked younger than her years; it was the fact that she herself looked much older than someone in her sixties.
    Beryl had never married. Born a spinster, she would die a spinster, of that there was no doubt. Well it’s too late now, what’s the use of worrying. Her mother, Magdalena, had become a recluse, so what good had marriage done for her? It had only caused her pain and sorrow, as far as Beryl was concerned. She’d had two children, but her life came to an end when her husband – Beryl’s father – had left one day and taken her younger brother Billy with him. They were never seen again. He didn’t even have the nerve to face up to what he was planning.
    It had all happened when Magdalena had taken Beryl to London to be auditioned by a renowned master-of-ballet. He had been one of the greatest dancers the world had ever known and many world-famous ballerinas had been trained by him. He was one of the most sought after ballet teachers in the world. Beryl had only ever shown the one talent – she could dance. And it was her dream to become a world-class ballerina. But the short visit which had been planned turned into a week, due to them visiting an ailing aunt. Beryl’s excitement at being told she had a special talent, was advanced for her years, and should start with the school as soon as possible, was beyond her wildest dreams.
    But it all came to an abrupt end when they returned home. The house was grimly silent and Magdalena’s husband, Sinclair, and her son Billy had gone and their clothes and personal belongings cleared out. Magdalena was devastated, and Beryl’s dreams of becoming a dancer were gone forever.
    Beryl blamed it all on Billy, whilst Magdalena blamed the loss of her son on Beryl; after all, if they’d never gone to London in the first place, none of it