Tuesday Tales: From the Word SCARY

Happy Halloween. I wish you all a safe and spooktacular time. This week, the authors involved in Tuesday Tales are writing to the word prompt SCARY. I’m continuing with Listen to the Stones, my contemporary romance with paranormal elements. Enjoy!

She huffed out a breath. Where was Ewen MacDonald? He’d promised to meet her plane personally, but the only people left here were a custodian mopping the wet floor near the door leading out to the tarmac and an agent at the Highland Airways desk. Her fellow passengers must all have been locals with cars or rides waiting for them, so where was hers? This wasn’t a place where people lounged around and socialized. Being alone here made her skin crawl. Sighing, she found a place to sit and wait. What else could she do?

Fifteen minutes later, the Highland Airways representative closed the kiosk, put on his coat, and headed out into the rain. The janitor was nowhere in sight. She swallowed uncomfortably. This was far from the welcome she’d expected.

The wind whistled and howled through chinks in the window frames. When a door slammed in the distance, she jumped, only slightly reassured when the janitor returned to empty the trash bin before disappearing once more. He hadn’t even acknowledged her presence—no friendly smile, no hello, not even a what the hell are you doing here?

Suddenly, the lights went out, the only brightness coming from emergency lamps. The desolate airport took on a scary disposition. Power failure or deliberate attempt to frighten her? Once again, she was reminded that not everyone might be happy to have her home.

Hoping there hadn’t been an accident, she pulled out her phone and dialed MacDonald’s office number.

“MacDonald and MacPhee Solicitors, how may I help you?”

Marina exhaled the breath she’d been holding. Fiona would know what to do.

“Fiona, it’s Marina Fraser.”

“Hello, Ms. Fraser,” the woman’s voice was filled with warmth and welcome. “Are you anxious for the last leg of your trip home?”

“Actually, that’s what I’m calling about. I’m here and Mr. MacDonald isn’t.”

“Here? Here in Stornoway?”

The disbelief in the woman’s voice didn’t bode well. After the encounter with the man at the airport, it had been one glitch after another. Was it Fate telling her she had no damn business here?

“Yes. My flight landed on schedule thirty minutes ago.” She tried to dampen the frustration in her voice.

That’s it. Stay safe, and don’t forget to check out the other Tuesday Tales.