Morning At The Evans Cottage (Joe/Maggie/Carolyn/Sam)

The next morning showed up with very mild weather and a beautiful, clear sky. Days with pleasant weather were much appreciated in Collinsport. Joe Haskell got up early and had breakfast at the Inn at a table by himself. He noticed that Suzy, the waitress working that day, didn't have the lively personality and beauty that Maggie had and he began daydreaming about his girl.

On his way over to the Evans cottage, he was pleased that he had the entire day off. "Maybe once we get this cemetery nonsense done with, Maggie and I can go for a long drive this afternoon," he thought.

He knocked on the door and entered after he heard Sam yelling for him to do so. "Mornin' Sam," Joe said. Sam was working on some sketches and looked to be in good shape. He'd only had one drink the evening before and had talked out his whole experience to his daughter and her boyfriend as they listened patiently. Maggie had finished cleaning up and putting his paintbrushes away and by the end of the evening they had moved on to lighter topics.

"Hey, Joe," Sam said. "Maggie's in the kitchen cleaning up the breakfast things. There's a fresh pot of coffee; go help yourself."

Sam was yawning and scratching his head in between intently working on his sketch and didn't seem to be in a talking mood. Joe thought he'd had enough coffee and didn't want to slow Maggie down in the kitchen so he just sat there gazing around the room.

"Hmmmm," said Sam, still working on his sketch. "Say Joe, Maggie tells me Carolyn Stoddard is meeting you here and all of you are spending the morning together. Hmmmm...times have changed, you going out with your girlfriend and your ex-girlfriend."

Before Joe had a chance to think up something in response to that remark, Sam came over and showed him the sketch. It was of the ghostly woman he'd seen the night before. "Might as well get something out of the interuption," he said cheerily. He didn't seem to be bothered at all.

"She's really pretty," Joe said. "I wonder what she's crying about. Hey Sam, maybe you could paint her portrait and she'd quit crying."

He stood up and went over to the windows and gazed out, then turned to Sam. "Oh, Carolyn's going to bring the first sketch back....I think we're done with it."

Joe looked at Sam who was leaning back on the sofa looking pleased. "So this is what a morning without a hangover looks like," he thought. Then he spoke again, "Well, I hope this ghost business ends soon and Maggie gets back to our usual topics of conversation."

Carolyn had awoken and got ready in a timely fashion this morning. She wanted to get out of the house before people, especially her mother, could start asking questions. After all, how normal is it to go searching through a cemetery for the grave of a ghost you keep seeing?

Today was a nice day as Carolyn made her way over to the Evan's Cottage. She had the sketch and locket beside her, as she didn't want to forget them. As she pulled up to the Cottage Carolyn noticed that Joe was already here; "figures", she thought.

She walked up to the door, sketch and locket in hand. Carolyn paused for a moment to straighten her hair and make sure she was truly ready to knock on the door: which was an official start of the day ahead. Not hesitating a second later, she knocked on the door and waited for someone to acknowledge her presence.

"Oh hi Carolyn, come right in," Sam said as he opened the door for her. "Maggie is expecting you and Joe's already here. You're looking very lovely as usual, if I might add."

Joe nodded at Carolyn and turned to look out the window. He loved Maggie but pangs of sadness over his lost relationship with Carolyn still remained.

"Oh, thanks," Sam said as Carolyn returned the first sketch. "Here look, I've done another just because she makes such a good subject."

Sam watched Carolyn's expression as she looked at the sketch. He didn't care what people thought of his art but he liked to know what it made them feel. "Maggie's will be right out. She's cleaning up the kitchen. In addition to her many sterling qualities such as putting up with me, she's a perfectionist housekeeper."

When Sam opened the door for her, Carolyn noted how cheerful he was: not a quality often seen by many. She stepped in the cottage, flushed a quick smile Joe's way, and then returned the sketch and locket to Sam. She then glanced over the newest painting that he held out to her.

It was quite the stunning piece actually. She admired it closely for a bit, then handed it back. Carolyn walked over near Joe to ask what the plans for the day were, but then figured it best to just wait till Maggie came out, that way she could get both of their stories at once.

It was a busy morning for Maggie, got up early and continued to straighten and tidy things around the house. Much on her mind was about the trip to Eagle Hill this morning. I hope we are able to solve this mystery, she said to herself. Maggie just finished getting dishes cleaned in the kitchen and then made herself look presentable as she walked in the den.

“Oh, good morning everyone; I am sorry to keep everyone waiting.” She goes over to Joe, “Hi dear,” then looks at everyone, can I fix anyone coffee or something?”

"Good morning Maggie." Joe kissed his sweetheart on the cheek. "No more coffee for me, thanks. I had breakfast at the Inn and had plenty although it isn't as good as yours."

Joe felt like the morning was slipping away. "I'd like to get going as soon as everyone's ready. The sooner we do, the sooner we get this over with." Joe took his car keys out of his pocket and looked around expectantly at everyone.

"Well . . . I think I'm quite anxious to get this started," Carolyn stated, with near uncertainty in her voice. It was true, she was ready to get started, but she wasn't quite sure that she was ready for what they might find. However, it was no use standing around waiting, so Carolyn once again tried to get her own momentum up, "Ok, lets go!" She started to walk towards the door, and turned to wait on the others.

"End Scene"