Rachelle Hampton

So we kind of have a sense of what's going on. And Kate is like, okay, I need to sell this house. Yes. I can't sell this house with this man in here. But also, why are you here? Why do you keep coming back? Why are you only here for 12 days out of the year? She's just asking questions. She's just asking questions. And the ghost, Daniel, is like, I don't ask these questions.

I just want to live my peaceful 12 days and eat as many apples as possible. Yeah. He's on vacation, baby. He's like, this is not my problem. This is your problem. And she's like, well, I need to do my job and get the fuck out of here. So I'm going to go investigation mode and we're going to figure out why the fuck you're still here. And then we're going to get you to the other side. Yes.

As in heaven or hell. Or hell. Somewhere. Purgatory. I mean, he's in purgatory.

Yes, yes, yes. I appreciated how much of a star turn that prohibition plays in this story. Yeah. It's really all about how bad prohibition was.

Listen, Kelsey, one of my all-time favorite fan fictions takes place in Prohibition, and it's a supernatural fan fiction. God. And Jensen Ackles is obviously a rum runner. Obviously. And I'm like, oh, that's hot. Crimes for alcohol?

Upcharging rich people for alcohol? Good. Congrats, babe. We love you. So Daniel, at this point, I'm like, even though you're a white man with a fash haircut, I'm on your side. Yeah. But also, I'm like, do you want to be resolved? Do you want to keep coming back here year after year? Do you wish to go on to the beyond? It seems like he's kind of tired of this shit, which makes sense.

It's been like 100 years.

It really doesn't. Because all we care about is what Kate wants, which is to sell the motherfucking inn. Yes.

So, our girl goes detective mode. She's researching, Googling, presumably, going to the library, I think, at some point. Like, there's some real, I'm looking at microfiche stuff.

Okay, wait, yeah, let's rewind. Let's rewind because there's like, there's a side plot where apparently no one has ever seen Daniel The ghost, other than the innkeeper, who doesn't really hang out with him. So he's just left alone for 12 days. To eat apples. But then the water goes out in town or some shit. And a local owner of a bar comes by and is like, you guys have a bar at the hotel.

Let me have my party here. Exactly. And Daniel's like, no one's allowed here. Fuck you. And the bartender lady, who also seems to have a little bit of a flirtationship with the innkeeper... Big time. ...is just like, who is that? And Kate's like, he's like a cousin of the family or whatever. He's just like a little, he's a little extra. Yeah.

And then the bartender's lady is like, I make the best cocktail in town. And Daniel's like, I bet you fucking don't. And the thing is, Daniel clearly is using egg whites in his whiskey sour. He's making some real drinks. He's a rum runner. He clearly knows his alcohol.

Whatever, babe. Sure. Whatever you fucking need, my guy. And so this turns into like a party at the inn. And I guess Daniel is reminded that being around people is good. Yes. And Kate is also figuring out that Daniel is hot. There's this scene where she's wandering around the house and stumbles upon him taking his shirt off.

He's jacked.

But I also was like, who? And at this moment, I was like, this is a porn. This is leading to a very clear resolution.

I can imagine this.

Yes.

It's like, oh, this is a man from the 1920s. He's not used to women being able to drive. He's not used to women having rights. He's just really confused as to why this woman is allowed to be a barrister. Yeah. And... It is like every single romance novel where you're like, why is this man so possessive and angry? And then you're like, oh, like, I don't know. It's his culture.

He watched his brother get shot or some shit. Like, he has trauma. It's his culture. Yeah. Yeah. So we find out that it is, in fact, Daniel's culture to be a little bit domineering. But it's okay because Kate... Well, Kate kind of likes it. She likes it. She likes it.

Which, I'm going to be honest, if a tall, beefy man who was caked up like that... Picked you up over his shoulder and carried you outside... I'm also like, is he misogynist? Because he seems to really value Kate as a human being, which is more than some men in 2024.