177

MAXINE

The next day, the sun was shining high in the sky, bathing the Gray Lodge in its golden light. I exhaled loudly, lifting my chin towards the sun and smiling. Peace, this was what true peace was. No one tells you that you can only know what peace is until you know what real trouble is.

This was the kind of day that would make me just want to stretch out and soak up the sun, feeling the gentle breeze. The wind carried with it the scent of pine and water. The lodge seemed almost like a different place. The atmosphere was lighter and more welcoming. The feeling of that oppressive curse was gone.

I wonder if I could find a way to get rid of the old rumor of it being haunted. For the first time in a while, we were all able to relax. Mr. Grayson gave us the rest of the week off and this was only Thursday.

I found Zel and Peter in the garden. Zel was working to plant some new flowers and she was showing something to Peter. They were laughing so close together that their heads almost to