Make Believe

By Alan Wills

A headstrong eight-year-old connects with a malevolent spirit inhabiting her new music box. When people try to convince her she isn't real, she must prove to them it's more than an imaginary friend.

 

What readers are saying about Make Believe:

 

"A chilling story. I've always liked music boxes, but I'll never again view them as not harmful." -Susan Tirsway, Avid Reader

 

"Delightfully spooky. Reminiscent of ghost stories told around the campfire." -Monica Furlow, Avid Reader

• Language: English
• Publisher: LaBrice Books
• Release date: Oct 16, 2020
• ISBN: 9781393598954

Book preview

MAKE BELIEVE

ALAN WILLS

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Indianapolis, Indiana

Copyright © 2020 by Alan Wills  

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means without the prior written consent of the Publisher, except brief quotes used in reviews. 

This is a work of fiction. Any reference or similarities to actual events, real people, living or dead, or to real locales are intended to give the novel a sense of reality. Any similarity in other names, characters, places, and incidents is entirely coincidental.

ISBN-13: 978-0-578-75197-9

LCCN: 2020916555

Printed in the United States of America

Cover Design:  Olivia Pro Design

Editing:  Sara Tirsway Editing Services

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9009 Lake Nora W Drive #A

Indianapolis, In 46240

MAKE BELIEVE

CHAPTER ONE

Beth steps out of the bathroom and grabs the lotion from her dresser. She looks over at the two dresses lying on the bed and then at her cat, Buttercup. 

Which one do you think I should wear? 

Buttercup jumps off the bedpost and lies down in front of the white dress, curling her golden fur into a small ball. 

My thoughts exactly. He may propose, and I want to look my best. 

The phone rings twice before she grabs it. 

Hey, Melissa. 

Melissa, Beth’s nosy friend from college, was only calling for one thing. 

Don’t ‘Hey, Melissa’ me! What’s up with you and Kyle. Do you think he’ll pop the question today? 

Beth gives the cat a rub on top of her head before continuing to get dressed. 

I don’t know. I’ll call you when my date is over. 

Melissa takes a sip of water before saying, You better. What are you wearing? Does it scream ‘I’m ready for marriage’? 

I’m wearing a dress, and yes, it gives the hint. Beth smiles at her reflection in the floor-length mirror hanging on the back of her closet door.

Well, don’t forget to call me. I can’t wait to hear all about this romantic evening. 

Bye, girl, Beth says before hanging up. 

As she is putting the last touches on her lipstick, the doorbell rings. Beth opens the door to find Kyle holding a bouquet of roses in his hand. 

Wow! You look stunning. 

She smiles, plants a kiss on his cheek, and promptly wipes off her lipstick smudge. 

You look handsome, too. 

He gives Beth a slight hug as she takes the flowers. She pulls a vase from the closet, fills it with water, then places it and the flowers on the dining room table. 

I thought we could take in an early movie, Kyle tells her while walking back to the door. Then I have something special planned. 

Beth grabs a shawl from the coat rack, and before they walk out the door, she wraps it around the white sundress she has chosen to wear for the occasion. While watching as Kyle closes the car door, she gets a glimpse of a basket in the backseat. A fluttering feeling starts in her stomach, but she takes a deep breath to calm herself.

This could be it––what I’ve been waiting for––a chance to start a family with the man I love. 

Kyle engages her in small talk while driving them to the theater. No romantic