There Are No Words (The Morelli Sisters #3)

Chapter Thirty-One

Brady

Not going to lie, I had no idea what to expect when it came to visiting a medium. But this definitely wasn’t it.

Not the dark room, lit only by candles.

Not the flower-printed curtains hanging from the window.

Not the low, classical music.

I wasn’t sure why, but I’d expected more of a graveyard-type setting, not a relaxing, inviting environment, like entering a spa. Was this why women liked spas so much?

“Brady.” Allegra nudged me, pulling me from my thoughts.

“Hmm?”

“Ready?” she asked when the medium, Julia, looked at me expectantly.

I pulled my hands onto my lap. “Oh, yeah, sorry.”

Julia closed her eyes and extended her hands. “Her spirit is strong. It’s like she’s right here in the room. Can you feel her?”

Allegra’s mother was here already? How long had I been zoned out thinking about spas? Obviously, I’d missed something.

Fuck. This was what I got for wanting to get the full experience.

I closed my eyes, trying to concentrate, but I felt nothing. Literally not a thing.

Maybe I was doing something wrong.

Well, I wasn’t sure—was I supposed to feel something?

You remember that book I read to have a better understanding of this pregnancy? I was beginning to think I should have studied up on mediums and what to expect during this experience. Then maybe I wouldn’t have felt as dumb as I did right now.

Man, I really wanted this to go well for Allegra. Was I screwing it all up?

I slowly peeled one of my eyes open and looked at Allegra. Her eyes were open. That meant I could open mine, too. Wait—how long had I been the schmuck with his eyes closed?

Never mind. I was going to be present. So what if I didn’t know what I was doing? This was my first time doing this, and Allegra was happy that I was here. Yeah, that was all that mattered—that I’d showed up for her. And I always would.

I looked ahead at Julia, listening as she talked.

I’d missed something again, but now she was talking about Allegra’s mother. “You have something from her? Something you shared, or something she gave you? She’s showing me a picture of a vintage key. Maybe it’s a pendant or something you wear as a necklace. Or does it unlock something she gave you, like a jewelry box? It’s a little big for that, but I don’t know. Does that sound right? She’s very focused on the key.”

Slowly gasping, Allegra brought her hand to her lips. Her chin was trembling, and she swallowed, clearly trying to find the strength to say the words on the tip of her tongue. Her eyes glistened, filling with tears. I didn’t like to see Allegra cry but knew these were happy tears. “Yes, yes,” she sputtered, a hint of joy in her voice. “I know the key. It’s to an old chest she had. I found it recently.”

Julia nodded, her demeanor very calm, her expression unchanging as her eyes filled with understanding. “She wants you to know it’s okay. She’s happy you have it.”

I could only imagine what Allegra was going through right now. She didn’t talk about it often, but she didn’t need to— I knew she missed her mother. I also knew how much it had meant to her when she found that key.

Words weren’t always needed between Allegra and I, so I squeezed her thigh under the table to reassure her.

“My sisters—” Allegra went to speak again.

Julia smiled. “Regina is very happy. She’s proud of what you did for your sister.”

“Sisters,” Allegra corrected, but Julia shook her head.

“No. Sister. She’s only talking to me about one sister. Is there one sister you helped maybe?”

“Jade,” I supplied, but immediately regretted talking. Shit. Am I allowed to talk?

Julia nodded again. “She wants you to bring her into the fold.”

Allegra looked up (at what, I wasn’t sure). “I will, Mom. I will.”

It was no wonder I’d had a crush on this woman all this time—Allegra was amazing. She wasn’t one thing. She was way too many things to list them all, so I’d just say this: she had the biggest heart I’d ever known.

“Your baby,” Julia said, waving her hands at Allegra’s pregnant belly. “She wants you to know she’ll always be with you. She’s showing me a young pregnant woman. Is that her? Dark-brown hair, dark eyes. It must be about thirty years ago. I can tell from the decor in the house. Correct?”

More tears spilled from Allegra’s eyes as I sat stunned over what was transpiring before me. I mean, I was sitting right here, but I was such an outsider, it was incredible. The whole interaction was, well, unbelievable. Now I knew why Allegra believed in this stuff so much.

“That’s my mom,” Allegra clarified.

“You’re walking in her shoes. Not exactly, but you’re doing this, having a baby. It makes her so happy. She only wishes she could be here with you.”

“You’ll be with us, Mom,” Allegra said, choking back sobs.

I wrapped my arm around her shoulder and pulled her close to my body.

“And this man. . . she likes this man,” Julia said, winking at me. “Regina thinks you’re good for Allie.”

Allegra nodded and gripped my hand. Her firm grasp was everything I’d always wanted from her—to know that she was glad I was with her. And not just in the physical sense, but in every sense. That we were in this together. “He is, Mom. He really is.”

Maybe she couldn’t say the words, but she’d given me everything I needed to know right then.

Suddenly, across from us, Julia quickly shut her eyes and reopened them, connecting with Allegra. “She’s gone. Her spirit is at peace, though, and she knows you’re doing great.”

Sitting in her chair, Allegra’s shoulders shook as she shed more tears, obviously processing everything that had just happened, that she’d just been told. “Thank you,” she finally said and reached across the table to clutch Julia’s hands. “Thank you. You’ve given me the greatest gift anyone has ever given me. You connected me with my mother again.”

Julia smiled and squeezed Allegra’s hands. “Your mother has a beautiful soul.” Then she pulled out a box of tissues and set them before Allegra.

All I could think was where the hell were those tissues before?

* * *

Allegra

Finding a bench to sit down outside Julia’s apartment, I looked at Brady.

“We should head back home soon, it’s getting late, so let me know when you’re ready,” Brady said, sitting next to me.

Nodding, I waved him off. I wasn’t worried about the time. How could I be after what we’d just experienced? I mean it was worlds from what I’d experienced the last time, but then again, look at how much had changed. One thing would never change, though, and that was how I still wanted Mom beside me for all the moments. “What did you think of that?” I asked, placing my hands between my legs.

Brady raked a hand through his hair and shifted to face me. “I think that was pretty incredible. What did you think of it?”

I mean, where did I begin? Incredible was an understatement. It was an affirmation I didn’t even know I needed. It gave me courage. Strength. Wisdom. To know that she approved of me and Brady and our surprise baby, and the way I’d handled things with Jade. . . I’d never forget that. “It was nice to get to feel connected to my mom again. This hasn’t been easy, being pregnant without her. And don’t get me wrong, I’ve always believed she was with me, but to know she’s happy about everything. It means the world to me,” I said, opting for the vaguest but also truest way to describe my feelings about the whole experience.

“Yeah, I can see that,” Brady agreed.

I looked around as the moon moved up in the night sky. It was far from a quiet night in the city with people walking in every direction, cars and taxis rushing by, and music and noise from nearby buildings blaring out of open windows, but I’d never felt more at peace in my life. My heart was so full, so content, I was finally able to decide something that definitely needed to be decided. “I’d like to suggest a name for Baby,” I announced, peering down at my belly.

“Really?” He cocked a brow. “We haven’t talked about names yet.”

I shook my head and stared into his brown eyes. “I know we haven’t, and I didn’t have any ideas, but I have one now. Do you have any?” I asked. If I was being honest, I hoped he didn’t because the more I thought about it, the more I wanted to name her.

Brady brought his finger to the crease that must’ve formed between my eyebrows and gave me an assuring smile. “You can relax, Allegra. I don’t have a single idea. What are you thinking? Regina, for your mother?”

I let out a small gasp. How this man knew me. Almost, anyway. “Close.”

“I’m out.”

I leaned over and whispered it in his ear. As I backed up, I asked, “So what do you think about it?”

Brady nodded and smiled, cupping my hand with his. “I love it.” He rubbed my shoulder and brought his hand down my back to rest on my waist.

I really hoped he did love it. Nodding my satisfaction, I stood. “Good. Then we can go now. I’m ready to get home.” I yawned, exhaustion finally hitting me. Whether it was from the emotional experience of the night or the pregnancy, I wasn’t sure, but I was ready to sink into bed with Brady.

Following my lead, he stood, pulling his keys out of his pocket. “Me, too. Tonight’s been a pretty full night, and I didn’t have half the experience you did. Besides, you need your rest.”

I’d never admit this again, so pay attention—I didn’t like asking for help. I wasn’t too fond of having anyone take care of me. My sisters and I were raised to be strong and independent, to never need or rely on anyone for anything. The truth was you never knew how long people were going to be in your life. I’d learned that the hard way many times before. And the adjustment wasn’t easy for me. But—and this was the confession—I sort of liked having Brady watch out for me and take care of me, even in ways I hadn’t noticed before.

Brady Moore was my North Star. Only, he burned much brighter.