31. Reese
Chapter 31
Reese
“ T hat doll.” The words burst out of me, my voice rising in pitch. It was late-afternoon, and Wolfram and I sat on the sofa, making out. We did that a lot lately. We’d nearly lost each other and there was no getting over that.
Wolfie leaned back from me, one eyebrow lifting. “Has the thrill waned, my love?”
I pursed my lips. “What do you mean by that?”
“My kisses aren’t distracting you enough. I will admit, I’m slightly offended that you’re thinking of that doll when I’m touching you.”
If his eyes weren’t sparkling with joy, I’d be worried. Instead, I laughed. “Oh, you’re an amazing distraction. But that doll!”
He sighed. “What about that doll?”
“Remember how Margaret said it’s not worth as much because someone did a repair on the back?”
“I can’t see where this detail is more exciting than my kisses.”
My lips twitched with humor. “What if it wasn’t torn?”
His fingers paused on my nape that he’d been stroking. Highly distracting. If the idea hadn’t occurred to me, I’d be tugging off his shirt by now. His pants. My own clothing. “You’re suggesting it was purposefully cut?”
“Thain said the doll was a message from Jolene.”
“To her daughter. Do you believe the repair could be a clue?”
“There’s only one way to find out.”
He mistified from the room and I shook my head, wishing I could do that. Imagine being able to visit a tropical location with a blink of my eyes. Tuscany. Dinner in Boston before returning home without having to drive.
He reappeared with the doll in his hands and laid her, face down, on the coffee table. If he’d put her on my lap, I would’ve freaked.
However, to explore my idea, I’d have to touch her.
“Scissors,” I said, rising and grabbing them from my office desk drawer. I peeled back the doll’s dress and carefully snipped the fine stitches closing the “tear”. After laying the scissors on the table, I widened the slight gap. My sigh bled out, and I sagged back into the sofa cushions. “There’s nothing but cloth inside.”
“Look further,” he said, his eyes alight with excitement. “Meissen dolls were stuffed with sawdust, cotton, or horsehair. Not cloth.”
“How do you know something like that?”
“I read. I study details. I forget nothing .”
I rolled my eyes. “And you’re quite conceited at times.”
“Such is the life of an ancient vampire,” he said with a pretend sigh.
I poked around inside the back of the doll, gently tugging out a large piece of cloth that had been carefully folded and pinned together with delicate stitches. A few snips cut the threads, and I spread the cloth out on the coffee table, gaping at the cursive note written on the smooth surface.
Wolfram read it aloud.
My Dearest Love,
Happy Fourth Birthday! If you’ve found this note, then we’ve celebrated, and I’ve gifted this doll to you as I planned. Even better, your clever eyes have uncovered a little secret I left just for you. Read it with an open heart. I’m sure there will be plenty of time to laugh and share such things once we’ve escaped this wretched town. I have a plan in place. The house will be sold soon, and we’ll drive from here, not looking back. Never to return.
But life has a way of stealing those we love away, so I’m leaving this for you to find—just in case.
You were brought into this world through a love so deep and true that words will never capture the fullness of it. Your father and I cherished every moment we had together, and though the world may not always tell such stories aloud, never doubt that you were conceived in that same, beautiful love. You were our secret, our joy.
I dream about your future every day, my sweet girl – our sweet girl. I hope you're happy. I hope you find laughter wherever life allows, and even when it’s hardest, I hope you continue to rise with grace. I can see you grown now, so strong, so intelligent, thriving, and shining like the brightest star. Never stop chasing your dreams, dearest. You deserve everything wonderful life has to offer.
More than anything, I long to be with you for every step of your journey, to hold your hand and watch you face the world with that fierce, brave heart of yours, with kindness always at your side. But should that not come to pass, should circumstances keep us apart, always know that my love surrounds you, no matter the distance—in this life or beyond.
I am so proud of you, my little Margaret May. You have a fire inside you, one that can never be dimmed, and I know that as you grow, you’ll become the remarkable woman I knew you could be, strong, compassionate, and filled with the courage to live life fully.
Never forget, my love. You are, and always will be, everything to me. I carry you in my heart always, just as I hope you carry me in yours.
With all my love,
Your devoted mother,
Jolene
“Margaret is Jolene’s daughter,” I croaked, my eyes stinging with tears. “Jolene died here, perhaps from a fall or foul play, and since no one knew her daughter existed, they didn’t look for her. Margaret must’ve been scared and left the house, looking for her mom. I wonder . . .” I shook my head. “Do you think her grandmother adopted her? Margaret didn’t mention who raised her, but it wouldn’t surprise me. She had Jolene’s diary, though she didn’t share it with Margaret. I bet his mother discovered she had a granddaughter and took her in. I hope she loved her, that she did what she could to replace the mother Margaret lost.”
“It didn’t sound like she did.”
“I also hope she didn’t kill Jolene.”
“Let me see . . .” He closed his eyes. To seek the ghost? “Ah. She’s hovering near the fireplace.”
I looked that way but didn’t see her. And I wasn’t sure I wanted to see her.
“She looks sad, and she’s shaking her head,” he said. His voice deepened. “Your mother-in-law didn’t kill you? Ah, she’s shaking her head again.” He sighed. “Was it an accident? She’s nodding, so I believe it was.” A shudder ripped through him, and his gaze sought mine. “She disappeared.”
“That’s . . .” I wasn’t sure what it was. With shivers tracking through me, I sucked in a deep breath and shot it out. “We need to take the doll and note to Margaret.”
His smile rose. “I believe that’s what Jolene wants.”
We placed the note back inside, and he mistified us to the historical society. There, we found Margaret sitting at the desk, a book open in front of her, her magnifying glass in hand.
After she’d carefully tucked a bookmark between the pages and set everything to the side, I gently laid the doll on her desk, face down.
“So good of you two to stop by again,” Margaret said, a bemused expression on her face. “I’m afraid I haven’t discovered anything new about Jolene, but I’ve asked the librarians in the area to look at their collections in case they have something that might give further details into that time here in Mystic Harbor.”
“This doll is yours,” I said, my eyes stinging with tears again.
“Oh.” She frowned. “I don’t understand. Are you saying you’re giving me the doll? Please don’t think you must just because I mentioned I found her beautiful.”
“She belongs to you. She’s a gift from your mother.”
Margaret’s lips curled down. “The woman who raised me? She was older and she passed many years ago. She wasn’t my true mother, though I suppose she tried.”
“Jolene was your biological mother. Look.” I parted the fabric in the back, revealing the folded note. “I started thinking about the tear and wondered if the fabric had been purposefully cut. When I removed the stitches, we found a note inside. It was written by Jolene for her daughter, who she called Margaret May. That’s you.”
Margaret’s eyes shimmered with tears. “You believe Jolene Molson was my mother? It’s not possible. She had no children.” She frowned. “Although, you mentioned she said she was pregnant in her diary that I’m now exceedingly curious to read. The date of her demise would fit. If I was her daughter, and I’m not saying I think such a thing could be true, she would’ve died when I was only a couple years old.” She tugged out the note and gently spread the fabric wide.
Then, with her magnifying glass, she read, her lips moving as she skimmed through Jolene’s message. When she looked up, tears trickled down her face. “She was my mother. No wonder I called myself Margaret May.” Lifting the doll, she hugged it to her chest, silent sobs shaking her shoulders.
I was crying.
Wolf was crying.
I rounded the desk and put my arms around her, holding this frail woman who’d finally discovered who she was, who’d soon be able to read Jolene’s diary and know that her parents had loved her deeply.
And that’s when I saw Jolene, a misty fragment of a woman standing near one of the bookcases, dressed in old-fashioned clothing. She smiled and touched her fingertips to her lips before holding them out to me and Margaret.
With a wink, she disappeared, and I suspected this was the one and only time I’d see a ghost.
Outside the historical society, we sat on a bench to compose ourselves, talking about this and that and nothing until our tears had dried.
I told him about seeing Jolene.
“Then she’s finally at peace,” he said, tipping my chin up to give me a sweet kiss. “We fulfilled her final wish.”
A text came through on my phone, making it buzz.
Would you like to go to lunch tomorrow? my aunt asked.
With you and mom? I replied.
A long pause followed. I was thinking just you and me. If that’s alright. I could almost hear the hesitancy in her voice.
First steps were always the hardest, but they were the most meaningful. And when I moved back to Mystic Harbor, I’d taken a baby step that had turned into a joyful run. Might as well keep going.
I smiled. It came out bittersweet but true and sent a reply. I’d love to join you for lunch.
Lovely. Noon at Kraken’s Keep? My treat!
I can’t wait. Teary-eyed, I tucked my phone into my pocket and told Wolf, who hugged me.
We sat like that as the sun slowly started to sink in the sky, until a cool breeze skipped through town, carrying with it the rich scent of the sea.
Rising and holding hands, and despite the drizzling rain, we strolled down Main Street, stopping at Creature Cones for ice cream and to chat with Melly before entering Monsters, PI to see if Wolfram was needed in the next day or two.
Blake sat at his desk. He rose as we approached, giving us an easy grin. “There you are.”
“Were you looking for me?” Wolfram swished his cape back so he could reach his back pocket and retrieve his phone. He scrolled in and frowned. “I don’t see a message.”
“Not a problem,” Blake said. “I hadn’t called, but I’d thought of doing it. Almost the same thing, don’t you think? Someone else will handle the new case.”
“What new case?” Wolf asked.
“Mine,” a woman said from behind us.
I turned to find a woman approaching the desk. She wore a cape that looked suspiciously like the one the witch had worn when they came to collect Charmaine.
“I’m Ellie Landish.” Her gaze focused on Blake. “I’ve got an appointment?”
“Yes, yes, you do.” Blake sat and clicked into his computer. “Our detective is expecting you.”
The woman gave me a polite nod, and I took in her long black hair and deep blue eyes. She was pretty, with a tiny dimple in her chin and a lush frame, and she stood about my height. “I specifically asked for someone with magical abilities.” Her attention turned to Wolfram. “Such as his.”
Wolf grunted. “I’d be happy to help with—”
“That won’t be necessary.” Blake rose from his chair. “As I said, someone else is going to handle this one.” His brown eyes landed on Ellie. “He’s an ogre .”
As if that explained it all.
Her face froze before smoothing. “I don’t . . . Alright. I can deal with this if I must. Can you direct me to his office?”
“No need to.” Blake’s gaze shot to the hall where Thain walked toward us.
Crouton, Thain's black and white pug mix scampered around his owner and raced toward Ellie. When he leaped against her legs, she stooped down to give him pats.
Thain and I might be history but that didn't extend to his pet.
“Crouton, how you been?” she asked as he whimpered and wiggled, jumping up to lick her chin.
“He's fine,” Thain said.
Ellie straightened. “You.” Her hand lifting, she backed away, bumping into Blake’s desk.
“Ellie,” Thain said softly, striding right up to her, tilting her chin and gazing into her eyes. “It’s been a long time.”
“Not long enough,” she snapped.
His low laugh rumbled through his chest. “We need to talk.”
“I want to work with someone else.” Desperation came through in Ellie’s voice. Her gaze landed on Wolfram. “Please handle this. Anyone but him .”
“No vamp,” Thain growled, though he shot a contrite look Wolfram’s way. “No insult intended.”
“Not taken that way,” Wolfram said gravely.
“Come with me, Ellie,” Thain said in a deadly voice. “It’s past time we went through this.”
“Very well,” she huffed.
He latched onto her hand and tugged her down the hall and into his office. The door snicked closed behind them.
“Well,” Blake said, his gaze going from Wolf to me. “That was interesting.”
Very.
“Do you know the history between Thain and Ellie?” I asked Wolf.
He shook his head. “No idea. Ogres and witches have been at odds for a long time, though I believe there were attempts to form a truce through marriage. I don’t believe I heard what happened with that, but it appears that something in their past has risen to a head.”
I’d love to be inside Thain’s office, snooping. But my curiosity would have to wait.
Wolf mistified us back home, and we snuggled on the couch.
I settled on his lap and latched onto his shoulders. “Where were we when we were interrupted?”
He tapped his lips, one corner curling up slyly. “I believe you were kissing me.”
“And you were kissing me.”
“I am certain I was.” He mistified us to our bed and climbed over me. A flick of his finger, and our clothing disappeared. “What would you say about spending the rest of the day here, my love?”
I grinned. “I could be persuaded.”
He proceeded to show me one of the many reasons I loved him.