Chapter Eighteen
The Castle
Six P.M.
Waiting
Everyone was on pins and needles, and they were also worried. They’d yet to hear back from Finn and Gabby, and that was concerning. When they were all told that the twosome went to the doctor, it became worrisome.
There was NO way that Gabby was missing out on a psychic witch wandering the castle to give them answers about the last leg of this mystery.
NO.
Freaking.
Way.
But here they were, and she wasn’t anywhere to be found.
With Sarah, the psychic, about to be there, all of the men were wondering if they should go find Finn.
But then, it happened.
Michael’s and Graham’s phone chimed, alerting them that someone was at the gate. From the app, they cleared Finn’s car, and he entered.
Leaving the gate open for the psychic, they waited for the couple to come inside.
And when they did, the mood was off.
Immediately, Ian was worried.
As Gabby and Finn stood there, Ian moved closer to her. Gabby looked as if she’d been run through the wringer, and he needed to know if she was okay.
His gut said no.
“Honey, are you okay?”
She looked over at her fiancé.
“We found out I’m having a miscarriage.”
Those words hung there.
In fact, Ian gasped, and the other three men just stood there shocked.
“It’s okay,” she said, even though it wasn’t. She’d just spent the last few hours with Finn’s sisters, and they had tried to help her through it.
Only, for now, she needed to be distracted.
And that was why they were there.
Graham headed toward his best friend, and he touched his arm.
“What can I do to help you?” he asked.
Finn just shrugged.
“Just help me keep Gabby distracted. We both need a way to stop thinking about it, so we aren’t focused on the inevitable,” he said.
Graham hugged his best friend.
“I’m so sorry,” he said softly as he ran his hands up and down his best friend’s back.
Yeah, so was he.
Finn was trying to hold up for Gabby, but his heart was broken. Only, he’d not say more, so she felt worse. She was hanging on by a thread.
Ian immediately hugged his friend, and she held onto him.
“I’m sorry, Gabs.”
She just began crying again.
It seemed like one nonstop session of weeping, and she couldn’t stop it.
She was overwhelmed.
“I have you, Honey.”
Michael put the tea kettle on, and then pulled down a mug to make the woman some tea.
As a man, he wasn’t sure how to help her, but he wanted to do something.
Gryphen hugged her next.
“Hey, sweetheart, we’re here,” he said.
She sniffled.
“Thank you,” she admitted. “I appreciate it,” she offered. “It’s been a day.”
Oh, they could imagine.
“Should you be home resting?” Ian asked, knowing nothing about miscarriages.
She shook her head.
“I need to be occupied. I can’t cry anymore,” she said. “I just want to forget for a little while, and this seemed like the best place to do it.”
Finn stood by her, and he had his arm protectively around her body.
“We’ll be okay,” he said. “There’s always the next time,” he added.
Gabby hoped he was right.
That was what she was banking on.
“Besides,” she said, as Michael made her a cup of tea, “I couldn’t miss a psychic coming here. Is she doing a séance or what?”
Gryphen filled them in.
If Gabby needed this, then they’d change the subject and keep her mind occupied.
“She said that she’s not an advocate of séances and Ouija boards, but she wants to walk the castle. We’ll see what she feels when she’s here, and if she’s legit. I’m a skeptic, but who knows? I didn’t think ghosts were a thing, and I’ve seen Ceit myself, so…”
That was a good point.
Michael handed Gabby a cup of tea, and then kissed her on the top of her head.
“You got this, honey. We’re here with you to make sure you’re okay.”
She held his hand and gave it a squeeze.
“Thank you, Michael.”
The five men escorted her to the island, and Gryphen pulled out a chair for her.
She sat, and they surrounded her to distract her.
“This psychic should be interesting,” Ian said. “I can’t wait to see what she feels here. She said she needs to get the vibe on the curse to see if it’s removable by her.”
Michael was to the point.
“Are we sure she’s legit?” he asked. “Because I’m going to err on the side of bullshit more times than not when someone says psychic.”
Normally, they’d agree.
“She seemed pretty astute. Sarah was nothing but nice,” she said.
Finn shrugged.
“I’ve never met her. Maisie gave me her first name, and she called her for me. If she can’t figure this out, then we might be shit out of luck here. I can’t think where Duncan could have put Ciarán’s remains.”
He wasn’t the only one.
“And we don’t know who killed Ceit,” Ian said. “We suspect, but we don’t know. We also don’t know who’s in the water. I’d be happy to know that one,” he said. “That lake is dangerous.”
Yes, yes, it was.
Graham put a plate of cookies in front of Gabby, because cookies always made a person feel better.
Well, for him.
“We might have to call this what it is,” he admitted. “The painting should be back soon, and unless it has a map painted under the portrait of Callum, this investigation might be over.”
Yeah, he was right.
“I’d like to find where Catherine’s child’s remains are,” Gabby said. “She deserves peace.”
Yes, yes, she did.
Only, there was never peace in this castle—so it seemed.
When Michael’s phone alerted, he picked it up.
“The cameras picked up someone driving through the gate. The psychic is here,” he said.
Finishing her tea, she stood.
“I just want to thank you,” she said, talking to the other four men. “I appreciate you trying to soothe me and make me feel better. This isn’t my first miscarriage. I had three before in my first marriage. It’s part of the reason why my ex and I didn’t work.”
Ian held her hand.
“Have faith. You’ll get through it,” he said. “I promise.”
She hoped he was right.
When someone used the door knocker on the door at the front of the castle, they all headed that way.
When Graham opened the door, he was caught off guard.
“Sarah?” he asked.
She laughed.
And Finn stared.
Oh, boy.
What the hell?
Standing there was the woman they’d both fought over when they were twelve, and now, here she was, the psychic standing in the castle.
While his fiancé was here.
Uh-oh.
She hugged Graham, and then headed right for Finn who awkwardly hugged her too.
The whole time, Gabby watched them.
“Well, well, well,” she said, smiling at them. “It’s a small world, isn’t it, gentlemen?”
Graham knew that was the truth.
Oh, and this was definitely far more awkward for Finn than him.
He’d not dated Sarah.
Finn had.
He did the introductions.
“Sarah, this is my husband, Michael,” he said, pointing.
She hugged him.
“Sorry, I’m a hugger. It helps me tap into the energy,” she said, smiling up at him.
“It’s a pleasure, and I don’t mind a hug.”
Graham continued.
“Again, you’ve already met Gryphen and Ian. They are friends of the owners, but they likely told you that,” he said, not sure what to say and what not to say.
If she was psychic, wouldn’t she know that they worked for the Blackhawks?
Without a word, she hugged each of them again.
“They hauled ass away from my cottage,” she said, grinning.
Yes, yes, they did.
Graham pointed at Gabby.
“This is Gabby, and she’s Finn’s fiancée. She’s also American, but lives here now in the village.”
The psychic moved toward her, and touched her arm, right before she hugged her.
“I’m sorry for your loss,” she said. “Don’t worry, Lass. There will be many babies in your future.”
Tears filled Gabby’s eyes.
“Really?”
She smiled at her.
“Yes, really. It isn’t you. It was him. My spirit guide wants you to know that this time was a fluke. The others were all because of him and the stress of being married to him.”
They all stared at her.
Specifically, Gryphen and Ian. She’d told them to tell Finn her condolences, and now, they knew why.
That was way too freaky for them.
There was NO way she would know any of the information about Gabby losing her baby—when they didn’t even know.
“Thank you,” Gabby said.
Sarah held her hand.
“You and I are going to be friends,” she said. “Your energy pulls to mine. I’m going to be your new best friend here in the village.”
Gabby’s eyes lit up.
She missed having friends, and when she tried to make new ones, people thought she was fake.
Apparently, Americans were ‘too friendly’, and it seemed like bullshit.
Gaining a new friend…
That sounded like a good thing.
“Really?”
She nodded.
“We share the same birthday. It was meant to be,” she said, winking at her. “We’re both Aquarians.”
Gabby giggled for the first time since finding out she had lost her baby.
Know who didn’t find this amusing?
“Oh, Finn, stop worrying. We were twelve, and I had five other boyfriends. Now, I prefer women. You’ve a better chance of losing your woman to me than your secrets,” she offered, winking.
He sputtered.
“Five?” he asked.
Gabby actually laughed.
“That’s the part that you picked out of the whole sentence?” his fiancée asked. “Not that she knew you were thinking that or that she has the hots for me?”
He shrugged.
“I mean, she’s got good taste,” he teased, seeing Gabby cheering up.
This had been a good plan to distract her.
“And he was my first kiss,” she said.
Finn grinned like he’d accomplished something, but Sarah shut that down.
“No, I meant him,” she offered, pointing at Graham.
That made Graham laugh, but when he opened his mouth, his best friend pointed.
“I dare ya, Laddie. Go ahead. I’ll be telling all the tales of your youth to your husband if you say shit.”
Michael looked excited about that.
Graham did not.
Now that the introductions were done, Sarah looked around.
“This place is filthy with spirits,” she said, rubbing her arms. “They all want to communicate.”
Well, that was good for them.
Right?
“Walk me around. I feel something malevolent lurking here, and I’m trying to get a vibe about the curse. Can I just head toward it, or do you want to escort me?” Sarah asked.