Chapter 33 #2
I was overwhelmed to hear her say she loved me. ‘I love you, too,’ I told her, meaning it. I always had. I’d just never had the opportunity to enjoy that experience before. ‘Mel, do you love Diccon?’
She didn’t answer for ages, and I was about to push the tray aside and get out of bed when she finally spoke.
‘It sort of crept up on me,’ she admitted. ‘He was always just Diccon – my kind, funny, lovely agent. Nothing more. It was only when you told me how he felt that I started to look at him in a different way. That night with him was…’ She shook her head and I smiled.
‘Amazing?’
‘Yeah,’ she said sheepishly. ‘I think it was the first time I really felt like I connected with someone. Emotionally, I mean. Tristan and Sebastian never made me feel that way.’ She wrinkled her nose.
‘I must have been mad marrying those two. But then Diccon and I went home and he just reverted to being my agent. Sending me emails instead of calling me! I guess when he had time to think about it, he realised turning business into pleasure would be a mistake. Besides, I think he lost a lot of respect for me when I admitted I was a fake.’
She tried to sound nonchalant, but I could hear the pain in her voice.
‘But, Mel, he could have refused to work for you. Knowing you’d lost your gift he could have decided not to represent you. But he didn’t. He’s still trying to get you work, isn’t he? That must mean something.’
‘It means he’s kind,’ she said heavily. ‘I’ve been thinking about it and I’m going to go ahead and tell him his services are no longer required. I think he’s too lovely to get rid of me, so I’ll have to do it for him. It’s only fair. He has integrity. I can’t ask him to lie for me.’
‘Are you sure?’
‘Oh yes. It’s the only thing to do. The only decent thing to do.
I need to put Diccon – and Madam Mariska – behind me for good.
Like you said, it’s time to build a different kind of life.
One without ghosts. One without romance.
It seems love isn’t for me.’ She shrugged, then narrowed her eyes.
‘And speaking of love, what’s with you and Mia? ’
I struggled to hide my shock at her question. ‘Me and Mia?’
She laughed. ‘Well, if I wasn’t sure before, I am now.
Look at your face! The way she greeted you when we arrived was a real clue.
Then the little looks she kept giving you over dinner, even when you weren’t watching.
And if you’d seen her face this morning as she was preparing your breakfast…
I’m surprised she didn’t put a rose on your tray. Something you want to tell me, sis?’
I was going to brush it off, but then I remembered how painful it had been when Melissa didn’t tell me anything.
All the years when she hadn’t confided in me had hurt so much.
We had the opportunity to build a different kind of relationship – as proper sisters.
She’d already told me her secrets. Now it was my turn.
‘It’s all very new,’ I admitted. ‘I’ve never been attracted to a woman before, but there’s something about her. I-I really like her.’
‘And she really likes you. Has this gone beyond yearning looks?’
Blushing, I told her about last night and the kisses we’d shared in the kitchen. She was clearly delighted.
‘Go, Verity! I’m so pleased for you. Mia seems lovely. I’m sure she’d be good for you.’
‘Like I said, it’s early days, but thank you. I think she’d be good for me, too.’
‘And now,’ Mel said, getting to her feet, ‘I’ll leave you to get ready. We have work to do. You need to psyche yourself up if you’re going to do this thing at midnight again.’
‘Mel…’ I frowned suddenly as a thought that had been nagging at me for a while re-entered my mind. ‘Do you think there was a reason that Charlotte and Grace were brought back? I’ve been thinking about this – about the shopkeeper especially. Why did he push those two particular items at me?’
‘I thought you said it was you who found the cup?’
‘I did, but thinking about it now, I don’t understand why I wanted it.
Why would I want a chipped cup? It makes no sense.
Yet at the time it really seemed to matter.
And the brooch. As soon as he showed it to me, I wanted it.
He gave them to me for free. That brooch was worth a few hundred pounds, and he could have sold it to me – or at least tried to.
If he was a simple conman that’s what he’d have done, isn’t it?
For some reason he gave them to me. Practically pushed them onto me. ’
‘You think those items were selected specifically?’
‘Definitely. And if they were the means of bringing Charlotte and Grace back, he wanted me to do that. But why? What reason could he have? And if they haven’t fulfilled that reason yet, whatever I do might not be enough.’
‘You’re imposing supernatural powers on this shopkeeper,’ she said. ‘You know that, don’t you?’
But remembering his face, his manner, his gentle persistence, I couldn’t bring myself to change my opinion.
‘Yes,’ I said slowly. ‘I think I am.’
‘I wish we knew who he was,’ she said. ‘Well, whoever he was, and whatever reasons he had for bringing Charlotte and Grace to Rowan Vale, they’re going back. And at midnight this whole nightmare will be over.’
I could only hope she was right.