Chapter 30
Chapter Thirty
Just a few years ago, Natalie had thought that her suddenly acquiring the ability to see ghosts had turned her life upside down.
Now that she couldn’t see them anymore, she felt more upside down than ever.
Life, on the surface, was still the same.
The shop still had that familiar scent of books, fireplace, lavender and sage—the last two thanks to the sachets and sage wands sold in the Wicca section.
Her apartment’s kitchen still smelled of fresh brewed coffee, thanks to Liam getting out of bed before her to make it.
But it all felt… less somehow.
Less vibrant. Dull. Like a pall had settled over her entire life, muting everything now that seeing the ghosts were no longer a part of it.
There was one thing that had increased with the discovery. Her anxiety.
It had only been about twelve hours since she’d made the realization she’d gone ghost blind, and she’d wondered nearly every second of that time since if she was alone.
Was there a ghost, or more than one, in the room with her? She wouldn’t know. Not anymore.
That suspicion caused a level of paranoia to build inside her that she’d never experienced before.
She glanced across the narrow kitchen table at Liam. “Is this how you feel all the time?”
Liam paused with the coffee mug halfway to his mouth. “Is what how I feel all the time?”
It was early. The sun had barely risen and the autumn morning outside her window was a lifeless gray—just like her mood.
They were both on their first cup of coffee for the day. Liam was better in the morning than she was, even on a good day. But today, after a restless, mostly sleepless night, she was more out of sorts than usual.
He’d made the coffee this morning. He’d poured hers for her too. It was probably safer for both of them that she hadn’t wielded a pot of scorching contents in her current state of mind.
“Paranoid,” she said for lack of a better word in answer to his question.
“Paranoid over what?” He frowned.
“That there could be, that there probably are, ghosts. Like everywhere.” She glanced over one shoulder, not that she’d see them, even if there were a mob of ghosts standing right behind her.
He raised a brow, looking surprised. “You don’t like it that you can’t see them. Maybe now you’ll be a bit more understanding of my position.”
“You’re right. I know. I was horrible to you when I could…still...” Her voice broke and she couldn’t finish the sentence.
Tears threatened, then won, spilling over to stream down her cheeks. This was what it had been like ever since she’d realized her ability was gone last night.
“Jeezus, Nat. Stop. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have joked with you.”
“It’s not your fault.” Her voice cracked on a sob in spite of the false bravado she’d tried for.
Liam’s gaze remained on her. “I’m going to text Harper and have her send Gabe and Millie over.”
“Don’t. They’ll be here in a little while anyway for the village meeting about the… you know what.” She refused to say the words brain ghost in case it was listening.
She certainly couldn’t tell if it was listening, but that had been true before she’d lost her ability too. The damn thing could hide like no other spirit she’d ever encountered. As if it had the ability to be invisible. From her. From other spirits.
Maybe it did. She didn’t know. They were all working without an instruction manual here. Although Liam had been steadily constructing one with all his ghost notes.
Without her ability, she wouldn’t be helping him with those anymore… She let out a deep sigh.
Liam drew in and let out a big breath. “No. I think you need Gabe. Here. Now. And yes, I realize how ironic it is that now that you can’t see ghosts anymore you’ll—we’ll—probably have to spend even more time with your ghost bestie since he’s the only one, beside Millie, you can still hear.”
Liam was right. Gabe was the only ghost she could still communicate with, and only when he was with Millie. But that was the case for everyone else in the village too.
Every living could hear Gabe and Millie when they were together. She was just like everyone else now. Not special at all.
That thought put her in an even worse mood and she moved on to the anger step in the stages of grief.
Natalie glared at Liam. “Well, I’m sorry if you’re going to have to be around Gabe more often. You’re just going to have to deal with it. I’m going to be willingly spending the morning with Letisha, so we all have our crosses to bear right now, don’t we?”
His dark brows rose at the harsh tone and the mean comment but, exceptionally intelligent as he was, he kept his mouth shut.
Since Liam wasn’t going to rise to the bait and fight with her, even though she felt like she was raring for a good fight with somebody, anybody, right now, she stood.
Scooping up her coffee mug, she said, “I’m getting dressed.”
Behind her as she turned toward the bedroom, Liam said nothing.
Smart man.