22
Seven times I hobbled from the sofa to the sitting room windows to check the gate to see if Crystal had arrived yet. Each time I would hobble back and slip my foot back under the ice pack and wince. It had only been six hours since the dawn brought new life to the castle, and I freed the lost souls to something better beyond. Once the hub bub of helping Ron into consciousness after falling down the stairs when the spirit of Florence Pugh released him was over, I zonked out on the sofa while Danny drove Ron to the hospital.
My nap was short lived and when I woke and called Crystal, only to inform her I needed a ride. I didn’t spill the beans of my engagement over the phone. News like that needed to be done in person.
Bridgette’s soft shoes padded on the floor as she entered the room then set a cup of hot tea beside me. “I thought you could use some refreshment. It should help your headache.”
“Wow! Thanks!” I sipped the hot liquid and moaned in delight. “Thank you. You’re spoiling me.”
“My pleasure. After what you did to free this house and bring peace to those in need, I figured you deserved a treat. I apologize for giving you such a hard time, dear.”
“It’s all right. Your creepy attitude made the experience all the better. So you’re cool. You’ll be a real hit at our future Halloween parties.”
She chuckled, patted my shoulder then adjusted the pillow under my foot. She stood taller and peeked toward the window. “Oh, looks like someone is here. I’ll get the door.”
My girly giggles bubbled inside, ready to burst once I opened my mouth to spread the news. Crystal had to be the first to know and it took every part of me not to yell it from the rooftops until at least Crystal and my mom knew first.
The outside door opened then Crystal’s voice mixed with Bridgette’s echoed into the room. Crystal clung to her purse and took a timid first step into the room. “Hey, I don’t know why you’ve asked me to come back here, but I’m not staying one more—hey, what happened to your foot?”
“Come sit down and I’ll tell you.” I patted the spot next to my legs. “But be quiet. My head hurts worse than any hangover I’ve ever had.”
“Worse than that one time when you spend the day with your face in a toilet singing, No Body Knows the Trouble I’ve Seen?”
I chuckled softly as to not upset my head. “Okay. Maybe not.”
She glanced around the room. “It feels different here.”
“Sure does.”
“Why are you smirking at me like that? Have you two kissed yet?” Crystal sat and grinned at me expectantly.
I held up my left hand to show her the string Danny had tied around my ring finger.
“What is that?”
I giggled then spoke, “This is just temporary until he can get me a real ring.”
“What? I can’t believe it! You’re engaged!” She hugged me and babbled on in my ear. “Well, I guess I shouldn’t say that I can’t believe it—I mean you’re the perfect bride to be—anyone would want to marry you—I just can’t believe it happened so fast!” She sat back and playfully smacked my leg. “And think! You’ll get to move here—only fifteen minutes from me!”
“More like thirty.” I interjected.
“It’s going to be so much better than thousands of miles where we only get to talk through web cam.”
“Crystal—” I said and shifted the bag of ice around my foot then leaned back into the sofa.
“Holy cow! I’m so excited! When are you having the wedding?”
“I—”
“Oh! And you are going to get married at the castle, aren’t you? You’d be crazy if you didn’t—every girl dreams of getting married in a castle. Well, as long as it’s not haunted. And he’s so handsome and you’re so beautiful—you’ll look just like prince charming and the princess!”
“Crystal, stop. I have more to tell you.”
“What? Is there something wrong?”
“It depends on what your definition of wrong is.”
“What do you mean?”
“We kind of had a war—at least, we look like we’ve been through a war—you know the ghosts that were scaring us,” I continued without giving her time to answer, “well, it turns out that they are good ghosts, but there was a bad ghost. In fact, a bad ghost killed three women—two of which he accomplished while possessing other men years after his own death.”
“Whoa. You’re kind of freaking me out. Maybe we should go...” she shifted to stand but I held her back.
I gave her a general rundown of the events over the last couple days, leaving out the scariest of details, making sure she knew that the ghosts were gone and as far as we knew wouldn’t return.
“Well, you kinda do look like you’ve been through a war,” she said and looked at my bruised arms.
“Well, between the bruises, scrapes and twisted ankles I would say we’re quite a pair—but don’t worry about all that. Once I stay off my foot and give it some ice it’ll be fine.”
“But you fly home in two days, don’t you?”
“Sort of. No.” I smiled. “Not really. I’ve extended it a couple days more, but I’ll only be home long enough to pack my things then we’ll go to my parents in Wyoming so they can meet Danny, then I’ll be back for the wedding.”
“That is mad,” she said, eyes wide. “You’re mad. This is so fast!”
“I know, but he’s the one. And … I’ve been so lost for so long, like unsettled, ya know? And I’ve been toying with the idea of changing jobs because … well, I’m just … it’s him, Crystal. From the moment I saw him I felt settled. At peace. I belong in his arms.
I just know it.”
“Jessica! I’m back!” Danny’s voice carried through the entry and to the two of us sitting by the fire.
“In here,” I called back.
“Well, then you better marry the man,” Crystal said before he entered the room and could overhear.
Danny entered holding a food container, said hello to Crystal, set the container on an end table, and knelt beside me on the floor, resting his elbow on the sofa. He gazed up at me like I was some fairytale creature he never expected to see.
Crystal tapped Danny with her toe on his leg. “Congratulations. When I spoke with you over the phone about … you know … I had no idea it would explode this quickly. Well done.”
“T—thanks,” Danny said to her.
Crystal set her purse on the floor beside her. “So, you’ve already got the wedding stuff figured out?”
“The general idea of it, yes,” I answered.
“This is so crazy,” Crystal said with a giggle. “I had always hoped I could live closer to you, but I never thought it would happen.”
I rested my arm over Danny’s shoulder and ran my fingers through his hair, thinking I had to be the luckiest woman alive to win his affections. The way he just looked at me. Like he adored me. Gah! I could just kiss him!
Crystal bumped my knee.
I tore my eyes from Danny’s and focused on her. “I’d like you to come over tomorrow to the funerals. Or better yet you can stay the night here with me and we can talk about the wedding.”
Crystal’s smile faltered. “The what?”
“We’re giving Mirabella and Karina a Christian burial beside the grave of Monique in the graveyard by Wrenthal church. I’d like you to be there, since you’ve met at least one of them.”
“Wow. Are you sure there are no more ghosts?”
“I guess I’m not, but the castle feels different now. It feels … peaceful … brighter. Like home sweet home.” Part of the reason it felt like home was the man sitting beside me. His arms were home.
Crystal looked to Danny. “You do know how lucky you are to catch her, don’t you?”
“Without a doubt.” Danny took my hand then kissed my knuckles. I wanted to join him on the floor and make out.
I sighed.
“Uh, I know that sigh,” Crystal said. “It sounds like I need to make an excuse to make a phone call in the other room.” She stood and I didn’t argue with her perfect intuition and let her leave.
I ran my hand through Danny’s hair. He shifted, dragging his hands up my legs to rest at the small of my back. “How’s Ron?”
“He’s doing well. He’s back home in the cottage. Bridgette’s making sure he is staying off his feet, and she wanted me to give you this.” He reached for the food container and held it out to me. The intoxicating aroma of cinnamon rolls filled my nose the second he opened it. “This is her specialty. She only makes this for her favorite people.”
“Wow. Really?” I pinched a morsel of goodness and savored every burst of flavor.
“I think since you’ve risked your life to free the ghosts of Wrenthal, you’ve become number one in her book. No telling what she’ll do for you now.” He set the rolls aside and kissed my bottom lip. “You had a piece on your lip.”
I shivered when the bag of ice shifted. Or maybe it was my body worshiping adorations toward him.
“Are you cold?”
“No.”
“Castles are known to be drafty. Are you sure you can handle living here with me?” he asked then kissed my jaw.
“Oh, I believe I can handle it. And just think, our kids are going to love the Halloween parties I’m going to throw.”
His laughter was deep and inviting, so I accepted the invitation to kiss him over and over again.
Jessica
The car veered left, and my body slid across the leather seat. Danny’s arm moved around my shoulders, and he pulled me the rest of the way into him. Up until that moment I never fully appreciated bench seats in cars.
I couldn’t help the smile that appeared on my face. “You did that on purpose.”
“That I did, and I have no regrets. If you don’t like it, p—p— perhaps you should put on your seatbelt.”
“Who said I didn’t like it?” I said and jabbed him in the ribs before I gave him a quick peck on the cheek.
He swerved a foot off the side of the country road then back again, kicking up rocks underneath. He quickly steered the vintage car back into the lane. “Oi, you’re going to make us crash.” He nodded at my phone. “What does the GPS tell us now?”
“Turn left up here.” I pointed at the street up ahead. He made the turn into a neighborhood that looked familiar. “Hold on … is this the same neighborhood we…”
“Yes. I wondered if it might be.”
“And you didn’t say anything?” He shrugged.
I sat forward and counted the house numbers until Danny slowed to a stop in front of a house with shutters and flower boxes on the windows. Tears sprang to my eyes and I covered my mouth with both hands. Only two months ago I came to this very house in search of answers to where Karina might be buried. The little old woman and her grandson had been so welcoming and helpful, pointing me in the right direction.
“Is the address right?” I asked and held my breath.
“It is,” Danny said. “What do you say? Should we go officially meet your great aunt’s family?”
I slapped my hand down on his arm and held on like a vise. “What if they don’t like me? What if they never wanted my family to find them? What if she told her children horrible things about my family and they will freak if they knew—” I stopped when Danny pressed his finger against my lips to silence me.
He chuckled once, leaned in and kissed my willing lips. “You worry too much. They will love you. Come on.” He opened the car door and pulled me by the hand to follow.
How long will it take to get used to the driver side sitting on the right? So weird.
The walk up to the door was too short. I hadn’t the time to consider all the reasons why they would or wouldn’t accept me. Danny knocked on the door. I fidgeted and watched the sun begin to set.
“Evenin’. How can—oh, hello again.” Kip’s shaggy hair still hung like a mop over his head and the hair on his chin had grown considerably since we last spoke. “You’re the people who were lookin’ for the body—ain’t I right?”
“Yes, we are. Does your grandma still have any of those mouthwatering crumpets she fed me last we were here?” Danny asked.
I elbowed him in the ribs.
“What? They’re delicious.”
Kip laughed. “Nana always has fresh crumpets.”
Danny nudged me in the ribs with his elbow. “See.”
I cleared my throat. “I … uh. I’ve done some research—well, I came all the way from the US in search of a long lost relative—and well, the records I have found all say that you … well, you’re my family. I believe we’re cousins.”
“Well, this is a surprise! Nana!” Kip called over his shoulder.
“Turn off the telly and come in here!” He stepped to the side and waved us in. “Where’s my manners? Come in, come in!”
The front room looked much like my own nana’s house, but absent of seashells. Instead, there was an overwhelming number of doilies upon shelves and afghans over the edges of couches and chairs. Nana would be pleased to see this room.
“What’s this?” the old woman asked when she entered the room with a cat at her heels.
“I have a cousin!” Kip said then laughed at the surprised look upon her face.
“Yeah, my grandpa had a sister that ran off with an English man and her name was Violet S—”
“Sue Laurence,” she finished for me. As if on cue we both teared up and smiled. “I should have known. You have the same smile as my mother.” She opened her arms and welcomed me into an embrace I hadn’t known I’d needed since my nana passed away.
Thank you for reading!