Chapter Nineteen #3
“You’re going to have to tell Ian all of these things.
He’s going to be sad when he finds out the letters were fake, and basically everyone, but Ciarán, was scheming.
Duncan wanted to steal her child, so he didn’t have to sleep with a woman.
Catherine knew all of this and likely pointed their father at Ceit so she could be given the cushy life here.
Oh, and Ceit was going to betray their kindness by wanting Ciarán gone. ”
Elizabeth was aware.
“Oison killed his own child and stole away her happiness. Ciarán was the ONLY one not doing sneaky things. He died protecting love.”
Elizabeth understood what she was saying.
“Ian will understand. Duncan had to do what he had to do. He at least gave Callum a chance. I have to believe that he loved the boy, or he wouldn’t have bothered to care for him after Ceit’s murder.”
She shrugged.
“I guess,” she said.
Finn hugged her.
“My sweet optimist. I love how you believe in love and want everyone to have that happily ever after. Sometimes, people don’t get that. That’s why love is so special. Those who find it are lucky.”
Ethan patted her on the back.
“We’ll put her back with him. Get us that location,” he said. “I promise.”
She hoped so.
Gabby couldn’t imagine wandering through the afterlife and not being with Finn. He was her whole world, and the fact that Ceit had to give birth, and Callum never got to know the truth.
Elizabeth hugged her.
“I know what you’re thinking, and I am too.”
She doubted that.
“I’m wondering what happened to Callum. I’m wondering why they tore up the journal. I’m wondering a whole lot like how we didn’t see all of this before.”
Elizabeth shrugged.
“People do weird shit, Gabs. Back then, it was scandalous. Now, no one cares who you have a child with. Look at me. I have two baby daddies.”
Ethan protested.
“Uh, husbands. I’m not cheap, and I know how much that rosary you’re wearing costs—so neither are you, blessed Saint Elizabeth of the polyandry.”
She snorted.
“Point made.”
Sarah touched the stone gargoyle that Graham was holding.
“She left you clues, Gabriella. She left a trail despite not being here long. Find her son, and you’ll have some peace. Now, since my work is done here, I’m going home. Ceit is waiting with bated breath to see if you help her.”
Elizabeth was to the point.
“You could just tell us where to go.”
She laughed.
“I’m channeling Ceit. She was dead over four hundred years ago, Lass.
She doesn’t know everything. That’s why she’s wandering and trapped here.
You will find her way for her. She also said put her with her love, and the curse will be broken.
Put her with her family, and she will release the curse on this place. ”
Sarah began walking out.
She turned.
“Oh, and Elizabeth?”
She lifted a brow.
“Yes?”
“Motorcycles are dangerous,” she said, winking at her. “People break bones. Don’t let your children have them yet. Your mother insists.”
With that, she walked out.
“What was that about?” Michael asked. “We all love motorcycles.”
Oh, she and Ethan knew.
“The kids want motorbikes to have fun. I already said no, so…”
Ethan smiled.
“Funny how we were just talking about it in a haunted castle and a psychic witch knew it.”
She pointed at him.
“Don’t remind me.”
He laughed.
As Gabby sat down to do some research on the information Elizabeth needed, the rest of them finished cleaning the place up.
It didn’t take her long, since she’d already found the cemetery. Now, she had to find a grave.
“I have the location of the grave for you.”
“You do?” Elizabeth asked. “I’m going to assume it’s in Ireland?”
She nodded.
“Yeah, and guess who is buried right next to him?” she asked.
Gabby handed her the phone with the picture of Cathal’s headstone.
“Zoom in.”
She did.
And it said it all. In a way, it gave Elizabeth some peace to know that he’d found his way home.
Like she was.
“Callum Granndach.”
Yep.
He’d found his way back to his father, and that was definitely what Ceit had wanted.
To be with her family.
Callum, her son.
Cathal, her true love.
“He lived a long life,” she admitted, showing them. “He was almost sixty when he died. For then, that’s ancient.”
Ethan smiled.
“He kept the name of his ‘adopted’ father, and went to be put to rest with his ‘biological’ one. He honored them both in his own way. Now, we know what happened to Callum. At some point, Duncan had to tell him the truth of who his father was—before he left the earth to go be with Ciarán.”
Clearly.
“I’ll bet he made Callum promise to carry on the Granndach name, even though he wasn’t one in blood.”
Elizabeth stopped him.
“Family isn’t blood,” she said, knowing that was a central theme in her life. “It’s the people you call your own. Duncan had a family, and he loved it very much. Like I do.”
There was no doubt there.
Now, though, Elizabeth knew what she needed to do.
“Not only do we need to take this necklace there, but we need to take a piece of Ceit with us. We’ll put a piece of bone with the necklace there. We’ll give her peace.”
That was a beautiful sentiment.
The whole room got chilly, and as she picked something out from the corner of her eye, she saw her.
“Ceit.”
They all turned.
Standing by the fireplace, there the woman was, watching them.
“I’ll take you home, Ceit. You’ll be free.”
She nodded.