Chapter 7 #3
He takes it. “Nice to meet you. So you don’t think I’ve got the devil in me and I’m doomed to an eternity of damnation?”
Behind him, Tom groans. “Nobody here believes that. You can’t let the ramblings of a dead woman upset you!
” He wheels on his grandmother. “Nonna, stop telling people they’ve got the devil in them!
Gabe is a nice man who came here to help, and you insulted him.
What have you been saying for the past hour to piss him off so much? ”
She whacks him upside the head. “Watch your language! Is this how you talk to your nonna? You’re just as bad as your no-good uncle.”
“Oh my god,” Tom mutters, then sidesteps another whack. “Stop that!”
“Don’t take il nome di Dio in vain. Look at how I’m being punished,” she moans. “My grandson swears like a sailor and makes friends with the devil in them.”
“Tom.” My voice cracks on the single word, and he glances at me, then nods.
“Yeah, we’re gonna go. Nonna, get in the car or I’ll leave you here.
Gabe, really nice to meet you, so sorry about my grandmother.
Really, really sorry. I’ll call you later, Skye.
” He gets back in his car and starts the engine.
His grandmother just stands on the forecourt, muttering about how god is punishing her, until he turns the car around and starts back down the driveway.
Then she yelps and pops out of sight—presumably into the car.
I don’t watch them leave, turning back to Gabe instead. “None of us think you have the devil in you.” It’s the only thing I can think of to say.
For a second, he just stares at me. Then he laughs. “Um, thanks? Sorry, what was your name again?”
“Kieran. I’m the estate manager and desperately want you to like us.” I feel like honesty is my best chance here.
Gabe’s gaze flicks over my shoulder, and he grins. “Why am I not surprised that you’ve landed somewhere with a sexy redhead?”
Oh my god. My face gets so hot, I wouldn’t be surprised if it spontaneously combusts.
“Stop being embarrassing, Gabe,” Connor says as he joins us and grabs his friend in a hug. “I told these people you’re a serious professional, and the first things you did upon arrival were to throw a diva fit and hit on the manager.”
Gabe must squeeze or something, because Connor makes a squeaking sound. “I didn’t hit on the manager,” he says, finally letting go. “But I’m pretty sure you have.”
“Nobody’s hitting on anyone,” I manage, pretending to be calm and dignified and not like I’ve wondered what kind of kisser Connor is.
“Why don’t we get out of this drizzle before we’re all soaked?
” I turn and head toward the steps where Skye is grinning widely, Josh is biting his lip to hide a smile, and Daniel and Ewan wear expressions of dawning awareness.
Inside the front hall, Gabe puts his bag down and shakes himself. He’s really not more than damp, so I think it’s a psychic thing rather than a physical one.
Sure enough, the next thing he does is turn toward the back of the house and tilt his head back a little. It takes me a second to realize he’s looking in the exact direction of where the gateway is.
“You were right,” he murmurs. “I can’t believe that’s gone unnoticed all this time.”
I exchange a glance with Josh, who steps forward. “Would you like to go up and see it? Or I can show you your room first. I’m Josh, by the way.”
“The medium,” Gabe says, eyeing Josh in a measuring kind of way before looking over at Connor again. “What have you stumbled into here?”
“What do you mean?” I demand, unable to help myself. “What’s going on?”
“Ignore him,” Connor says. “He spent the weekend with two brainless fools and now his brain has gone on vacation.”
“And you’re the conduit,” Gabe says to Skye. “Great hair.”
“Ah… thanks.” Skye touches his hair. “Is it like a beacon?”
Gabe frowns. “What?”
“It’s not a beacon,” Connor assures Skye, then turns to Gabe and adds, “Uncle Norval was running his mouth.”
Rolling his eyes, Gabe says, “Yeah, ignore him. He lives to cause trouble. Or doesn’t live.”
Josh’s phone beeps, and he checks it. “I gotta go get the guests settled for movie night,” he says. “Jorge says they’re done with dinner.”
“I’ll go,” Skye offers. “You’ll be of more use showing Gabe the gateway than I will. I’ll meet you up there or in the break room.” He hesitates. “Daniel will help me.”
“I will?” Daniel sounds shocked. We don’t usually put him to work in the house—and if we do, it’s crowd control when the ghosts upset a guest.
“You will,” Skye insists. “Chat them up about farming.”
Shock turns to confusion. “What?”
Sighing, Skye grabs Daniel’s arm and tugs. “Just do as you’re told.”
I frown after them. “What was that all about?”
“Nothing,” Josh says. “I think Skye just wants company right now, with the whole conduit thing. Let’s go upstairs.”
Reining in my thoughts, I paste my smile back on. “Of course. This way, Gabe. Your room is right above the room with the gateway, so we’ll take your bag up and kill two birds with one stone.” I wince as the words leave my mouth. Poor choice.
Please let there be no killing and no dead birds.