Chapter 50 #2
And as she said, Nick was free now. He could go wherever he wanted, be whoever he wanted to be. There was nothing to hold him here anymore. His so-called duty was done.
She ought to be happy for him. And she was. She really was. It shouldn’t have felt like loss.
The repairs on the house were not as extensive as they had all feared.
The study and the undercroft were the worst part.
No one asked why there was now half a forest where that section of the building had been and the architect that Nick called had the bright idea of creating an orangery around it instead of trying to remove it.
There was some evidence that there had been one somewhere in the house, at some point in the past. Alex wasn’t so sure but everyone insisted that had been the case, and that there were plans for it somewhere in the records.
Well, there had been records, in the study.
But there had to be another copy somewhere, everyone agreed on that.
This was a listed building. The National Archives were mentioned.
So was Trinity College. Then the debate ensued about who to contact first.
Somehow the structure itself and the first floor were still sound.
There might even be a grant to do the restoration work, she was told, given it was storm damage and they’d only be putting the house back as it had been a hundred years or more ago.
Add to that the insurance money which would no doubt be forthcoming.
And God, she hoped that was the case, although it seemed that the builders were happy enough to begin the work.
People from Kilfayne, it seemed, dealt with the evidence of the supernatural as a daily fact of life, something commonplace and not worth dwelling on, much as Patricia had said.
They all pulled together in times of crisis.
The Big House, as Jimmy the builder referred to it, was part of Kilfayne.
Part of their heritage. They couldn’t just let it fall down, now could they?
‘After a while, it’s just easier to go along with it,’ Nick told her with a smile. He was at peace with himself now, she realised, and with Kilfayne. ‘Trust them. Besides, Jimmy says you’re one of their own now. They won’t see you left in the lurch.’
‘One of their own?’
‘No longer a runner-in,’ he replied, and ruffled her hair affectionately. ‘The estate employs a lot of people locally. Could employ more as well.’
‘So could a hotel.’
He gave a laugh which surprised her. ‘Still got that bone to chew on then?’
Alex shook her head. In fact, the lawyers had said the chain had taken one look at the damage and run screaming so that idea was well and truly past now. Besides, she couldn’t hand over Wildewood to someone who would tear it all down given half a chance. Not anymore. She couldn’t take that risk.
‘I guess we’re back to Theo’s plan then,’ she told him.
‘God help us.’ Theo had been terrible at planning anything.
Luckily he’d had Nick for practicalities.
‘We could let out rooms, like a guest house. Just on a small scale, all right? If we ever get it fixed up, that is. We could even open it up for ghost hunts. At least I have the contacts for that.’
‘Alex? You sound like you’re thinking of staying here.’
She huffed out half a laugh. ‘Perhaps I am. I think this place might need me.’
Besides, she had promised.
The smile that spread over his handsome features made his eyes shine and she was suddenly struck again by the beauty in them. The flecks of green and gold in their dark brown. All the colours of the forest.
He swept her up in his arms and spun her around until she gave a squawk somewhere between shock and delight. ‘Not just this place. I need you. You’re staying, mo chuisle. That’s the best news ever.’
Nick set her back on the ground again, but he didn’t let her go.
‘Yes, but… but you don’t have to,’ she told him.
‘You’re free, Nick. You can do whatever you want, go wherever you want, you and Maeve.
You have family out there. Arnold said. Ariadne and Jason Walker.
Tell them you’re a long-lost cousin or something.
You are, after all. And it sounds like they’d understand some of what happened here if the stuff on his podcast is anything to go by. ’
A frown crept down his forehead, drawing his eyebrows together. ‘I might, I guess. Family’s important. But I’m not leaving. Where else would I want to go, Alex? This is my home. My place. I belong here. With you.’
The breath in her lungs came out in a rush of relief.
‘Really? I thought… I thought…’
She didn’t know what she thought, so she pushed herself up on her toes and kissed him.
Behind them, Maeve gave a whoop of delight and Patricia shushed her, but right now neither Nick nor Alex cared.
They were together, and finally, with the wood safe and quiet, Wildewood Hall could be a home.
Three days later, Gabe, Daphne and the rest of The Ghost Patrol team turned up, ready to investigate in spite of every protest Alex had thrown at them. But to be honest, she was never so happy to see them, and to prove, once and for all, that there was nothing supernatural about her new home.
Even if that was not entirely true.
Nothing supernatural anymore, perhaps. Not the house anyway.
Or at least nothing evil. There were still moments, whispers and breeze. It was an old house of course, and it carried so many memories. Alex knew that. But there was no malice now. Just echoes. Beyond the house, however, the woods were as alive as ever. Perhaps more so.
Daphne gazed at the line of trees, a curious expression on her face. Longing and suspicion and… something else, something like need.
‘What about the trees?’ she asked. ‘They’re… they’re…’ She didn’t finish. She didn’t seem able to find the words. Her eyes shone with excitement.
‘Yeah,’ Alex murmured, then thought better of agreeing with any adventures her friend had in mind. ‘You can do what you want in the house but maybe stay out of the woods.’
Gabe instantly got that light in his eyes and she knew it was going to take another miracle to get him to stay away.
Nick kissed her neck, completely distracting her from the argument she was about to launch into.
‘Don’t worry,’ he murmured in her ear. ‘I’ll keep them safe. Let them have their fun. We all need the odd mystery in our lives, don’t we?’
* * *
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