“Hello, Sister. I hope we’re not doing anything wrong.” Her cheeks burned, and the jam jar in her hand, dripping with holy water, felt ridiculous. What had she been thinking, coming here to stock up? Niles wasn’t a vampire. “My name is Terri, and this is my daughter, Dallas.”
“Not at all. Our blessed water is free for anyone who needs it.” She nodded at Dallas, who stared at her, jam jar forgotten in her hands. “Hello. Nice to meet you, Dallas. Terri.” Terri’s tongue-tied daughter barely managed to return the greeting. “Do you mind if I ask why you need so much of it? Are you holding a service of your own?”
She knew the nun was kidding, even before she winked, and it was a relief to confide in someone who might understand. In the movies, churches were always full of experts who rushed into the haunted house and made all the evil spirits disappear. And Niles was evil, of that she had no doubt. What he’d done to Gertrude had confirmed that without question.
“Can I speak to you for a moment?”
“Certainly. That’s what I’m here for. Why don’t we sit down and chat?” Sister Grace indicated the last pew in the church. “After you’re finished. Please, fill any container you like.”
Face burning so hot Terri was surprised it didn’t catch fire, she took a travel mug from her bag. Its bright pink exterior, with its irreverent Vacation Bound! motto and flamingos, looked like a bad joke in the solemn atmosphere of the church. Glancing at the nun, who waited for them at the pew, Terri could have sworn Sister Grace was trying not to laugh. She covered her mouth and coughed daintily when she noticed she was being watched.
It doesn’t matter if people laugh. Let the entire town of Eventide line up and make fun of you. If they haven’t stayed in that house, they don’t understand. If they haven’t been attacked by Niles, they can’t understand. She thought of Gertrude’s ravaged face and closed the travel mug with a defiant snap. Dallas was already at her side, waiting. Once the mug had joined the other containers in her bag, she took her daughter’s hand and walked over to Sister Grace.
“Please, sit down. Would you like something to drink? I have water, and some juice in our little fridge. I’d be happy to share it with you.”
“I think we’re okay. Thank you, Sister. We appreciate your kindness.”
“I can see something troubles you. Do you feel comfortable talking about it with me?”
Terri looked over at Dallas. Her eyes were as wide as saucers as she took in their surroundings: the vaulted ceilings, the stained-glass windows in many shades of blue, the life-sized Christ figure dying on the cross. Other than her obvious awe, her daughter looked like any other ten-year-old girl. Her coloring was fine; her hair was neatly brushed and confined in her standard ponytail. “How did you know we’re troubled?”
“It’s my job to know,” Sister Grace said. “But most people who come to a church for the first time seeking holy water are in some sort of trouble. I’d like to help you if I can.”
“You’re a nun, right?” Dallas blurted. Terri squeezed her daughter’s hand, hoping it conveyed the Be seen and not heard signal well enough, before Dallas said something really embarrassing.
“Yes, child. I am a sister in the Order of Marguerite. We look after the sick and the dying. It’s a good job when you love helping people as much as I do. This has been my calling since I was younger than you are now.”
“But why aren’t you wearing—”
Another squeeze. Now was not the time for Dallas to gain a religious education or ask invasive questions. Terri wanted to melt into the floor.
“A habit? The black-and-white outfit you’ve probably seen on TV, or in the movies?” Sister Grace asked, and Dallas nodded. “My order doesn’t wear habits. A lot of orders don’t these days. Habits are considered to be fairly old-fashioned. We’re allowed to wear our own clothes.” She smoothed her long skirt as she spoke. “Within reason, of course. No miniskirts or blue jeans for me.”
This was too much for Dallas to handle. “You’ve never worn jeans?”
Next she would be asking Sister Grace about her sex life. Terri had to nip this in the bud. “Dallas….”
“A few times. When I was about your age. But not since I became a nun and joined the church.”
“Wow.” Dallas touched her own worn jeans with their patches and embroidery. They’d cost a fortune and it was clear her daughter couldn’t fathom life without them. “Are jeans unholy?”
“Dallas, I think Sister Grace has better things to do than answer these kinds of questions.”
But the nun smiled again. The expression was so permanent Terri would have suspected it was painted on if it hadn’t been so natural. “Actually, I was bored before you two showed up, and I love children’s questions. Children are the only truly honest people in the world. They mean what they say, and they say what they mean.”
Her daughter shot her a triumphant look. See?
Although she was impatient, she couldn’t blame Dallas for her fascination with Sister Grace. Her daughter had no religious education to speak of, no exposure. Of course she was fascinated. And what was she in such a hurry for, anyway? Glenvale wasn’t going anywhere, and unfortunately, neither were its ghosts.
“No, Dallas, jeans aren’t unholy. Nuns wear more formal clothing as a sign of respect, for our duties to Christ and to the church.”
Dallas frowned. “Are my clothes disrespectful?”
Sister Grace patted her arm. “Not at all. Church isn’t in session right now. But if you were to come for a service, you may want to dress up a little.”
“Can we come for a service, Mom?”
What was with her and the tough questions today? “We’ll see. I don’t know if we’ll still be in Eventide by the end of the week.”
The nun’s smile deepened. “You’re not from here?”
“No, I’m here for work. I’ve been hired to do the restoration on the Glenvale estate.”
For the first time, Sister Grace’s smile vanished. Terri saw a shadow cross the nun’s features. “What is it? Did I say something wrong?”
“No….” The nun cleared her throat. “You’re working for Henrietta Vandermere.” It wasn’t a question. Her hands strayed to her rosary.
“Yes. I am. Do you know Henrietta?”
“I’ve never spoken to her, I’m afraid, but I’m aware of her family, and of the house. I hope it doesn’t frighten you to learn that you are not the first people with an association to Glenvale to come here for assistance.”
Terri felt uncomfortably warm all of a sudden. A droplet of sweat trickled down her back. “Gertrude Phillips?”
“Ms. Phillips is one of our parishioners, yes. Or at least, she was. I’m afraid I haven’t seen her in a while, not since her mother’s condition worsened.”
“She’s in the hospital. She survived a terrible….” She hesitated, about to say ‘accident’, but it didn’t feel right, lying in a church, whether she was religious or not. “Attack.”
Sister Grace sucked in a breath. “I had no idea. Is she all right?”
Terri was surprised the nun didn’t know. The town seemed unable to talk about anything else these days. She glanced at Dallas. She hadn’t told her daughter the details. Despite their issues, Dallas had been fond of Gertrude. “Not yet, but I hope she will be.”
Fortunately, the nun appeared to interpret her silent signals correctly. That was probably part of her job too. “Thank you for letting me know. I’ll look in on her myself, see if I can offer any comfort. Is her mother still….”
“I believe so, yes. I think she has a nurse looking after her.”
Dallas nodded, the authority on all things Gertrude. “Her name is Maria.”
“Maria, that’s right. I do see her now and then. I can ask after them both.”
“Thank you, Sister. So…Gertrude – and others – have come here about the house?”
The nun looked reluctant to pick up that line of conversation. Talking about Gertrude and her mother, however unfortunate their circumstances, had clearly been a welcome reprieve. “Yes. Glenvale is a dark place. But I suspect you know that already.”
“Yes.” Terri turned her cheek to the light, displaying the faded scratches. “Something in the house attacked me as well.”
Sister Grace’s face went slack. “Wait…Gertrude was attacked at Glenvale?”
“Yes.” Dallas snuggled closer to her, and Terri put an arm around her daughter, hoping to provide some security, though both of them were well aware that there was little she could do against Niles. They had to put their trust in Gertrude’s convictions that the spirit wouldn’t harm them, as long as they continued to feign ignorance about its true nature.
Not exactly comforting.
“Forgive me if this is an invasion of your privacy, but…do you need to keep working there? Some things are much more important than money.”
“I made Gertrude a promise. It’s hard to explain, but for the time being, I need to go back there, yes.”
“Well, you’re going to need more than holy water. Let me see what I can find for you.”
Before the nun could leave them, Terri touched her hand. “Please, Sister. Tell me what you know about the house.”
“I’m afraid I don’t know much. Nothing that will be of value to you. It’s a dark place, full of evil. I pleaded with Gertrude not to take the position with Henrietta Vandermere, but she was adamant. She said she’d already fallen in love with the place.” The nun crinkled her nose. “I told her that she was hearing the siren song of the Devil.”
“Have you been to Glenvale?”
“No, but Father Donovan has. Henrietta has asked him to bless the house more than once. It never does a bit of good.”
Terri felt a sinking sensation in the pit of her stomach. “Then the holy water isn’t going to help.”
Sister Grace patted her hand, but there was a sadness in her eyes that was concerning. She hadn’t smiled since they’d begun talking about the house. “It’s better than going back there with nothing – if you’re certain you have to go back.”
“I am. At least for now. Depending on what happens, I might re-evaluate.” Here in a church, in the company of a visibly worried nun, her decision to go through with this seemed worse than insane. Why was she putting their lives on the line for the sake of a woman who had died before she’d been born? And for another woman, whom she barely knew, who had caused her nothing but grief?
She saw the face of Emma’s killer again, recalled the terror the woman had experienced right before she died.
Because it was the right thing to do.
She just hoped this altruism didn’t get them killed.
“Give me a moment,” the nun said. “I’ll see what else I can give you.”
Once she’d left, Dallas turned to her, her eyes still unnaturally wide. “Are we doing the right thing, Mom?”
“Yes, I think so. But if you ever feel you’re in danger, tell me and we’ll leave. I’m hoping Niles will leave us alone, and that we won’t have to stay long.” Maybe the atrocities he’d inflicted on Gertrude would be enough to satisfy him for a while. She shuddered to think what would happen if he came after her – or her daughter.
Sister Grace returned with her arms full. Laying the objects on the pew beside them, she explained, “Everything you see here has been blessed. It will help protect you, as much as it can.”
She handed a rosary to Terri, and put another around Dallas’s neck, gently lifting her ponytail so the beads wouldn’t get tangled. There were several crucifixes and an icon of Mary as well. “Hang one in the room you choose to stay in, and try to keep a couple near you as you work. Avoid sleeping in a room that belonged to Niles or any of the Vandermere children.”
The statement alarmed her. What did Sister Grace know about the family? There must be something she could tell them. “What have you heard about Niles?” she asked.
“Not much, but my mother used to tell us stories.” She frowned. “He was an awful child, cruel and sadistic. It wasn’t safe to let animals or younger children anywhere near him. No one could prove it, of course, but everyone in town knew, at least back then. It’s terrible to say, but it was a blessing when he fell ill. Many children breathed a sigh of relief that they didn’t have to worry about running into him anymore.”
“What about Henrietta?”
“My mother didn’t care much for her, either. To hear her tell it, she was her brother’s partner in crime, encouraging his cruel acts and urging him on. Perhaps she wasn’t as directly responsible, but she played a role in it, all the same.” She paused. “But I shouldn’t speak ill of your employer. With God’s grace, anyone can change. Most of us learn and grow as we reach adulthood, and I hope that is true of Henrietta as well…for your sake. She is an elderly woman now, nearing the end of her life. It’s a good time to make peace with her Lord and Savior.”
Terri doubted Henrietta would ever be saved. “And Emma?”
“Emma was older, too far ahead of my mother in school for her to know Emma well, but I’ve never heard a bad word about her. She may have been the one Vandermere to take after their father. It’s a shame she died so young.”
Picturing the rock that had crushed Emma’s neck and ended her life, Terri shivered. “Yes, it is.” At least her instincts had been correct about Emma. No sense risking her life for another monster. “Thank you so much for your help, Sister, but I don’t feel right about taking all of this and giving you nothing in return. Can I at least make a donation to the church?”
The nun closed Terri’s hand around the rosary. “Keep yourself and Dallas safe. Trust your instincts, and leave the moment you feel either of you are in jeopardy. Visit me again before you leave Eventide. Seeing you safe and alive…that will be thanks enough.”
Chapter Nineteen
The sight that met her when she pulled up to Glenvale was one she dreaded more than any ghost.
Derek, otherwise known as her ex-husband. In some ways, it was like seeing a ghost. “What’s your father doing here?”
He’d been aware of the Glenvale project, of course. As her daughter’s other parent and guardian, he had every right to know where she was, and where to find her. But he’d never intruded on her time with Dallas before. The possibilities overwhelmed her. Had something happened to his parents? Or to Trudy, the long-suffering woman who now had the joy of cleaning up after him?
“Uh, Mom.” Dallas caught her sleeve before she could open the door, staring up at her with a beseeching expression. “There’s something I should tell you first.”
This ‘something’ wasn’t a good thing. That much was obvious. Terri mentally braced herself, but tried her best to sound unconcerned. “What’s that?”
“Well, you know I text Dad, right?”
“Yes.” Every night, shortly after they’d finished dinner. Initially, it had amused Terri, and then it began to irritate her, though she hoped she’d never let that show. It was great Derek wanted to be so involved in his daughter’s life, but why now? Why only after their marriage ended? It seemed fake, like keeping up appearances, and if there was one thing Terri couldn’t stand, it was phonies.
“He kept asking how things were going here. You know, how I spent my time, if I was left by myself while you worked, if the house felt unsafe.”
Heat built in Terri’s chest until it reached her throat. A fishing expedition. But why? Did he plan to use the information to get her in trouble with the judge? To renege on his payments again? What was the point of it all? “Yes? Go on.” Stay calm, stay calm, stay calm.
“And….” Her daughter bit her lip, looking incredibly guilty. “I might have told him.”
Terri groaned, sinking in her seat. “Dallas….”
“I’m s
orry, okay? He kept asking, and I didn’t want to lie. I didn’t expect him to actually come here.” Tears glimmered in her eyes, and Terri immediately felt terrible. It wasn’t her daughter’s fault that she’d made a mess of this, and that the entire summer had been a fiasco. Dallas shouldn’t have to lie to her dad. This was her fault, not her child’s.
“Hey, that’s okay. I don’t want you to lie to anyone. Lying is never the answer.” Though she’d lie her face off to Derek if she needed to. “But I can’t go into this meeting unarmed. What exactly did you tell him?”
“Not much. Just about the séance and how Gertrude was staying with us and that your face got scratched.”
That’s it? Jesus, Dallas. She was screwed.
“I didn’t tell him about being left alone with your tools, though.”
“That’s great,” she said, trying to unclench her teeth. Why was Derek asking her daughter that, anyway? Dallas wasn’t a toddler. She was smart enough to stay safe around Terri’s equipment. What was she going to do, go running through the house with a nail gun? “What did he say when you told him that stuff?”
“He asked if I was okay, and I told him I was, and then he said that it didn’t sound safe.”
“But he believed you? About the séance, and the scratches?” She couldn’t imagine Derek having the patience to sit through a ghost story, let alone believe it. She’d never met a more pragmatic man. Her ex-husband was a card-carrying member of the if I don’t see it, it doesn’t exist school of thought.
“He seemed to. Why wouldn’t he? I don’t lie.”
“No, but sometimes children…imagine things. He didn’t tell you he was coming?”
“No!” Dallas’s shock was genuine. Whatever she had told her dad in innocence, she’d never expected it to lead to this. “I have no idea why he’s here. Unless it’s because he misses me. He did say that a lot. He said Trudy misses me too, and that summers aren’t the same for her without me. That’s nice, right?”
“Of course it is.” Terri forced a smile, though she didn’t give a flying fuck what Trudy missed. “Let’s go get this over with.”
The Restoration Page 18