Spooked on the Gulf Coast (Gulf Coast Paranormal Trilogy Book 3)
Page 31
Epilogue—Cassidy
It was a surreal experience being here at Oak Grove Plantation again, right off Kali Oka Road. It felt like I was coming full circle—this was where it all began for me. I would never forget that first painting, the woman and the strange owl. And who could forget her dark protector? I shivered at the idea that Aurelia was not resting in peace.
“What’s happening here, Midas? Is the activity in the house new?”
“There’s something I want you to see inside. Just tell me what you think.”
I kissed his cheek and reminded myself to behave like a professional. That was always so hard to do with Midas. He was so kissable. “What equipment do I need?” I asked as I began searching through my duffel bag.
“Just a camera, Cassidy.”
“The IR camera?”
“No, just a digital camera.”
I gave him a quizzical look. “Really?”
“Yeah. Just a camera.” Midas had a mysterious smile on his face. “Let’s go.”
I did not bother asking where the rest of the team was. I was kind of glad it was just the two of us. I didn’t even see the homeowner’s vehicle. “Do you have a key?”
“Yeah, she left it open for us.”
That was odd. People did not normally leave their houses open for wandering paranormal investigators. We walked up the new concrete steps and headed for the door. I could see that someone, presumably the new homeowner, had gone to a lot of trouble to tidy up the place. Oak Grove was looking wonderful; the spots of rotten wood had been replaced and painted, there were two large concrete urns full of flowers flanking the front porch, and the pencil trees that had been too cluttered along one side of the house were gone now. Yes, the place was on the mend!
Midas opened the door, which squeaked a little as we stepped into the parlor. Our footsteps on the wood echoed loudly. “Can’t believe we’re here again. Do you smell something?” I asked as I sniffed the air. I was sure I smelled roses; I had not seen any when I walked up, but no doubt, there were some around here somewhere.
“I don’t have your smelling superpowers,” he said with a grin as he kissed me. I kissed him back.
“Thank goodness you always smell wonderful,” I said flirtatiously. “But um, let’s focus on the job or else I won’t get anything done.” I removed the lens cap from the camera and began clicking pictures around the room. I did not have Jocelyn’s ghost-capturing ability, but I was doing what the boss wanted. I would much rather have done an EVP session, but as near as I could tell, he did not even bring a digital recorder with him.
“Upstairs, Cassidy. That’s where the activity has been reported.”
As we reached the landing, I turned my attention to the wooden floor that stretched out in front of us. Clearly, someone had sprinkled baby powder all over it.
“This is ridiculous,” I murmured as I took a picture of the baby powder. “Who put this here? Seriously, you told me using baby powder in an investigation was an amateur move that didn’t work.”
“Use your camera and take pictures. It looks like something is written in the powder. Can you see it?”
I stepped forward and stared through the camera lens. I definitely saw writing, like someone had written in the powder with their finger. “What the heck?” I stepped closer and began snapping photos. “I see what you mean. I think that is a ‘W,’ and that is an ‘I’ or an ‘L’; I can’t tell.”
Midas shuffled nervously. What was up with him?
“I can’t read it properly. Do you have a flashlight?”
“I have my phone. Hold on a second.”
Hmm…that’s not like him to be unprepared.
“Wait, I can read that! It says ‘Will’…that says ‘You.’” I lowered the camera and leaned down to get a better look at the powder. Midas did not say anything but kept the flashlight on the powder.
“Will you marry me?” I scrutinized the powder as closely as I could until I was certain that was what it said. Suddenly, Midas was on the floor, on his knees beside me.
“Cassidy Wright, you know I love you. I can’t imagine my life without you.”
“Wait! Midas, did you write that?” I was slow, but as my dad used to say, I was worth waiting on. “You wrote that, didn’t you?”
He nodded and said, “Did you hear me? I love you, Cassidy. Will you marry me?”
I dropped the camera, which luckily did not break into a million pieces, and knelt down in front of him. “I love you, Midas. Yes, I will marry you.” He hugged me, and I kissed him. I did not even notice the ring box in his hand.
“I think you’re supposed to at least look at the ring.”
“Sorry. This is my first proposal,” I joked as I accepted the black velvet case. I cracked it open and revealed the most beautiful platinum and diamond ring I had ever seen. “Midas, this is too much.”
“Sierra helped me pick it out. Do you like it?”
I threw my arms around his neck as his hands went around my waist. I cried, but only for a few seconds. These were happy tears. He had totally surprised me. I mean, he really got me.
Then suddenly, our friends were there, stepping through the open doors of Oak Grove Plantation, shouting their congratulations. Sierra, Joshua and baby Emily were there along with Helen, Bruce and Aaron. I was glad to see them but wished Jocelyn were here too. Yeah, I missed her. I hoped she came back soon.
Midas slid the ring on my finger. “You’re supposed to wear it when you say yes.”
Helen came up beside me and said, “What a gorgeous ring, Cassidy. I wish you nothing but happiness.”
“Now let’s head to the office; we’ve got a party waiting on us,” Sierra said cheerfully.
“Really?” I asked as I eyeballed her. “Who’s going to clean this mess up?”
“That was your fiancé’s dopey idea. I say let him clean it up,” she joked. “But he did get you, didn’t he?”
Midas said, “I don’t mind. It was worth it. I know where the broom is.” As our friends began to leave, I stuck around to help him.
“I thought it was a great idea, and you did get me. Why this place, though?”
“Because it was here that I first knew I loved you. I thought it would be a fitting place for a proposal.”
I smiled at him as I held the dustpan and dumped the powder into the garbage can in the hall bathroom. “But not the wedding. I don’t want to have our wedding here. No haunted places for our wedding.”
“No, of course not.” We put the broom and dustpan away and walked out of the house, locking the door behind us. We kissed on the porch and then in the driveway and then in the SUV.
“I love you, Midas. I plan on making you happy the rest of my life.”
“Be yourself, that’s all I want. We’ll find our happiness together.”
I liked that answer. I kissed his cheek one last time before he backed up the SUV and began to turn around.
There she was! I knew she’d been here all the time. I could see Aurelia in the window, holding her baby. There was a smile on her face; I saw it briefly before her image flickered out right before my eyes.
Yes, all the ghosts we had encountered were settled now. They were at peace, and it was time to have some happiness in our own lives.
It was time for Midas and me. It was time to do some living.
I was ready for it.
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About the Author
Author of the best-selling Seven Sisters series and the Desert Queen series, M.L. Bullock has been storytelling since she was a child. A student of archaeology, she loves weaving stories that feature her favorite historical characters—including Nefertiti. She currently lives on the Gulf Coast with her family but travels frequently to explore the southern states she loves so much.
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The Stars We Walked Upon
The Sun Rises Over Seven Sisters
Christmas at Seven Sisters (bonus short stories)
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Dreams of Idlewood
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(A Seven Sisters Sequel Series)
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The Legend of the Ghost Queen
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The Sugar Hill Series
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