Ghostly Wedding (A Harper Harlow Mystery Book 17)

by Lily Harper Hart

  Harper glanced down at the dreamcatcher she held in her hand. “Not this particular dreamcatcher, you haven’t. I made this one myself.”

  “Well, I’m willing to try anything if it means my father can rest in peace. This seems a little silly to me but there’s no harm in trying.”

  “Good attitude.” Harper gave him a grin. “Just do what I told you and I’ll handle the rest.”

  Jim blew out a sigh. “Okay.” He straightened and moved out from behind the bush, his eyes scanning the area between him and the stable. “Um, Dad? I’m not sure if you’re out here — and if you are I’m a little sad that we haven’t been able to hang out together and stuff — but if you are here right now I was hoping you could show yourself.”

  Harper craned her neck as she looked for signs of the spirit. She didn’t immediately see anything, and was about to prod Jim to continue, when the hair on the back of her neck stood on end.

  “I just want to make sure you’re happy, Dad,” Jim continued. “If you’ve been here all this time, I’m guessing you’re not happy. You probably miss Margaret. I kind of miss her, too, because Chelsea is a real ball of wax jammed in an ear. You can see her again, though. You can go to her.”

  Slowly, Harper tracked her gaze to the open stable door. Sure enough, the spirit of a craggy man appeared. He looked like Jim, only older and a bit shorter. There was love reflected on the ghost’s face, though, and it tugged at Harper’s heartstrings. She glanced at Jim and nodded in encouragement.

  “I just want you to be able to rest, Dad,” Jim offered. “You’ve earned it.”

  The ghost drifted toward his son, his eyes eventually tracking to Harper. He didn’t shy away from her gaze. “You can see me.”

  Harper straightened as she nodded. “I can.”

  “Are you talking to him?” Jim was breathless. “Why can’t I see him?”

  “Because only certain people can,” Harper replied. “I’m sorry. He can hear you, though. If you want to say anything to him, now is the time.”

  “I just want him to know that I love him, and I always wanted to grow up to be just like him.”

  “He’s a better horseman than me,” the ghost offered. “Tell him that. Also, tell him he was a good son.”

  Harper related the message, never moving her eyes from the ghost. “You can’t stay here. I think I know why you clung to this world, but Margaret is gone.”

  “Where is she?” If ghosts could cry, Harper was convinced this one would already be in tears.

  “She died. She crossed over. I’m here to help you join her.”

  “Can you really do that?” He looked intrigued. “I mean ... can I really get away from this world?”

  “You can.” Harper held up the dreamcatcher. This wasn’t how she initially saw things going, was braced for more of a fight, but she wasn’t about to look a gift capture in the mouth. “You can join Margaret, and then when it’s his time, your son can join you.”

  “That won’t be for a long time, right? He has a lot of life left to live.”

  “I have no idea when it will be. I just know it’s not right now.”

  “Well, if you can get me out of here, I’m more than willing to go. I just ... can you give my son another message for me?”

  Harper bobbed her head. “Absolutely.”

  “Tell him ... tell him he’s the best thing I ever did in this world.”

  Harper found she was suddenly choked up. “I think he already knows that, but I’m happy to share the message.” She clutched the dreamcatcher tighter and watched as Jim dissolved into a pile of tears as she related the message.

  She waited, allowing Jim to gather himself, and while she did her gaze drifted to Montgomery Manor. It was only visible in the distance, but even so, it almost felt as if the house was watching her from afar. She didn’t see anyone in the windows, she was too far away, but the feeling wouldn’t dissipate.

  There was something there, she realized. Maybe not someone, but definitely some sort of presence. Something was calling to her. Right now she couldn’t figure out what, though.

  “Let’s do this,” she said, turning back. “Are you ready to see Margaret?” she asked the ghost, who was doing his best to soothe his broken-hearted son.

  “I’m ready.” The ghost straightened his shoulders. “Send me to her. Tell my Jimmy boy I’ll be waiting for him but to take his time. I want him to be happy more than anything.”

  “I’ll tell him,” Harper promised. “As for you, embrace whatever you find over there. You deserve it.” With that, she tossed out the dreamcatcher. She didn’t bother to shield her eyes as it landed, instead looking toward the flash so she could briefly see the other side. She wasn’t surprised to find an older woman watching, waiting, and it filled her heart with happiness.

  Sometimes love transcended all, and this was one of those times.

  7

  Seven

  Jared picked up dinner from a local Italian place, opting for pasta and cheesecake. He was relieved to find Harper alone when he walked through the front door. He’d texted to make sure he only needed to pick up enough food for two people, but you never knew with Zander. He was whimsical, which meant he showed up when he felt like it.

  “Just us?” Jared did an exaggerated search of the living room before dropping the food on the coffee table.

  Amused, Harper glanced up from the magazine she was flipping through. “Do you think Zander is hiding in the closet ready to jump out?”

  “I wouldn’t put it past him.” Jared swooped in and kissed the top of Harper’s head. “How was your day? Is the office organized and ready for you to leave it in Zander’s capable hands for our honeymoon?”

  Harper snorted. “I think it’s funny that you’re worried Zander might actually hide in a closet to ruin your evening and yet you’re also pushing to make sure I leave him in control of GHI.”

  “You guys are partners,” Jared reminded her as he flopped onto the couch. “He’s capable of running the business. Since there won’t be any ghostly takedowns on the calendar until you get back, I figure there’s very little for him to do.”

  “That’s true. Knowing him, though, we’ll have an entirely new gig by the time I get back. I figure he’s going to be so bored without me that he’s going to torture Eric and Molly.”

  “Better them than us.” Jared cocked his head as he studied her profile. “You got a little sun today. Were you relaxing?” He was genuinely hopeful. She’d been tense of late and the thing he wanted most for her was a break, which was only one of the reasons he was looking forward to their honeymoon.

  “We did a job.”

  Jared stilled. “I thought you were holding off on jobs until after the honeymoon at this point. Wasn’t that the plan?”

  She did her best to hide her agitation. “It was an easy job.”

  “Yes, but ... .”

  “It was an easy job,” she repeated, shaking her head. “There was a ghost out at Statham Farms. It was in the stables, riling up the horses, and we worked with the ghost’s son to send him on his way. It was kind of nice actually. The ghost used to run the stables — now the son does — and he was melting down because the woman who owned the house died several months ago and he missed her. Apparently they were in love.”

  “Oh, so it was a romantic takedown, huh?” Jared smirked. “You weren’t hurt, right?”

  “Nope.”

  Jared didn’t want to press her, or act like her boss, but he remained conflicted. “I just don’t want you to risk getting injured — or worse — before the wedding.”

  “And I don’t want to get hurt.” Harper flipped another page in the magazine. “There’s a conference in New Orleans in a few months. I know we talked about traveling here and there. Your vacation schedule is going to be a thing, though.

  “Zander and I were talking and we want to go, but I know you kind of want to see New Orleans, too,” she continued. “Maybe we can make it a foursome thing.”

  �
��I think that sounds fun. As for vacation, I’ve got six weeks accrued ... and that doesn’t count what I’m taking for the honeymoon. We can definitely take a trip to New Orleans, although I would like to avoid Mardi Gras season if we can.”

  “I’m right there with you.” She leaned her head against his shoulder and flipped another page. “I also talked to Maddie on the phone today.”

  “Oh, yeah?” Jared recognized what she was doing and had no intention of letting her get away with it. He would bide his time, though, and only call her on it when he was ready. “How is Maddie?”

  The couple met Maddie and Nick Winters several weeks before when they’d stopped in Whisper Cove to get some baby shopping done. While there, a local plastic surgeon had been killed — someone Maddie knew from when she was a nurse — and the couples had bonded over shared interests. Maddie, much like Harper, could see and talk to ghosts. That helped the two women forge a strong bond.

  “She’s good.” Harper smiled as she thought back on the conversation. “She says Nick is going crazy covering outlets in the house even though they won’t have a crawling baby for a year. Apparently he’s also childproofing all the cabinets and now her grandmother can’t open anything.”

  Jared chuckled. “I want to meet this grandmother. She sounds hilarious.”

  “She does,” Harper agreed. “Maddie sounds good, though. I’m going to want to see the baby once he or she is here.”

  “I don’t see why we can’t make that happen. It’s about a four-hour drive up there. We can go on a Friday and come back on a Sunday.”

  “Yeah.”

  They lapsed into amiable silence a beat, Jared’s eyes never leaving Harper’s face. She clearly thought she’d managed to redirect the conversation, he internally mused. She didn’t expect him to circle back. She was about to be disappointed.

  “Did you take the job at Statham Farms because it’s directly next door to Montgomery Manor?”

  Harper froze. “I ... what?”

  He lifted an eyebrow and waited.

  “I told you why we took the job,” she said after a beat. “It was easy. I wasn’t hurt. The son was very grateful, although he wasn’t our client. To be fair, our client wasn’t all that grateful. She just wrote the check and sent us on our way. The son was great, though.”

  “Uh-huh.” Jared folded his arms over his chest and waited.

  “It was a very quick job,” Harper insisted, annoyance bubbling up when Jared didn’t allow her an easy escape.

  Jared patiently waited her out.

  “Fine!” Harper threw her hands in the air in dramatic enough fashion that Jared had to bite the inside of his cheek to keep from laughing. “It was the proximity to Montgomery Manor that drew me out there. You caught me. Are you happy?”

  “I have you. That means I’m a happy man.” He planted a soft kiss on her cheek. “I was simply curious if you were going to admit it or not.”

  “I really did go for the horses.”

  “I know.”

  Harper’s frown was pronounced. “We didn’t go to Montgomery Manor, if that’s what you’re worried about. We kept our distance. I was a good girl.”

  “You’re a very good girl,” he agreed in a flirty tone as he sank lower on the couch, his thumb brushing over her cheek. “You’re the best girl in the world.”

  Harper’s eyes narrowed. “You’re not going to seduce me before dinner. I can smell that spaghetti from here.”

  “No seductions before dinner,” Jared agreed. “I’m a little hungry myself.”

  Harper pursed her lips and regarded him before sighing. “I’m having trouble ignoring what I learned in the dream,” she admitted. “It’s very difficult for me to keep my nose out of the investigation.”

  “I’m well aware. You showed tremendous restraint by not sneaking onto the Montgomery Manor property to look around.”

  “I did show tremendous restraint.”

  “That’s what I said.”

  “But I really did.”

  “Harper.” Jared tilted his head. “I just said you were a good girl. Heck, you’re a perfect girl as far as I’m concerned. I’m not looking for a fight.”

  Harper wasn’t convinced. “I might have to go up there and look around again tomorrow.”

  “Um ... no.”

  “I have plenty of time, and it would just be for a visit.”

  “You don’t need to visit. I’ve already visited. There’s nothing in that house of any interest.”

  Harper was taken aback. “You’ve already visited?”

  “I was there today.”

  “How come I’m in the dark on this trip?”

  Jared’s earlier amusement returned with a vengeance. She was so stinking adorable sometimes. She didn’t even realize it. “I didn’t realize I had to inform you of my plans.”

  “Oh, really? From the guy who just melted down because I went out on a job for my work, that’s pretty hypocritical.”

  “I didn’t melt down,” Jared countered. “Forgive me for occasionally worrying about you. We are getting married in a few days and you’re not immune to turned ankles or broken bones. I want our wedding to be perfect.”

  Harper leaned back and offered up a smug smile. “See, I just want the wedding to be fun. I want the marriage to be perfect.”

  He extended a warning finger. “Let’s not turn this into a weird philosophical discussion, huh? We’re extremely close to having two full weeks together with no distractions. We’re talking no Zander ... or Jason ... or ghosts ... or parents. You have no idea how much I’m looking forward to that.”

  Since Harper was looking forward to it for the same reasons, she decided to cut him a break. “I get it. I didn’t plan on taking the job. When I heard where it was — and Molly really wouldn’t stop whining about the horses — I decided to give it a go. It was probably the easiest job we’ve had in the past year.”

  “And I’m glad to hear it. I still want you safe. If that makes me an ogre, I’m sorry.”

  “You’re not an ogre.” Harper jutted out her chin so she could brush her lips against his jaw line. “You’re also not wrong to be suspicious. If I could’ve figured out a way to sneak on the Montgomery Manor property without anybody noticing, I totally would’ve done it.”

  “Well, like I said, that would’ve been a wasted trip. We talked to Lila Montgomery this afternoon. She has no idea who Peter Humphrey is. She seemed confused by our visit.”

  Something occurred to Harper. “How did you explain why you were there? You didn’t tell her about my dream, did you?”

  Jared snickered. “Are you asking if I walked into her house and said ‘my future wife had a dream conversation with a ghost and you owe me answers’?”

  “Kind of,” Harper hedged. On the surface, she recognized how ridiculous the statement sounded. “What did you tell her?”

  “That Humphrey was seen in stores before his death — something we were rather vague about — and he mentioned Montgomery Manor.”

  “Huh.” Harper found she was impressed despite herself. “That was pretty smart.”

  “I’m a smart guy.”

  “You’re ... something.” Harper leaned forward to start rummaging through the takeout bag. “Cheesecake, too?”

  “I thought I would go all out. The cheesecake is to eat in bed later, though. The spaghetti is first. I got the Bolognese with extra tomatoes.”

  “That’s my favorite.”

  “I know.”

  “You’re such a good provider.” This time the kiss Harper graced him with was sultry. “I look forward to eating cheesecake in bed with you later. Until then, tell me about your day. I think we’re done with mine, right? You’re finished whining if I read the conversation correctly.”

  Jared glowered at her. “I wasn’t whining.”

  “It sounded that way to me.”

  “Yes, well, we’ll get you fit for a hearing aid once we’re back from the honeymoon.” Jared poked her side as he moved to the flo
or, enjoying the way she tucked in at his side and eagerly grabbed one of the takeout containers. She had a healthy appetite, which served as endless amusement at times.

  “I want to hear about your day,” Harper insisted. “I only had one entertaining event. I’m guessing you had more.”

  “Kind of.” Jared told her about his conversation with Denise Humphrey. Remembering the woman’s reaction to the death of her ex-husband left him feeling sad. They were one of the rare divorced couples doing things right and he appreciated that she would help her daughter mourn.

  “That’s kind of sad,” Harper noted as she piled spaghetti on top of garlic bread. “It sounds like they were adults about it when they divorced. They were still close, but just as friends.”

  “That’s the way it sounded to me,” Jared agreed. “She seemed legitimately upset, and not just for her daughter. The daughter was obviously her priority, though.

  “As for Lila Montgomery, she was friendly enough, although there was something guarded about her.”

  “It’s what happened to her daughter,” Harper volunteered. “That was big news at the time. I was about ten, I think, maybe a little younger. Everybody was talking about it.”

  “I would think your parents would’ve tried to keep stuff like that from you.”

  “My parents were careful to try to keep news stories from me because there was a time when I became obsessed with trying to solve murders with the help of ghosts. It was actually Zander’s idea — he thought we could turn it into a television show — but I went through a phase where I thought I would be able to solve crimes even though I was a kid.”

  “That actually sounds kind of cute,” Jared noted. “The Harlow and Pritchett Detective Agency.”

  “You laugh, but that’s how we were billing it in our heads. What was difficult is that I could actually talk to ghosts, and if I opened myself up to them approaching, I could’ve easily been distracted enough to take off on a whim and poke my nose into situations that could’ve resulted in me being seriously hurt.”

  Jared sobered. He hadn’t considered that aspect of it. “No, I get what you’re saying. Did you want to solve the Montgomery disappearance?”