Cursed: Paranormal Women's Fiction (Mid-Life Haunts Book 1)

by Nhys Glover

  I had already introduced my kids to her when she came down, but I knew that an overwhelmed child rarely kept such information in their head the first time they were told it. If I repeated it a few times, it would eventually sink in.

  She nodded shyly, looking at the two others in the room. Hilary, looking very pregnant in her maternity jeans and shirt, smiled encouragingly. Michael dressed in sweats and tee as if he’d just returned from a run, gave her a nod of welcome.

  “Good. Fingers crossed the sheriff makes it happen then. I’ll do all I can to make it work as well. There’ll be inspections and background checks, I assume. But they should be fine…”

  Faith looked beyond the window at the dead trees and barren soil. “Is it safe?”

  I nodded. “Absolutely. Do you think I’d let my pregnant daughter stay here if there was any chance the land was toxic? I can show you the reports. The scientists tell me the land is perfectly okay. They just don’t know what has killed the vegetation. Our family believes it’s been cursed.”

  “Cursed? Like in a fairytale?” Faith’s eyes grew big with excitement and interest for the first time.

  Who thought the word ‘curse’ could elicit such a positive reaction?

  Once I’d eaten my own cereal, juice and coffee, I bit the bullet and called the sheriff’s office. I was immediately put through to Jake Killian.

  “Killian,” he said gruffly.

  “It’s Cleo Channing. I’m about to head into the hospital to pick up Lauren. Do we have any updates? Have I been granted temporary guardianship of the girls?”

  “You’re lucky they didn’t have any suitable placements at the moment. So, yes, you have been granted temporary guardianship, as you call it. It’s conditional on checks and the usual bureaucratic overload, but I doubt there’ll be a problem. You can pick up the girl and keep both for the time being.”

  I let out the breath I hadn’t realized I’d been holding. So, stage one was complete. I could bring Lauren home to a safe home where she could try to put her abuse behind her. Of course, I imagined it wouldn’t be as simple as all that. She would likely require counseling. But I could afford that. Now that I had my inheritance, I could afford anything I needed to help the girls, both the girls, recover.

  “My deputies caught the Joneses just as they were preparing to take off. I’ve since taken several others from the Church of Divine Light into custody. They all face the judge this morning for arraignment. I expect, given the situation, they’ll be denied bail.”

  “Did they confess? Did they all confess?” I asked, my voice hoarse to my own ears.

  I didn’t look at my kids or the little girl in my kitchen.

  “Yes. They’re proud of what they did. They consider themselves martyrs, like those early Christians who were fed to the lions because they refused to acknowledge the emperor as a god. It’s frightening how brainwashed they all are.”

  “Pastor Herbert?” I managed to get out.

  “Got nothing on him. Unless the girls can identify him as a participant, my hands are tied. These guys will go to their graves protecting that man.”

  I nodded, even though he couldn't see me. “Just as we thought. I’m wondering if I should hire protection…”

  Until that moment I hadn’t even considered such a thing. Yet, as soon as I did, I realized just how necessary it was. The lunatics had threatened me and mine. They’d tried to burn my mother out. Now I’d be sheltering a child they considered possessed by a demon. If they didn’t come after her, or try something even more violent, I’d be surprised.

  Yet, should I be discussing this in front of my kids? Hilary was an adult, but Michael was still a boy. I didn’t want to scare him any more than he already was.

  Although, when I thought about it. Michael had shown no fear at any stage. In fact, he seemed anxious to engage the mob at the funeral and had been nothing but supportive ever since. Maybe I was underestimating him. Maybe he was more man than child now.

  There was silence on the other end of the line for a good minute before Jake answered. “I’d like to say I could protect you and your property, but I’m understaffed as it is. The budget won’t stretch to full-time surveillance. I put a man on Lauren last night, in case any of the other crazies came after her, but that’s about the most I could do. If you have the money, I’d suggest you hire some bodyguards and get some home protection installed around the place. Cameras and an alarm system. If we have evidence of their actions against you, I can get them, but without… my hands are tied.”

  The idea of cameras in my home filled me with dread. But outside? That I could manage. And a security system I could activate at night was fine too. Paul had had a state-of-the-art home security system installed in his home, even before I moved in. I got used to it fast enough.

  Yes, it was all doable. And maybe a few guys to watch us, and accompany any of us when we went into town.

  Until everything settled down.

  “Oookay, I’ll look into it…” I said, trying to sound like I knew what to do.

  “Look, I know a guy. I can get him to come out and give you his opinion about what you need. He’s ex-military and has been in private security for about ten years. Nobody knows this kind of work better than him. You want me to give him a call?”

  “Yes, please. That’d be great,” I said with relief. “I didn’t have any idea where to start looking, to be honest.”

  “Look, you can’t be expected to handle everything. You’re still grieving. And now this? If you can afford it, let someone else take over the responsibility for your safety for a while.”

  Jake sounded caring, and so unlike the angry, belligerent man I’d known, that I was left wrong-footed. What was going on? Surely, he hadn’t started to believe me? Surely, he hadn’t decided Herbert was wrong about me being in league with the devil?

  “Thanks. Thanks for that. I’ll take your advice. When can I expect a call? Do you have my number? Oh, yeah, of course you do. You rang me last night. No, that was the night before. The days are kind of drifting into one another.” I sounded flustered, way too flustered.

  “His name’s Pete Saunders. I’ll get him to give you a call as soon as possible. In the meantime, watch your back and call me if anything happens, or even feels wrong. Okay? The child services people will be in touch today too.”

  “Okay. Thanks. That’s good. It’s all falling into place. It’ll all be okay.”

  I knew I sounded like an idiot. But his concern had stolen the ground out from under me. I didn’t know where I stood with him anymore. In fact, my life seemed to be careening out of control. A week ago, my biggest problem was finding a place to live so my soon-to-be ex could move his soon-to-be new wife into the family home. Then Mom died, I had to come home, and craziness just took over from there.

  Oddly, in a complete reversal of up and down, Jake had turned from villain to savior. Any time now Pastor Herbert would be begging my forgiveness and asking me to join his church. It was just that much of a turnaround.

  My surprise was mirrored back at me in the faces of my kids. They knew what Jake had done to me all those years ago. They knew how he’d been at the funeral. At least Hilary knew what an utter pig he’d been to me on the phone the other night. Now I was thanking him, and meaning it.

  “What’s he think about security?” Michael asked, excitement in his eyes.

  “He thinks it's a good idea. He’s going to get an expert he knows, a Pete Saunders, to recommend ways to keep us safe. Just as a precaution. It’ll help Lauren feel safer too.”

  Faith nodded mutely.

  Hilary stroked back the girl’s clean but unbrushed hair. Mothering came naturally to her. She’d be great with both girls.

  “We better get going. Hilary, can you get the underwear please. As soon as we know when to expect Child Services we can head out to buy more clothes for both girls. I… I’m not sure what Lauren will wear home from hospital. I didn’t think…”

  “It’s okay, Mom. You don�
��t have to think of everything. I dug out some track-pants and a tee she can wear home. I even have some new underwear I haven’t worn yet.”

  I tried to visualize the girl I’d last seen on my lap. Was she the same size as Hilary? My daughter was a tallish woman, but slim with it. Maybe the clothes would be too long, but not too big. It would be better than the hospital scrubs she was probably being offered by hospital staff.

  “Is there anything you want from your old place? Any possessions or keepsakes?” I asked Faith.

  The small girl shook her head sadly. “We weren’t allowed to take anything of our old life with us. They even took our last name, even though they didn’t adopt us. Really, my last name is Connor. Faith Elizabeth Connor. And Lauren is Lauren Evelyn Connor. They took everything from us.”

  My heart ached afresh for the girls who had lost everything, even their names. How had they managed the name change? Usually, foster kids didn’t take their foster parents’ last name. It wasn't the same as adoption.

  But that was for another day. At least now I knew I wouldn’t have to go back to Miz Millie’s little house and sort through the girl’s few pathetic possessions. They could start afresh. In this instance, starting afresh will feel good for both of them. Especially if Faith could dress in clothes more fitting to the twenty-first century. The dress she currently wore would have suited a girl in the fifties. She needed jeans and pretty shirts with unicorns on them. And sparkly sneakers. It would be fun watching her choose clothes she liked for herself.

  11

  “Faith!” the bruised and beaten girl in the bed cried, the moment her younger sister came through the door to her private hospital room.

  Faith let go of my hand and raced over to the bed, ready to hug her sister.

  “Careful!” I cried.

  Faith slowed but kept moving. At the bedside, she reached out for the hand that didn’t have a cast attached to it. She brought it to her lips and plastered it with kisses, sobbing uncontrollably all the while.

  “I’m sorry. I’m sooo sooo sorry. I should have told someone sooner. I was a coward!” she wept into the hand.

  Lauren’s posture softened, and she gently stroked her sister’s plaited hair. I hadn’t done a shabby job of it, if I did say so myself. It was like riding a bike!

  “You got the sheriff. You saved me,” Lauren assured her.

  “I didn’t. The ghost did. Or she told Miss Cleo and she got the sheriff. She sees ghosts like me. No, no, she doesn’t see them. She feels them and sees pictures they send her in her head. I can’t do that.”

  Faith was getting excited, and I was worried those passing in the corridor might hear her. At the moment, the only people in the room were Faith, Lauren and me. A sheriffs’ deputy stood outside the door, out of earshot, but not if Faith spoke any louder.

  “Shh. We don’t talk about that stuff around other people, remember?” I said, keeping my voice light and natural.

  Lauren looked over at me, caution in every line of her bruised and battered body. “Who are you?”

  “I was the one who told the sheriff. I helped him get you to the medical center. And I sat with Faith here at the hospital until we were sure you were out of danger. She came home with me last night. And you’re welcome to come home with me, too. We’re like you. Gifted.”

  Lauren’s mouth fell open, as her mind ticked over the information I’d given her and what she’d probably been told by the hospital staff when she came around. I knew they’d kept her sedated all day yesterday and through the night. She had probably only woken up this morning. How much had she been told?

  “What’s your name?” she asked suspiciously.

  “Cleo Channing.” I answered.

  I saw recognition register on her face then. Recognition and confusion.

  “The Channing Witch? You live out on that toxic dump? The one the devil claims as his own?” she said slowly.

  I shrugged. “No toxins that the EPA can find, and no devil either. Just as you aren’t possessed by demons just because you have a gift. I feel ghosts, my daughter talks to unborn and newly born babies and my mother used to be an expert with natural remedies. My grandmother was good at manipulating the elements like fire and air. Not one of us at Channing Manor has ever been in league with the devil, but we are witches.”

  Lauren sat for a few moments more processing what I’d said. Faith, wanting to win her over to my side, spoke up again. Keeping her voice as low as I’d done.

  “It’s beautiful, Lauren. The house is beautiful and huge. I got a bedroom all to myself. It has rainbows and unicorns, and it was sooo pretty. When I woke up this morning I couldn’t believe I was awake. I thought I was dreaming. And they’re really nice. Miss Cleo and Miss Hilary and Michael. They’re really, really nice. And government people are going to let us stay with them. It’ll be wonderful. You wait!” Her voice had gotten louder and faster as her enthusiasm took hold.

  I came to the bedside and placed a calming hand on her shoulder. Dutifully, Faith quietened.

  Lauren looked between me and her sister and back again, probably trying to gauge the situation for herself. I knew she was cautious. Why wouldn't she be? Yesterday at this time she was being tortured by the people who had taken her into their home and promised to look after her. How would she know I was any different?

  “What about them? The cop said they were in jail and couldn’t hurt me again. But that Pastor’ll just get other members of his congregation to take over. How do I know–”

  “Did you ever hear Pastor Herbert encouraging the others to act?” I interrupted. “Faith said she never saw him there, but…”

  “The deputy asked me that. And no, he wasn’t there, but they’re all puppets dancing to their master’s will. If anyone is a devil it’s Herbert!”

  Lauren’s venom was understandable. I felt the same way toward the man. But it wasn’t good for her to feel so much hatred. Maybe a counselor would be able to help her release some of that negativity.

  Would her anger taint my land more than it already was? Was bringing more negative energy into the heart of the mountain wise?

  I gave myself a mental slap.

  What a hypocrite I’d be if I refused to give a home to a bitter and broken young girl, when I was the one who first tainted the land. No, I was sure it wouldn’t matter if one more abused woman found safety within Channing Manor.

  “I totally agree. But I’m getting security so that you can feel safe. The land takes a bit of getting used to. It looks like a hydrogen bomb has gone off on it somewhere. But it’s perfectly safe. My mom lived there for the last twenty-five years without harm, and my pregnant daughter is there now. You’ll be safe,” I repeated, and would continue to repeat that it was safe until she felt the truth of my words.

  The doctor in charge of Lauren’s care took that moment to enter the room, his steps rushed, his longish hair in disarray, as if he’d already spent too much time running his fingers through it. In a way it reminded me of Jake’s hair, but lacked his shine. It was also probably browner than the sandy shade of Jake’s hair.

  If I had to guess, I’d say the doctor was in his late twenties or early thirties. He still had a new penny look to him, no matter the frazzle. It took a doctor a lot of years to qualify and get the experience needed to be in charge of a hospital wing. Or I guessed that was his position. I must admit, I had little experience with hospitals. My own health had been perfect growing up, thanks to mom’s remedies, and my good health was passed on to my kids. I doubt they had a seriously sick day in their lives. Paul often commented on it with pleasure, as if their health was all down to him.

  “Ah, now that’s what I like to see,” the medico declared, smiling brightly at Lauren. “You look ten times better than you did when they brought you in yesterday. How do you feel?”

  Lauren was old enough to have her head turned by a handsome young doctor. A slow smile replaced the guarded and antagonistic look she’d been giving me.

  “How are yo
u feeling this morning?” he repeated, taking up the board hooked to the bottom of her bed.

  “Better than I did yesterday morning,” Lauren said dryly.

  She sounded a lot older than the fifteen or sixteen she looked to be.

  He chuckled at her dry humor. “Well, it’s amazing how fast a body can bounce back from death’s door with a little help. Blood, fluids and antibiotics… Not to mention pain meds. Modern medicine at its finest.”

  Lauren nodded her agreement, stars in her grey eyes. Her copper-red hair had been washed and tied back from her swollen and bruised face. I had a feeling Lauren would have liked her hair loose so she could use it to hide behind.

  “Your electrolytes are back to normal. You’re still underweight, but that’ll be remedied with a few days of good eating. Everything else checks out. The cast will stay on for a month. You have a lot of stitches, but you can come back to have them removed in a week. I’ll give your mom a list of dos and don’ts. But I think your body will tell you what it needs and when. It’s good the school term is pretty much over. By the time the new year starts you’ll be back to the beauty you were before all this happened.”

  “She’s not my mom,” Lauren snapped.

  The doctor’s eyes flew open and he turned in confusion to me.

  “Her mom is dead and her foster mom is responsible for her current state. I’m taking both girls temporarily until we can agree on what is best for them,” I said, giving him my most competent smile.

  I didn’t want him refusing to release her to me.

  “So Child Services sent you…” he checked, placing his signature on the bottom of a form.

  “No. I was with the sheriff when he found her, and took Faith home with me last night. The sheriff got permission for me to be their temporary guardian until… well, for now.”

  He studied me carefully, then looked at Faith, who was nodding her agreement vehemently. I had already won her to my side, I could tell. Hopefully, she’d help tip her older sister in my favor as well.

  “I’ll check with the deputy. But I can see no good reason to keep this young lady in here a moment longer. The food alone is enough to make you sick!” he joked, smiling and rolling his eyes at Lauren.