To Free a Phantom
Page 24
“This calls for champagne.” Logan’s mom pranced to the kitchen and returned with a tray filled with glasses. Allison whispered something in her ear, and she smiled. “Lisa.” She handed a glass to Logan’s sister and said something to her. Lisa disappeared into the kitchen.
“Congratulations, Allison.” Erica smiled at her friend.
Lisa returned from the kitchen and handed a glass to Erica before helping her mother pass out the rest of the champagne.
“To Allison.” Logan raised his glass. “She never ceases to amaze me.”
They all raised their glasses, but when Erica sipped her champagne, the sweet tang of apple juice surprised her. Gage took a long drink from his glass and slipped his hand into hers.
She furrowed her brow at her glass. “Is yours apple juice?”
He took another sip. “It’s champagne.”
“They gave me apple juice. Taste it.”
He sipped the juice. “Hmm… Maybe it was meant for Logan’s niece. I hope they didn’t give her your champagne.”
Allison put a hand on Erica’s elbow. “Can I talk to you guys for a second?” She motioned for them to follow her to the next room.
Gage rested his hand on the small of Erica’s back. “I think Logan’s sister gave Erica one of the kids’ drinks.”
Allison clamped her lips together as if suppressing a smile. “She got the right drink. I’m sorry, Erica, I didn’t mean to read you. But when you hugged me, it kinda jumped out at me.”
Her heart pounded hard against her chest. “What jumped out at you?”
Allison’s smile widened. “You’re pregnant.”
Her heart seemed to burst inside her chest, sucking the air from her lungs. “Really?” She could barely force the whisper over the lump in her throat.
Gage set the glasses down and gripped Erica’s shoulders. “Are you sure?”
Allison nodded and looked at Erica. “I can read you if you want me to double-check, but the energy I felt earlier was undeniable.”
Her heart sprinted, and she leaned into Gage to steady herself as she held her trembling hands out to Allison. She trusted her friend’s psychic abilities. She’d helped Erica develop her own over the past year, but this news was too exciting to be true. “Read me. Just to be sure.”
“Of course.” Allison took her hands and closed her eyes. The moment seemed to stretch into an eternity as she swayed slightly from side to side and Gage’s grip on Erica’s shoulders tightened.
Allison opened her eyes and smiled. “Definitely pregnant.”
Erica turned to Gage, and the light in his eyes took her breath away. “We’re going to have a baby.”
His smile beamed. “You’re going to be a great mom.” A tear rolled down her cheek, and he wiped it away with his thumb. “Are you okay?”
“I’m so happy.”
“Me too, baby. I love you so much.” He pulled her into a hug and pressed his lips to the top of her head.
Logan stepped into the room, eyebrows raised. “Everything okay in here?”
“Everything’s fantastic.” She wiped her eyes and kissed Gage on the cheek. “Does this mean I get two pieces of cake?”
Gage chuckled. “You can have anything you want.” Taking her by the hand, he led her back to the living room. “Can we tell them?”
She looked at her friends and straightened her spine. “We’re having a baby.”
“This calls for more champagne.” Logan’s mom refilled everyone’s glasses while they hugged and congratulated them.
When everyone was topped off, Allison gave a toast. “Everything that has happened in our lives…the good and bad, triumphs and failures…every struggle has led us to this point, and we are all exactly where the universe wants us to be.” She raised her glass. “To the universe.”
Tina lifted hers. “To hot husbands and beautiful babies.”
Erica grinned and raised her apple juice high in the air. “To happy endings. We all deserve them.”
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Also by Carrie Pulkinen
To Catch a Spirit
To Stop a Shadow
The Rest of Forever
Reawakened
Bewitching the Vampire
About the Author
Carrie Pulkinen has always been fascinated with the paranormal. Of course, when you grow up next door to a cemetery, the dead (and the undead) are hard to ignore. Pair that with her passion for writing, and becoming a paranormal romance author seems like the only logical career choice.
Carrie spent the first part of her professional life as a high school journalism and yearbook teacher. She loves red wine and chocolate, and in her free time, she likes to read, take pictures, and spend time with her family.
Connect with Carrie online:
www.CarriePulkinen.com