Pleasures of Christmas Past

by Lexi Post

  He shook off Cameron’s hands. “She means more to me than she does to you.”

  “Good. Tell her. Tell her you love her and hopefully she feels something too.”

  “Hopefully?” Duncan didn’t like that. “And I willna lie to her. I dinna know what it feels like to love and she knows that.”

  Cameron drifted back through his desk and solidified again. “You do.”

  Duncan blinked. “I do what?”

  “You do know what love feels like. You died for love.”

  He desperately tried to think back, but no memory of his death came to him. It had been far too long. “Tell me.”

  Cameron shook his head. “I can’t.” Though he didn’t look at him, his tone was touched with anguish. He really couldn’t. Blast, the rules in the afterlife were far more complicated than the rules of the living during his life.

  If he could just picture what he was doing, but all that came to him was his castle. He rose, drifting into the desk. “Can you at least tell me where I died?”

  “I don’t—” Cameron’s gaze returned to his. “Actually.” He seemed to ponder something. Maybe the man had the rule book in his head and was looking for a loophole. He certainly hoped so.

  Cameron smiled. “Yes, you were at a burn near your castle.”

  Hope, that tiny candle flame, grew stronger. Duncan nodded his appreciation and floated home to Rossan Castle.

  * * * * *

  Jessica brought Holly down to the town square in quaint Deervale. There was the lightest snow falling, not even accumulating where the cars drove and the people walked, but it looked pretty as it reflected the Christmas lights along the streets surrounding them in the dimmer light of an overcast day.

  Holly grinned. “Look. There’s Mrs. Branson.” She pointed to an elderly lady making her way along a sidewalk. “Her scooter looks brand new. We must be just a couple years back.” Holly turned to face Jessica. “Right?”

  “Yes, I believe this was your first Christmas as a married couple.”

  Holly’s gaze drifted away as a slight smile curved her lips.

  Had she ever had that look on her own face? Jessica shook her head. That was doubtful. She spent her life loving her work, not loving a person. She had to admit what she’d felt for Jacob wasn’t what she saw on Holly’s face. Now if she considered Duncan Montgomerie…

  She tensed. She couldn’t be thinking about him like that, even if her feelings for him were already far stronger than any she had in her lifetime. He would finish this assignment with her, hopefully figure out how she could get back to the afterlife, and then move on to his next mentee.

  She rubbed at her chest at the pain it gave her to think of him with a new woman Spirit Guide. He might make an effort to be friends with her while he worked with another newbie, but even now she was sure she couldn’t handle it. Shit. When had she fallen for him?

  “Jessica?”

  “Yes.”

  “I called you three times.” Holly appeared concerned. “Where were you?”

  With Duncan Montgomerie. “Sorry, I was thinking about a problem I have.”

  Holly winked. “That problem wouldn’t happen to be a Scottish spirit with a heavy accent, would it?”

  “Holly.” She kept her tone stern, like she would use with a misbehaving child.

  Holly shrugged. “It’s pretty obvious you two have something going on. The way you look at him and the way he devours you when you’re not looking.”

  Jessica flushed. “I’m thinking you’re seeing more than there is. We both know he’s a Romeo.”

  Holly shook her head. “I’m not so sure. He really seems into you.”

  At Holly’s phrase her memory reproduced the feelings of what it felt like to have Duncan thrusting into her and her pulse sped. “Well, we aren’t here to discuss Duncan. He’s been around for over two hundred years and is still single, so I’m guessing that isn’t going to change anytime soon. So let’s focus on why you caught my attention.”

  “Oh right. I was just pointing out Mrs. Bell.” Holly turned back to look at the busy square. “There.” She pointed at a woman, maybe in her forties, with two strapping young men following her, their hands filled with bags. “She’s one of my neighbors and makes the best food. After Cameron died, you’d think she wanted me to double in size with all the things she cooked for me.” Holly chuckled. “I had to freeze most of it.”

  “You look as trim as ever. How did you get her to stop feeding you?”

  “I didn’t completely. She still brings over food on holidays. But, well, I kind of told her about Mr. Wrenford who is this old bachelor, and I might have intimated that he ate out a lot and maybe I assumed he would love a home-cooked meal.”

  Jessica grinned. “You lied.”

  Holly tried to frown, but finally gave Jessica a sheepish look. “I stretched the truth a wee bit.”

  “A wee bit?”

  “Aye, that’s what yer supposed to say in Scotland.”

  Jessica chuckled at Holly’s attempt at a Scottish accent. “Maybe you should stick to the American version.”

  “Probably. Oh look. That’s Brody and his girlfriend.” Holly’s eyes gleamed with excitement. “This was the last year we had everyone over for Christmas Eve. Come on, we have to go to the house.”

  Jessica grasped Holly’s arm. “Not yet. We have to wait for Duncan.”

  “Can we at least walk down the street toward the house?”

  That seemed acceptable. They weren’t going into the house. “Sure, we can do that.”

  The two of them drifted across the street, Holly pointing out people along the way.

  “You’ve come to know quite a few people in the few years you’ve been here.”

  “I guess I have. But it’s a small town, so it wasn’t hard and everyone was so nice.” Holly paused. “Or rather most people were nice.”

  Jessica followed Holly’s gaze to see a young woman heading toward them. She had bright-red hair that flowed to her shoulders, a long but beautiful face and she was thin enough to be a model. “Who’s that?”

  “That’s Sofia Dunlap. No matter how hard I try, I just don’t like her.”

  “Any particular reason why? Is she rude? Snobby?”

  “No.” Sofia walked by them, her stride confident and brisk. “She’s just too self-involved. She can’t see past that pretty nose of hers. She never voluntarily helps anyone and can’t think beyond her own needs.” Holly sighed. “Unfortunately, she’s set her sights on Ethan.”

  “Who’s Ethan?”

  “One of Cam’s two best friends.” She pointed ahead of them. “That’s Brody, his other best friend. He’s just like Cam, always up for another venture. The lady on his arm is Sarah. He’s still seeing her, the last I heard.”

  Jessica halted and grasped Holly. “What do you mean, you’ve heard? Don’t they talk to you anymore?”

  Holly wouldn’t look her in the eye. “Of course they do, I’ve just been busy running the shop by myself.”

  “Uh-huh. It’s more than that. Tell me.”

  Holly faced her. “It’s hard to be around them. They remind me so much of Cam, especially Brody. They invite me to gatherings and such, but…it’s just hard.”

  Jessica’s heart swelled a bit at the obvious anguish on Holly’s face. Though she wanted to give her a hug, Duncan’s words resounded in her head. You just need to have faith that what you have done so far for her and your counsel through the rest will set her up for her next visits. Remember, you dinna have to solve all her problems. She settled for a hand on Holly’s shoulder. “I understand.”

  “You do?” Hope filled Holly’s pretty brown eyes.

  Jessica nodded. “Yes, I do. It hasn’t been long enough and your loss is still raw. Just don’t cut these two friends off completely so that when you are able to be around them, you can benefit from their support.”

  Holly nodded. “I promise to stay in touch with them.”

  “Good. I imagine if they were as
good of friends as you say, they are hurting a lot too. I bet they want to be around you because it helps them feel closer to Cameron.”

  Holly’s eyes widened. “I never thought about it from their point of view, but that does make a lot of sense. Thank you.”

  Jessica smiled. “For what?”

  “For helping me see the situation from someone else’s point of view. I was being a bit like Sofia Dunlap, all wrapped up in myself.”

  “I don’t think the comparison is entirely fair.”

  A loud laugh behind them had them both turning. Holly groaned. “Speak of the devil.”

  “Is that Ethan?”

  Holly nodded. “Yes. Luckily he brought Cameron’s cousin to our party. There is no relationship there, but it looks like he’s making it appear that way in front of Sophia. Good for him.”

  Jessica studied the young man. He was incredibly good-looking, with curly hair and a face that resembled Michelangelo’s David. It begged the question, was his body as similar to that famous statue?

  Holly said this man was the complete opposite of Cameron. He was also very opposite in looks. Cameron had a hardness about his looks, though his face softened incredibly around Holly. Who Cameron’s friends were might give her insight into how to handle her new boss. That was, if she still had one. If she remained among the living as a ghost, she wouldn’t have a boss anymore, or a purpose.

  She shivered, her gut tightening as fear raced through her chest. Where was Duncan? He should have returned to them by now. He could move through time easily, so why hadn’t he rejoined them?

  Unless Cameron was testing her.

  But would he really test her at the cost of his wife’s happiness? From the love she’d seen on his face that brief moment she’d stopped in to see Holly and found him there, he would never sacrifice Holly’s happiness.

  “Good.” Holly nodded as Ethan and his “date” passed by. “He did that perfectly. Did you see her invite herself to our party?”

  Jessica shook her head. “No, I missed that.”

  Holly looked at her quizzically. “Jessica, you’re very distracted. Is something wrong?”

  “I’m sorry. I just have a lot on my mind.” She started to float down the sidewalk, forcing Holly to come along. “So was this the first Christmas for your shop?”

  “No, this was our second year. The first year we barely had enough ornaments and decorations to fill a third of the shop. It took longer than we expected to make arrangements with artists and craftsmen.” Holly’s smile was full of pride. “We only sell one-of-a-kind Christmas items. That’s why all of our items are handmade. We even have contracts with our suppliers that they will not make another item exactly the same. Some may be similar, but not exact.”

  “Wow, I didn’t realize that. You have a very special shop.”

  She grinned. “We do. It’s one of a kind.”

  Jessica rolled her eyes at Holly’s smirk.

  She burst out laughing. “I never get tired of saying that.”

  They drifted to a stop in front of the One of a Kind Christmas Shop. Holly crossed her arms. “It took a lot of work, late nights, and negotiations to make this successful. But it finally happened.”

  “It’s Cameron’s legacy to you.”

  Holly nodded silently, her eyes tearing. “It is. I will never sell it. As long as it’s keeping a roof over my head, I will keep it open, in memory of him.”

  Jessica stifled her urge to put her arms around Holly’s shoulders. She needed to keep her distance.

  “Can we go in? It’s not as full as I made it this year. I just couldn’t stop buying more items.”

  The shop was attached to the house, but it wasn’t the house, so Jessica nodded. Helping Holly look at the shop as Cameron’s legacy would only help her.

  They floated through the large glass picture window. Inside were a number of last-minute shoppers.

  “Oh look, Brody brought Sarah here. I think that was their first Christmas as a couple.” Holly drifted toward Cam’s best friend.

  Jessica grinned. For a woman who didn’t want to be around Cameron’s buddies, she unconsciously gravitated toward them. Maybe it was time for her to rejoin them.

  Brody was built like Cameron, muscular and athletic, but his features were quite different. His hair was a very light brown, almost blond color. He had high cheek bones and his mouth seemed to be perpetually smiling. He showed Sarah an ornament, turning on the little lights that flickered inside it, causing him to laugh.

  Jessica left Holly to enjoy this special time watching her friends explore her own shop. As she floated toward the front, she slowed to watch a slightly younger Holly wrap an ornament for a very pregnant woman. Holly glowed with warmth and happiness. The younger Holly was so different from the Holly she’d first glimpsed when she and Duncan looked in on her in this shop.

  She looked back at Holly now, smiling as she watched Ethan show Cameron’s cousin a reindeer that moved.

  They had really made a difference for Cameron’s wife and Jessica was more than a little proud of that. The next spirits had a lot to work with. Now if Duncan would only come, they could finish the final visit.

  She floated outside as if being there would make him come sooner. It was growing dark, a clear sign Duncan had been gone far too long. Was Cameron being stubborn? Had Duncan had another of his zombie-like happenings that kept him from traveling to the right time?

  She drifted farther down the sidewalk toward the square. She missed him. That thought stopped her forward motion. She must be losing her mind. It was one thing to fall for the man, but to miss him after what couldn’t be more than an hour was just plain pathetic.

  Somehow, she didn’t think Holly would think her pathetic.

  Resolutely, she turned back. That was because Holly was a sweetheart who smiled at everyone, even when she didn’t feel like smiling. Maybe after this last visit, she could smile a little easier.

  As Jessica approached the shop, Holly floated out. “There you are. We have to go in the house now. Everyone’s there except me.”

  She shook her head. “No we have to wait for Duncan. Remember what happened last time we didn’t wait?”

  “You mean you got in trouble for taking me on an unscheduled stop.”

  Jessica bit her tongue from explaining any further. “Yes.”

  “But this is my last visit. I don’t want to miss it. It’s not like I’ll ever have this opportunity again.”

  “But Holly, we can simply bring you back an hour and you can be inside the house from the beginning.” She smiled to soften her refusal.

  “Then can we go back an hour now? I wouldn’t mind checking in on some friends since I can basically be in two places at once now.”

  Could she? As a living person who was phased, could she “relive” the last hour? One way to find out. “Why not? Take my hand.”

  Jessica started back in time only to feel Holly’s hand slip from hers. No! Her heartbeat went into double time as she raced forward again.

  “…sica! Oh good, you’re still here. You scared me disappearing like that.”

  “Are you okay?”

  “Of course, I’m fine. So are we going?”

  She shook her head. “It won’t work. I just tried. That’s why I disappeared, but you couldn’t come with me.”

  Holly’s eyes widened. “That means I’m missing my last chance to see Cameron alive.” She looked next door to her home.

  Shit. Where was Duncan? She needed him here in more ways than one.

  Holly didn’t try to argue with her for a change. Instead, she moved toward the front window and stared inside.

  Jessica’s stomach ached for her. If this was the event Holly was supposed to see and she didn’t see it, what would Cameron think then? Where was Duncan? He said not to go in and then he doesn’t arrive in Holly’s timeline to go in with them?

  He didn’t want her to give in to Holly because she’d grown close to her. That was true, but now she had full fai
th in Holly’s ability to overcome her sorrow with further visits from other spirits. She wouldn’t be giving in to Holly. She’d be doing her job.

  Floating to where Holly stood, her gaze glued to the happenings inside, she grasped her hand. “Ready to go inside?”

  “Really? What about Duncan?”

  “I don’t know what happened to him, but I do know Cameron would be really mad at me if you didn’t get to experience this final visit. So shall we?”

  Holy’s smile was wide as she nodded.

  “You bet.”

  Chapter Ten

  Duncan didn’t bother entering his home. Instead he phased into his kilt and linen shirt. For the first time since being assigned Holly’s case, he felt like he could breathe without the tight-feeling material about his chest, arms and neck. Modern clothes were far too restrictive.

  Floating across the fields near his castle, he headed for the largest burn on his property. There was a sturdy bridge across it on the south side, but even before he reached it, he changed his direction and floated farther south. Along the water’s edge on the castle’s side, though a dirt road hugged the other side.

  He hovered near a spot where the embankment had no trees or bushes on either side and felt the back of his head. The hidden pain had vanished. Drifting to the ground, he solidified.

  It had been raining that day. No’ exactly an uncommon occurrence, but something about the rain had been uncommon. Too much? Too little?

  Too much. Too many days of rain. Months of rain. He looked at the calmly weaving water’s surface. It hadn’t looked like this. Images of rushing water flashed across his mind. Aye, the burn had been a torrent. Worse than ever seen before.

  He glanced back at the bridge. No, the bridge had stayed. So why was the burn so important? It hadn’t overflowed this far inland. He looked again at the embankment across from him. He’d been here, stood here.

  His heartbeat increased. The opposite side had given way, part of the road sheering off and something terrible had happened. A carriage had tilted into the water, but even as he stood there he was sure he hadn’t been in it. Why was the carriage important?