Bewitching You

by Estrella, Viola

  “Hey, girl. Where have you been all day?”

  The cat meowed.

  “Hiding from that nasty storm, you say? What a smart kitty.”

  Another meow.

  Sofia got the hint, opened a can of cat food and dropped it into Sam’s dish. The cat didn’t touch the food. Instead, she hopped up onto the butcher block and swatted her paw toward Sofia.

  “What? You saw that earlier? Don’t tell Nana, okay? She’s not too fond of people making a mess in her kitchen.”

  Sam hissed and swatted again.

  “What’s wrong, girl?” Sofia took a step toward the cat, but stopped short when a chill breezed across her arm.

  Shoot. She knew that phenomenon quite well. A spirit was here. But why? Sofia didn’t know how to conjure them. She was pretty certain Nana didn’t have the ability either. Although it seemed Nana had a few surprises up her sleeve…or in her shed.

  Sofia ignored the presence. What else could she do? Say hello? Ask if it wanted some tea?

  She reached to open the cupboard door and noticed a sticky note attached to the front. “Where did you come from?” The note hadn’t been there earlier in the daylight, and now the darkness made it difficult to read. She snatched the paper and brought it to the lamp.

  Sofia, You fill me with happiness. I love you with all my heart. ~Gray

  Oh, wow. She held the note to her bosom and sighed.

  He loved her.

  But when had the sneaky devil had the chance to leave this note? Maybe she hadn’t noticed it earlier. Strange that he wrote the sentiment down rather than tell her. Hearing the words from his lips would mean so much more…

  She shook her head. It didn’t matter. He loved her. That’s what was most important. She loved him, too, and couldn’t wait to tell him. And hear the words back. Grabbing the lamp, she sprinted as fast as her sore body would take her up the stairs, down the hall, and into the bedroom.

  Gray was sprawled out on his back. His chest barely moved. He looked so peaceful, Sofia couldn’t bear to wake him.

  Oh, well. There was always tomorrow. She stuffed the note in the side pocket of her duffle bag and joined her man on the bed. His arm instinctively wrapped around her when she laid her head on his chest. Pure heaven. She had no doubt that in his arms was where she wanted to spend the rest of her nights.

  ~ * ~

  Sofia opened her eyes and realized she was in the airplane again. She walked through the aisle, listening to the forlorn whirring of the engine as they glided through the air. Out the windows, she was able to see clouds. This was the first time she’d been able to see anything other than haze in the sky. Anxious to get a better look, she leaned over the two men wearing polo shirts, khaki shorts and sandals with socks underneath.

  A fighter jet flew nearby. What the heck? Two pilots wearing helmets with those microphone thingies attached peered over at the plane. Their lips moved, and Sofia wished she knew what they were saying.

  She supposed they were wondering why everyone was dead. Maybe they were worried about where this plane would land once it ran out of fuel, since no one would be able to land it safely. Or maybe the plane would crash before it ran out of fuel. Too many scenarios and none of them good.

  Sofia glanced at the terrain below.

  Mountains. They were headed into a mountain range where people might or might not have homes and a family, dogs and cats, schools full of children.

  Could it be that Sofia was responsible for more than just the lives of the people on this airplane?

  Ergh. She couldn’t think about that. Focus, Sofe.

  The fact that they were flying over a mountain range was at least one clue.

  She looked down at the middle-aged man her knee was pressed into. “Sorry. This is really important.”

  What did it matter, Sofe? He’s dead.

  “Not if I can help it,” she reminded herself.

  The man was wearing a leather band watch on his wrist and the hands were moving.

  It worked.

  Sofia grabbed his arm and checked the time.

  Twenty minutes after five. Good. This was good. She was gathering more info. She’d have this solved in no time. Rejuvenated, she searched for more clues. She closely inspected each person as she continued to walk down the aisle. What she was looking for, she had no idea, but something would poke out at her. It had to.

  Seat twenty, twenty-one…

  Twenty-two wasn’t empty anymore. No, it certainly wasn’t. The woman from the restaurant sat there. Sofia almost hadn’t recognized her at first. Her face wasn’t the porcelain shade she remembered. Her skin was blue, tinted with death, frozen in time.

  Dear Lord.

  Sofia clamped her hand over her mouth as her stomach revolted. No, no, no. Her legs faltered and she stumbled back a few steps, bumping into the seat behind her.

  How could this be? It didn’t matter. Now more than ever she needed to stop this plane from flying.

  She had to save Rachel. Gray’s ex-fiancée.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Penny kept her eyes shut tight as she lay in the hospital bed with Laura and Herbert sitting nearby. They’d been whispering small talk for the past hour, and Penny had no intention of interrupting.

  Her migraine had settled down after the doctor ordered her MRI, gave her medication, stuck an IV in her, and admitted her into a room to sleep for the night. But Penny knew none of this had cured her.

  Her true champion had been Hayes.

  He’d come to her and told her of his plan to concoct a love note for Sofia and sign Gray’s name. Hayes had been certain this would bring Sofia around. Obviously, it had. The migraine was gone, and Penny felt renewed. Ready to take on the world.

  But not yet. Sometimes it was best to let the world spin on its own axis while you sat back, relaxed…and listened a little more closely.

  “Thank you for all your help, Herbert,” Laura said, for the third time since they’d sat beside Penny’s bed.

  Penny had closed her eyes and faked sleep the instant she’d heard them walk into the room.

  Not until now did she allow herself one peek, only to notice Herbert held her daughter’s hand. He squeezed her palm and smiled. A warm, gentle smile.

  Laura didn’t pull away. Tears welled in her beautiful eyes. “You were the first person who popped into my head to call.”

  Penny did a mental cheer.

  “I’m glad you thought of me,” Herbert replied. “I was convinced you didn’t like me.”

  “I do like you.” Laura wiped a tear from her cheek. “I suppose that’s why I’ve treated you so poorly.”

  “Oh.” Herbert bunched his forehead.

  “But I’m sorry. I really am, and I promise I’ll try to be nicer from now on.”

  He smiled again. “That would be wonderful. And I’m glad to help. If there’s anything you ever need or want, feel free to call me…or come over.”

  “Thank you,” she said a fourth time. A blush colored Laura’s cheeks and she glanced Penny’s way, forcing Penny to shut her eyes.

  Which was fine with her. She’d seen enough to allow herself some real sleep. Just for a bit. A mother’s work had to end sometime.

  ~ * ~

  Sofia lurched up in bed and searched for the clock, taking a moment for her eyes to adjust.

  Come on, come on. Okay, it was past eight in the morning. She’d slept in too late. Dang it. She threw a robe on and noticed for the first time that Gray wasn’t in bed with her.

  “Gray,” she called out, probably a little hysterically. “Gray!”

  What the heck. This was important, and she needed his help.

  Quick footsteps padded down the narrow hallway, and he appeared at the bedroom door with a toothbrush in his mouth, wearing nothing but his boxer briefs. “What’s wrong?” he asked, wide-eyed, mouth full of toothpaste.

  “You’re not going to believe this.” Sofia stuffed herself into a pair of panties and then jeans. “But humor me, if you can.
We need to find Rachel. I dreamed she’s on the plane.”

  Sofia didn’t bother looking at Gray’s expression, knowing this would shock him more than anything she’d shared with him yet. She dropped her robe, snapped on a bra, and tugged on a faded Indianapolis Colts t-shirt. Gray’s footsteps creaked back to the bathroom, and Sofia’s heart dropped into her stomach.

  Undoubtedly, this was where he came to his senses and realized having a psychic girlfriend wasn’t the best idea. Maybe he finally understood that life would be much easier if he simply found a woman who didn’t have dreams that woke him in the middle of the night. Maybe the tramp would know how to make eggs without burning them too. Not fair at all.

  She shoved her feet into a pair of tennies, grabbed Gray’s note, kissed it and stuffed the paper in her jeans pocket. She’d always have the memory of the last couple of days with him.

  The hallway was empty and so was the bathroom. He must’ve high-tailed it out of here.

  She stopped in at the bathroom to tie her hair back into a ponytail and freshened up some. Rachel wasn’t going to bother opening the door for a wild-haired waitress who reeked of morning breath, especially one who predicted death in the near future, perhaps as early as today.

  This wasn’t going to be easy, but what other choice did Sofia have? She needed to find out the flight number and destination, at least. Then who knew what?

  She bounded down the stairs, scaring Sam at the bottom. The cat shot into the kitchen and jumped onto the butcher block. Sofia followed.

  Still no sign of Gray. Shoot. He could’ve at least said goodbye. Or… I’m sorry it won’t work out between us. Forget about the note I wrote you last night. I didn’t realize you were psychotic. Who knew her mom had been right all these years? When the going got crazy, men left. That’s what her dad had done anyway.

  Tears stung her eyes as old memories surfaced.

  Stop it, Sofe. Concentrate on the task at hand.

  She sniffed back the tears, poured Sam some dry cat food, more water, and made her way to the front door. She strode outside…and ran into Gray who stood, fully dressed, on the porch.

  He grabbed her shoulders and peered into her eyes. “Are you sure it was her?”

  Sofia nodded and blew out a breath of relief. He hadn’t left her. Not yet.

  “And she was dead? She was on the plane dead?”

  “Yes. She sat in the seat that had been empty in all the other dreams.”

  “I need to know for sure because I can’t take my new girlfriend to my ex-fiancée’s apartment and throw this all in her face if there’s any possibility it’s not true. You can understand that, right?”

  His new girlfriend. The words warmed Sofia from the inside out. “I’m positive it was her, Gray.”

  He wiped at a tear Sofia hadn’t realized had trailed down her cheek. “Okay,” he said. “Let’s find a way out of here.”

  ~ * ~

  Rachel woke up with Hayes’s heavy arm wrapped around her waist. She didn’t bother trying to find him with her eyes, knowing he most likely wasn’t visible. The mere thought of it left her feeling empty and alone.

  “Morning,” he said, and held her close. “Are you better today?”

  “Than yesterday? Yes, much better than yesterday.” She’d been at her lowest the day before and never wanted to go there again.

  Although her heart still ached. She knew she’d lose Hayes soon, at any moment. “What if?” A thought sprang to mind and began to rush out of her mouth, but she stopped it.

  “What are you thinking, Rache?”

  “What if…what if I were to die? Could I be with you then?”

  “No.” He reeled away, deserting her.

  Rachel turned onto her back and winced at the angry look in his eyes. “It was just an idea.”

  “Don’t think that way. You need to live, baby. Your life is important to many people, and soon it’ll be important to you again. You can’t give up.”

  She sat up. “But what about you? Won’t you miss me?”

  “Of course I will, but I have to move on. I can’t stay in this limbo forever.”

  “Move on where? Where will you go? Why can’t we do it together?”

  “Rachel, please don’t say that anymore. You have to live. I can’t tell you how essential that is.”

  “But—”

  “You won’t be able to find me if you end your life. I’ll have crossed over, and you’ll be stuck.”

  “Where, Hayes?” His riddles were beginning to frustrate her.

  “I can’t say. I don’t even know myself. All I know is I’m driven to help Gray, and now I understand why I’ve come to help you too. It’s so clear to me. You have to live. You have a journey ahead of you. You’re going to go on and do great things.” His dark eyes gleamed with intensity.

  “Like what?” Rachel couldn’t imagine. She’d thought herself powerless to do anything great since the day she was born. She was simply Rachel Spencer, eternal student, loving sister and obedient daughter of Tim and Nora Spencer. That was all.

  “Live and love yourself for as long as this world will allow you, okay? Tell me that you’ll do this for me. Make me proud.”

  “You’ll be watching?”

  “Yes. But I don’t know what passage lies in front of me.”

  “Heaven? Does heaven exist?” Rachel reached out to touch him, but he began to fade.

  “I love you, Rachel. Be strong and live.”

  “Hayes? Don’t go yet.” She grabbed at his arm, but there was nothing tangible to grasp. She fell forward onto her bed.

  ~ * ~

  Gray kicked the hatchback’s bumper, causing half of it to fall to the ground.

  “Gray!” Sofia swatted his arm.

  “Sorry. I’ll pay to have that fixed,” he muttered. The damn thing still wouldn’t start, and it irked the hell out of him.

  “Fine. Just don’t kick my baby anymore. This car is practically a part of the family. I’ve had it since I was sixteen.”

  “Maybe it’s time for an upgrade.”

  “Don’t get grouchy with me, Grayson. Your stupid car is probably sitting in a junkyard right now.”

  Gray clenched his jaw at the thought of that. He’d paid a shitload of money for that BMW only a year ago. That car better not have a scratch on it.

  “Let’s go find out.” He grabbed her hand, and they started up the lane to the road.

  She didn’t resist like he thought she might. Instead, she kept a steady pace at his side. “You think the car might still be there?”

  He shrugged.

  “Why are you mad at me?”

  “I’m not.” He was frustrated. His mini-vacation in the country with Sofia was ending. Time to get back to the real world. Well, as soon as they found Rachel. Not that his ex-fiancée was going to believe a word Sofia said. He imagined her reaction would be somewhere between appalled and annoyed. All directed at Gray, of course, for bringing his new woman into her home.

  If Gray didn’t trust Sofia, he wouldn’t bother. In fact, he’d have left as soon as she’d told him about this mysterious coffin-plane flying through the sky.

  But he did trust her, and he loved her even more. Which meant Rachel needed to be saved, along with the rest of those poor people. How had Sofia dealt with this enormous responsibility her entire life?

  She remained quiet for the first quarter mile down the road, holding tight to his hand and chewing at her lip.

  “It’s not my fault I have these dumb visions.”

  “I know.” Gray glanced down at her again. Redness rimmed her eyes. Damn. He hated that he’d upset her. “And I’m not mad at you. I swear I’m not.”

  She nodded and dropped her head to watch the dirt road in front of her. Gray slowed his pace so she could keep up. It was all he could think to do. He was the first to admit he hadn’t a clue when it came to women. They were an anomaly to Gray. Had been for his whole life.

  Hayes would know what to say to cheer her up. If only
Gray had an inkling of that charm and understanding of women.

  Tell her you love her.

  No, it wasn’t time for that yet. Maybe later on tonight, after they’d saved the day. Gray would take her to his place. They’d shower and make love. He’d order in some Italian, light some candles, play some music. Then he’d tell her how he loved her from the very depth of his soul.

  Maybe she’d say it back. If she loved him. There was no telling.

  At least ten minutes passed before Sofia spoke again. “Are we getting close to where your car should be? It’s pretty hot out here.” Her cheeks were pink from the sun shining down on them.

  Gray surveyed the flat road ahead of them but saw nothing for what seemed miles and miles. “The car’s gone. It would be down this way somewhere, but I don’t see anything on the horizon.”

  Just a long road in front of them, a cornfield to the right, and an Amish cemetery to the left. Plain wooden slats marked the graves, and a white picket fence surrounded the area. Eerie.

  Gray’s parents and brother were buried side-by-side at a well-kept cemetery in Indianapolis. Their stones were upright, large, and made of granite. Gray had seen to it they’d gotten the best. Although he hadn’t visited them since Hayes’ funeral. He’d been too stubborn. It was time to do that again soon.

  “Look,” Sofia said, and poked him in the ribs.

  His gaze followed to where she was staring. A horse and buggy drove down a road perpendicular to the one they walked. “Hey,” Gray called out twice, but either they couldn’t hear him or they were ignoring him. Probably the latter.

  From his minute knowledge of the Amish, he understood they were aloof and mostly didn’t want to have anything to do with non-Amish people, or the English, as he had heard it said before.

  “Assholes,” he muttered, definitely grouchy.

  “They’re not assholes, Gray. They’re just careful. You’re not exactly a small man.” She shaded her eyes with her hand. “What should we do?”

  “Where’s your boyfriend live?” As soon as the words left his mouth, he bit his lips shut.

  “Are you talking about Elijah?” She glared at him. “He has a wife, Gray. And children. I’m sure his family would not appreciate you saying—”