Barefoot Bay_Whispers in the Sand

by Gail Chianese

  “What?” PJ asked.

  “Seriously?” Dave followed.

  “Tell me you got it on tape,” Don said.

  Colin nodded. “Had the digital and the video going the whole time and I got evidence.” He ran them through everything that had happened. Answered their questions and watched tears of a different kind trail down Mrs. O’Malley’s cheeks.

  “You actually heard him say ‘Shay’ without any equipment?” PJ had a dubious look on his face, just like at work when he heard tales of people asking to pet the lions.

  “Yeah. It was faint, but I heard it.”

  “You said you caught the block moving on camera, right?” Don called over his shoulder as he walked into the kitchen where they’d set up the monitors.

  The others, including Mrs. O’Malley, followed and gathered around the table while he rewound the tape to when Colin had first entered the room. The group watched and waited, as Don fast forwarded to the part where the camera first fell—or rather what looked to them like an unseen hand had lifted it then placed it lens down. The video didn’t have sound, so they had to make do for the moment with what they could see. And that was the block moving, both times on its own.

  “This is amazing.” PJ scratched his head and clapped Colin on the shoulder. “We’ve never caught anything like it before.”

  The guys all started talking at once, asking questions, or making suggestions.

  “There’s more.” Colin held up his hand to quiet them. He turned to Mrs. O’Malley. “While you were gone, Shay and I came over and did some investigating on our own.”

  “I told Shay you were welcome to come back.”

  Each member of his team responded with scowls, a shake of the head and, in PJ’s case, a refusal to look at him. After what he was about to tell them, he wouldn’t be surprised if they asked him to leave the group.

  “I’d caught an EVP on my recorder from our first night. It occurred right before the faucet-exploding incident. A single word: ‘Believe.’”

  “Uh-huh, go on.” Mrs. O’Malley encouraged.

  “Shay heard it too, so we came back over when we hoped the spirit would concentrate on just the two of us. I was asking Shay about her grandfather’s first name and that’s when the picture of you, your husband, and his cousin Finn flew off the table and the glass broke. I also got hit on the head by what felt like a person’s hand, but Shay was in front of me and no one else was in the house.”

  “Hmmph. Meddling, stubborn old goat. Didn’t believe I’d tell her about him so he took things into his own hands, I see. And he’s punishing me by blocking his presence from me.”

  Despite the evidence before them, Colin could read the expressions on his team’s faces and see the uncertainty and worry. No one they knew had full-on conversations with a spirit, not the kind Mrs. O’Malley had reported. Granted, her gift was like something out of a movie, but based on everything Colin had seen and experienced he didn’t have any doubt.

  “The team will want to review the evidence in full, Mrs. O’Malley.” Don shot him a look that said they’d talk later. “However, based on what we’ve just seen and Colin’s personal experiences here, I’d have to say you have paranormal activity going on in this house.”

  “Ha!” She clapped her hands together and chuckled. “Finally, I’ve got something to share with the family and prove to them I’m not crazy. Oh, they’ve been humoring me for years, going along with what I say and pretending to believe in O’Malley’s spirit, all except Ian. Even Shay refused to believe. Now, they’ll have no choice and I won’t have to worry about them locking me up in some old folks’ home where they monitor your every move.”

  Colin’s heart clenched at her words. He hadn’t realized that option had even been discussed or was a fear of Mrs. O’Malley’s. Shay had never said anything.

  Shay.

  Oh crap. She was going to kill him for breaking his promise. He’d not only told her gram about their evidence, but the team. He’d done the right thing, she’d see that. Granted, he shouldn’t have agreed to keep information from either his team or Mrs. O’Malley in the first place, but he hadn’t believed then. Things were different now and no one with a heart could have left the sweet woman in tears when they could give her happiness instead. Shay would have to understand when she heard the circumstances.

  And if not, he’d cross that bridge when he came to it.

  Chapter Nine

  All she wanted to do was lie on the beach and sleep. Last night’s wedding celebration had gone on until the wee hours of the morning. Well, just past one a.m., but when the alarm went off at six, did it really matter? Not when you had a herd of energized toddlers and kids to corral and keep from burying or drowning one another. At least the agenda for the day called for simply playing on the beach and for the most part her trusted sidekick, Alex, had everything under control.

  Which left Shay time to think as she enjoyed the gorgeous hues of blue from the sea to the sky, while the sun warmed her skin and worked on turning it a lovely shade of pink.

  Things between her and Colin had been off lately, which was completely her fault, and she’d owned up. ‘Fessed up to her fears and then apologized and told him she wanted more. Sure, sure, it was in a text message instead of face-to-face, but she’d expected some kind of reply.

  Yet, eighteen hours and, a quick glance at her watch confirmed, twenty-two minutes later and she’d heard zip. Zilch. Nada…not a damn word.

  She really wasn’t sure what to make of the radio silence, but she knew she’d lost him one time before because of sheer stupidity, pride, and not communicating and she wasn’t about to do so again. This time they’d talk, listen, and compromise. First though, she needed to fix her relationship with Gram.

  Maybe then Finn would stop haunting her dreams.

  Now that the man—ghost—whatever had made himself known in her life and the role he played, he took his responsibilities seriously. The voice was still a whisper, but the words flowed as if acknowledging his existence had opened the floodgates. He yammered about forgiving her grandmother, trusting in true love, and oh, her favorite—wasn’t she getting too old to be on her own? She got it. She really did and didn’t need nightly lectures. Hard to believe that for years, almost three-fourths of her life for that matter, she’d prayed her granddad would talk to her like he did with her grandmother.

  She really should be careful what she wished for.

  Excited shouts of “Mama” had Shay looking over her shoulder to see her boss and new friend, Lacey, along with Tessa, Jocelyn, and Zoe approaching. Alex held both Maya’s and Elijah’s hands as they jumped up and down and looked to Shay for approval to unleash the little krakens. Shay gave a nod and the two were off and running. They would have had two more to watch, but Tessa and Jocelyn had left their little ones at home with the dads while the four women had convened for Sunday lunch and a business meeting.

  During their ladies’ night out, each of the woman had shared their story with Shay, how they’d given up on finding love and having a family of their own, except Lacey who already had a daughter when she met her now husband, Clay. For the others, it wasn’t until they came to Barefoot Bay and it wasn’t so much that they had found love as that love had found them, smacked them upside the head, and held on tight until they accepted the gift. Now each was deliriously happy.

  She’d heard the same from so many others. The wedding planners, Gussie, Ari, and Willow. Then there were Gabe and Lila, Mandy and Zeke, and the new VP of Marketing, Emma, and her guy Mark, all of whom had found each other in Barefoot Bay. It was like the resort was Cupid’s personal playground.

  And she was his latest victim.

  “Excuse me.” A pretty woman with long blond hair approached Shay; drawing her attention away from the scene she’d been watching. “Are you Shay O’Malley?”

  “Yes.” Shay shot a swift glance at the children to confirm Alex had them under control and to try to place the woman before her. “How can I hel
p you?”

  “I’m Julia Simpson with The Mimosa Times. If you have a moment, I’d like to talk with you.”

  “Did Lacey or Emma set up an interview with you about the Kids Club? Neither one mentioned it to me and right now we still have several children in attendance. Could I meet you in an hour, after the parents have picked up their children?”

  She hated brushing off a chance for resort promo, but the five kids they had left were engaged in a game of tag and had Alex spinning to keep track of them.

  “Oh, this isn’t about the resort. This is about your grandmother, Siobhan O’Malley, and her ghost.”

  The blood and every muscle in Shay’s body froze.

  She must have heard wrong. “Alex, take the children up to the patio for their afternoon snack,” she called over her shoulder. “I’m sorry, as you can see we have our hands full and I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

  Shay turned to go, but the woman, Julia, stepped in front of her. “It’s all over Mimosa Key courtesy of Charity Grambling. I can go to her for the story. However, I’d rather have it from you and I would think you’d rather the natives heard the truth instead of gossip.”

  Shay crossed her arms and planted her feet firmly in the sand. It was hard to look tough in your bare feet with a ponytail, so she put on her teacher face. “Didn’t you ever learn you shouldn’t believe everything you hear?”

  “That’s why I’m coming directly to you.”

  “Shay, what’s going on?” Lacey asked from behind her.

  Turning around, Shay found all four ladies standing behind her with frowns on their faces.

  “Just letting Ms. Simpson know that now is not a good time to interview me on a piece about new arrivals to Mimosa Key.”

  “What was that about Charity Grambling? What kind of trouble is she stirring up now?” Tessa asked with a heavy sigh. “That woman doesn’t know how to mind her own business.”

  “It’s nothing, something about my gram—”

  “The best way to deal with people like her is to ignore her.” Jocelyn shook her head and she took Maya from Zoe’s arms.

  Zoe stepped up next to Shay and linked her arms. “Ms. Simpson, I don’t know what Charity told you—”

  “We have a real haunted house on Mimosa Key,” the reporter cut in, leaving four women with jaws dropped and Shay cursing under her breath.

  Damn, damn, double damn.

  She hadn’t been shot by Cupid’s arrow. She’d been struck by Murphy’s Law.

  “What are you talking about?” Lacey asked.

  “I stopped by the Super Min this morning and it’s all Charity is talking about. Apparently, last night she met the ghost hunters. They’re investigating Shay’s grandmother’s house where she’s being haunted by the spirit of her long dead lover. He died over fifty years ago and he’s never left her side. Isn’t that so romantic?” The reporter spoke to the fearsome foursome, but her gaze never left Shay’s face.

  “That is rather sweet,” Tessa murmured.

  “Oh, but that’s not all. Shay and her grandmother talk to him all the time.”

  Shay wished with everything she had inside of her for a giant wave to crash onto the beach and sweep her out to sea. It was her childhood nightmare starting all over again. First would be the stares, then the not-so-quiet whispers of what a freak she was, talking to the dead. She’d learned then to keep her lips zipped and to shove away the memory of her granddad, Mickey, coming to her after he passed. In time she’d actually convinced herself that it had been a dream.

  Until Finn had shoved his way into her mind.

  And just like back then, someone she trusted had betrayed her.

  Before it had been her big brother, Ian, who had flapped his gums and told the world and this time… This time, it could only be Colin. He was the only one on the team who knew the full story.

  He had broken his promise to her.

  If only she hadn’t let him shove his way back into her heart.

  Because, if Colin had broken this promise, she couldn’t really expect him to keep others, couldn’t expect him to put her first. That knowledge broke her heart. There was only one thing she could do.

  “Lacey, I’ll have my bungalow cleaned out and be off the property within the hour.” She took a step away and a hand latched on to her arm.

  “Don’t move.” Lacey turned to the reporter. “Ms. Simpson, why don’t you leave your card with Joss and if Shay is interested she can set up a time to talk. Right now, however, is not a good time and I’m going to have to ask you to leave.”

  The reporter took one last look at Shay before digging her card out and handing it to Jocelyn. As soon as she was out of sight, all four women surrounded Shay.

  “Why would you need to clean out your bungalow?” Lacey asked as little Elijah played at her feet in the sand.

  “Because you don’t want a freak watching your children.”

  Shay stared off at the brilliant turquoise water, avoiding their looks of disappointment and accusations and fighting back the tears of heartache.

  Focus, her brain demanded. Concentrate on what’s before you, like losing your job.

  So she stared at the sea and cleared her mind of betrayal. Not many employers could boast of such views; she’d miss it and the women around her. Lacey didn’t see it now, but Shay was saving her the pain and hassle of firing her and it was inevitable anyway. All it would take would be that one parent who’d complain loud enough and Lacey would have no choice but to let Shay go.

  This was too many déjà vus rolled into one.

  “If I thought you were a danger to children, I wouldn’t have hired you.” Lacey’s voice was soft, yet her words brooked no argument.

  “So what? You talk to the dead. My Aunt P could tell the future. It didn’t make her a freak. Just unique.” Zoe had never let go of her arm and now pulled her in closer. “Hey, if Aunt Pasha comes calling, promise you’ll tell me.”

  “We all have secrets, Shay. We’re all entitled to keep those secrets or share them with only those we choose.” Tessa rolled her eyes at Zoe’s gasp. “I’m sorry the reporter took that away from you, but it doesn’t change the fact that we like you and you’re great with the children.”

  “Is that the only reason you’re leaving?” Jocelyn asked while looking straight into her heart.

  “Don’t mind Joss, she used to be a life coach so she feels it’s her job to pry.” Zoe whispered.

  Shay drew in a deep breath and slowly let it out to steady her nerves. “It’s true that my grandmother has a ghost, not really haunting her, because she welcomes his company. He’s my long-dead grandfather who I never knew. She brought a team in to prove it to the family. There’s only one guy on the team who knew the full story—”

  “Colin,” four voices said at once.

  “Bingo.”

  Lacey linked her arm with Shay’s free arm and looked at the group. “Let’s have Alex take Maya and Elijah up to the house and we five ladies can have margaritas on the patio and convince Shay to stay.”

  So the fearsome foursome settled in a corner of the patio adjacent to Junonia where Shay filled them in on the whole story. By the time she was done Lacey had issued a notice to security that not only was the reporter banned from the resort, but so was Colin. Shay agreed to stay on and continue heading up the Casa Blanca Kids Club. All four had loved her idea to open up enrollment to the island children for after-school care starting in the fall, when bookings dropped off.

  Once back in her bungalow Shay tried to call Colin, because the shock had worn off and she needed to confront him. The phone rang and rang before finally going to voice mail. She left a message and then followed it up with a text message asking him to call.

  Well if she couldn’t clear things up with Colin, she could at least fix her relationship with Gram and warn her that her secret had been leaked to the entire population of Mimosa Key. Maybe then Finn would cut her some slack.

  It only took a few minut
es to drive from Casa Blanca on one end of Mimosa Key to the southern end where her gram lived. The family didn’t stand on ceremony, so Shay didn’t bother knocking before she reached for the doorknob. She came up short when it didn’t open.

  Locked. Where was Gram?

  Shay used her key to let herself in and called out. No response. She noted the shades had been pulled and the A/C set to economy mode. Peeking into Gram’s room she spotted a piece of paper on the bed and picked it up.

  Dear Shay,

  I’ve gone to visit your parents. I was going to wait until you came over, but honestly with that stubborn streak of yours it might have been another month before you decided to talk to me and I couldn’t wait. Your man and his team were over last night for another investigation and O’Malley gave them a show. I knew he’d come through for me. I’m on my way to show your parents. None of you will think I’m crazy once you’ve seen this video. I’ve told Finn to stop harping on you, so you should get some peace tonight. Anywho, water the plants for me and give my love to Colin.

  Gram

  Shay dropped onto the bed. Gram had confirmed that Colin had been in town last night. A fact he had failed to mention to her. She picked up the letter and read it again; especially the part about the how the family thought Gram was crazy. Shay’s heart broke.

  “Oh Gram,” Shay whispered. “I didn’t really think you were crazy, just lonely.”

  Chapter Ten

  It had been two weeks since the investigation at the O’Malley house and his last communication with Shay. Since that night she’d refused to answer his calls, texts, and every time he called the resort directly or showed up in person he was met with a roadblock. Twice he’d been escorted off the premises by security and the third time he’d been chased away by an irate woman named Poppy in a golf cart.

  He’d even stopped by Mrs. O’Malley’s in the hope he’d have an ally, but the neighbor informed him that she was out of town and if he kept snooping around she’d call the sheriff’s department. When Mimosa Key closed ranks, they didn’t mess around.