“Mom.” This time the word was resolved. Trav pulled back, and she couldn’t force him to stay next to her. “It’s all right.”
“Why haven’t you show yourself before now?” She couldn’t look away, afraid that if she did, he would disappear.
His eyes went to Jan, and he smiled. “Hey, January.”
“Hey,” Jan answered.
“Trav, why did you burn down your room?” she asked.
“Because it makes you upset,” he answered. “Now you can’t stare at it and cry anymore. I don’t want you to be sad anymore.”
“Honey, I’m not sad because of a house. I’m sad because I miss you.” She lifted her hand to let it hover next to his cheek. Her fingers tingled. “I’m so sorry that bad thing happened to you. I’m sorry that I couldn’t protect you.”
“You have to stop blaming yourself.” He swayed on his feet. “You used to laugh all the time. I just want you to be happy. Grandpa Joe said seeing me would only make you sad longer. He said when he died that he visited Grandma Julia, but then she never moved on and was always a little sad.”
“You see Grandpa Joe?” Heather asked. Joe had been Julia’s husband. He’d moved on to the next step. Julia never precisely explained what the next step was. She said some mysteries had to be discovered at the right moment, but that it was beautiful.
“He said he’ll teach me to play baseball when I go with him. He said we could play all the time, and climb giant trees, and that there are other kids there,” the boyish excitement dropped into worry, “but I don’t want you to be by yourself.”
“That sounds so nice, baby,” she assured him.
He sounded so excited by the prospect. Knowing he wouldn’t be alone made her feel better. It wasn’t the same as him being with her where he belonged. It wasn’t fair. He deserved all the things a person experienced in life. But that’s not what fate had in mind for him. Trav would never grow up and give her grandkids. He’d never have a job or find a wife.
Being a parent wasn’t about what she wanted. It wasn’t about her broken heart. A good mother sacrificed. That is what she had to do. She needed to put her son before herself.
“You should go with Grandpa Joe.” Oh, but she didn’t want to let him go.
“I have to make sure you’re all right first,” Travis said.
“I will be.” She heard Jan move behind her, but still couldn’t look away. She needed to take in every second.
Travis looked at his friend. “January doesn’t have a mom.”
Heather nodded.
“And you’re a really good mom,” he continued. He walked so that she was forced to turn toward the truck where she could see both children. “She said her dad worries all the time. Maybe if you were her mom, he wouldn’t worry so much. And you wouldn’t be lonely and sad because you’d have a kid to take care of.”
Jan stared at Travis.
“Oh, Trav, those things are complicated,” Heather answered.
“Don’t be mad at her about the fire. I made her promise,” he said.
“I’m not mad at her about the fire,” Heather said. “I mean, the fire was not a good thing, but I’m not mad. It just can’t ever happen again.”
“She’s really good at drawing,” he insisted. “And she’s super funny.”
Jan finally glanced over and tried to smile.
Heather realized that they were trying to sell her on the idea of taking care of the girl.
“Yes, January is an amazing girl,” Heather agreed.
“So if you marry her dad, you can be her mom,” Travis concluded. “And you don’t have a house now, so you can live with them.”
“Well…” Heather tried to think of how to explain the complications of adult romance and marriage to a couple of ten-year-olds. They had obviously thought their plan out.
“Don’t you want to be a mom?” Travis insisted.
“Being a mom is the best thing in my entire life,” Heather assured him. “And I would be honored to have a daughter as lovely as January, but things like marriage and living together is something that adults need to decide amongst themselves. It’s very complicated.”
The kids’ expressions fell.
“But for now I can be like a mom, maybe?” Heather offered. “I can be a friend, if January will have me?”
January smiled and nodded.
“See, I told you she was the best,” Travis said to his friend.
Heather held out her arms. Both Jan and Travis came to her. She hugged Jan tight while feeling her son’s energy.
“I love you, mom,” Travis whispered. His image began to fade as if he was losing the energy he needed to manifest. “Grandpa Joe says someday you will come where we are.”
“I promise,” Heather answered. “I can’t wait.”
“Can you send me to him?” Travis asked.
Heather nodded. “Be sure to tell Grandpa hi for me.”
“I will.” He grinned at Jan. “See you later, alligator.”
“After a while, crocodile,” she answered.
Travis chuckled.
“I love you so much,” she said. “Forever and ever. I will think about you every day until we’re together.
“I love you too, mom.” He continued to fade.
“Spirit, you have been found pure,” Heather whispered the words from the séance book used to send a spirit to where they belonged. The words caught in her throat, and she had to take a deep breath before finishing, “I release you into the light. Go in peace and love.”
Travis smiled. His spirit lifted like tiny beautiful embers floating up into the sky. Heather held Jan close as they watched him leave.
“I hate that he has to go,” Jan said.
“Me too,” Heather answered.
“Was that…?” Martin approached slowly. He glanced up to where they looked. “Did something happen?”
“Jan helped me say goodbye to my son,” Heather said, not letting the girl go.
“He went to play baseball with his grandpa,” Jan added. She pushed at Heather’s arm to be released. When she stepped away, she said matter-of-factly, “I’m going to be over here. You two have a lot of grown-up stuff to talk about before Heather can move in with us.”
Martin looked stunned as his daughter walked along the curb toward the neighbor’s house with the boxer.
“You’re moving in?” he asked.
Heather wiped the residual tears from her eyes. She would always miss him but knowing her sweet boy had moved on and was with family helped her heal more than she ever imagined possible.
“I thought maybe you decided you didn’t want to see me after, you know, that night at Vivien’s.” Martin leaned against the truck.
“What gave you that impression?” she asked.
“You never called.” Martin’s gazed dipped to her mouth as if he thought about kissing her.
“You didn’t call me,” she countered.
“You had a lot going on. I figured you’d call me when it was convenient for you,” Martin said. “But then I thought maybe you considered it more and decided my life was too complicated.”
Heather couldn’t help but shake her head. Out of the two of them, she wouldn’t have said he was the more complicated.
“I wanted you to call,” she said.
“I wanted you to call,” he answered
“Well aren’t we just a couple of teenagers.” Heather glanced up to the sky and then back again. “Our kids have it in their heads we belong together. They thought burning the house would make me move in with you and be Jan’s mom.”
Martin opened his mouth, but no sound came out.
“Don’t worry. I’m not fishing for a proposal,” Heather said. She came closer to him. “But maybe we start with a date in a grocery store parking long and see where things go from there.”
“No fancy cake,” he said. “I think that can be arranged.”
Martin cupped her cheek and gazed into her eyes. “Have I told you how amazing you a
re?”
Heather lifted on her toes. “Are you going to kiss me or what?”
Martin obeyed her request, leaning his mouth to capture hers. Her arms slid around his neck.
“Ewww,” Jan yelled with a giggle. “That’s grody to the max.”
Martin pulled back. “Grody…? Where did she learn…?”
“Don’t ask.” Heather pulled him back against her. The hard rock of emotions in her chest dissipated, and she felt like she could breathe for the first time in over a decade. “Just keep kissing me.”
Martin grinned and did just that.
Chapter Sixteen
Epilogue
Five months later…
Heather stared up at the half-painted siding of Old Anderson House. The crew was nearly finished with the exterior. The sound of the moving vans reverberated down the street. They’d finally dropped off the last load of boxes.
“I can’t believe we’re finally moved in,” Vivien said from the doorway. “I mean, except for like fifty billion boxes to unpack, but we did it.”
Heather grinned. Happiness filled her. Anderson House felt like a new beginning. She had a great relationship with Martin. Jan was starting public school soon. And her two best friends in the entire world were going to live with her in their favorite house.
There had been some talk of Martin, Troy, and William also moving in, but they were going to see how things went. That was a lot of adults under the same roof. For now, this was precisely what Heather, Vivien, and Lorna needed.
“Who’s hungry?” Lorna appeared next to Vivien. “January and I made a pork roast with a green pepper jelly glaze, lemon and parmesan asparagus, cheesy mashed potatoes, homemade dinner rolls, and chocolate cake. She’s finishing setting the table now.” She glanced around. “Where are the guys?”
“Liquor run,” Heather said. “Not a housewarming feast without wine.”
Vivien smirked and said softly so Jan couldn’t overhear, “Condom run. Not a housewarming without—”
“You’re awful,” Lorna teased, swatting her with the hand towel she held. “Come help me finish up in the kitchen.”
Vivien disappeared with Lorna inside.
Heather resumed looking at the siding. The sound of a car came from down the street, and she turned to watch William park next to the curb. Troy hopped out of the backseat carrying a bag. The sounds of clanking bottles revealed some of what was inside.
“They’re almost ready in there,” Heather said.
William grinned and patted his stomach as if anticipating the meal.
Martin climbed out of the passenger seat holding flowers. He smiled as he came to greet her. “Hey there sexy woman.”
“Hey there sexy man,” she answered with a laugh.
He handed her the bouquet and gave her a quick kiss. “Congratulations on the new home.”
“Thank you.” Heather smelled the flowers and smiled at the sweet gesture.
“Get in here, or we’re not waiting,” William yelled.
“Coming?” Martin asked.
“I’ll be right there.” Heather watched him go inside.
The sun had begun to set, streaking magentas and purples in the sky. She studied the roof against the clouds, content to just be. There was no list she needed to look at, no desperate need to fill the moment with anything by calm.
“I wish you could have been here for this, sweet boy,” she whispered, “but I know we’ll be together someday.”
The sound of laughter came through the open front door. Heather moved to go inside.
“Excuse me?”
Heather turned at the sound. A redheaded woman stood holding a small box. Dark circles had formed under her eyes as if she hadn’t slept for days.
“I know this is going to sound strange, but…” The woman stepped closer. “I think I’m supposed to be here. I think I meant to talk to you. I keep receiving signs that all point to this house.”
“I’m sorry?” Heather asked, confused. She had no clue who the woman was or why she thought she should visit.
“Heather?” Vivien appeared at the doorway, sounding concerned. “What is it?”
The redhead pulled open the box and took out a ring. She held it between her shaking fingers. “Does this mean anything to you? Because when I touch it, I feel like I have to be here.”
Heather glanced at the ring on her forefinger as her magic began to tingle. Lorna appeared next to Vivien. The two women came forward to join them on the lawn.
“You think I’m nuts, don’t you?” She dropped the ring in the box and closed the lid. “I’m sorry for bothering you.”
“No, wait,” Vivien said. She shared a look with Heather and Lorna. Something magical was happening here, and they all knew it.
“Are you hungry?” Lorna offered. “We’re just about to have dinner.”
“Yes, please come in and sit down,” Heather said. The woman looked like she was about to fall over from exhaustion. “I think maybe this is where you’re supposed to be.”
Lorna hooked her arm around the woman’s shoulders and led her inside.
Vivien fell into step next to Heather. “What’s Julia up to now?”
“I don’t know, but it can’t be a coincidence that she shows up today of all days when we are moving into our new home. Plus, she has one of Julia’s rings,” Heather answered. “I guess there is only one way to find out.”
Vivien gave Heather’s back a small pat and chuckled as they went into the house. Vivien shut the door and said, “Here we go again.”
The End
The Magical Fun Continues!
Heather, Vivien, and Lorna are back! With the help of Grandma Julia's ghost, they're kicking supernatural butt and taking names.
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The Fifth Sense
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The Series Continues
Heather, Vivien, and Lorna are back! With the help of Grandma Julia's ghost, they're kicking supernatural butt and taking names.
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Second Chance Magic
Did you miss Book One?
Secrets broke her heart... and have now come back from the grave to haunt her.
So far, Lorna Addams’ forties are not what she expected. After a very public embarrassment, she finds it difficult to trust her judgment when it comes to new friendships and dating. She might be willing to give love a second chance when she meets the attractive William Warrick, if only she could come to terms with what her husband did to her and leave it in the past.
How is a humiliated empty nest widow supposed to move on with her life? It’s not like she can develop a sixth sense, séance her ex back, force him to tell her why and give her closure. Or can she?
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Third Time’s A Charm
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Friends don’t let friends séance drunk.
Vivien Stone lost the love of her life over twenty years ago. Now that she’s in her forties with a string of meaningless relationships under her belt, she can't help but pine for what might have been. It doesn't help that she's somewhat psychic and can pretty much predict where a relationship is heading before it even starts.
When she and her best friends find a hidden book of séances, Vivien believes it's the perfect opportunity to talk to her lost love. But things don't go as planned and what was meant to be a romantic reunion takes a turn for the bizarre.
Maybe some things (and people) are better left buried in the past, and what she really needs has been standing in front of her all along.
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Third Time’s a Charm
About Michelle M. Pillow
New York Times & USA TODAY
Bestselling Author
Michelle loves to travel and try new things, whether it's a paranormal investigation of a
n old Vaudeville Theatre or climbing Mayan temples in Belize. She believes life is an adventure fueled by copious amounts of coffee.
Newly relocated to the American South, Michelle is involved in various film and documentary projects with her talented director husband. She is mom to a fantastic artist. And she's managed by a dog and cat who make sure she's meeting her deadlines.
For the most part she can be found wearing pajama pants and working in her office. There may or may not be dancing. It’s all part of the creative process.
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The Fourth Power: A Paranormal Women's Fiction Romance Novel (Order of Magic Book 3) Page 16