by Sandi Lynn
“She certainly is special,” Asher spoke.
“Noah, who is Eloise?” I asked.
I couldn’t help but notice how quickly the color from his face drained.
“She’s my ex-girlfriend. We broke up. That’s why I moved back here from Paris. I know Asher must have told you that.”
“No. He didn’t. She’s here with us.”
What?” He quickly turned and looked around the room. The panic that overtook him was quite amusing.
“Didn’t I mention that Everly sees dead people?” Asher asked.
“What the hell are you talking about?”
“Eloise is telling me that you drowned her while she was in the bathtub. She’s crying Noah. She wants to know why you killed her,” I said.
“Why, Noah? Why did you do it?” He pleaded for an answer.
“I didn’t do anything, Asher. This is ridiculous. And you’re fucking crazy, lady.” Noah looked at his watch. “You know what, I really need to get going,” he spoke in a panicked voice as beads of sweat poured down his face. “Just give me the money and I’ll go.” He stood from his chair.
“Sit down!” Asher shouted.
“Asher, come on. We’ve been friends for years. You know me better than that. Are you really going to listen to this crazy broad? She’s playing you, bro.”
“Nah. She’s not playing me. She told me what you did. She told me how you and Eloise got into a fight that night and when she was in the bathtub, you drowned her.” Asher grabbed Noah’s arm and pushed up his sleeve, seeing the large scratch that was still visible. “Then you wrapped her body up, threw her in the car and drove her out to the countryside where you buried her. My God, Noah. Who the hell are you?”
“You don’t understand!” He pointed his shaky finger at him. “I’d had enough of her. Her constant badgering and nagging. Nothing was ever good enough for her. No matter how hard I tried, that bitch was never satisfied.”
“Then you do what any other man would have done. You leave!” Asher shouted. “You should have left.”
“I snapped. Please, Asher. I’m begging you. Just give me the money and you’ll never see me again. I promise. Nobody has to know.”
Asher pulled a large envelope from under the table that looked like it was stuffed with money and handed it to him.
“I never want to see you again,” he spoke.
Noah grabbed the envelope from him and when he went to open the door to leave the private room, Daniel and three other police officers were waiting for him with their guns drawn.
“You set me up?” Noah turned and looked at Asher.
“No. Eloise did when she showed me what you had done to her,” I spoke.
“Get him out of here,” Asher said to Daniel.
“Are you okay?” I asked as I placed my hand on his back.
“I just handed my best friend over to the cops, and he’ll probably spend the rest of his life in jail. So to answer your question, no, I’m not okay at the moment.”
He was angry and I couldn’t blame him. All I wanted to do was hold him in my arms and give him the comfort he needed. But with the mood he was in, I didn’t dare suggest it.
25
Two Weeks Later
Asher
I hadn’t seen or talked to Everly since the night Noah was arrested. I needed some time to myself. Now that my father was gone, my uncle was in prison, and my best friend was extradited back to Paris to face his crime, I felt as if my life was unraveling and I needed an escape. A place to go to for a while where I could think and forget about everything that had happened.
As I was lying in bed, I picked up my phone and looked at the text messages Everly had sent me two weeks ago. Messages I never replied to.
“Hey. I’m going to grab dinner and was wondering if you’d like to join me?”
“Are you okay? You know you can always talk to me.”
“Okay. Well, I won’t bother you anymore, Asher. Take care of yourself.”
She didn’t deserve to be ignored, and she didn’t deserve to be with someone like me. The last night we shared my bed together, was the night before Noah got arrested. I never once stopped thinking about that night and the way I watched her while she slept in my arms. I hadn’t just fallen for her beauty, I’d fallen for her soul. The fear inside kept me locked up, grounded, and it held onto me so tight, it was hard to breathe at times. I’d once given my heart and soul to someone very special a long time ago and she betrayed me. She ripped out my heart and tore it to shreds. That night, I vowed never to let another woman do that to me again. My love for her made me weak, and it clouded my judgement and my mind. Never again. But the fear inside me when I was with Everly kept playing with me. As if it was trying to give me a way out. To open the door I’d sealed shut for so many years. It tried to reason with me.
“What if you let it all go? What if you walked through that door and found it wasn’t so bad after all? What if you trusted her? What if you decided to give it a chance? What if you don’t do anything at all and it’s too late?”
I knew it was late, but I needed to hear her voice. Her phone rang and rang until it went to voicemail.
“Hello, Everly. It’s me. I’m sorry I haven’t been in touch. Things were a little crazy and I just—any way, give me a call. I don’t care what time it is. I promise to pick up.”
I laid there for a while with my phone in my hand hoping she’d call back.
A Few Days Later
I still hadn’t heard from Everly and after my second voice message, I decided that would be the last one. It was obvious she was angry and didn’t want to talk to me. Who could blame her? It was a busy day at work because it was my last day for about a week. I had rented a cabin at Lake George and was leaving first thing in the morning.
“Excuse me, Mr. Remington?” Diana poked her head in my office.
“Hi, Diana. Come on in.”
“Richard needs these signed right away.” She handed me a couple of folders.
“Have a seat and I’ll sign them now.”
She took the seat across from my desk as I opened the first folder and looked over the paperwork.
“I called Everly a couple times and left a couple voice messages but she hasn’t returned my calls,” I said as I signed the document.
“She’s gone. She went back home to Rhode Island.”
“What?” I furrowed my brows at her.
“Her grandmother took ill and she needed to go home.”
“I’m sorry to hear that. I had no idea. When did she leave?”
“A couple weeks ago. Not too long after—” She looked down.
“I see.”
“She said she sent you a few text messages and you ignored them. I’m sorry, Mr. Remington, but you just can’t expect her to be waiting for you whenever you feel like talking. Everly knows when it’s time to move on. She’s been doing it her whole life.”
“You’re right, Diana. I owe her an apology.” I signed the last document and handed her the folders. “Tell Richard I said thanks.”
“I will.” She gave me a nod as she started to walk out of my office.
“By the way, Diana?”
“Yes, Mr. Remington?”
“From now on just call me Asher.”
“Okay.” Her lips formed a small smile as she walked out of my office.
I pushed the intercom button on my desk phone.
“Yes, Mr. Remington?” Isabelle spoke.
“I need you to book me a private jet for tomorrow morning to Providence, Rhode Island, and cancel the reservation for my cabin at Lake George. But pay the entire rental fee for the inconvenience with the card they have on file.”
“Of course. I’ll get right on that.”
“Thank you, Isabelle.”
I leaned back in my chair and sighed. I couldn’t believe she left New York and didn’t tell me.
“Excuse me, Mr. Remington?” Isabelle stuck her head through the door.
“What is it,
Isabelle?”
“I assume you’re going to need a hotel in Providence?”
“Yes. Book me a suite somewhere nice and in the downtown area.”
“I’ll get right on it.”
“And one more thing. I need the address of a metaphysical shop in the downtown Providence area.”
“A metaphysical shop, sir?” Her brows furrowed at me.
“Yes, Isabelle. Do you know what that is?”
“Yes. I didn’t think you did?”
“Well, I do. So get me the address.”
As I thought about what I’d say to her when I saw her, it hit me that I’d be facing another problem. She’d most likely know I was coming, and she’d probably do everything she could not to see me. It was a chance I was willing to take. She was going to talk to me one way or the other.
26
Everly
“Here, Grandma. Take a sip of water.” I held the cup with straw in it up to her.
“Thank you, sweetheart. You didn’t have to stop here on your way to the shop.”
“Yes, I did.” I placed my hand on hers. “If it were me, you’d do the same.”
“True.” She managed a small smile. “You better get going if you plan on opening the shop on time. We don’t want to keep our customers waiting.”
“Alright. I’ll go.” I leaned over and kissed her forehead. “I’ll be back later. Make sure you get plenty of rest. Daniel and Diana are coming this weekend.”
“I know. I’ll see you later.” She slowly closed her eyes.
I left the hospital and climbed into my white Jeep Cherokee. Gripping the steering wheel, I let a few tears fall down my face. She didn’t have much time left and we both knew it. The cancer was found too late and it progressed very quickly.
I parked the car, unlocked the door and turned the sign to open that hung in the window. Since I came home, I’d been really busy between my grandmother being in the hospital and running the shop. I’d barely had time to do or think about anything else.
It was noon when Samantha walked into the shop carrying a cup holder with two smoothies sitting inside.
“Hey.” She smiled as she set the cup holder down on the back counter. “I brought us smoothies.”
“You’re the best, Sam. Thank you.”
Samantha Reed was an eighteen-year-old girl who had been working for us part-time since she was sixteen years old. She was a sweet girl, an excellent student and the best worker for someone her age. She was dependable, reliable and went above and beyond her duties. She knew about me and my grandmother but kept it to herself.
“I’m going to go ahead and price these crystals. There’s one last box that needs to be unpacked and put out,” I said to her.
“On it.” She grinned.
I had my back turned as I was pricing the crystals and setting them out on display when I heard the bell above the door ring. I knew Sam would take care of the customer, so I didn’t bother turning around.
“Hello, Everly.” I heard Asher’s voice from behind.
Instantly, a nervousness formed inside me.
“What are you doing here, Asher?” I asked without turning around.
“How is your grandmother doing?”
“Not good.”
I felt his hand lightly grab hold of my arm and I started to tremble. Turning around, I looked into the eyes that were staring back at me.
“Why are you here?” I asked.
“I came to see you.” He let go of me. “I left you a couple voice messages.”
“And I left you several text messages,” I huffed as I walked away and headed towards the counter.
“I know and I’m sorry. I should have answered you. I just—”
“I know. You were going through some shit.” My voice was irritated as I stepped behind the counter.
I could see Sam staring at us from across the store.
“Is there any way you can break for lunch?” he asked.
“No, I—”
“Yes. She can.” Sam smiled as she walked over to us. “I’ve got the store covered.” She stepped behind the counter, bent down and grabbed my purse from underneath. “Go on. Go have a nice lunch.” She grinned.
“Fine.” I let out a sigh.
We walked out of the shop and started walking down the street.
“There’s this great Mexican restaurant a block down,” I said.
“Mexican sounds good,” he said as he tucked his hands in his pants pockets.
He looked so handsome in his khaki pants and white cotton, short sleeve button down shirt. The aviators he wore to shield his eyes from the sun made him sexier than he already was. I wasn’t the only one who noticed either. Women were staring at him as they walked past.
“Did you know I was coming?” he asked.
“Actually, I didn’t.”
“I’m surprised.” He smirked as he glanced over at me.
“Me too.”
We approached the Mexican restaurant and were seated outside on the patio at a small table for two. It was a beautiful warm day without a cloud in the sky.
“Hey, Everly.” Hayden, our waiter smiled as he approached the table.
“Hi, Hayden.”
“I know you want the watermelon margarita, salted rim. What can I get for you, sir?”
“I’ll have the same.”
“Great. I’ll be right back.”
“He knows your drink order well,” Asher spoke with an arch in his brow.
“I come here all the time. Plus, we went to high school together. I’ve known him for years. His parents actually own the place.”
“Ah. I see.”
“Why did you come here, Asher?”
“I already told you. To see you.”
“Why? I don’t hear from you since that night, you ignore my text messages, and then you just randomly show up in my hometown?”
“I wanted to apologize to you, and since you wouldn’t return my phone calls, this was the only option I had. I had no idea you left New York.”
“My grandmother doesn’t have much time left. She was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer a month ago and didn’t tell anyone. It progressed very quickly and now she’s in the hospital. They’re keeping her as comfortable as possible. But it’s only a matter of time. The cancer spread to her liver and to her stomach.”
“I’m sorry, Everly. I have to ask. How did you not know? With your—”
“I told you it doesn’t work with people I’m very close to. I can only see what it lets me.”
“I’m sorry.” He reached across the table and placed his hand on mine.
Hayden walked over and set our drinks down in front of us and proceeded to take our order.
“I’m surprised you took time off work,” I said as I sipped my drink.
“I needed to. Actually, I had rented a cabin at Lake George for a week. Then I asked Diana about you and she told me how you left New York because your grandmother was ill. I changed my plans at the last minute to come here.”
“Why?”
“Because I owe you an apology, and believe me, I rarely give out apologies.”
“I know.” The corners of my mouth curved up into a light smile.
“You do, do you?” He smirked.
“Yeah. I do.” I looked down in embarrassment.
We finished lunch and started walking back to the shop. Asher held is arm out to me and I happily wrapped my hand around it.
“This is nice. I’ve never been to Rhode Island before.”
“Where are you staying?” I asked.
“Hotel Providence.”
“Hmm. I see. I hate to tell you this, but that hotel is haunted. Maybe it’s best you stay at my house.”
“Haunted? Are you playing with me?” he asked.
“No. I’m serious.” I grinned.
“Okay. I’ll take your word for it.”
We reached the shop, and I pulled my keys out of my purse and handed them to him.
“What are
these for?”
“See that White Jeep Cherokee parked over there?”
“Yeah?”
“That’s my car. Take it to the hotel, grab your bag and pick me up in a couple hours. Sam will close the shop for me.”
He reached up and swept the back of his hand along my cheek.
“I’ll see you in a couple hours.”
27
Asher
Her car smelled like her. A combination of the light fragrance of roses with just a hint of sandalwood. A sensual smell. Light and not overpowering. It was the first thing I noticed about her besides her beauty that day we met in the elevator. A scent that still lingered around my penthouse.
A couple hours had passed, so I parked the car and went into the shop. Everly had just finished helping a customer when she saw me.
“You didn’t hurt my baby in any way, did you?”
“If you’re referring to your car, no.” I smiled.
She grabbed her purse, said goodbye to Samantha, and we walked out of the shop.
“Would you like to meet my grandma?” she asked. “I told her I’d come by tonight.”
“I’d love to meet her.”
I handed Everly the keys and she drove to the hospital. As we entered through the doors, I noticed she kept her head down as we walked to the elevator.
“Are you okay?” I asked.
“I’m fine. As long as I keep my head down and don’t make eye contact, they won’t bother me.”
“Who won’t bother you?” I furrowed my brows.
“The spirits. The people who have passed but don’t know they’ve passed.”
“Are you kidding me?” I asked as I pushed the button to the elevator.
“No. If I make eye contact, they know I can see them.”
I sighed as we stepped into the elevator. I shouldn’t have been surprised, but I was, and I sort of wished she didn’t tell me. We approached room 3309 and when we stepped inside, the frail woman lying in the bed slowly opened her eyes.
“Hi Grandma,” Everly said as she walked over to her and kissed her forehead. “Grandma I’d like you to—”
“I know who Mr. Remington is, dear. Don’t be shy, young man.” She slowly lifted her arm.