The cut is minimal, however, and stops bleeding almost immediately. I stare at it in the mirror, and try to fix my hair.
“You look beautiful,” he says.
“You’re too kind.”
“We’re going to have lots of time around the fireplace now, and you’ll tell me everything, right? The truth this time?”
I sigh. “Do I have a choice?”
“Nope.”
“Some of it’s not mine to share. You have to ask your mother.”
He gives me a doubtful look. “Why do I have the feeling she’s not going to open up too easily?”
“Because she won’t, but you deserve to hear it from her.”
He loosens his tie and tugs the necklace out from under his collar. “Does it have to do with this?”
I nod.
He slips it off and places it on me. “Might be more fun to make you tell me. A bet a tickle session would work.”
I hate that and he knows it. “I’m a weakling. I’ll cave and tell you everything.”
A grin. “Thought so.”
We run into his folks on the way back to the event. They’re leaving for home.
Helen pulls me aside and lowers her voice. “You’re sure it’s safe now?”
My very bones are exhausted at this point, but my heart is lighter than it’s been since she laid this on me at Halloween.
“Yes,” I tell her. “Everyone is.”
In an unexpected display of emotion, she wraps her arms around me. Over her shoulder, Logan gives me a surprised expression. It no doubt matches mine.
Helen disengages, slides her hands down her dress to straighten it, and clears her throat. “You two enjoy the rest of your night.”
She and his dad leave, and the two of us return to the ballroom. Several guests ask me what happened and I tell them it was just an unexplainable situation with the lights, a crazy gust or two of wind, and some mischievous spirits.
I say the last part with a wink and they chuckle. People don’t really want to believe in ghosts, even though they know my aunt claimed to be a medium, and some have discovered I am, too.
Most of the decorations are back in order and Daddy has found a guitar. He stands on stage playing Rock Around the Christmas Tree and couples dance.
Logan and I join in, but soon, he pulls me into a dark corner and holds a piece of mistletoe overhead.
“What do you think you’re doing with that?” I tease.
He grins, lowers his head, and kisses me. “Merry Christmas, Ava.”
Chapter Twenty-Five
Christmas dawns bright and cold, cold at least by Georgia standards.
Daddy went home with Mama, so I had the house to myself. Logan and I spent time in our favorite spot on the couch and I fessed up to everything. Forget Helen, I thought. She should’ve told him what was going on, and it wasn’t exactly fair of her to put the burden of secrecy on me.
Logan quietly listened to all of it—from me needing to borrow rent money to fearing I wouldn’t be able to stop Cocheta from doing something nasty to him.
As I divulged all, the cats made themselves at home, climbing onto the sofa with us. The illumination from the flames and the twinkling lights on the tree lent a romantic glow. When I was done, Logan stayed silent for another long minute.
“You saved my life,” he finally said, staring at the fire.
“You’ve saved mine twice, so…” I waggled my hands, mimicking a scale. “I still owe you one.”
“Life with you is never dull.”
The sarcasm in his tone was not appreciated. “Hey, I can’t help that I’m cursed with Aunt Willa’s gift.”
The rest of the evening dissolved into kissing, and eventually, even the felines left us alone.
* * *
Come daybreak, I open my eyes to find Tabby toying with the gift Logan gave me before he left at midnight.
The sun coming through my window bounces off the diamonds in the tennis bracelet, causing it to sparkle brighter than anything I’ve ever seen. Beside it is something worth even more.
The deed to the house. As of today, it’s mine.
Retrieving the bracelet from my great-grandmother’s claws, I put it on and wonder what I can give him in return that’s even a fraction as valuable.
In the kitchen, I discover Rhys has been by, leaving various breads and muffins with a note inviting me over for a celebratory drink at seven.
He and Brax have also left a mint condition, collector’s miniature red Porsche on the table. “Santa thought you might be a bit busy saving your boyfriend and all from an evil witch, as well as playing matchmaker to your parents, to get your Christmas shopping done. Hope this helps.”
Logan will love it. My friends are always taking care of me.
I drink coffee to clear the cobwebs, and feed the cats.
Mama is expecting me for brunch and gift opening in a little while. As I get ready, I talk to my aunt, hoping she can hear me. “It's the first Christmas you won’t be here, and I’d sure give anything if you were, but I’m glad you made me come home. Things are good. Really good.”
Several friends text me, including Winter, to wish me Merry Christmas. Brax lets me know the video going around town of me at the ball is being “contained.”
Whatever that means.
I’m grateful for his technical expertise, and I’m sure I don’t want to know anything about his hacking skills.
Logan and I plan to have our own private celebration later this evening, and I have a special bottle from the winery waiting for us. I’m setting it out, with some glasses, when Sean’s spirit appears.
I jump, nearly breaking both. “What are you doing here?”
He doesn’t attack, his energy calm and his spectral self looking years younger. “Sorry to startle you. I just wanted to say…thank you. And could you give Haylee a message for me?”
Taking a deep breath to slow my pulse, I nod. “Sure. Why not? It’s only Christmas after all. Not like I have anything else to do.”
Ignoring my sarcasm, he hovers and clears his throat. “I owe her an apology.”
“Not only her,” I chastise. “Mama and Daddy too.”
Again, he ignores me. “Tell her I never meant to hurt her. She’s a good person. She should go back to Nashville, follow her dream.”
“Are you going to be looking out for her now?”
He confirms my suspicions. “My first assignment as a guardian angel.”
“Good luck to you,” I say in all sincerity.
He disappears and a bit later, I’m about to go out the door when Persephone materializes. “Where you off to?”
I grab my jacket from the hook. “It’s Christmas, in case you haven’t noticed. I’m going to spend it with my parents—both of them, together, in the same house. Now that’s a gift.”
“Huh, okay.”
She seems miffed I don’t invite her along.
“This hasn’t happened in years and I’m going to enjoy it.”
“As well you should.”
I haven’t known her long, but I can tell by the way she’s blocking my exit, arms crossed, foot tapping, she’s expecting something.
I sigh and give in. “Thank you for your help with Cocheta. Then, like usual, you disappeared and weren’t around for the second wave of ghostly attacks.”
She ignores my barb. “Have you seen that Sherlock character?”
“I doubt he’ll be back. He took Sean’s ghost into the light. Crossed him over and went with him.”
She plays with a ring on her finger. “I was just starting to like that guy.”
I grab my purse. I have a bag stuffed with gifts for my parents and some of Rhys’s baked goods. “You have a funny way of showing it when you like someone. You might want to work on your people skills.”
Making a noise in her throat, she strides for the living room and plops on the sofa. “You’re about to get some good news.”
My phone rings, and I set down the presents. The I
D on the screen makes my pulse skip.
“Good morning and Joyeaux Noel, cherie,” Gloria Stone’s voice is cheery with her faint French accent. “I wanted to give you an update prior to this, but I didn’t want to get your hopes up in case something fell through. We’re going to have the complete line of wedding dresses ready by the end of next week!”
“What? You’re kidding!”
“You should be able to start taking orders January 1. If you like, we can duplicate the initial six dresses so you’ll have them to display for the Valentine’s Day bridal event in February.”
The Hearts Forever Bridal Fair. It’s a huge shindig that lasts four days and Rosie and I are already planning our booth. Brides come from all over the South to attend and Thornhollow is hosting this year. Now, I can also display my designs and take orders.
I silently jump up and down, mentally squealing. “That’s amazing,” I tell her. “I’ll get my website up and running as soon as possible, and I’ll need professional pictures with models and such for each of the dresses.”
I’m staring out the front window, all three cats making themselves comfortable in the displays. I see Logan leave his place across the street, Moxley in tow, and it’s as if he knows I’m watching.
Our eyes meet and he blows me a kiss.
I raise my hand to catch it and press it to my heart. The diamond bracelet flashes rainbows on the walls and ceiling.
“I’ll let you go, cherie, so you can enjoy the day,” Gloria says. “Let’s connect next week so you can see them and we’ll make plans to get the photo shoot scheduled.”
We disconnect after wishing each other a Merry Christmas, and I turn to glance over my shoulder at Persephone. “Thank you.”
Without meeting my eye, she waves a hand through the air. “Go enjoy your family time. Tomorrow’s another day.”
Something in her voice tells me she didn’t pop in to find out about Sherlock. There’s more to this visit than she’s letting on.
“What is it?” I ask.
“Hmm?”
“What aren’t you telling me?”
“Nothing.” She brushes at a throw pillow. “It can wait. Go. Have fun.”
Great. She’s baited me into spoiling the day, whether I demand she tell me what’s going on or walk out the door not knowing.
I stomp to the fireplace. “Just tell me now.”
Logan enters. “Are you ready?”
“Almost,” I greet him. “Could you take that bag with the gifts to the car for me?”
He does and I return to grilling my guardian angel. “Tell. Me.”
She sits forward, her overly make-upped eyes serious. “The event—that bridal fair? It’ll be moved from the current planned location at the school gymnasium to the hotel two blocks over.”
I don’t ask how she knows—she’s tapped into the divine hotline. “Okay, it will be at the Peach Time Inn. Big deal.”
“The hotel is haunted.”
Super. “Lots of places are around here.”
“You don’t want to go there, Ava. Too dangerous.”
“Why is that?”
The front door opens and Logan’s back. “Anything else?”
I heave a sigh but decide not to let Persephone and her doom and gloom further dampen my day. “We’ll finish this discussion when I get back,” I tell her, knowing she’s about to do a disappearing act on me again.
Moxley peers at me from the Porsche passenger seat as Logan touches my cheek and gives me a kiss at my car. He’s going to his own family celebration for their morning Christmas ritual. “I’m happy your mom and dad are back together,” he says.
“Me, too.” He opens the driver’s door for me and I get in. “See you tonight.”
He leans down and steals another kiss. “Can’t wait.”
I drive off with my heart full of excitement for the coming year.
The local radio station plays one of Dad's original holiday songs from a few years back. His new one is sure to be a hit as well. I sing along, so grateful he’s alive, safe, and not in jail.
Even though the sun is shining, a few flakes begin to fall and swirl on the road.
Snow for Christmas. What else could I ask for?
I arrive at Mama’s, hug both parents, and sit beside the Christmas tree, confident our new life together is going to be perfect.
Except for the ghost of Rosie’s grandmother who pops in and starts babbling about baby names. “She should name it after me!” Grandma exclaims.
Before I can tell her to go bug her granddaughter, a certain guardian angel appears.
“One other thing I forgot…” Persephone says, eyeing the assorted wrapped gifts. “That woman, Gloria?”
Mama and Daddy are in the kitchen getting hot chocolate for all of us, the sound of her laughter echoing into the room.
“Jeez. Really? Can’t any of you leave me alone for a day? One day! That’s all I’m asking for.”
Grandma says something in Spanish that sounds a lot like a curse word. She vanishes.
The angel hits me with a look that rivals Mama’s when I’m being impertinent.
“Fine. What about Gloria?”
“She’s got a ghost problem of epic proportions, Ava. You’re going to need a lot of help with that one.”
Mama bustles in with a tray of three Santa mugs, matching tea pot, and a bag of marshmallows. The smell of warm chocolate mixes with the scent from the fir tree, and thank goodness, she and dad are oblivious to the angel.
Persephone eyes the cocoa as if she wishes she could partake. Then she begins to fade away. “Merry Christmas, spirit walker… See you soon…”
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Enjoy this excerpt from Hearts & Haunts, Confessions of a Closet Medium, Book 3!
Hearts & Haunts
The Nottingham Hotel stood majestic and ominous against the cloudy sky. Three stories of turn-of-the-century Gothic architecture imposed itself above me as I stood in the parking lot with Persephone floating lazily at my side. A drizzle had begun, the chill of the morning trying to sneak under my coat.
“Tallulah was born here in nineteen twenty,” my guardian angel tells me. “The Roaring Twenties. The economy was booming, and they were filled with too much champagne and plenty of debaucheries.”
“Are you speaking from experience?” I tease.
Rosie is gathering boxes from the back of our van, her dark hair blowing in the wind. She snugs the belt of her raincoat tighter and places a stack on the cart provided by the hotel. I need to help her, but I’m sure by the look on Persephone’s face the crash course in history isn’t over.
“Her father, Emanuele, built the hotel,” she continues. “Everything was great until he died while Tallulah was still young, and she had to take care of her mother. It fell into disrepair, yet it was the only thing they had. After World War II, they reopened, but it was slow going. Times were still hard. On any given month, they only had a few guests. Eventually, they rebranded and called it a health resort to help men returning from the war deal with their mental issues.”
Another van pulls in. We’re getting ready for the Hearts Forever Bridal Fair taking place over the next four days. Wedding suppliers from all over the state will be coming today to set up booths, and tonight
kicks off with a wedding gown runway event.
I hardly want to be standing here, appearing to be talking to myself, since no one can see Persephone, but I don’t have much choice. “I know you want me to help this ghost.” I turn slightly, so the folks in the van can’t see me staring at the hotel and talking to air. “But I do have a bridal fair to attend.”
“Mary Mae, Tallulah's mother, passed in 1950. Tallulah died at age eighty-four. She never married, and unfortunately, she’s never crossed over. She has haunted the subsequent owners and guests ever since. Trust me. If you don’t get this ghost to cross to the other side, your bridal fair is going to be a hot mess.”
Rosie wheels the cart around the side of the van. “Can I get a little help here?”
I leave Persephone and push the cart toward the back entrance. Along with all the suppliers, brides from the tri-state area will also be attending. Some will stay in the hotel, along with the various wedding consultants and reps from the bridal supply businesses.
Blue skies are predicted for later in the week, but at the moment, I’m heading into a haunted mansion with a rainstorm about to break.
“Everything okay?” Rosie asks, glancing up at the imposing structure. I follow her gaze and notice a shimmering white presence in the far top floor window.
“Of course,” I lie. “Couldn’t be better.”
A medium sized man with a messy goatee and scuffed up shoes props open the service door and lends a hand, wiggling the cart over the threshold and inside. “Welcome, welcome.”
He’s beaming from ear to ear, and I imagine he’s quite happy with the fact the fair had to be moved here at the last minute. He’ll be making a chunk of change from this, considering those who’ll be staying here this weekend and attending the event. “My name is Baldwin. Please let me know if you need anything.”
I push the heavy cart down a long hall with antique sconces that give off a yellowy glow. We pass a large atrium and courtyard with planters and concrete statues of angels, fairies and various animals. The coordinator of the fair, Victoria Jenkins, in a smart black blazer, white shirt, and black skirt, peers over dark-framed reading glasses and opens her metal document holder. “Name?”
Magic & Mistletoe, Confessions of a Closet Medium, Book 2 Page 13