The truth was certainly stranger than fiction. It had been, ever since I’d been summoned to my grandmother’s house. “You’re right. You’ll have to figure something out. Just let me know what you come up with before I see him again.”
I opened the door and as we walked to the entry, my parents appeared from the living room.
“You’re leaving, Gwen?” My mother walked over and gave Gwen a warm hug. “Thanks for being here for Keira.”
Gwen’s eyes shot to me and then away quickly. She felt guilty after the conversation we’d just had. “I’m here for her as much as I can be. But I’ve got to get going to check on my dad.”
When the door closed, my father turned to me. “She’s a nice girl. I’m glad you had her to turn to, today.”
“Me too.” I just hoped some kind of miracle would happen that she’d accept the offer I’d made.
“I know you probably don’t feel like eating but you should, Keira. I’ll see what’s in the freezer and rustle up something for dinner.” Mom put her arm over my shoulder and walked me back into the kitchen. She was right about one thing. Even though I hadn’t eaten all day, food was the last thing on my mind.
When I took a seat, watching my parents rummaging through the fridge, it hit me. This was a big house and once they left, I’d be pretty lonely. The tears once more welled in my eyes. How could I continue here on my own? The place was too empty without Nana and Lawrence.
I took a deep breath trying to shake off the tears. “How long are you staying?”
THIRTY FOUR
IT TOOK TWO DAYS BEFORE WE FELT UP TO THE TASK of honoring Nana’s last wishes. We took the two urns from the sideboard and went out to the front yard, to the rose which always bloomed. Gwen had taken a sick day to be with us. It was the first that I’d seen her since we’d learned the news about Nana and Lawrence.
Now here we were on a brilliant summer day, the four of us standing in a circle around the flower bed. That red rose bush was covered with flowers in various stages, from buds to spent blooms which drifted down to the dark earth.
Mom stepped close to the brick wall and lifted the top from Lawrence’s gray urn. As she poured his ashes to the base of the plant, a tear rolled down her cheek. “Goodbye Lawrence, old friend. I know you’re with Pamela, your one true love.” She sobbed and added, “My mother. May you find peace and happiness for all time.”
She turned to me. I held my grandmother’s urn close to my chest. Even though it was her wish to join with the rose, I clung to her essence. A monarch butterfly landed on the wall, its orange wings completely still. The last time I’d noticed a butterfly was the day I was expelled from the acting school. I’d taken it as a harbinger of goodwill at that time. Was it a sign from Nana, now?
I stepped forward and my vision was blurry as I removed the top of the urn and set it on the wall. “Goodbye Nana. I’m glad I spent the time with you. I love you.” My shoulders wracked as I tipped the urn.
My father stepped over between my mother and I and his arms went over our shoulders.
“Goodbye Pamela and Lawrence,” he said.
“Farewell, Mrs. York, Lawrence,” said Gwen.
I sniffed and then we dispersed, turning to go back into the house. Mom and Dad went into the kitchen while I led Gwen to the sunroom. It seemed a fitting place to talk about serious matters.
She wandered around the room, touching and sniffing the plants which lined the shelves. “This really is a beautiful spot.”
“Yeah. It was her favorite place, that’s for sure.” I could almost see her sitting in the wicker chair across the table, when I took my usual spot. I took a deep breath. “So, have you come to any decision?” I realized how cold that was and quickly added. “I’m sorry; how is your dad?”
“He’s great.” She took a seat next to me, leaning close. “I told him your grandmother and Lawrence died. He knows there was a private ceremony today and sends his condolences. He just doesn’t know it was weeks ago.”
It was hard to sit so patiently when my future was so dependent on what she would say next.
“I told him your grandmother was really rich. That she has business interests all over the world and that she often traveled to them.” She smiled and rolled her eyes. “I hate lying. I don’t think I’m all that good at it. I also told him you are going to continue doing that... checking up on your grandmother’s businesses.”
“Do you think he bought it?”
“I’m not sure but he didn’t ask too many questions. It was only when I told him you wanted me to go with you that he surprised me. He insisted I take you up on it. He’s always wanted to travel and he told me I was a fool to walk away from it. He even came up with the same idea that I had—for Aunt Elizabeth to retire in Kingston and live with him.”
As she spoke, I stopped breathing in case I’d jinx this. Devon was totally on side with this! This was going to work!
She saw the excitement on my face and her smile dropped. “I arranged for a six-month leave of absence from work. I’ll try this but I need to know if it’s too hard on me not seeing Dad as much, that I’ve got a job to go back to.”
I grasped her arm barely able to keep from popping out of my chair. “It’ll work! I just know it. But I respect that it’s on a trial basis. You know, if your aunt comes to live with your dad and you don’t get along with her, there’s plenty of room in this house for you!” The house was way too big even for two people.
Her hand rose. “Hold on! One step at a time. I’ll call Aunt Elizabeth tonight. I’m not even sure she’ll do it!”
“Does she know about the household allowance? That will tempt her.” My mind was working overtime.
“What allowance? There’s Dad’s disability and my earnings, that’s about all.”
“Wanna bet?” I waggled my eyebrows. “The allowance that is going to make its way to your father’s bank account. Ten thousand a month should let them live comfortably don’t you think?”
“Keira! He’d never accept that!”
“Say you won it in the lottery then! You’ll think of something. And as for you, will a cool mill a year be enough to get by on?”
Her mouth fell open and she blinked. “That’s too much.” She grinned. “But… on the other hand, I’ll just suck it up and deal with it.” She put the back of her hand to her forehead. “Now I’m going to be really bitching about paying taxes!”
We both had a laugh and I sat back and looked around the room. Everything was falling into place. There was just one other thing...
“You know, I haven’t been out of this house except to see you, since I’ve been here. I spent a week with my dead grandmother and her dead companion and before that I was kicked out of school and then banished by my parents! I need a vacation!”
Gwen’s face lit up and she laughed. “Oh yeah? Where are you going to go?”
“Unh unh. Where are we going to go? It’s no fun going alone.” The more I thought of it, the more I could sense that Nana would approve. It was time to join the living before we took on the job of the dead.
My mother and father strolled into the room and seeing the looks on our faces, they smiled.
“What’s going on? You two are up to something.” My dad held out my Nana’s chair for my mother to take a seat.
“Gwen and I are taking a vacation.”
“Hold on! I never agreed. I’d have to call my brother and get him to come down from Toronto. And then—”
“I’m seeing me on a beach drinking Mai Tai’s, the liquor cool and the guys hot.”
My mother’s face flushed pink. “Ewwww! Parents here!”
Gwen shook her head. “Not a fan of the beach. After the first day that would be boring. I like to get around and see historical things. That’s my idea of fun.”
I swatted her arm playfully. She was considering this! “The beach, baby!”
Dad leaned over the table and grinned. “Why not do both? The Mayan Riviera has awesome beaches and is packed w
ith history. You should go!”
“They have pyramids there, you know,” Gwen said.
“The Mayan Riviera’s in Egypt?” I asked. The rest of them burst out laughing. “What? What’s so funny?”
Mom made a small wave with her hand. “Nothing, dear; sometimes you’re silly, that’s all.” Mom reached into the pocket of her blouse and placed a small white box on the table. “I had this made for you Keira. Actually I had one made for myself as well.” She pushed the box toward me.
I opened it and lifted a gold tear-shaped pendant with a loop of gold chain. I lifted it out and looked at it closely.
“Some of your grandmother’s ashes are embedded in it. She’ll always be with you.” Mom reached over and her hand covered mine. Grinning, she arched an eyebrow. “She’d always liked the Mayan Riviera.”
My fingers closed around the small tear drop. Nana would always be with me.
The End
Author’s Note:
Yes, there are more adventures in store for Keira and Gwen, don’t worry! These characters have grown on me, and writing the farewell note from GM was a deeply moving experience.
The second book of the mystical Veil is available if you want to continue reading about Keira and Gwen’s story!
It’s title is Heritage, and not all goes well for our two friends…
Just click this link to find out more!
Thank you so much for your readership. It means the world to me.
Warmest Regards,
The Haunting of Crawley House (The Hauntings Of Kingston Book 1) Page 50
