Ghost Moon (Haunting Romance)

by Kathryn Knight

  23

  She dragged her eyes open as murmuring voices penetrated her sleep. Jesse was sitting beside her, speaking softly to the nurse placing a new flower arrangement on the ledge by the window. He squeezed her hand gently as he noticed her waking up.

  “Hey,” she said groggily, clearing her throat. She glanced at the window, trying to judge the time. Weak sunlight filtered into the hospital room, and she guessed it was evening now. She’d been in and out of sleep all afternoon.

  He thanked the departing nurse as he poured water from the pitcher resting on the swiveling table. “Hey, beautiful,” he replied, handing Lark the plastic cup.

  She rolled her eyes, accepting the water. “I’m sure.” Glancing back toward the window, she admired the new flower arrangement. She’d already received several—one from Jesse’s vet clinic, care of Diane, one from The Boatyard, and a small plant from some of the co-workers she was closest to. It was more than she expected, since she’d only been here a little over a month and hadn’t exactly gone out of her way to make friends. People here were kind. A pang of gratitude swelled in her chest.

  He followed her gaze. “Those are from my mom, and her crack investigative team at the community. They have some ideas about what really happened, but Mom said they’d keep it to themselves.”

  She smiled over the rim of the cup. “That’s so nice of them. Please tell them thank you for me until I can do it myself.” Running her hand through her hair, she grimaced at the smell of the river still lingering in the snarled strands. “So…I’m assuming the entire town knows at this point. How’s the gossip?”

  The corners of his lips twitched into a grin as he lifted a shoulder. “Well, the news that we’ve been shacking up is certainly out.”

  She flushed, but it had been unavoidable. In the end, the story they’d told stayed close to the truth. Lark claimed she’d taken a sleeping pill occasionally associated with sleepwalking, and she’d ended up wandering out of Jesse’s house, where they’d been staying together. The dogs had woken him, and he’d found her unconscious in the river. He’d been able to resuscitate her, so she likely hadn’t been submerged very long. As to how she ended up in the river, they speculated she fell in, maybe hit her head. Of course, the doctors could find no bumps or bruises to corroborate that, but since Lark maintained she’d been asleep the whole time and had no memory of anything beyond waking up to Jesse performing CPR, there wasn’t much else to go on.

  Lark did have a memory of it, though. Or at least Eva’s memories of what had happened that awful night. As Jesse was helping her get dressed while they waited for the ambulance, she gave him a hurried version of what she’d seen. Since then, they’d discussed it in more detail during the few stretches of time they’d been alone throughout her hospital stay. So far, her tests showed no permanent damage, but the doctors insisted on holding her a full 24 hours to make sure no adverse effects developed. That meant she’d be here until early tomorrow morning.

  She certainly hadn’t expected Jesse to stay with her all day. But he’d had Diane cancel all his appointments for today and tomorrow. In fact, he hadn’t left her side, unless forced to when she was undergoing tests. Her heart did a little flip as he winked at her.

  “Sorry about that,” she said, scrunching up one side of her mouth. “I hope you don’t mind.”

  Confusion flickered over his features. “What? People knowing we’re together? Of course not.”

  She couldn’t keep the sappy grin off her face. Together. A thrill of happiness warmed her blood. This amazing man, who’d saved her life, saved Preston’s life, dropped everything to stay with her at the hospital, and had pretty much been her savior since she’d arrived, had just said they were together. And that he was fine with everyone knowing.

  Being with him was what she wanted, too. Despite the past betrayals that had wounded her so deeply, despite the vow she’d made to never give her heart away again, she wanted a relationship with him. She supposed a near-death experience had a way of making a person reexamine their choices.

  “Are you okay with it?”

  She nodded her head vigorously, sending a twinge of pain from last night’s struggles through her neck. “I am,” she said, reaching back with her free hand to rub the sore muscles. “I want us to be…together. And I want everyone to know.”

  He twined their fingers together, brushing the pad of his thumb over her skin. “It’s official, then.” Leaning forward, he kissed her gently. Lowering his voice, he added, “Even if learning what happened to Eva stops the haunting, I’m hoping you’ll still spend the nights with me.”

  She lifted her eyebrows, feigning suspicion of his motives.

  “Not just because of that,” he said, laughing. “You know I like having you around all the time. But I also want to keep you safe.”

  She squeezed his fingers. “You do a good job of it,” she said, her voice thick with emotion. Swallowing past the lump in her throat, she whispered, “What are we going to do about Eva?”

  He glanced toward the open door. “Hang on.” Releasing her hand, he got up from his chair and shut the door to her room. “So, I did some research on our options while you were asleep.” He raked his fingers through his hair as he sat back down. “Do you need more water?” he asked, gesturing toward her drained cup.

  “No, thanks.” She chewed on her lip, waiting to hear what Jesse had found out.

  “First of all, I’m going to search for her remains myself, once we’re home and you can show me where to dig.”

  A tiny wave of nausea swirled through her stomach, but she nodded. “Okay. We may as well confirm she’s there before we start anything.”

  “Right. Assuming we find bones, there are fairly clear procedures we’re supposed to follow. We notify the police, they come out and make sure it appears we’ve dug up human bones, as opposed to animal bones. If they believe that’s the case, they’ll call in the medical examiner.”

  “Then what?”

  “Well, things get murky after that. First we’re going to have to explain how we found the bones. Assuming you don’t want to mention the ghost and the visions, I was thinking we say we were doing some yardwork down there, clearing some brush or something, and the dogs kept digging in that spot.”

  “It’s feasible, I guess. Although what we’d be doing clearing brush at the edge of the woods might raise a few questions.”

  He sighed. “Exactly. And then, we’re going to have to explain why we think we know who it is. My mom and her friends can help with that, since they knew about Eva. And you can say you found her name mentioned in the family Bible.”

  “That works.”

  “Obviously, they’re not going to just take our word for it. They’ll want to take the bones and test them. At the very least, they’ll be able to determine that the bones are around 70 years old at this point, which should rule out hanging on to them as part of a cold case. But I don’t see how they’d be able to positively identify her, given that we don’t even know her last name, and it’s doubtful she has any close relatives, since she lost everyone in the war.”

  This was a difficult situation. She made an hmm sound as she waited for him to continue.

  “At that point, it becomes completely unclear who becomes responsible for her remains. What we don’t want is for her to end up in a box in a basement somewhere. So we’ll just have to work really hard to get her properly buried. We’ll have to deal with the town leaders, but I’m on several boards, and I know them all personally. I think I can make things move quickly. As quickly as a town government can, anyway. Then we would have to find a cemetery that will take her.”

  Her stomach clenched as the graveyard surrounding the local church flashed through her mind. “Not where he’s buried.”

  “No. We’ll find a different one. We can get a headstone that at least lists her first name, and have a small service.”

  “I can’t ask you to pay for all of that. A cemetery plot probably costs a lot, not to me
ntion a headstone.”

  He waved her objection away. “I have the money. I’m not worried about that. Besides, you’re not asking, I’m offering.” He picked up her hand again, enclosing it between both of his. “I’m just glad you’re okay, Lark. And I’m hoping we can make this right for Eva, so please don’t worry about the cost.”

  She frowned, but she knew he was right. What was important was righting the wrong committed decades ago. By someone in her family. Her stomach lurched again. At least John had been a very, very distant relative. “You said we had options, right? Like, plural?”

  “Well, sort of. The other option is we don’t tell anyone. We move her ourselves, mark the gravesite ourselves, and put her to rest somewhere away from the property where she was murdered.”

  She sucked in a breath. “Is that…legal?”

  A grim expression crossed his face as he tilted his head. “Well, yes and no. There aren’t federal or state laws covering who exactly is in charge of unclaimed bodies. In Massachusetts, it’s not illegal to bury a person on private property, so if we decide to move her from our property, we could try to find a place on private land somewhere else. With the owner’s permission, of course, so there’s that problem. But this is Cape Cod…there are all sorts of old family plots around, so it’s not an impossible scenario. Technically, though, you’re supposed to get the town’s permission before you do something like that, so that could raise some flags.”

  She shook her head. “I don’t think that’s a good idea. It might be an easier path, but it could be bad for your career. Or your military status. You said before that there are pretty clear procedures to follow if a person finds bones. I know we’ll face a lot of questions, but I think that’s what we have to do. Find the bones, then call the police.”

  A beat of silence stretched out, broken only by a faint scratching sound as he scrubbed his palm over his jaw. “It’s not just that it will be difficult, with all the questions and the red tape. It will throw us right back into the spotlight, too. I’ll do my best to keep things as quiet as possible at first, but this is going to be big news for a while. Are you prepared for that?”

  “I can handle it if you can.” Inhaling, she held his gaze. “Together?”

  He nodded. “Together.”

  24

  Two weeks after the bones had been found, Lark was sure Eva was gone. While she spent the nights with Jesse, she spent most of her days here, and there had been no more frightening occurrences. No sign of anything paranormal. And perhaps the best indication was Preston. He swaggered around the house with no hesitation at all. If she napped in the master bedroom, he was right there with her. She’d even wandered into the front guest room a few times, just to be sure, and Preston had casually followed her, showing curiosity but no fear.

  She glanced out the front window as she dumped her laundry onto the couch to fold it. The media hype had died down at this point, thankfully. There’d been a few vans and reporters with cameramen taking images of the house after the initial discovery. The excavation took a little longer than they’d expected, due to an investigation to determine whether Jesse had unearthed a Native American burial site during his staged yardwork project. No one in authority was willing to take their guess that it was in fact the remains of a Polish immigrant from the post-WWII time period as fact. But now, it seemed like things were moving in the right direction. The wheels were turning slowly, but they were turning.

  She often thought about that night, and what she’d seen through Eva’s eyes. Her heart ached for the poor, terrified young woman, and the unborn child. Lark hoped that Eva had somehow found her way back to that distant light they’d glimpsed together, now that her remains had been discovered, and the circumstances of her death revealed.

  There was, of course, a great deal of gossip flying around town as to what those circumstances were. Given that the body had been found in an unmarked grave, and a disappearance never reported, most everyone had come to the conclusion that John had done something awful to the young woman living in his house. While nothing could be done to hold him accountable now, at least the truth was finally out.

  She stacked the folded clothes, setting aside her bathing suit and a towel. She was meeting some of the girls from work at the beach today. It wasn’t a huge deal, but at the same time, it felt significant. It hadn’t just been Nathan who scarred her—it had been Brittney too. Forming new friendships, however casual at this point, was progress, even though it made her feel vulnerable.

  She stuffed the towel into a big canvas bag by the door, pulling her phone out to check if there were any changes to the plan. In the group text, there was just chatter about what snacks people were bringing and who had extra sunscreen, but she had a message from Jesse as well: “Have fun today, can’t wait to see you tonight.”

  She pressed the phone screen against her chest, closing her eyes as a wave of joy coursed through her. The way she felt about Jesse made her wonder if she’d even really been in love with Nathan.

  Her insides tightened as the word ‘love’ replayed in her mind. Did this mean what she felt for Jesse was love? Even after only knowing each other for six weeks?

  They’d been through a lot together already, and she knew him well enough to know what kind of person he was. If she wasn’t already in love, she knew she was falling fast. And while it was scary, it was also wonderful and exhilarating. Smiling to herself, she texted him back.

  25

  The smell of bacon pulled him from sleep, and he blinked groggily as he reached for Lark. Her side of the bed was empty, but he had a feeling these two things were linked together. Pushing himself up to sitting, he glanced around the room. The dogs weren’t there, and he had a feeling their absence was also linked to the alluring aroma. He climbed out of bed, his stomach growling in anticipation as he threw on clothes.

  He found her in the kitchen, standing in front of the stovetop with her back to him. Her fiery hair was pulled up into a messy knot, and she was wearing a dark blue T-shirt—one of his—and a pair of tiny plaid pajama shorts. She looked adorable. And slightly frazzled, as she transferred bacon onto a napkin-lined plate while simultaneously trying to flip pancakes. The dogs gave him one brief glance before resuming their laser-focused surveillance of the breakfast preparation.

  Coming up behind her, he slid his hands around her waist. She jumped, nearly dropping the spatula. The dogs leapt to attention.

  “Jesse! Don’t sneak up on me like that!”

  He pulled her closer, kissing the exposed nape of her neck. “Couldn’t resist.” Craning his head around her, he scanned the food, making appreciative noises. “What did I do to deserve this?”

  She wriggled away, giggling as she brandished her utensils. “Stop distracting me!” Checking the golden bottom of a pancake, she blew out a breath. “I wanted to surprise you with breakfast in bed,” she admitted, glancing back at him. “You always spoil me, so I wanted to do something for you.”

  His heart stumbled. “You didn’t need to do that. But I have to admit, it smells incredible.”

  “It does? Oh, good. I didn’t exactly spend a lot of time cooking in what passed for kitchens in New York apartments, but it’s coming back to me.” She slid a trio of pancakes onto a waiting plate. “Here you go. I found some butter and syrup…it’s on the island.”

  He snagged a few strips of bacon and added them to his plate. As he brewed a cup of coffee, his gaze wandered out the kitchen windows. Along the edge of the woods, tinges of yellow and orange broke into the sea of dark green. Crisp air drifted through the screens. Autumn was approaching. He felt that familiar pang associated with the end of summer, and he glanced back at Lark. Would the change in seasons herald a change in their relationship?

  She joined him at the kitchen table, and they tucked into breakfast, the dogs shuffling at their feet. As she sipped the last of her orange juice, she caught his gaze, biting down on her lip. “I’ve been thinking a lot. About where we go from here.”
/>   His chest tightened, but he forced levity into his voice. “Back to bed?”

  “You’re insatiable,” she said with a laugh, a blush blooming on her cheeks. “Not that I’m complaining.” Her expression turned serious as she rose from the table to stack their plates. “I meant…the future.”

  He caught her wrist, pulling her down onto his lap. “I know what you meant. I’ve been thinking about it, too. And there’s something I need to tell you.”

  She stiffened, a range of emotions playing across her face. Her pulse fluttered in her neck as she pulled in a shaky breath.

  He couldn’t tell if she was hopeful, apprehensive, scared, or some combination. But he had to reveal the depth of his feelings. And he had to share what he’d decided.

  He cupped her face, sliding his thumb over her cheek. “I’m in love with you, Lark.”

  Her eyes widened, sparkling with joy. A smile lit up her features as she threw her arms around his neck. “I love you too.” She melted into him, the tension seeping from her body. “I’ve been afraid to say the words, but I do. I love you.”

  He held her tightly, rubbing her back. “Good. Because I don’t want to be apart from you. I know you want to go back to New York at some point, so I’ve been thinking about finding someone else to run the clinic. So I could go with you. I’m sure they have vets in New York City.”

  “What?” She drew back, her brows lifting as she stared at him. “But…you promised your father you’d keep it going.”

  He had promised, and going back on his word would hurt him. But he had to believe his father would understand the need to follow his heart. When he’d made that promise, he hadn’t really considered a situation in which he’d need to move away. On some subconscious level, he’d just assumed that his future partner would want to live here. Most year-round residents thought of Truro as paradise, but they were biased—they’d already made the choice to make this their home.