“What if it only makes him mad, desperate?” Coop took hold of my hands. “What if he decides to get even with them by ruining this party?”
An image of all my delicate pastries being tossed around a crowd of screaming guests flashed through my mind, and I had to fight a wave of nausea. The boys had told me they were sure they could catch Hugh when he wasn’t see-through. I think they’d come close a couple of times, based on the racket.
What the boys thought they’d do if they caught the ghost, I had no idea. Did they have some kind of containment unit— I let go of that image. It didn’t bear thinking about, or I’d never sleep at night. We had to figure this out soon.
“I promise I’ll make it quick.” Coop pulled me from my unhappy musings by lifting one of my hands to his lips. Our eyes met for a second, and the intensity of his look made my knees go a little shaky.
“Okay,” I managed to get out. Behind us, Mom called something out to the workers again, and I pulled myself together. “I’m meeting my mother now to set up for the tea. Is it okay to slip away while she’s there?”
“I ….” Coop’s eyes darted toward where my mother directed workers, but he didn’t turn his head. “Best not.” He pressed my palm against his lips again, sending a shiver through my entire body.
“If you don’t stop it, I’m going to pounce on you,” I whispered. “Right here in front of her and everyone.”
The twinkle in his eyes turned wicked for a second, but he let go of my hand and stepped back. “When can you meet me?”
“She’s only helping me for an hour.” I rubbed my still-tingling palm. “Can you meet me in the ballroom when she’s gone?”
“I’ll be overseeing the crew finishing up in the garden. Text me when she’s gone.” Coop leaned forward. I thought he was going to kiss my cheek again, but he whispered in my ear. “There’s a full moon tomorrow night.” The warmth of his minty breath sent a shiver down my spine. “Maybe another midnight picnic?” He kissed my cheek, then turned and jogged away.
With a sigh, I watched him until he disappeared around the north end of the castle. I scanned the grounds, taking it all in. Workers bringing Mom’s layout to life. Dad directing the boys as they carried pots of plants full of red, white, and blue flowers that Coop had arranged. His parents setting up the giant chess set while trying to keep Mellie from climbing the pieces.
Another midnight picnic. Contentment filled me. I smiled like an idiot standing in the middle of a group of bustling people. I realized then I’d never been happier in my life.
Mom called my name. Girding up my metaphorical loins, I hurried over to join her.
“You look like the cat that got the canary,” she said, glancing the way Coop had gone.
“Just really happy, Mom.” I hugged her. It seemed to surprise her, but she returned it. When I started to pull away, she held me a little tighter before letting me go.
“I’m glad, baby.” My mom’s eyes glistened. She glanced at the flower in my hair but didn’t mention it. “You nervous?”
“A little, but excited too.” I tried not to think about a possible ghostly assault and pulled the phone from my pocket to access the checklist she’d emailed me. “I already have the cart loaded and waiting for us.”
“Let’s get to work.” She signaled to some of the temp help and led the way. “What do you think about having it in the library next year—after an elevator’s installed?”
“That would be perfect,” I said. “With the bookcases and paintings, it’d be so much more intimate.”
Mom sent her workers to bring in the carts. She and I brainstormed while dressing the tables. Finally, she glanced at her watch, clapped her hands, and told her workers to head outside again. She paused for a second, taking in the room.
“Just imagine what we can do with this place for the holidays,” she said.
“A Yule Ball.” I breathed out the words as plans flooded my mind.
“Yes. With a formal dinner. I like it. You know, events held here could be really good for the village economy. Think of getting your hair done there or picking up your gown or tux in one of the shops.” She checked her watch again. “Don’t forget to take pictures when you’re done.” Mom followed her crew, leaving me to put the finishing touches on the tables.
Upon completion, I surveyed the room. The size of it took away from the intimacy, but we’d overcome some of that by using decorative screens to divide the room. The formal dining room in the east tower probably would have made a better room choice, but Mom had turned it into her staging area for the outside events.
“Hey,” Coop said from the doorway where he leaned against the jamb, his arms folded across his chest.
How long had he been there watching me?
“What do you think?” I clutched my hands. “Another time it’d be fun to give each table a literary theme. You know, like an Alice in Wonderland table or an Anne of Green Gables table. Maybe a princess table.”
“Mellie would love a princess table.” He straightened. “I like that you’re thinking of a future here.”
With one corner of his mouth curved up, he examined each of the table settings. I’d worked hard to make each one unique, an eclectic blending of old fashioned and modern. All of them included flowers from Coop’s garden.
“Classy. If the food is half as good as the ambience, you’ll have a hit.” He glanced at his watch and took my hand. “We need to hurry. Your dad asked for my help. Come on.”
He led me to the library. We stopped in front of the portrait of Sir Hugh and his children.
“I think it’s her.” He pointed to the little girl in the picture.
“But I saw a man,” I said.
“That’s not what I mean. I think what’s keeping Sir Hugh here is related to his daughter. She died when she was seven.”
“Mellie’s age.” I scrutinized the picture more closely.
“Yep. She was a lot younger than her older brother. The record I found says Hugh was devoted to her. She was feisty but sickly.” He shot me a knowing sidelong glance.
“Again, like Mellie. She’s never acted like she’s afraid of him. Could he be staying because of her?”
“If he hadn’t already shown himself to us before you all came, that might be a possible theory.” Coop peered at the painting, contemplative.
“True. Same goes with Miles being the ghost.” I gave a soft laugh. “Imagine if he had come back as one. Would it have ticked Sir Hugh off to have to share his castle with another spook?”
“I’m glad Miles died a peaceful death after a long, full life,” Coop said. “The death of Hugh’s daughter devastated him. He’d wander the house searching for her and went ballistic if anyone reminded him she’d died.”
I understood that anger and pain. And the horrible sense of helplessness. Our family had never been the same after Phoebe died. Could never be the same. We might have gotten used to her absence, but the ache of not seeing her never left.
Sliding my fingers through Coop’s, I leaned my head against his arm, my eyes burning. On that first day in the library, I’d gotten a glimpse of Hugh’s pain. What an awful existence for a ghost, forced to endure that for centuries.
“We have to help.” I sniffed. “How do we free him?”
“Well,” Coop said as he patted my hand, “they said before he died, he’d wander the castle searching for some gift he’d bought his little girl. The housekeeper said in his crazed mind he’d thought finding it would save her. After he died, his ghost kept searching. He only haunted in Ireland for a couple of decades before his heir moved the castle.”
“A gift for a little girl.” I straightened and squinted at the picture.
The child’s beautifully made dress had lots of lace, and she wore a necklace. Her styled hair held a few jeweled clips. While her hands, dressed in delicate white lace gloves, rested on her lap—the very picture of maidenly primness—her eyes told another story. If this child had been anything like Mellie, Hugh’s
daughter must have hated all the watchful eyes keeping her from her fun.
My phone vibrated, indicating a text. Thinking my mom needed me, I pulled it from my pocket. It was from Taylor.
I’ve found the perfect location. Dad said he’ll pay the deposit. When can you get back here?
I should have leaped for joy. Instead, my eyes darted up to Coop’s face. As disappointment flashed across it, I knew he’d read the message. His expression shut, closing like a door. My stomach hurt, and not in a good way.
“Well ….” Coop took a couple of steps back from me, his right hand tapping his thigh.
My head spun in a conflicting whirlwind of wishes and wants. Why must I always be pulled in different directions? Why couldn’t all the good things I dreamed of be in the same place? I tried to swallow, but it came out as a hiccup.
The sound seemed to fuel Coop. He took two steps, pulled me in his arms, and kissed me. The thrilling fire I’d become used to from his touch was still there, but muted, overpowered by something else. Something deeper and richer, that was less about nerve endings and more about who I was when I was with him, what we were together. And what I could not be without him.
“I’ll give you an hour to stop that,” I whispered, when he broke the kiss, and I could speak again.
“I thought I had more time.” He brushed his fingers across my cheek and into my hair, his hand cupping my head, gentle and tender. “You have to do what you think’s best for you, and I’ll support any decision you make, but—”
“But?”
Coop touched his lips to mine again, so light this time it almost tickled. He pulled back, took a breath, and stepped back. “I love you, Lia.” He turned and strode away.
***
I’m not sure how I muddled my way through the tea. Like Coop’s parting words hadn’t been enough, my stupid phone kept vibrating in my pocket. I should have texted Taylor back right away. A month ago I would have. I’d have been making arrangements to get back to Sacramento. Tomorrow. It’d been the focus of all our energies since our senior year.
I studied my guests—my guests. Their compliments about the beautiful room and the delicious food only fueled my confusion. Several had even asked if this would be a regular event. My event. Mom had left the whole thing up to me. All of it.
I had turned into that stupid rope in a tug-of-war again. For two years I’d focused all my creative energy on making a dessert boutique with Taylor. We knew Old Sac, with its abundance of tourists, would be a great spot for it.
Before news of the inheritance had come, Dad had helped us with a marketing plan, and Taylor’s dad had shown us how to put together a financial plan. If her father agreed with the location enough to help with the deposit, I needed to go, to make my dream a reality.
And leave this amazing place. Leave my family.
Leave Coop.
I love you, Lia.
My insides went all squishy.
When the tea ended, I greeted everyone as they left and thanked them for their gracious compliments. I told them I hoped they’d come again, that my parents were indeed considering a holiday event. Everyone chattered about it as they went outside.
Numbly, I began collecting the dirty dishes until Mom showed up with her helpers. She shot me some concerned looks, but with strangers around she didn’t say anything.
I plugged along through the day, gradually checking off the items on the list. Every once in a while I’d catch glimpses of him working with my dad or brothers. Coop didn’t try to meet my gaze, but if we happened to look at each other, he didn’t look away; he neither frowned nor smiled. His attempt at neutrality? To let me decide without pressure?
By the time the first star of the evening came into view, the guests were settling down on their blankets or chairs in anticipation of the fireworks show.
I surveyed the grounds, full of laughing families. In the distance Ezra pulled the boys away from where the pyrotechnicians were making final adjustments to the fireworks. The volunteer fire department stood nearby, all suited up, their equipment ready.
“We can sit here.” I pointed Mellie to the blankets Mom had set out for the family. Off to the side, on the outside edge of the crowd, Coop sat with his parents.
“I’m too tired.” Mellie took my hand and tugged on it.
“Don’t you want to watch the fireworks, sweetie?”
“No, I want to go to bed.” Mellie’s last word broke into an almost-sob.
Mom usually made sure Mellie had a chance to take a nap. I doubted there’d been time, so I lifted her chin, where the dim light exaggerated the shadows under her eyes. “We can go inside, but it’s still going to be noisy.”
Waving my hand, I got my mother’s attention and pointed at Mellie and then the castle. Mom nodded and then had to turn away to answer a guest’s question.
Inside, the citadel seemed especially still after the chaos outside. Mellie would have crawled into my bed still in her clothes if I hadn’t insisted she change into her PJs. Her head had barely hit the pillow when her breathing slowed. Poor baby. I lay beside her but didn’t get under the covers.
When the fireworks began, the castle’s thick stones muffled the explosions, the lights only a dull glow against my window. Mellie didn’t even stir.
I couldn’t sleep. My mind rolled the same thought around, over and over. Even though Taylor had texted three more times, I still hadn’t replied.
Like I would a blouse, I tried on my choices to see if I liked them. Every time, whichever choice it was, I felt like I’d lost something precious.
Chapter 7
Hugh paced back and forth on the turret, his nerves stretched. The longer these people stayed here, the more they made the citadel their home, the more pinched he felt. Like a vice squeezing his existence away. If the stone was no longer here … he could not shake off a sense of desperation. He had to find it. Soon.
Another explosion burst into the sky, raining a glorious stream of colours. Had it not been for the earlier frivolity, he might have thought they were under attack. The celebrations he had seen as a young man during his first visit to London were pathetic next to this display here. Must the Americans do everything on a grand scale?
Hugh paused in his pacing and rubbed his chin. Perhaps therein lay his problem, why they paid him no heed. His efforts were too small. If they wanted a grand gesture, he would give them a grand gesture.
Yes, a lovely, grand haunt.
Lia
I WOKE WITH A START. I’d only fallen asleep once the fireworks had stopped, still in my clothes. But my sleep had been restless, my dreams—nightmares really—had been variations of me staying and disappointing Taylor or me leaving and disappointing my family … and Coop.
Exhausted, I stared at the dark ceiling.
Another noise, a clatter, this time right outside my door. I sat up. The moonlight made Mellie’s eyes shine. I put my fingers to my lips.
“It’s just the boys,” she mumbled and rolled over again.
Well, I was just done with this nonsense. All my earlier sympathy for Hugh fled. Lame ghost. Lame, juvenile little brothers trying to capture him. I threw back the covers and stomped across the room.
Mellie made a shushing sound, and I hesitated at the door. Fine. No point in waking Mom and Dad.
But really. This had to stop.
I turned the handle and opened the door as quietly as I could. None of the doors in the family wing creaked anymore. Dad had seen to that, though Mom had once made a snarky comment about how it helped the boys in their nighttime escapades.
On the hallway floor, outside my door, sat a piece from one of the suits of armor. Down the hall a bluish light was turning the corner. Through the newly enlarged windows, I tracked it as it went by Coop’s design workstation. It appeared to be heading toward the library.
Time to have a word with Sir Hugh. I ran after it, having to skirt a couple more bits of armor. Did he think to play Hansel and Gretel by leaving a trail of armor ins
tead of bread crumbs?
Hugh might think himself clever, but I was going to give him a piece of my mind. Like we didn’t have enough of a mess to clean up already. We didn’t need to have him adding to our work.
The light disappeared into the library, and the door slammed shut. I stopped there and listened. From the racket inside, he must be throwing the pieces of armor around the room while muttering to himself. Had he tripped a trap set by the boys? He’d better not damage anything.
It didn't matter. It was time for this guy to go into the light, even if I had to throw him there myself.
Fueled by my fatigue and wrenching indecision, I gathered up years of experience watching my mom boss around Dad’s work crews. With a jerk, I ripped open the library door and marched into the room. Sir Hugh sat on one of the chairs, rubbing his shin.
“How dare you?” I demanded, planting my hands on my hips in my best mother imitation.
Sir Hugh spun his head around. “How dare I?” He rose to what must have been his full height. The dimness made it hard to tell if he meant to intimidate me by floating off the ground. His bluish glow, combined with the moonlight, gave everything an eerie radiance. It was pretty impressive.
He came closer, but I stood my ground.
“How dare I?” he asked again. “I am the sixth Baron le Savage, and this is my home. I have every right to be here. You are the usurper.”
“Yeah. No. Sorry to break the news to you, dude.” I stepped closer to him, putting on a fierce glare. “You’re. Dead.” I spoke the words slowly, like he might not understand. I pointed to the portrait over the fireplace. “Go to the light. Go away and be with your family.”
I think Sir Hugh’s face had gone red, but his bluish ghost light turned it into the oddest shade of purple instead. With the round baldness at the top of his head, it reminded me of a giant grape.
“Lia?” Mellie’s little voice came from behind me, soft and scared.
“I will show you!” Hugh moved before I could even turn around to grab her. With a frightening growl, he blew right through me. Literally. Right through me. My entire body went cold. Like a videogame champion, I stood frozen in place, stunned. Unable to move.
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