Second Chance Magic

by Michelle M. Pillow

  She touched his cheek and gazed into his eyes.

  “I want you to be in my life,” Lorna said. “I want to see where this relationship leads. But I won’t keep what I do a secret. I won’t hide myself in a relationship. I won’t fade.”

  “I would never ask you to give up your independence or change who you are.” William covered her hand with his. “Your strength and your kindness is the second thing I noticed about you. The first was that you were sexy. What can I say? I’m a guy, and you were wearing that blue sundress and the wind hit you just right.” He cleared his throat, glancing toward the curtains as if to make sure the other two weren’t standing there listening. “What you can do with ghosts does not change who you are—someone I’m very attracted to, and who I can see spending the rest of my life with.”

  “Are you…” She took a step back in surprise. “Are you asking me to…?”

  William held up his hands. “No, I’m not proposing. Not now. Not here. Not when you could be suffering from post-concussive symptoms. But, maybe, someday, the right way. I like you, Lorna. I would even go so far to say I’m falling in love with you. I think I’ve been waiting my entire life to meet a woman like you and now that I have, I’m going to do everything I can to keep you in my life. I’m a patient man. I can wait for you to fall in love with me, too.”

  Lorna smiled. He was so open, so honest. And, amazingly, she felt she could trust him.

  “I don’t think you’ll be waiting too long,” Lorna answered.

  William’s smile widened. “Yeah?”

  Lorna nodded. “I’m pretty sure I’m falling in love with you too.”

  When she had set down the past it had opened her for future possibilities. William was definitely one of those.

  His lips met hers and he pulled her close, lifting her slightly off the floor with his embrace. The kiss instantly became passionate, tongues moving against each other. She felt him grinning against her mouth.

  William eased his hold but kept her against him. “Does this mean I can finally take you out on a proper date? I believe you said you liked Italian.”

  “I have wine upstairs in my apartment and we can order a pizza if you’re hungry,” Lorna said.

  He glanced behind him. “Are you sure you want to stay here after what happened?”

  “Glenn’s gone. I felt him leave. Plus, this sexy guy I know put in a new security system for me.” She glanced up, taking note of the newer camera where the older one had been.

  “I’ll be sure to let Jackson the installer know you think he’s sexy,” William teased.

  Lorna hit his arm. “I wasn’t talking about Jackson, though I’m sure he’s lovely.”

  “I’m serious though. Do you feel comfortable living here alone?”

  “I was thinking for tonight, at least, I wouldn’t be alone.” She arched a brow so he’d get her meaning.

  “William, I believe you said something about coffee. I am drained.” Heather came into the lobby. She smiled when she saw them together.

  “Concession.” William tilted his head toward the counter.

  “You are my favorite brother,” Heather said as she picked up her coffee.

  “I’m your only brother,” he answered.

  “Didn’t say it was a hard contest,” Heather mumbled before sipping.

  “In that case, you’re my favorite sister,” he said.

  Heather gave a small laugh. “Fair enough.”

  “I’m feeling better. I can work if you need me to.” Lorna pulled away from William’s embrace but stood close to him. “Do you want to reinstate the movie nights you canceled?”

  “Are you up to that?” Heather eyed her, doubtful.

  Lorna nodded. “You’ve done so much for me, offering to help with the insurance and workman’s comp stuff. I don’t want the theater to lose money when I can run a projector and cash register. I need this job and the apartment.”

  “You have this job and the apartment as long as you want it.” Heather glanced upward. “But are you sure you want to stay here? Vivien said you could move in with her if you want. I think she’s excited by the idea of having a roommate. I guarantee you she won’t charge you rent if that’s a concern. She doesn’t need the money.”

  “Glenn’s gone so the threat is also gone.” Lorna wasn’t going to let her ex chase her out of her job and home. “And, even if he wasn’t, I don’t think it matters. I felt him follow me to Vivien’s house.”

  “Tonight’s showing is already canceled.” Heather took another drink of coffee. “Thanks for the offer, but I think we’ll stay closed tomorrow too. I’d rather you rest and get better than push it too hard and feel crappy longer.”

  Vivien appeared carrying the book with her hand inside the pages like a bookmark. She set it on the counter and opened it. “There we are.”

  Lorna and Heather went to read where Vivien pointed.

  A new heading was written on a blank page, “Three Kick-Ass Women Séances.”

  Beneath the heading, Vivien had started a new ledger entry. “Lorna Addams, no money to contact lying ex Glenn after his spirit attacked her and caused a serious head injury. Spirit deserves a cosmic kick in the balls. We sent him on his way to the afterlife.”

  Lorna gave a short laugh. “Three Kick-Ass Women Séances? It sounds like we need business cards.”

  “I want t-shirts,” Vivien stated.

  “I know you’re joking, but I don’t need another business to run.” Heather shook her head. “For the record.”

  “Doesn’t it make you wish we were back in Julia’s day—bootlegging, the Spiritualist movement, flapper dresses, roadsters?” Vivien grinned. “We’d be female Capones.”

  “I think we have about all the excitement we can handle.” Heather closed the book.

  “I have to pass, too. I’d make a horrible outlaw.” Lorna grabbed a coffee cup from the holder.

  “Can we at least have a flapper-themed party and wear the fringy dresses? I have a birthday coming up.” Vivien opened the book toward the back. She flipped through several pages before stopping at the wine-stained page of séances.

  “This was Grandma’s book?” William joined them by the counter. Vivien slid it toward him so he could look at it. His brow furrowed as he turned the pages.

  “I’m hungry after that séance. Are you two hungry?” Heather touched her stomach. “I’m craving a German chocolate cake.”

  “I could definitely go for some sugar,” Vivien agreed. “Though why you would want to put coconut on a perfectly good cake is beyond me. Let’s make it a black forest cake, chocolate and cherries. Oh, and red velvet.”

  “I could go for pizza.” William glanced up from the pages and winked at Lorna. She couldn’t help but smile at the flirtation, relieved that the book didn’t appear to bother him. He might be uncomfortable with the afterlife, but he was trying.

  “I think that’s a hint that they want some alone time,” Heather said.

  “Getting pizza? Is that what the kids are calling it these days?” Vivien smirked. “All right. Come on, Heather. I’ll buy you a cupcake.”

  “I want a whole cake, not a mini cake,” Heather corrected.

  Vivien hooked Heather by the arm and pulled her toward the front doors.

  Lorna watched them walk outside and bit her lip.

  “You want to go for cupcakes, too, don’t you?” William asked with a chuckle.

  Lorna nodded. “Yeah, I feel like I need sugar. Is that all right if we postpone a few hours? I know I said pizza, but…”

  “Tonight. Here. Six o’clock. I’ll bring the pepperoni,” William said.

  Lorna grinned. “And cheesy breadsticks.”

  “All right.” He nodded.

  “Barbeque chicken wings,” she added.

  “Whatever you want.” William gave her a quick kiss.

  “You’re amazing.” Lorna watched him as she backed toward the front doors, leaving him with Julia’s book. “Want me to bring you anything from the b
akery for later?”

  “Surprise me.” He gestured toward the door. “And you better hurry, or they will leave without you.”

  Chapter Fourteen

  Lorna awoke, sitting up in bed. Soft lights came from outside, moving across the room as a car passed on Main Street. She heard the purr of a loud motor muffled by the walls before silence surrounded her once more.

  No, not silence. Breathing.

  She looked next to her and smiled into the darkness. William had stayed with her, insisting it was the doctor’s orders that she not be left alone. The covers were up to his stomach, but she knew he was naked underneath—and what a beautiful naked he was too.

  Lorna slept in her pajama shorts and a cami top, mostly because the room was a little chilly.

  It was good to be back in her own space. Vivien had seemed disappointed that her house guest didn’t even stay one night. When Lorna had bumped into Vivien’s arm, she felt the woman’s loneliness. Vivien masked it well, but it was there.

  Lorna inched her way off the mattress, careful not to wake William. She reached for her robe hanging over the foot of the bed and threaded it over her arms as she walked toward the stairs. Floorboards creaked gently under her bare feet. She consciously felt for cold drafts. The temperature was warm.

  There was a peace to the stillness of night that she’d always enjoyed—those moments when the kids had been in bed and the phone didn’t ring. She crept down the stairs. A tiny thread of apprehension threatened, but she pushed through it. Glenn had disappeared like dying embers. She had nothing to fear from him.

  Lorna passed the office and headed toward the lobby. Streetlights came through the glass doors. She didn’t step too close in case a car came by. The people of Freewild Cove didn’t need to see her in her pajamas, at least no more than they already had during her ambulance pick up.

  “Not a bad life,” she whispered with a smile. “Not bad at—”

  Music began to play, softly coming from the direction of the office.

  Lorna turned, staring into the shadows. This couldn’t be happening. Not again.

  “Hello?” she whispered. Her hands trembled and she pressed them together. The music continued.

  Lorna touched the back of her head. All outward signs of the trauma were gone, but that didn’t mean her brain could take another blow.

  “Who’s there?” she called louder. “This isn’t funny.”

  “Lorna?” The music abruptly stopped. William came from the darkness. He had pulled on his blue jeans but they were unbuttoned and hung from his hips. His feet were bare. “What are you doing down here?”

  “Did you hear that?”

  “Hear what?”

  “The music.” She hurried to his side, not wanting to be alone. “I heard the radio from the office before…”

  “I didn’t hear music.” William brushed her hair back from her face and stared into her eyes. He peered into one, lifting his hand to cast shadow over it, and then did the same to the other. “Your eyes appear to be dilating. Did the doctor say anything about auditory hallucinations?”

  “Probably.” Lorna gave a short laugh. “After what we saw, do you think that’s what it is? A hallucination?”

  “Probably not.” He stiffened. “Does this mean Glenn is still here?”

  “I don’t—”

  “Glenn,” William shouted angrily. “I want you to listen to me and listen good. I don’t care if you are invisible. I will exorcise your ass back into the unknown faster than you can blink. Lorna is with me now because she chose to be, and you’re going to let her choose what she wants. Do you hear me?”

  “William, I don’t think you should make him mad,” Lorna warned. “Heather said confrontational approaches are bad.”

  “I’m not going to stand here and let him torment you,” William answered. “I—”

  Brrrring.

  Lorna gasped, jumping at the loud sound. It took a moment to register that it was the office phone. She tightly held onto William’s arm.

  Brrrring.

  “Do you think that’s him?” Lorna whispered. “Can ghosts do that? Heather said that ghost hunters use scanners and that spirits can manipulate the airwaves. It would make sense that they could manipulate phone lines, too.”

  Brrrring.

  “There is only one way to find out. Stay here.” William held his hand to the side like that would be enough to keep her from following. He strode toward the office. She wasn’t sure if it was bravery or bravado that drove his steps.

  Brrrring.

  William slapped the office light on and glanced at her as it revealed she was right behind him. He frowned, clearly not happy she’d followed him.

  Brrrring.

  His hand hesitated and he glanced around the empty office before touching the phone.

  Brrrr—

  William picked up the handset and lifted it to his ear. His eyes met hers and he didn’t say anything right away.

  “Who is it?” Lorna whispered, holding her breath.

  “Hello?” William asked. His eyes widened and he gave a sigh of relief. “Hey, Heather. Why are you calling so late?”

  Heather. Lorna let go of her captured breath.

  “We must have left our cell phones upstairs,” he said. “Sorry. Anyway, what’s up?”

  His relieved smile faded.

  “What is it?” Lorna demanded.

  William hit the button for the speakerphone and set the handset down.

  “Heather?” Lorna asked. “What’s going on?”

  “Vivien called me upset,” Heather said. “Something’s not right.”

  “Is she hurt?” Lorna’s chest instantly became tight. Vivien hadn’t been the nicest toward Glenn during the séance. “Did Glenn attack her?”

  “No, I…” The phone reception fuzzed and it became difficult to hear what was being said. “Julia… the book… didn’t shut…”

  “Heather?” William demanded. “Where are you?”

  “I’m going to…” The line filled with static.

  “Heather?” Lorna shouted toward the phone. The static stopped.

  “Heather, are you there?” William asked. “Heather!”

  A dark cackle took over the phone call seconds before a click sounded and the line went dead.

  “That wasn’t Heather’s voice at the end,” Lorna said. The sinister laugh represented the thing of nightmares.

  “I know,” William frowned. “Wait by the lobby doors. I’m going upstairs to get my keys. If Vivien called upset, then Heather is probably heading over there.”

  Lorna was in pajamas and a robe but didn’t care. She backed from the office to the lobby. William’s footsteps ran up the stairs. “Glenn, if you’re there, please don’t hurt anyone.”

  Thump.

  As if to answer her the sound of a thud came from overhead. She looked up, waiting.

  Thump. Thump-thump-thump-thud.

  The sound skittered before something substantial dropped.

  William!

  Lorna didn’t think as she ran toward the stairs to her apartment. The end of her robe fluttered behind her as she reached the open door. Instantly a cold blast of air passed over her as something rushed at her from above. She stumbled back but managed to keep her footing. She couldn’t see her attacker, but that was not surprising.

  “William?” she yelled.

  Lorna tried again for the stairs. She grabbed ahold of the doorframe to propel her body forward, but suddenly her robe lifted from behind. The material became tight against her arms as she was jerked backward. Her fingers were forced from the doorframe and she flailed.

  Lorna landed on her butt and cried out in pain. The robe was pulled from behind and the force of it dragged her several feet across the floor. She thrashed, trying to free herself.

  Lorna managed to lift her arms over her head so that the sleeves were tugged off and away. The robe shot into the air only to glide unhampered back down to the floor.

  Crying out a
t the pain radiating from her hip after the landing, she tried crawling toward the stairs. “William!”

  Lorna almost made it before her foot was jerked back. Icy fingers wrapped her naked ankle. She screamed as she slid on her stomach, trying to grab hold of the passing floor to stop her progress.

  “Glenn, stop,” she ordered.

  She was flung to the side and rolled a few times until she landed on her back. Luckily her head didn’t strike the floor too hard. She tried to push up to look around the empty lobby.

  “Show yourself to us so that all may see,” Lorna said, praying that part of the séance would work again.

  Headlights shone from a passing car, glaring through the front doors. The light caught in the empty space near her feet to reveal the features of a translucent figure. The flash didn’t last long, but the image was unmistakable as it divulged the twisted body of a man with hulking shoulders and muscled arms combined with the large head of a bat. Before the light passed, the creature opened his fanged mouth. Reverberating laughter pierced the silence in hard cracks of sound. In the darkness the creature became invisible once more.

  Fear squeezed her chest, cutting off her sound as she gasped for breath.

  Not Glenn. Not Glenn.

  Demon.

  Demon!

  A scream of terror broke free of her throat. Her legs kicked as she scrambled to escape. Cold swiped her calf as fingers tried to grab hold but she jerked her foot.

  Pounding sounded on the door. She caught the image of Heather and Vivien through the glass. Heather fumbled with keys. Lorna tried to push up from the floor to stop them from coming in, but her legs were swiped before she could stand. The air whooshed from her lungs as she landed on her chest.

  Heather finally managed to open the door.

  “Run,” Lorna cried, trying to get them to turn around.

  “It’s not Glenn,” Vivien said.

  “Demon—ahh.” Lorna was forced across the floor as she was shoved aside. Her limbs shook and she wasn’t sure how much more of a beating she could take. Weakly, she tried to order them to leave, “Get out of here.”