“Her front yard has a little wall circling a bed of flowers. I’ve seen her tending the roses there.” She looked off over to the end of the yard where a small garden shed stood.
“Yeah. Like I said, she loves her roses. What’s weird about that?”
“There’s one rose that blooms in the winter. Surrounded by a foot of snow but that rose still blooms.”
I adjusted the strap of my bathing suit and cleared my throat. Anything to buy time before I answered. What could I say? There was no wiggling out of this one. “I don’t know about that. Sure, I’ve seen the rose you’re talking about but...” I shrugged my shoulders, kind of wishing I’d listened to my grandmother and canceled this visit.
She continued, “At first I thought it was a silk rose but one day I got out of my truck and felt it; it was definitely real.” Her dark eyes examined me like a bug under a microscope.
Time to give it up. She had me. I blew out a puff of air. “Yeah, it’s real. What can I say? It’s a strange house. I don’t know why the rose blooms in winter but I’ve no doubt you’ve seen it.” I grinned at her. “You haven’t lied to me before.”
She laughed. “Not that you know of.”
I grinned at her like a wolf. “Wanna bet? Take my hand and I’ll know.” I thrust my hand out and grinned watching the puzzled smile on her face. I had never touched Gwen before, and was curious to see what I was going to come up with.
“Okaaaay?” She took my hand in hers and gave it a little shake. When she looked back up into my eyes she gasped.
The weirdest feeling came over me. I had just met her and now I knew—no, I felt—everything about her. It came in a rolling cascade: her resentment of her older brother while growing up, the worry and then pain of losing her mother, her genuine concern and love for her dad. It ended with a flash of her in safety goggles, her hands clutching a piece of green glass.
I pulled my hand back and deliberated for all of one second on whether to freak her out. “You do stained glass?”
Her jaw fell, staring at me. “I just started! I’ve taken some classes and now I’m working on a window hanging! How did you know?”
I fluttered my fingers in front of my face and in my most dramatic voice, “Madam Keira knows all.” Her eyes were as big as golf balls peering at me. It was too much. I burst out laughing.
She leaned closer peering at me. “Your eyes when you took my hand... they changed. They got all kind of glassy...no, they glittered. Seriously. That was weird. Your eyes got strange!”
I shrugged and looked off into the distance. It was still unsettling how quickly all that had happened. Whatever talents I had were coming to the surface faster and faster.
Gwen reached for my hand again. “Tell me more. Do it again. I mean how’d you do that? Are you some kind of—”
“No. Look it’s been a day.” When I saw the disappointment in her eyes, my tone grew softer. “I need you to drop it... for now. I’ll explain at some point but, right now, let’s just talk about something else.” That same feeling of exhaustion I felt after transitioning Molly and Sam flowed over me again. I was beat.
She nodded. “Okay... but I’m going to hold you to that, you know. Talk about your Stephen King moment...”
“Does it frighten you?” I looked down at my fingers knotted together. I hoped it didn’t scare her.
“What? No! You kidding? It’s fascinating!”
“Really? It doesn’t scare you?”
She shook her head. “I’m as surprised as you are. I love reading spooky stuff and watching scary movies. But this is... real.” She shrugged. “I have a scientific background, and a phenomenon like this is extraordinary! I’m more excited and curious than scared, Keira.”
I lifted my head and looked at her again. When our eyes met, a flash of the two of us burst in my mind. We were older, in our thirties, waiting for a plane at an airport, We stood at the floor-to-ceiling windows, watching planes taxi off the tarmac. We were on our way somewhere, together. I gasped.
“Your eyes... for a moment there, they changed again, Keira.”
I bet they did. I slowly got to my feet. “I’m not up for swimming today, Gwen. I need to go home.”
“Is everything okay?” She jumped to her feet. “Are you okay?”
I smiled. “Yeah, I’m good.” I felt a little lightheaded though. That was the first time I glimpsed the future. “I’d like you to come to my house tomorrow for lunch or dinner.”
She brightened. “Okay. I’d like that too.”
“I want GM to meet you.”
EIGHTEEN
GWEN’S EYES SCRUNCHED. “WHO’S GM?”
I smirked. “That’s what I call my grandmother.”
“Not Granny? Not Nana?”
I held up a hand like a traffic cop. “Not yet.” That was going to change soon, I’m sure. But just not yet. “You’ll be able to come though, right?”
“Yeah, sure; it’s just down the road, Keira.”
“Good. I’ll need your phone number before I leave.” I turned to head back inside.”
“You sure you don’t want me to drop you off? It’s no big deal.”
“No... I need the walk to clear my head.” She grasped my arm in a way I had seen Lawrence hold GM. I didn’t get any flashes or anything, but I was happy for the support. “I’ll just throw my clothes on and head home.”
“Okay, Keira.” We headed inside together.
***
Coming out of the bathroom after changing, the dog was in the hallway. He looked up at me and his ears drooped down before he turned, skulking into the bedroom. I sighed and continued on.
Gwen stood next to her father with her hand on his shoulder. She turned from watching the television and smiled. “All set?”
“Yup. Thanks for the beer. We’ll get in a swim next time.” I moved over to her father. “Nice meeting you, Mr. Jones.”
He looked up with a smile. “It’s Devon. And don’t make yourself scarce, y’hear? My daughter doesn’t have enough good friends.”
I bent to shake his hand and once more, loneliness emanated into my gut. “I’ll be back, don’t worry about that. You’ll probably get sick of seeing me.” I glanced at the framed photo on the table next to him. It showed a young woman in a nurse’s uniform holding a bunch of roses. From the set of her wide eyes and cheekbones, it was obviously Gwen’s mother. The resemblance was too great for it not to be and the photo was old. Nurses didn’t wear those caps anymore.
When I straightened and looked past him, a grayish mist was in the corner of the room. My breath caught in my throat. The shape became clearer, a woman in a light dress, staring back at me. It was Gwen’s mother. I glanced at Gwen and her dad but they were smiling at me, totally oblivious to the fact the ghost was there.
Despite what I’d done earlier that day, helping Molly and Sam transition, there was no way I was going to mess with this one. It might not fit into GM’s world view, maintaining order and The Veil, but it worked for this family.
“Okay. I’m off.” I smiled at Gwen, I’ll call you about a time for us to get together once I’ve run it by GM.”
She laughed. “GM? How does she like you calling her that?”
“She’s fine with it. When you meet her, you’ll see. It suits her.” I couldn’t help grinning as I pictured my grandmother.
“I think I’ll stick with Mrs. York, if it’s all the same to you.” She followed me to the door and stood on the veranda as I walked down the lane.
I turned and my hand rose to mimic a phone call. “I’ll talk to you later. Bye!”
I couldn’t wait to tell GM all about my visit!
NINETEEN
“WELL DONE, KEIRA!” GM lifted her glass and then took a long swallow as we sat in the living room before dinner.
I had just finished telling her about seeing the ghost of Gwen’s mother, and my impressions when I’d shook hands with Gwen’s dad. But I was leaving the best until last. My hands tensed for a moment on the glass
I was holding as I looked over at her. “I think I might have found my Lawrence.”
She paused, her hand in midair before setting her glass on the table in front of her. “What?”
I relayed the vision I’d had of the two of us at an airport sometime in the future. I couldn’t get the words out fast enough and I popped to my feet, pacing the floor in front of her. “I invited her over so you and Lawrence can meet her! I want to get your impressions. But I’m pretty sure, I’m right!”
Lawrence had stepped into the room to let us know about dinner. From the bewildered look on his face, he’d caught enough of the conversation. “The mail lady? This is who you think will act as your Guardian, going forward?”
Guardian? He made it sound like being a Guardian was like royalty or something. Plus, this was the first I’d ever heard the term, for what he did. My chin lifted higher as I stared into his eyes. “She’s not just a mail lady! I’ll have you know she’s a physicist. She was working on her PhD when she had to drop out in order to look after her father. She’s incredibly smart, and...” I groped for a word to describe Gwen, but all I could come up with was, “Nice!” I crossed my arms. “I’m pretty sure we’ll make a good team.”
“But Keira... there’s more to it than being smart. There’s loyalty.”
“Undying loyalty!” Lawrence tried to underscore GM’s words, speaking louder and squaring his shoulders.
GM smiled and looked up at him, the affection showing in her eyes. “Yes. You’ve proved that more than once, my dear.”
His eyebrows bobbed high and he sniffed. “Not to mention, my ability to sense impending danger. I admit, I wasn’t born with it but I’ve trained myself.”
“Well... so could she.”
GM chimed in, “Not to sound sexist, but the role of guardian would be more appropriate for a man. I mean sometimes, it takes physical strength.”
“I’m not worried about that, GM, she’s in terrific shape.” The discrepancy between Gwen’s physical fitness and Lawrence’s would be cruel to point out. Especially now that he was starting to warm up to me.
I decided to switch tacks. “All I’m saying is that I want you to meet her. I want to know your impressions. And you can’t deny my vision can you? We were together in the future and I know we were about to catch a plane to do your work, GM.”
She sighed and her gaze flickered over to Lawrence. “Okay. We’ll meet Gwen and give you our impressions. I’ll keep an open mind.” Her eyes turned thoughtful. “But... you need to keep an open mind as well, my girl. Don’t just jump at the first person who comes along. Gwen may be nice, physically fit and seem perfect but... she may not want the role of guardian. It’s not without peril. And she has her father to look after. She has to know what she’s getting in for.”
My hands rose before me. “Whoa, whoa, back up. I haven’t said I was taking the job. My heart was doing cartwheels in my chest. Gwen would be interested. How could she be a fan of Stephen King and not be? “So lunch tomorrow?”
“Not tomorrow. I’ve got something planned for us that will take up most of the day. How about lunch the day after?” GM looked over the rim of her glass at me as she took a sip.
Lawrence walked over to the sideboard and poured a drink for himself before turning and offering more to us. “She’ll be working then, delivering mail. The day after tomorrow is Monday, Pamela.”
“Don’t be a snob, Lawrence.” GM held her glass out for a refill.
He topped up her glass and then turned to top me up. “Why don’t you ask her for dinner instead? She can come early, have some drinks and I’ll prepare something special.”
“Of course you must join us, Lawrence. Your input is invaluable.” GM batted her eyes at him again. Geeesh! She acted more like a helpless schoolgirl than I did sometimes! I watched Lawrence puff up at her sweet talk and shook my head. “You two...”
Lawrence’s eyes darted from GM to me. “What?”
I waved my hands. “Nothing. Forget it. So you really think Gwen coming for dinner’s a good idea, Lawrence?”
“I did suggest it.”
“That’s true.” I was a little surprised.
He nodded. “Yes. This woman is your candidate, Keira. I think a little more formality would be in order.” He cocked his head. “This is important, so let’s put our best foot forward.”
“Thanks Lawrence. I think she’s going to be impressed.”
TWENTY
LATER THAT EVENING, I looked for my cell phone to call Gwen. I slapped myself upside the head when I realized I had left it in her bathroom when I changed. It was a little late, so I figured I’d drop by the next day and pick it up. I’d extend my invitation to dinner for Monday night while I was at it.
***
The next morning was gloomy and it was tempting to just roll over and go back to sleep. Instead, I got up; a half an hour later I joined GM in the sunroom.
“Hi, GM,” I balanced coffee, a bowl of cereal and a banana tucked between my elbow and waist as I entered.
She had on gardening gloves, a pair of snips in her hand, pruning some dead shoots from a large potted plant. “Good morning, Keira.” She turned and a smile twitched her lips. “All quiet in your room now?”
“Too quiet. I never thought I’d say it, but I miss Molly’s housekeeping.”
GM laughed lightly.
“What’s so funny?” I took a bite of my banana as she sat down at the table across from me.
“You are, Keira.” She shook her head, her eyebrows elevated in amusement. “A week ago you were a night clubbing, New Yorker. And this morning you’re grousing about missing your spectral housekeeper.”
I swallowed and chortled myself. “Yeah... how things change, huh? From failed acting student to protector of the universe in seven days.” I glanced around. “So that’s it for the free housekeeping though, huh? No more ghostly servants?”
“Well... sort of.”
“What do you mean?”
GM made a face. “We still have one more spirit to transition.”
“Now wait a second, GM, how long have you been living here?”
“Many years. I moved here when your mother started boarding school.”
“And so you let these ghosts stay on all that time?” When she nodded, I asked, “Why?”
“Because they were going to serve a greater purpose by staying than by leaving. I knew I was eventually going to have a successor, and for... well, training purposes, I needed them here.”
“That’s pretty cold. You’ve kept them prisoner here so you could use them?”
She looked at me sharply. “I beg your pardon! Not at all! Any of them, all of them could move on the moment they wanted to. I wasn’t holding them against their will at all.” She tapped the tabletop. “And furthermore, remember how I tried to explain to you that time is different for them? In their state, they’ve just been here for a day.” She waved her hand around the room. “Time applies to us, not to spirits.”
“Still... it rubs me wrong, GM.”
She reached over and took my hand. “That’s because you’re good and kind, Keira. They’ve been happy to be here, and Molly and Sam were both happy to leave.”
I mulled it over; she had a point, I guess. I shrugged. “Okay, you said there’s one more, right?”
“I did, didn’t I? Well, this one you won’t be too keen on, trust me. But we’ll save him till after breakfast.”
I paused and swallowed hard. “Oh yeah? Who is this one?” From the look in her eyes, she wasn’t looking forward to transitioning this guy.
“I’m not.” Damn, she was good at that mind reading!
“Why?”
She held my gaze. “Because Jarrod is not a spirit that is pure of heart. Molly was child-like in her love, and Sam was a child. Jarrod is an adult who committed many crimes before his death.”
“He was a bad guy?”
“He did evil things while on this plane, yes.”
“So he’s afraid of goin
g to hell.”
“I don’t think there is a hell like they talk about. In fact, I’m not even sure hell exists. What I do believe is that Jarrod doesn’t want to transition because he believes he’s due for punishment on the other side.”
“Is he?”
“I really don’t know, Keira. What matters is what Jarrod’s soul believes and that fear keeps him here.” She paused. “And he doesn’t belong here.”
“It sounds like we have our work cut out for us then.”
“I’m afraid that’s not all. A transition like this one has perils.”
“Perils. You mean dangers. You mean this can be dangerous.”
She closed her eyes and nodded. “Yes,” she said softly.
“What kind of dangers?”
“Demonic dangers.”
Whoaaaa.
***
A chill went through me. Transitioning Molly and Sam was hair-raising. Even so, I never had any sense of danger during the event. But now...
“Today, I’m going to teach you about the Ouija board. You need to learn how to use it but I warn you, only do so as a last resort.”
“If it’s so scary, why use it at all? We did pretty well yesterday with Molly and Sam.”
“Good question.” GM sat forward and her voice lowered. “Sometimes spirits can be pretty stubborn or just downright weak. The Ouija amps up our ability to communicate with them. The problem is that other entities tune in as well.”
“You mean demons? So those movies I’ve seen pretty much got it right?” My mouth was suddenly dry as dust as I hung onto the edge of my seat. From what I’d seen on screen, there was no way I wanted to see them for real.
She sighed and looked into my eyes. “I’m not going to lie to you... it’s frightening sometimes. But that’s something else you must learn... how to control your fear.” She rose to her feet. “If you’re done with your breakfast, we’ll move to the living room. When you take your dishes into the kitchen, would you ask Lawrence to join us?”
***
When I walked into the living room, the room was dim. GM had drawn the heavy brocade curtains shut. A single white candle flickered near the end of the coffee table. Next to it was a bundle of dried grass in a large seashell and a black, pyramid-shaped crystal.
A Grave Conjuring Page 31
