Page 82 of A Love Like Candle Light

“Oh my God.” I clutch my shirt right over my galloping heart and suck in a sharp breath. “Holy shit, Lauren, you scared me.”

“I know.” Her eyes gleam with mischief. “Come on in, you two.”

I wasn’t sure what to expect, yet it meets all of my non-existent expectations. As soon as the door falls closed behind Kieran and me, the world outside seemingly ceases to exist. No sound makes its way inside. No cars driving by, not Andrea and Courtney gossiping in the main square, nothing. It’s completely silent.

Surprisingly, the inside of the store is a lot friendlier than the stores exterior.

Old furniture is neatly stacked along the walls and into several shelves and rows. But Lauren leads us past all the antique tables, shelves, armchairs and ornamental picture frames, right behind a thick, dark purple curtain.

“I’m getting the creeps,” Kieran whispers and rubs the back of his neck uncomfortably.

“Same.”

“The store is apprehensive of men,” a gravelly voice declares. I scream in surprise and the two of us whirl around to the voice. “It seems to accept you, though. Kylie. Kieran. Welcome. I have been awaiting your visit.”

We shoot each other a wary look. She has? Did Lauren tell her we’d be here?

And why do I have a hunch she’s about to give us a of riddle to solve?

So this is Amanda? She’s about the same height as me, her fiery red curls half-hidden under a green headband.

She motions for us to follow her into a small room. “Sit down, you two.”

“Have fun.” Lauren pats our shoulders and brushes past us to return to the store.

I take a seat. The wall we’re facing is covered with vintage portraits, not an inch of plaster visible, and none of the people in them look too happy. If I wanted a bunch of people to stare at me with those kinds of disapproving frowns I might as well have gone to church with my mother.

Amanda takes a seat in front of the pictures, her ring-clad finger drawing random patterns onto the antique wooden tabletop. “What brings you here?”

I shake my head, trying to shake off the trance this store is putting me in. “I don’t even know what to ask, to be honest.”

“She might be living with a ghost,” Kieran figuratively jumps to the rescue and scoots his own chair closer to the table. “We have a hunch who it is, but we would like to learn more and if they’re the same person whose bones she found in her backyard.”

Amanda stares at me, piercing eyes drilling into my forehead as if she’s reading my thoughts. “You live on the O’Brien estate.”

My eyes widen. How did she know that? I didn’t tell anyone about it apart from Erik.

“Yes,” I stammer, wringing my hands. From the corner of my eyes, I notice Kieran staring at me and quickly mouth ‘sorry’ his way.

“I’m inclined to confirm your suspicions. Elizabeth has been roaming this realm, waiting to be reunited with her beloved.” She says it so nonchalantly, as if we’ve had countless conversations about it before. It’s freaking me out a little.

“But, I mean, he’s been dead a while,” Kieran points out with a frown. “Wouldn’t they have reunited when he kicked it? Ouch.” He rubs his ribs, right where I nudged him with my elbow.

“Not if their souls are too far apart.” Amanda shakes her head, her fiery red curls bouncing. “Their mortal remains must be reunited. Once they are, so will their souls.”

My eyes widen. It all makes sense now. “So if hers are the bones they found in my garden…” I glance at Kieran. “I mean, they’ve got to bury them anyways, right?”

Kieran taps his chin. “We might as well find a snug spot for her next to her husband.”

“Is that all we need to do?” My eyes dart to Amanda. “Bury her next to him? No ritual or spell?”

“Ideally, no.” She taps her long nails against the tabletop, bracelets clinking against each other. “But if you’d like, I will be happy to cleanse your home once her soul is gone.”

“Okay.” I nod, shoulders sagging with relief. “Thank you, Amanda. I’d appreciate it.”

“Of course.” Her eyes dart from me to Kieran and she fixates him with an emotionless stare for a while. “What is it you want to know, Kieran?”

“Me?” He sputters and points at himself, then lifts his hands defensively. “I’m good.”