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“I’m fine,” Tucker said with a slight tone of annoyance. Kay also knew that the Knight women had a reputation for being dramatic, and Tucker was not the kind of guy who would tolerate that. He might be concerned about what was going to happen today. Although, of all the Knight sisters, Kay was the calmest one. When she thought about it, she couldn’t recall a time when she’d been involved in a public scene the way her three sisters had. So, if that’s what Tucker was worried about, he wasn’t being fair.
Tucker slowed after he turned off the paved main road onto a dirt one, and Kay noticed the way he maneuvered carefully around the potholes. The man was definitely an I-dotter and T-crosser. It was a trait Kay appreciated, being of a similar nature as long as things were going as planned. But she’d been known to bend a rule or two if the situation called for it. And she had to admit that if she got caught up in a scheme one of her sisters dreamed up, she might not always follow the letter of the law then either.
She looked at Tucker, pretty certain he wasnotfine, and decided to distract him from his worries, whatever they may be. “What made you move back to Night Meadow? I heard you were working for the state police on the mainland. Didn’t you like it?”
“I did, but I’m ready to settle down, and this is where I always imagined raising my kids.” He glanced at her. “I want to be involved in their lives, and I figure being a police officer on the island means I won’t ever get too bogged down to be present.” He shot her a tentative smile. “Besides, I like living in a community full of people I trust.”
His words and his grin warmed her heart. Tucker Eagan had the traits she was looking for in a husband. The trouble was he didn’t seem to be looking for a woman like her. Not that she’d let that tiny detail stop her from showing him what he was missing. She imagined their children, a boy and a girl with Tucker’s perfect hair, and smiled.
It wasn’t long before Tucker pulled up to the large house on Sea View Lane, which was not aptly named. While at one point it had been merely a lane, it was currently a busy road that tourists like to travel since it was on the eastern shore of the island and hugged the coastline. Nora Lang must have been watching for them since she stepped out onto the front stoop to greet them before they made it to the door.
She reached her hands out to grab Kay’s. “Thank you so much for coming. My poor ghost is so distraught, and I really want to reunite her with her husband as soon as I can.”
Kay and Bri had chosen Nora to haunt because she not only embraced magic, but she was also a kind soul whom they knew would be more concerned for the spirit trapped in her home than about the havoc Celia was creating.
“Of course, Nora. You must be exhausted from dealing with her.”
“Oh,” she waved a hand in the air, “it’s no trouble.” Her eyes twinkled with amusement. “If my ghost wasn’t so upset, I’d keep her around. She has a lovely singing voice, and I do enjoy the jazz tunes she likes to belt out. She’s got a sultry voice that makes me picture her in a smoky speakeasy. Although I don’t think she was the type of woman who would have frequented such a place.”
Nora smiled at Tucker. “Why don’t you two come inside? Can I get either of you something to drink? I was just about to put the kettle on.”
“No, thank you, Ma’am,” Tucker said as he followed Nora into the large entryway.
The house was full of light from the large windows, and dark wood floors gleamed beneath floral upholstered furnishings. “Does she talk to you?” Kay asked, a little concerned that Celia might have revealed why she was really in Nora’s home.
“No. She acts as if she can’t see or hear me. I’ve done some research though, and I believe she’s Margaret Carpenter, the wife of sea captain Jeffrey Carpenter, who built this house. He and his ship were lost at sea, and Margaret lived on for another twenty years after the last time she saw him.” Nora’s brow furrowed. “It’s odd she sings jazz, though.” She let out a sigh, apparently willing to let the detail go. “Can you imagine waiting twenty years for your husband to return? Poor thing never got closure, and I have a feeling she never gave up hope. I think that’s why she can’t seem to leave. Although—” Nora frowned again. “It’s a bit strange she’s never shown up before. I’ve lived here for thirty years and never heard a peep from Margaret until recently.”
That’s because Margaret is happily in the afterworld, while Celia is haunting you, thought Kay. She came up with a lame excuse with the hope it would explain away the abnormalities. “Well, one never knows about these things. Your spirit could have been so busy learning to sing jazz that she only recently decided to poke into the present.”
“Ah.” Nora looked thoughtful. “That’s an interesting theory. Could be.”
Tucker cleared his throat. “Shall we begin?”
“Yes,” Kay said. “She’s upstairs?”
Nora nodded. “Right this way.”
They climbed the stairs to the third-floor attic, which allowed them access to the widow’s walk. Nora said, “She’s usually hanging out in here or on the walk.”
Kay glanced around at the neat space. It amazed her that there was beautiful wainscoting on the walls of an attic, and it was clear Nora respected the beauty of her finely crafted home by having her items stored in bins. The place even appeared to have been dusted and vacuumed regularly. Not a bad spot for Celia to hang out. At least she hoped Celia thought so, because Kay was going to need her cooperation for what had to happen next.
She said, “Let’s hold hands and form a circle.” Kay noticed how Tucker’s hand was as cool as Nora’s. She closed her eyes as if she were searching for Celia, but a soft giggle she heard told her the spirit was already present. “Oh, great spirit, I’ve come to help. How can I ease your pain?”
“By letting me take a sip of that tall drink of water you brought with you,”Celia said.
Kay’s eyes snapped open to see if the others could hear Celia. She was relieved to see Nora and Tucker hadn’t reacted to spirit’s statement.
“Who’s the hottie?”Celia asked as she hovered over Tucker. She was wearing a long form-fitting dress that Kay could imagine Celia wearing in the smoky bar Nora had been reminded of.
“I’ve come with Tucker Eagan to help you find your way.”
“Ah”Celia floated down and slid a hand up Tucker’s arm. He shivered in response.“Strong.”She stroked a finger across his cheek ,and he recoiled.“And so handsome. I bet he’s packing some nice muscles under that starched blue.”
Tucker looked at Kay with panic in his eyes. “She’s here. I can feel her.”
Kay refused to tell Tucker what Celia said about his body. She said, “Your presence is known. Please speak and tell me how we can help.”
“He’s afraid of me, and you’re about to save him from evil. How modern day!”Celia exclaimed with glee.“Oh, Kay, honey. This is going to be fun.”
