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“I’m not,” she said.
“If only I could have a bite of that trifle,” she said, her wrinkled hand reaching out. She sighed. “But I can’t eat.”
“Are you dating Adrian?” Desiree asked her. “I know you rode over here with him but are the two of you seeing each other.”
All Madison could do was stare at the older woman rocking there in the chair. “Yes and no. I’m helping him out by attending some balls this season with him. He’s helping me out by being my first big client in my new law practice.”
“You’re opening your own practice?”
“Yes,” she said. “Back in Oakdale. After my mother’s stroke, I decided it was time to move closer to her.”
Desiree’s face lit up with happiness. It would be great to be close to her friend again.
“Oh my goodness, we’ll be so close,” Desiree said. “I’m so excited.”
The ghost nodded and smiled. “Adrian. I like that name. You two look very good together and I think there is something between the two of you. I’m going to make a prediction that you’ll eventually marry him.” She sighed. “If you both stayed here, I could make certain the two of you came together.”
What? No. That couldn’t happen.
The ghost could predict all she wanted, but there would be no wedding between her and Adrian. And yet, there was the bogus engagement coming up and she couldn’t tell her friend because then the truth might get out.
“No,” she said.
The ghost laughed. “You’re as bad as my grandsons. None of those kids thought they would marry and now more than almost half of them are happily hitched. When the time is right, Desiree will wed, but now is not the right time. I haven’t found her the perfect husband, but I will. And you, dear. You must learn to forgive so that you can marry that handsome cowboy who is buying a horse from Travis.”
Madison was not going to argue with a ghost. It would just be a waste of good breath. The apparition could believe what she wanted, but she wouldn’t be marrying Adrian.
“It’s been a pleasure meeting you. But I must get back to working on Justin,” she sighed. “That boy is impossible.”
Standing, she blew a kiss toward Desiree. “Madison, believe child. Believe that you are worthy of a good man. A man who will adore you. Forgive and be healed.”
And just like that, there were sparkles in the room as she left.
Why should she be the one to forgive? Her father was the one who walked away from her. Walked away and never looked back.
“Isn’t she something else?” Desiree said smiling. “I’m sorry if she upset you.”
“Oh no, she didn’t upset me. But I’m not getting married or having children. And my father is not worth my time. Forgiveness is not necessary when you no longer care.”
CHAPTER 8
As they left the Burnett’s, he noticed that Madison was quiet. Normally, she was much more outgoing, but after her visit with Desiree, she seemed more introspective.
“Did you enjoy visiting with Desiree?”
She laughed. “Yes, I did.”
He was glad to hear her laughter. The sound soothed him and filled him with warmth. Yes, they were a pretend couple, but he would always want her to be happy.
“Did you know they have a ghost?”
That was an odd statement.
“I saw her,” she said. “She’s been matchmaking Desiree’s cousins. Seems she’s been on the Burnett ranch for years.”
That was strange, but then again, a bunch of the Burnetts had married over the last couple years. Five of them to be exact. And poor Travis had sworn he would never remarry after the loss of his wife and baby.
“What’s her name?”
