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“Well, that’s a shame. I think Night Meadow Island residents have missed a little lighthearted spirit mischief.”
Kay studied Damon as she wondered why he’d bring up the touchy subject. “I’m sure some do, but there are probably just as many who don’t. Memories run deep in this town.”
“Yeah, I suppose so.” They sat silent for a moment before Damon said, “I apologize, Kay. I could give you all sorts of excuses for what my brothers and I did, but none of them can fix what happened, so I’ll just say I’m sorry.”
Kay’s mouth opened in shock. Time and experience had given her the perspective to realize that the Brannigan boys hadn’t set out to be cruel when they’d raised the dead from a local cemetery. Not permanently, just enough to make them rattle their headstones and shake the ground over them on Halloween all those years ago. She had to admit it was a pretty amazing use of magic and a feat she could understand being proud of performing. She could even see why they thought it would be funny, since none of them had experienced the loss of someone close to them and didn’t realize how unsettling it would be for the island residents to think their dead loved ones were rising up from their graves.
While it was horrible, it was also a forgivable offense, and Kay knew her family would have been able to move on from the incident with time and a heartfelt apology to the residents of Night Meadow Island who had been affected. But Paul Brannigan, the patriarch of his family, refused to apologize, insisting his sons had done nothing wrong. Damon was making a big step by telling her he was sorry.
Kay answered sincerely. “Thank you.”
“The thing is, my brothers and I feel awful about what happened. But Dad, well—”
“I get it.” Kay chuckled as she thought about how angry Paul Brannigan made her mother. He was a thorn in her side for more than the Halloween prank his sons had done. He spent a lot of time angering most of the magical community as if it were a sport. “He sure knows how to get people riled up.”
Damon chuckled too. “That he does. But I swear his kids aren’t nearly as difficult.”
“No.” Kay smiled at him as she recalled the younger version of Damon she had one known. “I remember one of them used to be a lot of fun.”
“Still am. Ever watched any of my videos? I’m funny. Hundreds of people tell me so.”
Kay laughed. “Are you?” She had stumbled on clips of his videos but had never watched one in its entirety. “I’ll have to check them out.”
“Wow. I’m a little hurt, Kay. I’d hoped you’d still be crushing on me all these years.” He paused and looked over at her. “The way I have you.”
Kay snorted in surprise. “What?” And then she realized he was teasing her, so she teased right back. “Does this mean you filled the margins of notebooks with the signature Damon Knight?”
“Ha!” He laughed. “Can you imagine my father’s reaction if I did?”
“You changed your name for fame. I bet he doesn’t like that you go by Damon Hawke.”
He nodded. “You’re right.” He swerved slowly into the left lane to give a woman walking her dogs a wide berth. “Damon Knight. I suppose it’s got a nice ring to it.”
“Just think how progressive you’d appear.” She suppressed a smile, realizing that she was enjoying herself with Damon. Women all over would love you.”
“And some men would want to gag.” He winked at her. “Think Bri would be into me?”
“You do have the reputation for trouble she likes, but you’re too old.”
“Ouch.” He placed a hand on his heart, mocking pain. “Well then, since Amelia and Corinne are taken, I guess I’ll have to focus on you. Is there any way I could convince you to go out with me?”
Kay’s breath caught in her throat before she quickly said, “I thought you made a deal with Celia. I’m supposed to go out with Tucker.”
“Right.” Damon let out a convincing sigh. “Lucky guy.”
Kay wasn’t in a joking mood any longer as she thought about the earlier fiasco with Tucker. “Yeah, I’m not sure how to make that happen. I don’t think he’s interested in a woman who can talk to ghosts.”
Damon offered her a compassionate smile. “He’d be a fool not to be interested in you.” They were off the island at that point, and the blinker of Damon’s vehicle ticked as he slowed to turn onto Route 1. “I think you should ask him out.”
“What?” Kay shook her head. “No. I can’t.”
“Really? Because if you’re going to make some man take your last name you ought to be able to ask him out.”
Kay bit her lower lip. Damon had a point. It would certainly be a way to see if Tucker might be interested. Even if being turned down would be a huge blow to her ego. But at least then she could work on killing her crush and move on before she fell in love.No,she thought.I’m not giving up.“I will.”
Eager to change the subject, she asked, “Feel like getting a coffee? There’s a little place up the road a bit if you want to stop.”
“Sure.” The two stopped at a place called Jane’s Java and took the time to enjoy coffee and bagels before heading to the police station.
