The Tidings - [Ghost Huntress 0.5 - A Christmas Novella] (11 page)

“Where were you when we talked?”

“Leaving the airport in Atlanta. Did it sound legit?”

“Way too legit!”

I throw my arms around Patrick’s neck, wondering how he managed to fool me over the phone. I don’t care, though. He’s here! We can spend Christmas together. I pull his face to mine for a long, wonderful kiss.

“Hey, now,” Father Calder interrupts. “I’m not doing a double wedding tonight, am I?”

Patrick and I separate and I feel the blush painting my face. “Sorry, Father.”

“Young love,” he says. “It’s beautiful.”

I shine a smile at Loreen and Mass. “Yes, it is.”

Stepping back, Patrick has an evil, sly grin on his face. “Okay, wait. I have another present for you. Rather, another surprise. This one’s bigger than me.”

“I don’t think that’s possible,” I say to him.

Loreen joins in. “Oh, it’s pretty big, Kendall.”

She comes up behind me and places her hands over my eyes. “Really? You guys are nuts.”

I do my best to tune my psychic senses in to what’s going on, but it’s like Loreen is blocking any intuition.

Footsteps fall in front of me. One set. Two sets.

Then I hear the older woman giggle and I smell her Oil of Olay lotion.

“Grandma!”

I push Loreen’s hands aside and run forward to meet up with my grandmother, Anna Faulkner.

“Hello, my precious.” She takes my face in her hands, kissing me on the cheek. “Oh, John, look at her. She’s grown up since just this summer.”

My grandpa moves in and bear hugs me. “My Kendall! I’m so glad we changed our plans and came across the pond.”

I swear, I’m the teary-est person ever. I can’t stop crying. “What made you change your mind? I thought you had this deal on a cruise that you couldn’t pass up?”

Grandma’s wrinkled face grins widely at me. “Honey, the Mediterranean will be there forever. We can’t waste any more moments with you now that you’re in our lives.”

Mass looks down at Loreen. “Why are
you
crying?”

She shakes her head. “Because she’s happy. We’ve got out Kendall back, so that makes me happy.
You
make me happy.”

He wraps his arms around her. “Well, all of you women better stop with the waterworks or you’ll be puffy in the wedding pictures tonight. Nobody wants that.”

I squeeze myself between my grandparents and shoot up a prayer to God, thanking him for bringing my loved ones to me. For sending those spirits, or angels, or visions—whatever they were—to get me back on course.

Seriously, God bless us, everyone!

Tears fill my eyes—in a prideful way this time and not to ruin my awesome Taylor-done makeup job—as I watch Kaitlin on the top platform of the living Christmas tree, her hair curled and pulled back from her face and her silver dress shining in the spotlight. She sings like a true angel, and even God up in heaven must be pleased.

Dad hasn’t stopped videoing the performance and Mom hasn’t quit bawling. It’s okay that they gush over Kaitlin. She’s their kid, too. It doesn’t have to be all about me, all of the time. We’re a family. One that happened by luck, fate, and love.

My grandparents sit in the pew with us beaming up at Kaitlin as if she’s theirs, as well. And she is. We’re all together. A merry little Christmas after all.

As soon as the service is finished, several of the men in the choir break down the staging and quickly rearrange the altar for the wedding ceremony.

I slip into the ladies’ room and change into my maid of honor dress. It’s a snazzy number in red satin, off one shoulder, and to the floor. My hair, adorned with baby’s breath, is swept up off my neck with plenty of curling tendrils framing my face. Tonight’s not about me, but I do feel extremely pretty in this amazing dress. I can’t wait for Patrick to see me. I’m damn-near giddy knowing that he’s here after all.

Loreen steps out from behind the dressing room screen and I gasp.

“Oh, Loreen! You look phenomenal!”

She blushes underneath her perfect makeup job. “You think? I wasn’t sure if it was me or not.”

The white silk dress hugs her slim figure from the simple bodice to the flowing skirt that just barely touches the floor. On her arms is a tiny hint of a lace jacket that is more like long sleeves covering her skin. Around her neck, she’s wearing a strand of pearls my mom loaned her that complement the teardrop earrings of pearl and rhinestones. Her hair is curled and styled in a low chignon with diamond-like clips holding a sheer veil to her head. A fairy princess on her magical day. She couldn’t be more beautiful than she is at this very moment.

“It
is
you. It totally is.”

She touches her head, then her ears, and finally her neck. “Something old is me—”

“—stop that!”

“Something new is the dress. Something borrowed would be Sarah’s pearls. Kendall, I don’t have anything blue!”

I hold my hand up. “Never fear. For Kendall is here.”

We laugh together, Loreen’s more nervous titters than anything.

Even though her bouquet is made of red roses, Christmas greens, and a flowing white bow, I reach into my purse and pull out the blue gift and attach it to the underside of her nosegay.

“What is that?” she asks.

“It’s a flat bead bracelet made of lapis lazuli. I got it off eBay for you. The stone helps clear the mind so you can see things clearly. Use it only with love in your heart, understanding in your mind, and wisdom in your soul.”

She rubs her fingers against the stones and then pulls me in for a hug. “I’ve taught you well, my friend.”

“Yes, you have.” I set her away from me and admire her inner and outer beauty.

Rolling her eyes, she laughs in spite of herself. “Who would have thought the town freak and outcast would be marrying the handsome, bachelor Episcopal priest?”

“Me,” I say with great conviction. “There’s nothing wrong with you, Loreen. You’re one of the most wonderful people I’ve ever met. I’m so honored to stand with you and Father Mass today.”

“I’m blessed to have you as a friend.” She pauses for a moment. “I only wish my own father would have been here. It is what it is, though.”

“It’s his loss, Loreen. When you get in the church, Patrick is going to be standing there to walk you down the aisle.”

She puts her hand to her heart. “That is so sweet of him.”

“He wants to do it. Then, if Mass’s brother doesn’t make it in time, Patrick will stand with us, as well.”

“In my mind’s eye, I’ve seen his plane landing at Hartsfield airport. My senses tell me he won’t let his brother down.”

I adjust her veil over her shoulders. “Well, it’s not about him, either. This is your day. Yours and Mass’s. Everything’s going to be perfect.”

I see her eyes begin to fill with tears, so I start waving my hands around at her. “No, no, no. Taylor will freak if you ruin the magic makeup she did on your face.”

Loreen carefully dabs at her eyes with a tissue and then tosses it aside.

Strains from the string quarter sound out with “Jesus, Joy of Man’s Desiring” and I know that’s our cue.

“Ready?” I ask, taking her hand.

“Am I ever.”

We make our way to the vestibule and I clutch my small bouquet of red roses to my hip. Patrick’s waiting there for us in a black tuxedo, looking ever so handsome. I slowly step into the church and proceed down the aisle to the altar. I wink at Mom, Dad, Kai-Kai, and the grandparents. The church is aglow in the orange luminosity of the candlelight. Father Calder stands at the front dressed in a formal robe with white satin vestments. Father Mass waits for his bride, wearing a sharp Armani tux, seemingly relaxed and cool.

Riiiiight. I know better.

I wink at him as I take my place on the left of the altar.

The musical quarter transitions into The Bridal Chorus and the whole congregation rises. Before Loreen and Patrick can start in, there’s a small ruckus in the back of the church.

Mass’s smile vivifies and relief cascades over him. “He made it,” he says to Father Calder and me. “My brother made it.”

“That’s Raffaele?” Father Calder asks. “The Lord is good. It’s a blessing.”

I can’t really see down the aisle since everyone is standing, but I make out a dark figure moving through the audience to embrace Mass in a massive hug.

“I’m sorry, bro,” he says quietly. “Delta got me here as fast as they could.”

“It’s okay, Rafe. You’re here. That’s all that matters. It’s all good.”

Wh-wh-what did he call him?

I struggle to breathe and I feel my knees begin to buckle.

It’s
not
all good.

It’s not remotely good.

It’s not even in the purlieu of the district of good.

Because, although my attention should be turned toward my wonderful friend, mentor, and bride, I can’t help but stare slack-jawed at the gorgeous guy standing across from me in the best man position. A guy I’ve seen before, only not on this plane of existence. And not this young.

I’ve met his future self.

A future self I’m apparently intimately acquainted with.

Patrick kisses Loreen on the cheek and hands her off to Father Mass before taking a seat in the congregation. As Father Calder begins the wedding ceremony, with the standard, “Dearly Beloved,” I do everything in my power not to hyperventilate.

We turn to face the wedding couple and Mass’s brother gives me a heartbreakingly stunning smile. I feel it shoot across the altar at me and attack my entire being from coifed hair to high-heeled feet.

Ho. Ly. Crap!

I was fully prepared to meet Father Mass’s younger brother, Raffaele Castellano, a sophomore pre-med student at Harvard University.

I was
not
prepared to meet the man from my dream of Christmas Future.

The man who apparently fathers my twin daughters, Samantha and Claire.

The man whom I might possibly marry.

The man named… Rafe.

My heartbeat quadruples and I know I’m going to need medical attention before the cutting of the cake.

I have
no idea
what to do.

Excerpt from Ghost Huntress: The Journey (Book 6)

C
HAPTER
S
EVEN

I never know when my visions or trances will hit me.

Sometimes it’s when I’m just hanging out with Celia or playing with my cats Eleanor, Buckley, and Natalie, at home. Most of the time it’s when I’m in deep R.E.M.

This time, it’s like everything around me freezes in a stop-motion way. If someone had just come through the room, tripped, and spilled a bag of popcorn, the kernels would be dangling in the air, frozen in time while my vision comes and goes.

Slowly, I look over to my right and see my spirit guide, Anona, materialize.

She’s unlike anyone I’ve ever seen or met in person. Of Native American decent, Anona stands before me barefoot, wearing a long, tan cloak with leather ties at the neck and waist. Her long, shiny black hair is straight and pulled to one side. Her dark brown eyes show her intense concern over what’s going on here.

“Kendall, you’re delving into an area you shouldn’t mess with,” she warns.

I shake my head, foggy almost from the daze I’m in. “I’m not doing it, Anona.”

“There are dark forces at work in this universe that we don’t understand.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about. Christian? Is he a dark force?”

She shakes her head. “That boy is a fool.”

“I can’t stop him,” I tell her, not even feeling my lips move.

Anona spreads her arms wide. “I can’t protect you against this, Kendall.”

“What is it, though?”

“You’ve gone too far from my reach,” Anona says. “There’s nothing I can do.”

I seriously don’t get what she’s telling me. My spirit guides constantly speak to me in riddles and puzzles. Why can’t they just say what’s on their mind? “You promised you’d take care of me.”

“There is another,” she says softly. “Another who is watching over you.”

I perk up some from my stupor. “Emily? She’s back?” I ask, almost begging. As soon as Emily, my first spirit guide, revealed herself to me as my birth mother… I lost her. She’d been with me my whole life, but as soon as I knew the truth, it allowed her to pass into the light. Great for her. Sucked for me. She’d sent Anona to be with me on the other side. But I want my mother. “Emily? Is she here again? Is she with me? Anona! Talk to me! Tell me!”

Anona brings her head down and closes her eyes, unanswering. And then she fades away.

Just like that, everything begins to move around me again, as though nothing unusual happened to me.

I have no idea how long I was out, or if anyone even noticed my spell-like state.

Patrick is over in the corner talking to Oliver. Taylor is setting up video cameras around the room. Maddie and Jess have their digital recorders out to try and capture electronic voice phenomena (EVP), while Celia is in full tech geek mode getting base readings of Mrs. Flanders’s house with her EMF detector. Jason’s tagging along with her, taking notes. At least he’s doing something useful and helpful instead of glowering.