Chapter Eight

“Renee’s grandmother doesn’t like me,” Lucas said at breakfast the next morning.

Parker grabbed another English muffin off the plate in the middle of the table. “She likes me and Miss Dee. What did you do to get on her bad side?”

“Nothing. I talked to Renee, nice and polite. I minded all the manners Mom beat into me.” He paused. “At least, I thought I did. Why doesn’t she like me?”

Parker grinned. “She thinks you’re pushy.”

“You’re enjoying this, aren’t you?”

“Oh, yeah. It’s nice to know the great ladies’ man, Lucas Callahan, has lost some of that charm he used to use on every woman he met. Marriage agrees with you more and more every day. I approve.”

They ate in silence for a few minutes before Lucas looked up. “Did you tell Renee you can see ghosts yet? Or that you’re a spiritual conduit to help said ghosts cross over?”

“No. I don’t want her to think I’m weird.” Parker refilled his glass. “I saw her grandmother when they first arrived at the B and B. Miss Dee offered my services to help her look for the oak tree where her grandparents got engaged.”

“She said you were helping her with a small task. Searching all those trees isn’t a small task by any stretch of the imagination.” He spread strawberry jam on an English muffin. “You can’t do the crossing over ritual until Halloween and that’s a week and a half away.” Lucas glanced at him. “Her grandmother will go to the other side then.”

“I know.” Parker stood and picked up their empty plates and carried them to the sink. “I’m going to have to tell her she can’t spread the ashes until Halloween. Then, I’m going to have to explain why. I hope she understands.”

“I believe she’ll understand more than you think.” Lucas leaned back in his chair and watched his brother wash their few dishes. “As Green Men, we each have unique abilities. We’re two sides of the same coin, death and birth. We both help the souls of those living and dead. Me with my flowers and you with the help you give to ghosts. I believe Renee can not only see her grandmother, she also has the talent to see other ghosts. You two might be made for each other.”

Parker looked at him over his shoulder. “Did you pick up the gift of divination recently and not tell me?”

“No, but I saw her try not to laugh when I felt her grandmother’s spirit go through me.” Lucas finished his orange juice and handed his glass to Parker to wash out. “You have more in common with her than anyone, and that includes me. My talent lies with life and growth.”

“And with the new wife.”

“You got that right, and that’s one talent I enjoy.” Lucas smiled and left the room.

Parker walked out to his truck and sat in it for a few minutes. His brother made a lot of sense. He smiled. Two sides of the same coin. He’d never thought of them that way. He started the truck and headed to the bed and breakfast. Telling Renee about what he could do no longer seemed to worry him. Now, it gleamed as bright as a ray of sunshine.

****

“Have you noticed how handsome most of the men are in this town?” Gran said. “Even that man, Mac, who runs the general store. He’s rather attractive for an older gent. It’s like someone bottled up all the cuteness and dumped it here. I wish were alive to appreciate them more.”

Renee pulled the pillow over her head. “I don’t need to hear this right now. Are you sure you don’t need to rest or sleep or dematerialize to conserve energy? Your observations are getting a little on the risqué side.” She gave in and sat up, leaning back against the headboard. “Why don’t you like Parker’s brother?”

“He’s a bit mouthy for my tastes. Good looks only go so far with me. I can’t believe how he flirted with you.” Gran folded her arms and frowned. “Made me happy when you put him in his place. He’s not like Parker at all.”

“You, of all people, or ghosts as the case may be, know all siblings are different.” She stretched and swung her legs over the side of the bed. “I think Lucas is okay, if a little full of himself. Parker said he can’t help it, and he acted worse before he got married. You can tell the two of them are related. They look a lot alike.”

Renee got up to do her usual routine. She skipped the shower. It felt pointless to get all cleaned up and then go hike in the woods. She thought again about the heaviness in the north side woods. Part of her wanted to explore deeper, but another part wanted to avoid the whole area.

“Gran, did you find out any more information about the woman in the woods?” She tied her boots. “You were with me when I found out from Sara Callahan that her name is Lily McGee. Did any ghost tell you why she hasn’t crossed over yet?”

Gran stared out the window. “She doesn’t want to leave. Her child is still missing. She wants to cross over, but she can’t. Not until she knows the truth.”

“I wish the historical society had more information. Sara Callahan told us what she knew, but it was more speculation than anything.” She grabbed her sweater. “I wonder if anyone knows the truth or if the rumors have grown because no one knows what really happened.”

“I’m sorry, my dear. I wish I had the answers you want, but I hadn’t even heard of Lily’s story when I met your grandfather here. Of course, it could have happened after we moved back east.”

“It’s okay, Gran. I’m sure we’ll find out before I have to leave.”

Renee walked down to breakfast, her thoughts more jumbled than a jigsaw puzzle. She came here for one simple task. All she had to do was spread her grandmother’s ashes, then go home. Now, she found herself hip deep in a mystery she hadn’t expected. She couldn’t leave the poor soul out there forever. Determination filled her to find out what had happened.

Somehow, she had to find the answers Lily McGee deserved. She headed straight for the buffet trays and loaded a plate. She sat in her usual spot as Dee walked in from the kitchen.

“Hi, Miss Dee.”

“Good morning, Renee.” She set a tray of her usual warm cinnamon rolls in the center of the table. “My, you look like you have your mind set on a serious task today.”

She took a bite of her breakfast. “I do. What can you tell me about the tragedy in the north woods?”

Dee sat silent for a moment or two. “Lily McGee ran from her husband, and he caught her in the woods. She tried to keep her son from him, but he took the baby.”

A baby boy. Another piece to the puzzle. “Do you have any idea what happened to him?”

“No one does. The town never found the child. There are lots of rumors, but the favorite is, the fairies took the baby. That’s the one everyone wants to have happened. I guess we’ll never know.”

Renee propped her head up on her hand. Good thing she wasn’t a detective. These dead ends were making her crazy. She faced frustration after mounting frustration. She wouldn’t even know how to begin to get adoption records. The baby had to be the key to this whole scenario.

Dee stood and smiled. “Why don’t you ask the fairies? No one ever has, but I think they may tell you what happened that night.”

“You aren’t serious, are you?”

“Very serious. There’s magic around you all the time.” She nodded and smiled at someone over Renee’s shoulder. “There’s even ghosts and some besides Lily who may need your help.”

“Miss Dee,” Renee said. “Can you see my grandmother?”

Dee smiled and took the dirty dishes to the kitchen.

Okay. Garland Falls got weirder all the time. Renee glanced at her grandmother’s ghost and Gran shrugged. This time when they went to the woods, Renee would look for signs of a fairy ring. She used to read about fairies all the time growing up, so she knew what fairy rings looked like. She huffed out a breath and wished for the knowledge on how to talk to fairies. The front door opened, and she jerked upright when Parker walked in.

“You ready to tackle more of the north woods today?” he asked.

“Sure. Let me grab my jacket.”

How could the man brighten a whole room and her mood just by coming inside? Oh, who cared? As long as he kept doing it.

They headed toward the woods, and Renee shivered before she zipped her jacket up all the way. “I didn’t realize the wind would be so brisk today. I should’ve brought a hat. My ears are going to be raw by the time we get back.”

He pulled a knit beanie out of his coat pocket. “Minnesota isn’t for the unprepared. It gets colder here sooner than the other states. When the fall and winter winds come, it blows right through you.”

She pulled the hat over her hair. “Thanks. I guess I need to go into town again and get a few more supplies. At this rate, I think I’ll be here longer than I thought.”

Somehow, it didn’t feel like the worst scenario anymore. She glanced at Parker, sure he was the reason for her change in attitude. Maybe Gran had been right the whole time with all of her matchmaking. If so, being matched with Parker Callahan had to be Gran’s best one yet.