Chapter 20 — Amulets and Charms

Stephanie knew for certain that something was awry when she and Richard returned to Brighton House. When she had gone into her big walk-in closet, she instinctively noticed that the big jar filled with the bright and shiny objects that Raven had brought to her was missing. She had frozen for a moment and drawn in a breath. Someone had been there; in her closet, and he or she had probably stood in the same spot that she was standing and looked through all of her things.

Richard walked into the bedroom, carrying a bottle of sherry in one hand and two apéritif crystal glasses in the other. Stephanie was pale, standing in front of the fireplace, and it wasn’t from the reflection of her white cashmere robe in the dim light and blazing fire. He stopped short and looked at her with a question in his eyes.

“The strangest thing has happened,” Stephanie said in a shaky voice. “A jar of amulets and charms is missing from my closet. It’s always in the same place.”

“Do you think Becca took it?”

“I don’t think so. They’re things that Raven has brought me throughout the years. They would be meaningless to anyone other than me. Becca’s had all the opportunities in the world to take the jar if she wanted it.”

“Let’s not let that spoil our evening,” Richard said, sitting down in the big overstuffed chair in front of the blazing fire, pulling her onto his lap, and cradling her in his arms.

Her eyes swept him appreciatively. “It’s creeping me out a little. Thank God you’re here. I don’t know what I’d do if I had been alone and discovered this.”

“It was probably Becca. It’s only a jar of amulets and trinkets, a petty theft. I don’t think it’s worth worrying about right now. If she had taken this, I would have been disturbed,” he said as he reached for her hand and slipped the ring onto her finger. The ring sparkled in the firelight. He kissed her hand tenderly.

“I’ve ever seen such a beautiful ring in my entire life,” Stephanie murmured wistfully. “John Brighton bought my grandmother exquisite, expensive jewelry, but nothing like this. Where did you find such a magnificent ring?”

“Tiffany’s in New York. I knew as soon as I saw it that this was the one. It had to be unique and positively stunning, like you.

“I love that you’re so romantic,” Stephanie murmured, as she put her arms around him, feeling cared for and loved. The chemistry between them was incredible.

“I was never romantic before you,” he said in a husky voice as he smoothed a tendril of her pale blonde hair away from her face. “You’ve changed a lot about me.”

He poured her a glass of sherry, and she sipped it, staring into the embers of the fire, feeling like the luckiest girl in the world. This moment alone was more than she had ever dreamed possible. They had everything that a couple needed for a lifetime of happiness. She snuggled close, breathing in the scent of him aroused by his masculinity, his hard body, and his chiseled, muscular shoulders.

When she met his gaze, he seemed to be deep in thought, and his jaw was set. “What’s wrong?”

Richard looked pensive. “Nothing really, but I think it’s time you put your fairy tale things away. Even if we find the jar, it should be destroyed. It’s not healthy. You don’t need charms and amulets, and bright and shiny objects to remind you of a raven who came to you in your childhood, do you?”

Stephanie snuggled close to Richard and replied, “I don’t suppose I need them, but I like them; they’re small, intricate, and detailed. Hedy told me that the charms are valuable. They’re made of real silver. I always thought I would have a bracelet made, but I always thought there would be one more.”

“Had I known you liked charms so well, I would have bought you one at Tiffany’s. We should start a bracelet about our lives.” He gazed into her luminous green eyes. “I suppose I’m jealous. I don’t want you to have a bracelet from anyone except me. Not even a Raven. I’m curious. What did the charms look like?”

“A rosebud, a wizard, a castle, and even likenesses of Raven and Owl. Each one seemed to have a special meaning, though I don’t know what it depicted. I once asked Owl what they meant, and he told me they were magical charms made by a wizard in a faraway place, meant to keep me happy.” He told me to gaze upon them, hold them to my heart, and sleep with them under my pillow.”

“And did you?” Richard asked.

“Yes, until Emily found them and put them in a jar and sealed the lid tightly so that I could not get into it.”

“How did the charms make you feel?”

“Special and happy. I was young and impressionable, and when I told my stories about the handsome prince that I was going to marry one day—everyone would smile and say that I had an active imagination.”

“Did Raven ever bring you other things besides the charms?”

“Yes, bright and shiny objects and ribbons for my hair. Hedy called them ‘junk’ but let me keep them. And when I wore a ribbon in my hair that Raven brought me, I thought that I could fly.” Stephanie’s voice turned somber as she remembered that tragic day.

“I had a black ribbon in my hair the day that Old Paint died. Raven had dropped the ribbon in my path. This ribbon felt a little different than other things he had brought to me. And when I rode Old Paint that day—I somehow thought that we could both fly and that he could do the jumps that I wanted him to do. But he couldn’t. He was too old and died right under me.”

“Did you tell anyone about the ribbon?”

“I told my grandmother, and she said, ‘A ribbon cannot make you fly, Stephanie. You must never do that again.’ She burned the ribbon. I was aghast when I watched my magic ribbon go up in smoke.”

“Let’s not talk about it anymore, darling,” Richard said tenderly. “The next time I go to New York, I’ll buy you a charm bracelet. It will be about our life, not some imaginary place that exists only in your mind. Are you ready to start our new life? Our new beginning, where all that matters is us?” He carried her to the enormous four-poster bed. He pulled the comforter up over her and kissed her goodnight. Then he went into the guest room across the hall to sleep.

She was restless. She could hear Brook’s chain jangling outside her bedroom door. And got up and let him in. Boots jumped up on the bed and began to knead. She could hear Richard on the phone shortly after he left her room talking to Bradley. His loud voice carried to her room and kept her awake.

She gave up on sleep and went downstairs to the bar and poured herself an aperitif of sherry. She drank it, poured herself another, and padded back upstairs. As she passed by the guest room, she heard Richard say in a low voice, “I will explain everything tomorrow tonight, honey. We’ll go to dinner. It’s a long story. No, I can’t talk right now. It’s complicated.”

She had stood eavesdropping, hardly able to believe what she’d overheard. She’d tiptoed to her room, being careful to shut the door quietly. She breathed a sigh of relief when she pulled the white down comforter up to her chin. She rationalized that he probably had an old flame that he was breaking up with, and she shouldn’t worry. But why would he call her ‘honey’ if he were breaking up with her?

As she drifted off to sleep, she had a feeling deep inside that someone in a faraway place was watching her. She told herself it was only her imagination. She told herself that Richard was just across the hall, and he would keep the monsters away.

But even Richard couldn’t keep the monsters away, and Stephanie dreamed that night. It was a disturbing dream that she was being held in bondage. She ran her hand up the concrete wall, and it was cold. There were bars and a tiny opening, and when she looked out, she saw Richard’s face looking back; his eyes were hard. He was her jailor. She screamed.

Richard woke up and held her, telling her it was only a dream.

She fell back to sleep only to have another dream. She was with Thomas in a forest. They were at the tree where he had carved his initials. “You’re mine,” Thomas said. “We’re married.” And then she saw rocks being flung at her by the Amish. She ran aimlessly through the forest, eventually coming to a clearing. There was a log cabin. She ran there for cover. The door opened, and she fell into the man’s arms— Sawyer.

She told herself in the morning that it was nothing and that she was only struggling with inner conflicts, and the bad dreams would go away over time.

Th next morning, Richard woke her up holding a cup of green tea. He’d made himself an espresso. She was surprised when he told her that he had to leave for New York.

“I feel guilty for leaving you, but it’s a big case. I’ve been working on it for weeks.”

“But you just got back,” she said, unable to hide her disappointment.

He had looked at her adoringly and was casual and lighthearted. “I think you’re starting to like me. I felt some walls go down last night,” he said, reveling because she did not want him to leave. He held her in his arms, tunneling his fingers through her tousled hair.

“I’ll miss you. It will be one of the last times, I promise. I’ll be back before you know it. I’ll call you every night, and you’d better be here.”

Though he had said it in a teasing manner, she thought he sounded obsessive. Obsessive love could be dangerous, but it flattered her.

He cupped her chin and kissed her tenderly. “Do you know your eyes are a smoky green in the morning? Very sexy.”

Stephanie blushed.

“I wish I didn’t have to go, but I have a plane to catch.”

“It’s okay. I’ll keep busy.”

He took her hand, and she opened her palm. The Wiccan Symbol was visible. “This bothers me. I want you to scrub it hard with soap and a brush. And promise me you will not go back to Thomas’s. The woman is a charlatan.” He drew her close and murmured. “No more fairy tales. And we’re getting rid of all the amulets, dolls—whatever might have a bad vibe. You might even need a psychiatrist. We’ll see.”

“A psychiatrist,” she said. “I’m not crazy, Richard.”

“I know, darling. Sometimes your imagination runs away from you.”

It was the first time he’d said anything like that to her, and her demeanor turned sullen and cold. When he tried to coax her out of her doldrums playfully, she turned away. Her head was spinning. He’d been sexy and charming last night. And now he’s saying she might need a psychiatrist.

“Goodbye, Richard,” she said in a high-pitched voice. “Have a safe trip.”

“What’s wrong?” he asked, standing at the door. “Aren’t you going to kiss me goodbye?”

“Sure,” she said as she closed the distance between them and kissed him dutifully. Her heart wasn’t in it. Her mind was on her charms and amulets. And Raven.

Stephanie stood at the window in the drawing room and watched Richard drive away down the winding drive. Then she went outside and to the great oak tree where Raven often perched.

“Raven,” she cried out in a mournful voice. “My amulets and charms have been stolen. You must help me find them.”

She heard a rustle in the trees, then caught sight of the black bird taking flight. Thank God, he’d heard her. She breathed a sigh of relief as she watched Raven soar through the blue sky. He would find her treasures; she was sure of it.

She went back into the house and put the teapot on. Then something caught her eye under a chair. She reached down and picked up a black ribbon. She thought it must have trailed out on her sewing box when she’d sewn on a button for Richard. She was having doubts. Doubts that marrying Richard would give her a fairy tale ending. And who was that woman he’d been talking to on the phone last night? He’d called her ‘honey.’