“If he hadn’t already shown himself to us before you all came, that might be a possible theory.” Coop peered at the painting, contemplative.
“True. Same goes with Miles being the ghost.” I gave a soft laugh. “Imagine ifhehad come back as one. Would it have ticked Sir Hugh off to have to share his castle with another spook?”
“I’m glad Miles died a peaceful death after a long, full life,” Coop said. “The death of Hugh’s daughter devastated him. He’d wander the house searching for her and went ballistic if anyone reminded him she’d died.”
I understood that anger and pain. And the horrible sense of helplessness. Our family had never been the same after Phoebe died.Couldnever be the same. We might have gotten used to her absence, but the ache of not seeing her never left.
Sliding my fingers through Coop’s, I leaned my head against his arm, my eyes burning. On that first day in the library, I’d gotten a glimpse of Hugh’s pain. What an awful existence for a ghost, forced to endure that for centuries.
“We have to help.” I sniffed. “How do we free him?”
“Well,” Coop said as he patted my hand, “they said before he died, he’d wander the castle searching for some gift he’d bought his little girl. The housekeeper said in his crazed mind he’d thought finding it would save her. After he died, his ghost kept searching. He only haunted in Ireland for a couple of decades before his heir moved the castle.”
“A gift for a little girl.” I straightened and squinted at the picture.
The child’s beautifully made dress had lots of lace, and she wore a necklace. Her styled hair held a few jeweled clips. While her hands, dressed in delicate white lace gloves, rested on her lap—the very picture of maidenly primness—her eyes told another story. If this child had been anything like Mellie, Hugh’s daughter must have hated all the watchful eyes keeping her from her fun.
My phone vibrated, indicating a text. Thinking my mom needed me, I pulled it from my pocket. It was from Taylor.
I’ve found the perfect location. Dad said he’ll pay the deposit. When can you get back here?
I should have leaped for joy. Instead, my eyes darted up to Coop’s face. As disappointment flashed across it, I knew he’d read the message. His expression shut, closing like a door. My stomach hurt, and not in a good way.
“Well ….” Coop took a couple of steps back from me, his right hand tapping his thigh.
My head spun in a conflicting whirlwind of wishes and wants. Why must I always be pulled in different directions? Why couldn’t all the good things I dreamed of be in the same place? I tried to swallow, but it came out as a hiccup.
The sound seemed to fuel Coop. He took two steps, pulled me in his arms, and kissed me. The thrilling fire I’d become used to from his touch was still there, but muted, overpowered by something else. Something deeper and richer, that was less about nerve endings and more about who I was when I was with him, what we were together. And what I could not be without him.
“I’ll give you an hour to stop that,” I whispered, when he broke the kiss, and I could speak again.
“I thought I had more time.” He brushed his fingers across my cheek and into my hair, his hand cupping my head, gentle and tender. “You have to do what you think’s best for you, and I’ll support any decision you make, but—”
“But?”
Coop touched his lips to mine again, so light this time it almost tickled. He pulled back, took a breath, and stepped back. “I love you, Lia.” He turned and strode away.
***
I’m not sure how I muddled my way through the tea. Like Coop’s parting words hadn’t been enough, my stupid phone kept vibrating in my pocket. I should have texted Taylor back right away. A month ago I would have. I’d have been making arrangements to get back to Sacramento. Tomorrow. It’d been the focus of all our energies since our senior year.
I studied my guests—myguests. Their compliments about the beautiful room and the delicious food only fueled my confusion. Several had even asked if this would be a regular event.Myevent. Mom had left the whole thing up to me. All of it.
I had turned into that stupid rope in a tug-of-war again. For two years I’d focused all my creative energy on making a dessert boutique with Taylor. We knew Old Sac, with its abundance of tourists, would be a great spot for it.
Before news of the inheritance had come, Dad had helped us with a marketing plan, and Taylor’s dad had shown us how to put together a financial plan. If her father agreed with the location enough to help with the deposit, I needed to go, to make my dream a reality.
And leave this amazing place. Leave my family.
Leave Coop.
I love you, Lia.
My insides went all squishy.
When the tea ended, I greeted everyone as they left and thanked them for their gracious compliments. I told them I hoped they’d come again, that my parents were indeed considering a holiday event. Everyone chattered about it as they went outside.
Numbly, I began collecting the dirty dishes until Mom showed up with her helpers. She shot me some concerned looks, but with strangers around she didn’t say anything.
