Page 102 of Hell’s Half Acre

“Well, you know how he was. He’d get in them moods and start saying all kinds of oddball things.”

That was true. He did have some creative thoughts. But this was a doozy. “Why didn’t you ever tell me about this?”

“Well, we’ve got no proof and I didn’t want you to think bad things of my grandmama. She was a gentle lady who extolled virtue, and I don’t want anyone to ever think otherwise. I believe it was just Grandpa’s fears that made him say that awful stuff. He had an affair while he was in France during the war, and it was just easier on him to think she’d done the same so he wouldn’t have all the guilt he should have. But my daddy always said that if it was true, it was where he thought he got his healing powers from. Why he saw things we couldn’t.”

That also made sense. Her maternal grandfather did have powers no one else did…

“Okay, Mama. Thank you for clearing that up.”

“Now don’t you go spreading that stuff. It’s just mean gossip. I don’t know why my daddy sees the things he does. Mama always said it was just his idiocies.”

“You mean idiosyncrasies?”

“Nope. Mama always said idiocy.”

Sorcha laughed. That did sound like her grandmother. “All right. I’m going to get back to work now.”

“All right, baby. Y’all be careful. Call or text me tonight before you go to bed.”

“Will do.”

“Love you.”

“Love you, too, Mom. Bye.” Sorcha hung up the phone.

Luke smiled. “I adore your mother.”

“She adores you, too.” Ever since her mother had met Luke and seen the size of him, she’d been thrilled that Sorcha had moved to Savannah. And even more thrilled that Luke was assigned as her partner.

Luke handed her another cup of coffee. “So now you believe me?”

“I believed you before, I just wanted to know how and why.”

He inclined his head. “And now you do.”

“Yeah, but it’s not great. My poor great-grandma.”

Luke shrugged. “You know the old saying. Mama’s baby. Daddy’s maybe.”

Growling, she gave him a menacing stare. “I hate that saying.”

“Even if you do, it’s the way of things. My dad had fun back in the day wreaking havoc with lineages. Makes me wonder why they ever traced the father’s line over the mother’s. Unless an ancient god gets tricky, you’re basically assured whoever births you is your direct genetic donor.”

She would have to give him that. “Yeah, well, I need a few minutes to wrap my head around this new information. It’s a weird place when you realize everything you thought you knew about your family is a lie…well, maybe that’s harsh. Not so much a lie as an intentional misleading.”

“Don’t be harsh on them. Times were different back then.”

Yes, they were. Still… “I remember being told that my grandfather was a preemie. I’m thinking now that he wasn’t. She just lied about his birth to protect herself.”

Luke nodded. “There were a lot of those back in the day. For that exact reason.”

And still Sorcha’s thoughts whirled. Was that really why she and her grandfather had their powers?

It didn’t seem right. There were other family members who couldn’t be related to the curandero who had powers. Ability to see and do paranormal things hadn’t originated with him.

She had family who’d been burned in Europe during the witch trials.

“Take a deep breath, Sorcha. I can feel your stress.”