Page 61

“I’ve learned that it’s a rare talent, one that very few people possess.” I swallow hard. “I’m telling you all of this for a reason. The other day, you mentioned you had a son.”

She stills. “My Alistair.”

I nod. “And he passed away in this house, didn’t he?”

Her bottom lip quivers. “He did.”

I inhale and brace myself. “Well, he’s still here, Miz Edna. His spirit hasn’t been able to move on because he’s too concerned about leaving you on your own.”

She covers her mouth with a shaking hand. “Alistair’s here, with us?”

I glance over her shoulder. “He’s standing right beside you.”

She twists in her seat to look behind her. “But I can’t see him,” she says, her voice quavering.

“I wish I could help you with that, but I can’t. I can, however, tell you what he wants to say to you.”

With trembling fingers, she pulls out a handkerchief from her pocket and dabs at her eyes. “What does he need to tell me?”

“He says, ever since his father died, he’s always been there to look out for you in his stead. He’s worried that you’ll struggle all on your own.”

“Silly boy,” she whispers, wiping away tears.

“He loves you so much, and he’s sorry you had to watch him endure a lingering and painful death. He never wanted that for you.”

Tears stream down Miz Edna’s cheeks and I find my own face damp as well.

Miz Edna sits up straight, a fire in her eyes. “There was no way I would ever leave my child in his hour of need, no matter how hard it was. And I’m so grateful we got to spend the time you had left together, Alistair.” Her expression falters. “I’m so sorry you felt like you needed to stay and watch over me, but I want you to know I’m doing just fine. Running the B&B still brings me a lot of joy, and I get to meet all kinds of people from all over the world. I’m trying to live my life to the fullest, so I can honor your wishes and your father’s.”

I frown at something Alistair says.

“Um, he wants to know if you remember the wishing chair?”

She gasps. “Yes. Of course I do.”

“He says, he’ll see you again one day, but for now he’s going to let it take him wherever it wants to.”

Alistair smiles in a manner I’ve come to recognize all too well and turns to look at something none of us can see. “It’s time to go now,” he says. “I think I see Dad.”

Then he’s gone.

The abruptness of it is always hard, despite my happiness in knowing I’ve helped someone.

I tell Miz Edna what he said and she slowly gets to her feet. When I jump up to help her, she pulls me into a tight embrace.

“Bless you, dear. Thank you for helping my boy.”

“I wish I could have done more.”

She reaches up a wrinkled hand and pats my cheek. “I feel so much more at peace knowing he’s okay and that I’ll get to see him and his father again someday.”

“I’m just honored that you took me seriously and believed me. Not many people do.”

“I’ve met a con man or two in my time, and you didn’t strike me as one. But I knew for sure when you mentioned the wishing chair.”

I tilt my head. “What did that mean?”

She smiles. “It was an old children’s book my grandmother read to me that I also read to Alistair when he was growing up. It’s about two children who find a magical chair that takes them on fantasy adventures. Now it seems Alistair’s going on his next great adventure.”