Page 62 of Hold a Candle

Chapter 15

Jamie and the otheradults sat on the front deck of Neamh amongst the shadows of the flickering candles and lanterns. The flagstone path to the deck was lighted with pumpkins. Grotesque turnip heads the kids had painted green were hanging from the rafters of the deck above them and on the porch posts. Leaves scattered and swirled on the lawn in the middle of the circle drive as the naked black limbs of trees dipped and swayed in the moonlight like faceless, sinuous, figures.

There were little tables scattered around the immediate area and on the front deck for easy reach. They were filled with snacks and pastries Corey had insisted on helping Lucerne bake for his parents visit.

Delilah was Corey’s almost constant companion during the evening, helping to refill trays and bringing drinks outside. Jamie thought more than once that the kids seemed to be up to something. Just what that would be, he didn’t have a clue.

Darro had declared adamantly that the front door would remain closed this year, and no amount of persuasion from Corey would change his mind. If their relatives wanted to visit and have a bite to eat, they could do it on the front porch with the rest of the family. No one needed to be inside where three greats Uncle Albert, known for his crazy mischief, might do something strange. Corey had accepted that with wide eyes.

Some of the hands had been kept around overnight and the station was still on a yellow alert status. The men would take turns coming in pairs for something to snack on and to drink while they kept Neamh under guard.

Pauley leaned over and whispered to Jamie. “Does it seem like yer grandchildren are up to mischief?” she asked. “I’ve had three bairns and I know thatI’ve-got-a-secret lookif I’ve ever seen one.”

“Ye noticed it too?” Jamie asked with a grin. “I’ve only got Lucerne, but I’ve seen her with her cousins a time or two. The outcome was usually a prank on someone.”

“Why do these trays keep going empty?” Lucerne suddenly complained after reaching for a biccie on the small table between her and Angus’s chair and found nothing but crumbs. She eyed Angus. “Are ye hoarding biccies for the barn, Angus? Because I can always make more for ye tomorrow.”

Angus’s eyebrows shot up. “Nay, lass, I’ve only eaten two biccies and a slice of apple pie,” he protested. “And they weren’t from this tray.” He waved his hand at the tray between them.

“I’ve got some over here, Lucerne,” Darro inserted, reaching for the table beside him without looking. He suddenly stilled, frowned, then looked to his right in disbelief. “There were six chocolate biccies here just seconds ago,” he said, scratching his head. He too, stared at Angus. “Even Angus doesn’t have arms that long, and it’s been ten minutes since any of the hands have been in.”

Little Corey looked around from his seat on the first deck step, his eyes shining in the moonlight. “It must be Papa Darro,” Corey toned in a low spooky voice. “Ye said he loved chocolate biccies, right, Mum? We baked some just for him.”

Lucerne cleared her throat uneasily. “Uh...aye...we did, Corey.” She glanced at Darro and shrugged her shoulders.

“Hey, what happened to the lemon frosted sugar biccies?” Dal complained from the dimly lit area on the right side below the deck. “I came to get some fer me, Luca and Belton and there’s nothing left.”

Lucerne tried to stand up. “I’ll go get some more from the kitchen,” she replied, holding her belly with one hand.

Darro put his hand on her forearm. “Nay, lass. Dal can go in and get some biccies. And while he’s there, he can put some more on this tray. It’s a good thing we are only staying out here until midnight. I don’t think we have much food left. I’ve had about enough of All Hallow’s Eve for one year.”

Jamie knew Darro had only done the whole leaving food out thing for Corey. His nephew had agreed, in compromise, that the doors and windows would stay closed. After what they had all been through this evening, and what they had seen in the woods, none of the adults were really interested in celebrating anything, especially spirits visiting their progeny. If not for the childish laughter of the kids, it would indeed be a morose, edgy evening.

“It is a puzzle,” Poppy agreed, peeking around Angus to look at Lucerne. “I went in a few minutes ago to get some cherry pie and it was half eaten already. I didn’t think we’d cut it yet. Ye don’t suppose...”

Her words drifted off and all the adults looked at each other and shivered. No one wanted to put into words what they were thinking.

Darro glanced back at the front door with a frown.

Jamie knew it had opened once on its own. Rather mysterious, but they had put it down to the wind and someone not getting it shut good when they went in and out. He couldn’t help the goosebumps raising on his skin and glanced at his watch. Only 15 more minutes until midnight.

He and Pauley were spending the night at Neamh. Pauley didn’t want to leave Luca, a situation he could fully understand, but he didn’t want to sit out here with the spirits for much longer either.

Henry and Pete were coming up the main driveway and making their way around to the left side of the deck to the fruit table, but when they got there, Henry frowned. He looked up at Lucerne and Darro. “What happened to the melons? There are several slices that look half eaten and dropped on the ground.”

“At least there are some strawberries and blackberries left,” Pete replied, grabbing a handful in one hand and shoving them in his mouth.

Darro frowned and walked over to the side of the deck to look down. “Now that’s a waste of food,” he growled, looking around suspiciously. “I know for a fact that my ancestors would no waste food. Anyone else’s that might?” He looked around at everyone and Jamie shook his head along with the rest of them. Darro’s gaze narrowed and finally settled on Corey, who was staring out into the darkness and ignoring Henry and Pete.

“Corey? Do ye know where Delilah is? She’s usually right next to ye, but I haven’t seen her since she went to the loo over 15 minutes ago. Maybe ye had best go check on her.”

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