Page 15 of Eternal Love
“Where are you going?” Theodore demanded, as she shrugged on her jacket.
She sighed, wrapping her arms around him. “We agreed. I’m going to the pub to take a look around, see if I can find anything.”
And then I’m going to their house when that turns up nothing, she added silently.
His jaw flexed. “I don’t like the idea of you going out there all alone.”
Her mouth curved into a half smile. “What, are you going to chase me?”
The jaw muscle flexed some more. She didn’t think that was possible. Oh dear, bad attempt at humor.
“Just a joke,” she murmured. “I’ll be fine.”
She could almost hear his teeth grinding together. He wrapped his arms tight around her. “Don’t joke. Not about this. It’s hurting me to not be able to go with you, to protect you, hell, to leave this house.”
“I know, I know. I’m sorry.” She took a deep breath and stepped out of his arms. “But you can’t stop me. I’m doing this.”
There must have been something in her eyes, in her face, that convinced him arguing was futile. He cleared the space she’d made and pressed his lips over hers in a demanding kiss, as if he could protect her from harm with it. She rose on her tiptoes, fisting her fingers through his hair. She broke the kiss and made for the door before he could change her mind.
“I’ll see you soon. I promise.”
Julia turned away from the look in his eyes. She thought she heard him murmur something, but she pushed on, needing to get on with her plan before she changed her mind and ran right back into his arms.
****
The pub was quiet.She hadn’t expected anything else. She glanced at her phone. It was roughly half an hour till closing, and the only people here were a few drunk men, an older woman with long silver hair who she vaguely recognized having seen her around the village, and the Pitts themselves, Sandra and Luke, working behind the bar, cleaning and counting tips.
Julia sat at the bar. She figured she should order a drink before she looked around.
Luke placed the white wine in front of her with a smile. “You know we’re closing soon?”
She waved the hand that wasn’t clutching her drink. “Yes.” She smiled. “Don’t worry, I’ll be out of your hair soon,” she said.
And maybe in your house, she added silently.
She took some gulps of her drink, her eyes scanning the bar.
The woman with silver hair waved at her like they were old friends. She could use a friend right about now. She was pretty sure Camilla had thought her insane for her last few texts.Yes, the man I love is a ghost, and was murdered in the house I now own, but that really doesn’t bother me.To be fair, was there any normal way of explaining that?
Julia plastered a smile on her face and waved back. Then the woman’s wave became more insistent, more of a beckon. She obeyed and walked to her table. The woman pushed a strand of hair from her face, her numerous rings glinting in the low light.
“Sit, please. I’m Tabitha.”
Julia took the seat opposite her, opening her mouth to introduce herself, when Tabitha cut her off with a raise of her hand.
“Julia. I know who you are, Julia. It’s not every day we get new blood in our village. There’s been a lot of talk about you.”
Julia gave her a sheepish smile. “Only good things, I hope,” she said weakly, knowing full well this wasn’t the case.
Tabitha didn’t answer, merely steepled her fingers and assessed her. Julia tried her best not to shift under her gaze, wiggling slightly in her seat.
“You’re not here for a drink, are you?”
“I’m sorry?” Her heart began hammering in her chest.
“No, you’re here for much more.” Tabitha’s knowing gaze traced her face, then moved to Luke and Sandra, and back again.
Julia straightened her spine. “Maybe I am.”
