Page 36 of Ghost Walk
Jaimie ignored that. “Why are you crying?” He persisted with a worried look on his face.
Was he kidding? “Maybe because my afternoon has spanned several centuries!”
“Jesus, Mary, and Joseph…” He rolled his eyes looking both exasperated and relieved. “Isthatall? I thought you were in some kind of trouble.”
Grace made an aggravated sound. She’d never liked people in her bedroom. It was her sanctuary. She’d collected the mishmash of knickknacks and yard sale paintings and secondhand furniture, guided by nothing except what caught her fancy. For instance, mermaids had always held a special fascination for her, so, on her dresser, there was a collection of mermaid figurines. Everything in the space was Grace’s, but most of it had once belonged to someone else. She’d always been attracted to vintage things. It made her happy to give them a second life. It seemed too revealing to allow others inside such a personal space, though. Like they might see too much of what was going on inside of her.
Still, she wasn’t nearly as outraged as she should have been by Jamie’s invasion. For whatever reason, he kind of lookedrightstanding amid the yellow and green color scheme. Like he belonged there. The word “Partner” whispered in her head.
“I had the doorclosed,you know.” She informed him without any real heat.
“Which means little to a specter.” Establishing that she wasn’t in mortal danger, he switched gears and smiled winningly. Like every other hour of the day, he clearly thought this was the perfect opportunity for some flirting. “Since I’m in here anyway, we might as well have that talk, right? It won’t take a moment.” His eyes skimmed over her form, obviously enjoying the sight of her cuddled up in her bed. “You just keep doing what you’re doing. Donea mind me.”
“Jamie, I swear to God, I will have you exorcised.”
“Alright. Alright.” He didn’t get out of the room, but he did get to the point. “No need to get testy.”
“Too late.”
“I remember you.” He announced, as if that was breaking news. “That’swhat I need ta tell ya. Irememberyou, Grace.”
“Of course you remember me! I’m sitting right here…” She broke off and blinked. “Wait, yourememberme? From --like-- back in 1789?”
“Aye.” His gaze drifted back down to the antique coverlet, as if he was picturing her body beneath all the intricate crochet-work. “Are you naked under that robe?”
Grace made a sound of total frustration. “YouknewI was back there and you’re just mentioning itnow!” If he was tangible, she would have throttled him. “Jackass.”
“I could only remember itafteryou went back. Before that, you hadn’t done it, yet.”
“That makes no sense! If we changed history, then you should only remember thenewversion.”
“How the bloody hell should I know how it works?” He ran a hand over his face. “I’m telling you, there’s two memories atop each other now. I recall whatreallyhappened that night. Or whatoriginallyhappened, anyway. And I remember what happenedafteryou started mucking about with the past.”
“Afterwestarted mucking about with the past.” She corrected. “You’re a part of this mess, too. Maybe that’s why you’re getting both versions.”
“Whatever the reason, I remember meeting you outside The Raven, wearing that very same ridiculous dress.” He pointed to the rumpled fabric on the ground. “You appeared out of nowhere and you were the most beautiful creature I ever saw. And I knew…” He trailed off and shook his head, like he was trying to get it all straight in his mind. “I knew you were mine.”
Grace blinked up at him, unsure what to say to that. “You thought I was a lunatic and/or drunk. Also, I think you proposed.”
“Ithought you were fay.” The corner of his mouth curved. “Maybe I was right.”
“Maybe you’re an idiot. The rest of my family are the mystics and palm readers.I’mthe normal one.”
“It didn’t seem that way a few hours ago.” Jamie sat down on the edge of the bed. “…Or two hundred years ago. Depending on how ya want to look at it.”
“Oh shut up.” Grace glowered over at him. “Whatever’s happening, it sure as heck isn’t normal and I have no clue how to deal with it. Which means I’m going to have to ask my aunt for some kind of help and that seriously pisses me off.” She paused. “And, not for nothing, but youreallyshould have gotten out of town when I told you to.”
“T’was grand advice, in retrospect.”
She snorted. “Since you’re still here haunting my bedroom, I’m guessing you didn’t catch the killer coming out of the Wentworth house that night?”
“By the time I gave up trying to follow you up that wee trellis and got around front, he was long gone. I barely escaped being arrested myself. All the commotion you made woke the family. They found Lucinda’s body and summoned the Watch. I searched the neighborhood, but I never saw anyone suspicious lurking about.” He paused. “I searched for you, too. T’was halfway convinced I dreamed you. Thought for a bit I was losing my mind.”
“Join the club.” She blew out a tired breath. “Lucinda wrote down her lovers’ names, but she only used initials. Do you think you could figure out who some of them are? Maybe her mystery man?”
“It’s been two hundred years, lass. It would be a guess, at best. Do any of them stand out to you?”
“Well, that HC guy sounds kinky as hell. Her diary entries about him read likeFifty Shades of Grey.”
