Page 86 of Paradise West
Jack’s jaw dropped as he studied the photo, then his stunned eyes shot back up to her. “This was Ian?” he choked out.
Charli pinched her lips together. “This was taken in 1880. But it’s like you’re looking into a mirror, isn’t it?” She shrugged. “If there was any doubt before about the story, this would end that. You’re nearly the exact image of your great, great, great, great grandfather.”
“Well,” started Gus, who had come down from the Widow’s Walk to sit on the top step of the spiral staircase while he listened to the exchange. “That’s one fucked up story, but I hope it finally brings peace to Amelia and she’ll stop scaring the shit out of me.”
A sharp gust of wind shot down from the Widow’s Walk, and Charli screeched as it shook the house.
“Shit!” yelled Gus, who crossed himself three times as he scampered down the stairs. “That’s it, Jack. You’re finishing the boards up there. I’m fucking done with this house.”
Jack chuckled. “Scared of a little ghost, Gus?”
“Fuck yeah, I am!” he shouted as he hurried down the stairs. “I’m heading to The Spent Pickle for a drink. I’ll see you two love birds later.”
Jack pulled Charli into his chest and pressed a soft kiss to her forehead. “I think Amelia approves,” he murmured as his arms tightened around her. His head jerked back suddenly, and he gasped as his hand flew to his cheek.
Alarmed, Charli stepped back. “What?” She turned in a circle, looking for the threat. “What is it?”
His wide eyes darted around the hallway, then up to the Widow’s Walk. “I’d swear she just touched—” He froze, his eyes bulging even more.
Charli followed his gaze and gasped at the smiling apparition at the top of the staircase. She blinked and suddenly it was gone. Shaking her head, Charli turned to Jack, pointing toward the landing. “Did I just see...?”
His eyes dropped to hers, the shock still on his face. He nodded. “Yeah, I saw her, too. I felt her touch me.” His voice quavered. “My god.”
Charli sniffed and held a hand over her heart, a feeling of peace inexplicably settling over her. “We did it, Jack. We really did it. Aunt Dottie didn’t need us to bring Paradise West back. She just wanted us to find the journals so we could reveal Amelia’s true story.”
She stepped toward Jack and snuggled her head on his chest, sniffing. “Amelia’s at peace—I can feel it in my heart now.”
His arms dropped around her waist and he rested his cheek on the top of her head. After a moment, he leaned back and kissed her lightly on the lips before he pivoted toward the stairs, pulling her along with him.
“So how was work, baby?” he asked, effectively changing the subject.
Charli released a ragged breath and chuckled. “It was great, babe. I swear Art is gonna retire on me any day. He has me handling all the firm’s cases now.” She smiled. “I think he’s giving me a trial period and then he’s planning to take off. He said something today about getting memberships to all the golf courses in the keys and playing a different one each day.”
Jack chuckled. “That sounds like something he’d do.” As they reached the bottom floor, he stopped and wrapped his arms around her, smoothing his handsdown her back until they rested on her lower back. “I’m sure it’s nothing you can’t handle.”
Charli glanced over her shoulder at the massive mahogany desk, then turned back to him. She pursed her lips. “You know, we’ll be celebrating the Paradise West’s grand re-opening before we know it. If I’m running a law firm, who’s gonna manage the bed and breakfast?”
Jack gave her a huge, playful grin. “I think I may know someone who’d be interested in the job. Besides, we kind of promised it was hers if she wanted it.” He pulled out his phone. “Let’s give her a call, shall we?”
Charli stood back and watched him dial the number, smiling. At that moment, she thought her heart would burst. She couldn’t ever remember loving someone so much.
Jack pushed speakerphone and met Charli’s gaze, his eyes full of mischief.
“Hey Jack!” piped Annette, her voice eager with excitement. “Please tell me you have some good news for me.”
Charli smirked but stayed silent.
“Paradise West opens in a few months and we need a general manager to run the place. Are you ready to move to Key West yet?” Jack asked, his eyes twinkling.
“Fuck yeah, I am!” Annette nearly shouted.
“Great,” Jack answered. “When can you be here?”
“Is tomorrow too soon?”
Jack chuckled. “Probably for you, considering you’ll be relocating permanently. How about two weeks from next Monday?”
“That sounds perfect!”
