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She felt everything, didn’t she?

It was like she could see something more when she looked at the ghost.More than the scary.She saw his pain, his confusion, and his longing.

“H-hello,” Jezebel began.“What do you have to tell me?”

I smiled, nodding encouragingly as I held her hand.This shade wasn’t there to hurt her.The closer we got, the more Demon could sense his intentions.

I watched approvingly as she confronted him.Sherry had told Jezebel it was best to ask straight questions and make no promises to the dead.Sometimes just being heard helped them resolve whatever business they had.

“Per favore, signora.Mia bella sposa, Annamaria, she is doing it wrong.My secret sauce recipe.Her diabetes is not good.She must stop.If she uses the right tomatoes, then she does not need to add sugar.Tell her not to be cheap,” the shade said.

A vision of his address floated through Jezebel’s mind, and a name, both of which I was privy to through our matebond.Seeing those images flashing through her mind, like pieces to a puzzle, was shocking.How invasive that must have felt for her all this time.

Being able to take some of that burden, to carry it with her was a privilege.And knowing it was our bond that allowed me to do that, seeing that connection work for the first time, well it just made my heart pound all the harder.My hand squeezed her tighter of its own volition.

I wanted to pick her up and take her home, wrap her up and never let anything hurt her or scare her again.It wasn’t reasonable, but I still wanted to.

Only her steady breathing kept me still.If she was brave enough to stand there and accept her gift, do her duty, and provide comfort to the restless, then the least I could do to honor her was stand by her side.

“I will do my best, signore.Be at peace,” she murmured, and smiled softly as the old man’s ghost vanished in the breeze.

I checked the clock on the truck before we exited.It was three AM.The Witching Hour, or so Sherry had said.Made sense that the fade would appear at this time.

“You good, Angel?”I asked, watching Jezebel wipe her eyes.

“Yeah, yeah.I just felt his concern and his love for his wife.It was strong enough to make him stay here until someone could hear his message.”

“His message was about tomato sauce,” I stated, frowning at her and attempting to lighten the moment.

“I know that, but it was still beautiful.”

“You have such a big heart,” I said, pulling her to my side and kissing her temple.“Think you’re gonna find her?”

“I think so.I can still see the house and the name and address right here.”Jezebel motioned to her head.

“Alright, but not tonight.”

“Not tonight,” she agreed.

Chapter Twenty-Two-Jezebel

Steam from the shower swirled around me and I sighed as I leaned against the tiled wall.

It was still morning and today’s temperatures were a bit colder than yesterday’s.I worried about what it could mean for the last day of the Holiday Film Festival.But I had my fingers crossed that the afternoon sun would be enough to warm the field and keep folks coming for the two remaining showings of holiday movies.

Emmet was already out working.He’d already said goodbye this morning, and I smiled as I recalled waking up to him, as he put it, having his breakfast.

Of course, I had no choice but to hold on and just feel as he feasted on me.Not like I wanted to do anything else, but that.

The man was insatiable.I was just lucky enough to be his favorite treat.

Talk about a wonderful way to start the day.

Plus, I was able to go back to sleep after he made me come a timeor three.

It was getting late now, and I had just enough time to dress and stop by the bakery for today’s treats on my way to the drive-in.

George and his brothers were there now, readying for today’s film festival matinee.I let them sleep in the doublewide last night, which started another brain baby.