Page 6

Chapter Six

A ubrey wore black leggings that hugged her well-toned frame, paired effortlessly with a bright yellow tank top—a bold color that glowed against her rich skin, the kind of shade only a deeper complexion could truly pull off. Despite the eye-catching hue, the outfit maintained an easy, casual vibe, like she hadn’t even tried ... and still nailed it.

Erin had just finished explaining everything and waited for her cousin’s reaction.

“Oh. My. God.” Aubrey sat cross-legged on the couch, a bottle of Irn-Bru halfway to her gaped mouth. “Are you serious?” Her wide brown eyes were pinned to Erin as if she expected her to suddenly disappear.

“Why haven’t you told me any of this before?” Her cousin placed the soft drink on the side table and jumped to her feet.

Her cousin began walking around the room. If pacing while stressed was an Olympic sport, Aubrey would be a gold medalist. “Another realm? Knights? Men stuck? Enchantments.”

Erin sat back allowing her cousin to digest everything she’d just dumped on her. She’d needed someone to confide in, and her cousin and she had been best friends practically since birth.

“I know it’s a lot. I wanted to be sure I wasn’t crazy before telling you anything. Although, saying it all out loud doesn’t make me sound sane, if I’m honest,” Erin mused. “Quite the opposite.”

“What do you need me to do? I want to help,” Aubrey stopped pacing to look at her. “What’s next?”

“Wait for the dream, I guess.”

“What is the spell again?” Aubrey asked.

“We refer to it as the curse. The spell is what I have to come up with to save him,” Erin clarified, feeling a bit out of sorts to be having the conversation in the first place.

She repeated the curse from the notes in her notebook, despite the fact she’d repeated it so many times on the drive home she probably knew it by heart.

“Aubrey, can you stay here for a couple nights? Just in case the dream comes and it’s different. I’m a bit shaken and could use company.” Rubbing both hands down her face she blew out a breath. “I’m probably being paranoid.”

Aubrey plopped down next to her. “I would be. This is all so weird. Remember when that little ghost girl used to follow us around?”

At five years old, both she and Aubrey had an imaginary friend named Lizzy. Aubrey claimed to see the little girl, and Erin had pretended to see her as well, going along with whatever her cousin claimed to hear Lizzy say.

One day, when Erin and her mother were visiting, Aubrey squealed with delight and snatched up a newspaper that was rolled up in a basket next to the fireplace.

Erin chased after her cousin racing to where their mothers sat at the kitchen table drinking tea and chatting.

With a bright smile, Aubrey happily announced to their mothers that their little friend Lizzy was in the newspaper while pointing to the picture of a pretty blonde girl with curly hair.

Erin had been delighted as well to finally know what their imaginary friend looked like and had added. “Lizzy told us she has a brother named Henry. She doesn’t like him.”

“Why is Lizzy in the picture Mommy?” Aubrey had asked. It was then Erin noticed their mothers’ sudden stricken looks and paled faces.

“Is Lizzy here now?” her mother had asked.

Aubrey shook her head and Erin followed suit.

Years later, Aubrey found the same newspaper page. Her mother had saved it because what they’d said was true. Lizzy’s body had been found buried near a loch. She’d been dead for several years before dogs had dug up the bones. Lizzy did indeed have a brother named Henry who’d confessed to drowning his little sister accidentally when he’d been about fourteen.

“How can I ever forget it,” Erin said. “Super creepy.”

Aubrey chuckled. “The worst part is that the entire time I thought you saw her too. You should have been an actress.”

“We were five, I’m sure my acting abilities were not that great,” Erin said with a laugh. “Let’s go grab a bite. I have to go into the studio early.”

There hadn’t been any dreams the night before and Erin woke up feeling refreshed, although a bit disappointed.

Hair up in a towel, Erin pulled on her short terrycloth robe and padded into the kitchen. Aubrey had obviously left early, the note propped up next to the coffee maker letting her know she’d be back that night. She held the note wondering if Aubrey staying for a few nights would keep the dreams at bay.

If she didn’t dream in the next two nights, she’d tell her cousin to stop coming. Just knowing Aubrey was there had made her feel safer. It would be hard to stay alone afterwards.

An hour later, she unlocked the door to Namaste a While , her pride and joy. Light scents of citrus, lavender, and vanilla from oil diffusers placed around the studio perfumed the air. Noting the light was on, Erin peeked from in front of the counter into her small office and was pleasantly surprised to find Aubrey on the laptop.

“You’ve always been such an early riser,” Erin said, hanging her tote and jacket on hooks beside the small office doorway.

“The sunlight wakes me.” Aubrey replied looking refreshed. She’d tamed her wild curls into a cute style, bunching them atop her head. Wearing the basic yoga uniform of leggings and a light sweatshirt along with soft ballet-style shoes, she looked ready for the day.

“I want to see your new routine,” Aubrey continued. “I have heard nothing but good things in our customer feedback and would like to incorporate it into my classes.”

“It will be fun to have you here,” Erin said. “But first before anyone arrives, I must make a cup of tea.”

Aubrey frowned. “You are addicted to caffeine. Should try green tea.”

“Gross,” Erin replied, dunking her favorite Yorkshire black tea bag into the steaming water. “This is what keeps me going.”

After adding a splash of cream, she stirred it and sipped it cautiously. “Oh, yeah baby,” Erin murmured.

“You’re the one that’s gross,” Aubrey said laughing.

“Good morning,” Terra, a woman of undetermined age due to overuse of Botox, bounced in wearing a very tight neon pink ensemble. Considering how high and round her breasts were, it was obvious they were impervious to the aging process and were never, ever going to sag. “I am super excited because this is mine and George’s anniversary week,” Terra exclaimed. “George is taking us to the French Riviera.”

“I bet that will be fun,” Erin replied, contemplating why she’d never considered going there.

“After class I am shopping for bikinis,” Terra boasted. “I need new tops to accommodate these babies.” She clutched each breast with her hands. “Aren’t they amazing?”

“We missed you,” Erin said as Terra continued to hold her boobs. “Take it easy today, it’s barely been six weeks since you ... er, since the new additions.”

Just then, Evalyn appeared outside the shop, her rail-thin shape of sharp angles framed by the golden morning light. Of all the activities the woman did, Erin doubted there was anything Evalyn enjoyed more than smoking. Lifting a cigarette to her lips, Evalyn took a deep, deliberate drag, her red-painted nails flashing as she held it between her fingers. The ember flared, then dimmed as she exhaled a plume of smoke, watching it curl lazily in the air before she repeated the process, savoring every breath as if it were the last one in her life.

Evalyn had always been vocal about her love for smoking, especially when Erin reminded her—repeatedly—not to do it so close to the front door.

“I require shade,” Evalyn had declared with a casual flick of ash toward the sidewalk. “The awning should be wider and longer, then perhaps I would stand further.” Then, as though she alone possessed a secret, she whispered, “It’s all those cars and birds that are harmful to humans, not cigarette smoke.”

Erin waved to Evalyn to move from the door, but was promptly ignored as a petite woman, named Jane, strode up, flapping her hands dramatically to clear the smoke from her path.

“Oh, for heaven’s sake, Evalyn, really?” she muttered, opening the door and scrunching her nose as she stepped inside.

Jane, a harried thirty-something mother of three, barely had time for herself, let alone patience for other’s vices. She rolled her eyes and shot Erin a look as she passed. “How many times do we have to tell her to move away from the door?”

“At least there are no birds nearby,” Terra quipped, in a dry tone. “Lord forbid we inhale feather dust.”

Their laughter rippled behind as they moved to find the best spots to roll out their mats, the chatter light and familiar, the way it always was before class.

Outside, Evalyn lingered, drawing every possible inhalation from her cigarette, her lips pursed in satisfaction as the last wisp of smoke dissipated. Only when there was nothing left to enjoy did she finally flick the spent stub into a nearby receptacle and stride inside, trailing the scent of tobacco behind her like an expensive perfume.

Behind her, Joe Dunbar, the lone man in the early class opened the door and walked in, his gaze on the retreating Evalyn. A tall, solemn figure with an unruly mop of brown curls, Joe carried himself with the air of a professor, perpetually unimpressed.

“Good morning,” he greeted the room in his usual somber tone, his voice steady. He glanced in the direction of where Evalyn had gone before turning his scrutiny to Erin. “I thought she was told not to smoke by the door.”

“Good morning, Joe,” Erin replied, her patience well-practiced. “I will remind her again.”

“See that you do.” Joe’s look was pointed, the kind that made Erin feel like a student being corrected for talking during class.

Despite his grave demeanor, she liked Joe. He was a fixture of the class—a fifty-year-old confirmed bachelor, reliable as the sun, though considerably less warm.

Two additional women entered, each with a mat strapped to their backs, greeting all as they walked into the class area.

Everyone settled into their usual places. Terra and Jane took the front row, chatting quietly. The other two women occupied the second row, Joe was in the back, his matt as far from Evalyn as possible. Near the doorway, Aubrey positioned herself slightly apart from the others, stretching idly while observing the room.

With the class poised to begin, Erin took a deep breath, shaking off the morning’s minor chaos. Another day, another class, another attempt at keeping the peace.

“Namaste,” Erin finished the class glancing to the back of the room as Aubrey got to her feet and smiled widely, a sign she’d enjoyed Erin’s teaching.

Jane and Terra rolled their mats, making plans for coffee. “I have exactly an hour before having to pick up the girls from the school,” Jane said glancing at her watch.

“Perfect,” Terra confirmed. “My facial appointment is in town in two hours, just enough time for us to relax a bit more.” The woman shoved the expensive mat into a matching bag, not noticing the longing and perhaps a bit of jealousy in Evalyn’s expression.

After a pointed look from Erin to Evalyn, Joe then strode to exit, stopping to greet Aubrey before leaving.

Struggling to come up with a way to approach the subject of Evalyn’s lack of regard for others when smoking, Erin looked on as the woman fumbled in her bag for her cigarettes.

“Evalyn, have you considered cutting back on the smoking? I worry about your health,” Erin asked as the woman pulled out the pack followed by a lighter.

The woman gave her a droll look. “I have, but why deny myself the one thing I enjoy?” Evalyn coughed and tried to cover it up by clearing her throat. “I’m fit as a fiddle.”

“Surely you enjoy other things,” Aubrey interjected.

The woman shrugged noncommittally. “I supposed I like holding seances, and I enjoy time with my men. I do have several lovers.

Erin fought not to imagine the thin, gray-haired woman naked. It was doubtful that the woman had a number of lovers, but one never knew. “Glad to hear it.”

Evalyn narrowed her eyes. “I know they complain. Obviously, no one cares of I develop a carcinoma.”

“What?” Aubrey wasn’t aware of Evalyn’s complaint about the awning.

“The sun,” Evalyn said with pointing to the ceiling. “I require shade.”

The three remained silent, Erin unable to come up with anything to say.

“Maybe we can put an umbrella outside the door for you,” Aubrey said with a triumphant wide smile. “You can have shade, and the others won’t be subjected to cigarette smoke.”

Erin braced for Evalyn’s reaction. The woman stalked and leaned forward her nose a hair’s breadth from Aubrey’s. “And how, pray tell, am I to light my cigarette with both hands occupied. I am insulted by that suggestion.”

Before Aubrey could reply, Evalyn gave a snort of satisfaction and glanced at Erin. “I will return this afternoon for Lauren’s class,” she informed, referring to Erin’s mother.

“See you then,” Erin replied with a sigh as, once again, Evalyn refused to listen to reason.

“Oh my word,” Evalyn exclaimed glancing at the clock on the wall. “I best hurry or the bakery will be out of baguettes.”

“I suddenly feel like a loser,” Aubrey said frowning toward the doorway. “She has several lovers. I haven’t had sex in almost a year.”

Erin laughed. “I think I have you beat. I think she exaggerates. According to Terra, who has attended Evalyn’s seances, there is usually one man, with a beak-like nose, lingering about. By the way he refers to Evalyn as “dear” he is probably the only one.”

Promptly at three in the afternoon, the door swung open with its familiar chime, and in breezed Lauren Maguire, a whirlwind of floral fabric, gold bangles, and confidence. She paused just inside, scanning Erin with a practiced eye, her perfectly arched brow lifting.

“You should wear makeup,” she announced, as if bestowing great wisdom. “You never know when Mr. Right will walk through that door.” She held a hand toward the entrance, as though Prince Charming would materialize on cue.

Unlike Erin, who had barely run a brush through her hair, Lauren was immaculately styled. Her auburn locks swept into an elaborate twist, the kind that looked effortless but undoubtedly required time and skill. Her mother’s sleeveless blouse, a soft coral shade, and her flowing floral skirt would have fit in better at a music festival than a yoga studio. But since her mother technically taught stretching classes, Erin had long since given up on suggesting a wardrobe change.

“Men don’t grow on trees, you know,” Lauren continued, launching into the same well-worn lecture. “A woman must always be presentable.”

“If my future husband strolls through that door, I’ll slap on some lip gloss,” Erin replied, rounding the counter to press a quick kiss to her mother’s cheek.

Lauren narrowed her eyes, scrutinizing Erin like a jeweler inspecting a jewel. Then her expression shifted, her lips parting in sudden revelation. “There’s something different about you.” Her eyes widened. “Have you met someone?”

“I have not,” Erin said, a little too quickly. A man trapped in another realm probably didn’t count. And even if Padraig was rescued, what were the odds some great love affair would come of it?

Before her mother could pry further, Aubrey emerged from the office, her smile bright. “Aunt Lauren! How lovely to see you.”

Lauren turned, her gaze sweeping over Aubrey with the same appraising intensity. “Yes, dear, lovely to see you as well.” Then, with a wag of her manicured finger, she added, “You should wear some makeup. You never know.”

“Mum,” Erin cut in, diverting her mother’s attention. “Do you believe some people have abilities beyond explanation? Like seeing the future, casting spells … that sort of thing?”

Lauren blinked, clearly thrown by the abrupt change in subject. “I suppose so,” she said after a pause. “I’ve always had a strong sense of danger when something bad will happen. Remember when I was worried about your father, and then he nearly drowned?”

Erin bit back a smile. “Mum, when he fell in the loch, he was wearing a life vest. He wasn’t exactly drowning.”

Lauren dismissed this with an airy wave. “He swallowed water and was very startled.”

Erin shook her head, amused, but pressed on. “Does anyone in our family have ‘the gift?’” She made air quotes around the words.

Her mother’s gaze sharpened. “Why the sudden interest? Has something strange happened?”

“Nothing big really,” Erin lied, keeping her voice casual. “I went to a book signing. The author, Daniella McFadden, claims to be a foreteller. She said something about a big change coming in my life. I wonder if it’s true.”

Lauren smiled knowingly. “Oh, darling, of course it’s true. Everyone experiences changes. That’s just how life works.”

Erin let out a soft laugh, but her mother wasn’t finished. “You should go to one of Evalyn’s seances,” she suggested. “They’re quite eye-opening.”

“I didn’t know you went to Evalyn’s,” Erin said, surprised. “Who were you trying to contact?”

Her mother’s expression became solemn, and Erin held her breath. “I thought your grandfather might tell me where he hid his money. I know there’s cash tucked away somewhere in that rambling house of his.”

Erin fought the urge to roll her eyes. “Grand is still alive, Mum. Why don’t you just ask him?”

“He says he doesn’t remember if he hid money or not. But as old as he is, I’m sure part of his spirit is already in the other world.”

That was too much. Lauren burst into laughter, and Erin and Aubrey couldn’t help but join in.

“I’m kidding,” Lauren admitted between chuckles. “Honestly, I just ran out of excuses to get out of Evalyn’s invitations. I was curious, so I went to see what it was about.”

“And?” Aubrey prompted. “What happened?”

Lauren shrugged. “Not much. The table shook a little. Someone claimed they heard a whisper. Then Evalyn dramatically declared that the spirit world was dormant.”

“Well, that’s anticlimactic,” Erin muttered.

Lauren smiled. “Anyway, I need a few moments in the meditation room before the clients arrive.”

As her mother disappeared down the hall, Aubrey turned to Erin. “Do you really think going to a séance will help?”

Erin exhaled slowly. “It’s doubtful,” she admitted. “But I’m running out of ideas.”