Page 117 of The Curse of Redwood

“The curse is lifted,” Callum said, before breathing out. From exhaustion? Relief? Probably both. “The spirits are free.”

Nellie drifted out from the corridor, no longer crying. She grabbed the hands of two children and smiled at them before they, too, disappeared. Emotion clogged in my throat as I watched them all move on from this place.

“Well, I gotta be goin’ now,” William said, tipping his hat to me. “Thank you for the games.”

I dropped to my knees and grabbed his hands. They were so tiny in mine. Tears blurred my vision. “It’s been awesome knowing you, little guy. Try not to get into too much trouble where you’re going.”

He grinned. “Will I see you again?”

“I hope so,” I said.

“Me too.” He then bounced over to Zeke and tugged on his shirt. Once Zeke bent down, William wrapped his little arms around Zeke’s neck and kissed him on the cheek. “I will see you soon, Mr. Warren! Don’t keep me waiting.”

He then ran off and met Rose by the stairs, grabbing his sister’s hand. A woman I didn’t recognize then appeared next to them. She was tall, extraordinarily thin, and wore a black dress. Her brown hair was pulled away from her face, though a strand fell free and curled beside her brow. She softly smiled at me before taking the children’s hands.

Wait. Black dress.

I flipped around to Zeke. “Was that…?”

“Elizabeth Shaw,” he said to me, nodding. “She’s been released from her curse as well.”

The three of them disappeared.

I glanced around the entrance hall. It was truly empty for the first time. There was no feeling of being watched from the shadows or phantom breath on the back of my neck. My skin didn’t tingle, and the air felt light. Every ghost was gone.

All except one.

“No,” I said, once looking at Zeke. His brow furrowed as he cupped my cheek. I started to panic. “You can’t go. We can find a way to be happy, I promise. I’ll sneak in here and see you or I’ll rob a bank to be able to buy this place. Something. I don’t know. Just don’t leave me, Zeke, please.”

“Hush, my darling boy.” He pressed his finger to my lips. “Come with me.”

Zeke grabbed my hand and stepped toward the corridor straight ahead. Tears dripped down my cheeks as I walked beside him, holding on tightly to his hand. He led me through the mansion and to the back patio. A place where we’d had so many hellos… and goodbyes.

A soft cry left me as we exited through the door and walked across the grass to the stone bench in the garden. I would never be ready to truly say goodbye to him. Never.

He sat and pulled me onto his lap before wrapping his arms around me. “Please don’t cry.”

“I can’t help it.” I slid my hand through his hair, twisting the silky strands around my fingers. “Don’t go. I’ll buy Redwood.”

“By robbing a bank?” Zeke softly chuckled, though there was an underlying sadness. “I will not have you become a criminal on my account. You are far too sweet.”

“Sweet? Pfft. I’m danger with a capital D. But I’d ratheryougivemethe D… if you catch my meaning.”

“You are such a pest,” he said, before grabbing my chin and forcing my face down to his.

I whimpered against his mouth and returned the kiss. If I could have one moment to relive for the rest of my life, it would’ve been that one—his lips on mine and his arms around me. I inhaled the warm spice of his skin and breathed in the fragrant scent of roses in his soft hair.

How was I supposed to let him go?

He’d be taking my heart with him.

“You can’t go,” I said against his lips, then drew back to look at him. “If you do, you’ll never know how Ben’s book ends. The one we bought today.”

“Tell me then,” Zeke murmured, sliding his hand to my nape. “How does the story end?”

I didn’t think it was possible for my heart to break any more… but it shattered as I stared into his eyes. “It ends like this.”

He frowned.