Suddenly Psychic (Glimmer Lake #1)(47)

“Not related, but there’s something else.” Monica started up the stairs. “I can’t really explain it, just… follow me.”

Monica led them up the stairs and across the long landing where bedrooms branched off from the open entryway that overlooked the lake. The landing had a second staircase at either end, both leading to the third floor.

Robin, Val, and Monica walked up the flight of stairs, and Robin immediately felt the chill in the old house.

“Sheesh. I’d forgotten how cold the third floor is.”

“Doesn’t hot air rise?” Val was looking around the long hallway that ran between the two staircases. “What’s up here?”

“Uh, the kids’ rooms. Some storage. A maid’s quarters from when they used to have full-time help. A sewing room. Stuff like that.”

“So your mom and uncle were up here on the third floor with the domestic staff and the storage?”

“Children were to be seen and not heard,” Robin said. “I never claimed it was a healthy home.”

Monica stepped forward and pointed at a narrow hallway between rooms. “And what’s that?”

The chill became more pronounced.

“That’s the staircase to the attic,” Robin said. “More storage.” Just looking at the narrow hallway gave her goose bumps.

“Have you ever been up there?”

“No way.”

Monica narrowed her eyes. “Never?”

“No.”

Val said, “Really? I mean, not even when you were a kid to explore or snoop for Christmas presents or anything?”

“No one goes up there,” Robin said. “I don’t know. Not since Grandpa Russell died. We just don’t. I remember my dad saying something about putting a bunch of Grandpa’s things up there, but that’s all I can really remember.”

“So there’s a room in your grandparents’ huge old mansion that’s super cold and creepy, and you never once had the urge to explore it?” Monica said. “Does that strike you as weird?”

“I don’t know. I never thought about it.”

“Can we go?” Val rubbed her arms. “I’d rather not hang out here. And I definitely don’t want to touch anything.”

“Okay,” Monica said. “But I think you need to ask your dad about what all is up there. Because something about that hallway and that staircase seems off.”

“If my grandfather’s ghost was haunting his house, don’t you think I’d have seen him by now?” Robin asked. “Monica, this time I think you’re letting your imagination get away from you.”

“Okay,” Monica said. “But think about it. And definitely ask your dad.”





Robin was lying awake, trying to get into the same mood as her husband, while her brain kept drifting to the old house and the cold room at the top of the stairs.

Mark kissed her neck while his hands traveled down her torso. “Hey.”

It was Friday night and they’d gone out for dinner, just the two of them. It had been fun, and they’d talked about Robin turning Austin’s room into a studio or possibly converting a room at the shop into a studio if the light was right. Mark had been great and enthusiastic, and it was the most fun Robin could remember having with him in months.

When they’d gotten home, he’d been eager to get into bed. So had Robin. For the first time in months, she’d actually been feeling smart and sexy and desirable instead of old and tired. Mark hadn’t been able to keep his hands off her in the car.

But as soon as they’d gotten in bed and he’d started his usual seduction, her brain had started to wander. Mark’s hands were moving to all the places they usually did, and he was doing all the things that… usually did not lead to Robin having a good time.

If he could…

Nope. Maybe if he did that longer she’d…

Uh-uh.

If only…

“Stop,” Robin blurted.

Mark raised his head. “What’s wrong?”

Oh, why was it so hard to talk about this? She wanted to sink into the mattress and disappear. Or maybe just pretend it was working and get it over with.

No. Stop pretending.

You have to ask for what you want.

She spoke quietly. “I don’t actually… like that.”

Mark frowned. “What?”

“When you do the thing—”

“You mean…?” He moved his hand.

“Yes. That. I don’t like it.”

He blinked rapidly. “But I always do that.”

“And I don’t like it.” She bit her lip. “Sorry. It just… it feels good at first, but then you don’t do it long enough and you switch to something else and—”

“Wait so…” He pulled away and frowned. “That’s not working for you?”

She shook her head slightly.

“Robin, I’ve been doing… that for like twenty years now. Probably longer.”

She spoke as quickly as she could manage. “And everything used to work faster, but I don’t know, it’s just not happening like it used to and I think I need—”

“Wait.” He propped himself up on one elbow. “Is this why you haven’t wanted to have sex?”