Suddenly Psychic (Glimmer Lake #1)(79)

Something flickered in the corner of her vision, and Robin turned her head.

Billy was leaning against a wall, watching Helen sleep. The look on his face was adoring and tender. “Isn’t she the most beautiful thing you ever saw?”

Robin smiled. “She’s pretty special.”

“I know,” Mark said, his voice just over a whisper. “She was the first person who welcomed me into the family. Do remember that? Your mom and dad were kind of suspicious, but she was the best. She was so confused about my job though.” He smiled. “I think she still is.”

Val and Monica dragged chairs from the sitting area so Robin and Mark could be close to Helen. Monica reached for the book on the bedside table and opened it. Val moved to the turntable to change the record.

Robin clasped Helen’s hand and laid her cheek next to her grandmother’s on the crisp cotton sheet. “Billy never left you, Grandma. I know you don’t want to talk about sad things, but I want you to know that. He tried so hard to get to you and the baby.” She looked over her shoulder at Raymond, who was still sleeping like a stone. “He loved you so much,” she whispered. “He still does. He watched over you the best he could. I just wanted you to know that.”

Grandma Helen took a deep breath and let it out, her mouth still curved in a smile.

Mark looked at Monica. “What was she reading?”

“A romance.” Monica wriggled her eyebrows. “Looks like a pretty racy one too.”

Mark shook his head. “She was always full of surprises.”

Val leaned against the far wall, not far from Billy’s ghost. “I think I want to be Grandma Helen when I’m old. Only I’m going to embarrass my children by having torrid affairs with much younger men.”

“Embarrassing your children is the reward for raising them,” Monica said. “Gil and I tried to embarrass ours regularly.”

“I miss Gil,” Mark said. “So damn much. Can you imagine how much better this would be if Gil were here?”

“I know,” Monica said. “It pretty much sucks.”

“Yeah,” Val said. “Robin, have you ever—”

“I have never felt Gil anywhere.” She looked at Monica. “And I never want to.”

Monica frowned. “If he was hanging around here, I’d be pissed. I can take care of myself. The kids and I will be all right.”

Billy’s ghost moved from the corner to walk next to Helen’s bed. “She’s ready.”

Robin bit her lip and fought back tears. She reached for Helen’s hand as Billy stood over her and held out his.

Helen blinked her eyes open, sat up, and looked into his eyes. “You’re here.”

Her spirit rose and appeared in an instant, standing next to the bed, looking down at her frail body.

Her spirit, as Robin had always suspected, was in the vibrant prime of life.

“I’ve been waiting,” Billy said.

“I know.” Helen looked over at Raymond. She walked over and passed a ghostly hand over his forehead. “Do you see him, Billy?” Her voice was young and clear, brighter than Robin had never heard in life. “Isn’t he beautiful?”

Billy was at her side, his own hand passing over Raymond’s forehead. “He’s wonderful, Helen. You raised a fine man.”

“And my girl Grace.” She turned to Billy with a brilliant smile. “She’s so smart and funny. She’s just the picture of my mama. I love her so much. You’d love her too.”

“Of course I would,” Billy said. “But I’ve been watching a long time, best girl. I’m pretty tired. You ready to go?”

Helen looked around and locked eyes with Robin, who was staring straight at her. “Look at you. And you thought you were ordinary.”

Robin smiled and swallowed hard. “Goodbye, Helen. I love you so much.”

“Extraordinary.” Helen’s face was glowing. “Simply… extraordinary.”

Helen’s and Billy’s ghosts grew brighter and brighter. Robin closed her eyes, and when she opened them, they were gone.





Chapter 29





Six months later





April sunshine poured over the gardens at Russell House, casting shadows beneath the trees and flashing like diamonds on the wind-whipped surface of Glimmer Lake. The deep blue water was warming up, and Robin saw boats dragging water-skiers in the distance.

Mark shuddered. “Too cold.”

“They’re young and senseless,” Robin said. “Hand me the hammer?”

“You got it.”

They were building a gazebo in a far corner of the front lawn that backed up to the manicured forests that surrounded Russell House. In the distance, Jake Velasquez was painting the bright red trim on the boathouse that would finish the face-lift he’d given the entire dock.

When Monica had first approached Robin’s mother with the idea of turning Russell House into a bed-and-breakfast, Grace had been reluctant. She’d hesitated at the idea of partnering in a brand-new business when she was already retired.

But Monica’s enthusiasm had convinced her. Russell House would be a bed-and-breakfast, an event venue, and the old house would uphold the tradition of the Russell family by adding something grand to the community of Glimmer Lake.