Suddenly Psychic (Glimmer Lake #1)(80)

Plus, Robin added, Grandma Helen always wanted more people around.

“I think Grandma would have loved this.” Robin squinted as a delivery truck rolled into the driveway, carrying yet another shipment of furniture. Grace and Robin were slowly sorting through the enormous house, picking out pieces they wanted to keep, antiques they would sell, and things that would be repurposed in the new inn. If everything went according to plan, the inn would be finished in time for Christmas.

When it was finished, Russell House Inn would have seven richly appointed master suites and seven smaller and more economical bedrooms with shared baths on the third floor. It would have a library and game room, a dining room with catering potential, and a formal room where guests could mingle, dance, or enjoy a cocktail after a day on the lake or the ski slopes.

The inn would be the perfect place for a destination wedding or a romantic getaway. The gardens could host lavish parties in the summer and sumptuous holiday gatherings in the winter. Russell Lumber’s employee Christmas party had been their very first booking.

“You know,” Robin said, “I never thought my mom and one of my best friends would go into business together, but they’re kind of perfect.”

“It probably helps that Monica has the uncanny ability to predict which things are going to work perfectly and which things would be a disaster.” Mark winked. “That definitely helps.”

Robin grinned. “True.”

In the months since Grandma Helen’s death, no sign of Gordon Russell’s spirit had been detected in the house, but none of their powers had seemed to fade. Robin still saw the occasional ghost wandering around town, though none of them seemed particularly eager to talk to her and she could mostly ignore them.

Monica still had flashes of insight and the uncanny ability to predict exactly when a rain jacket was needed, even on seemingly sunny afternoons. She’d also bloomed with a new project on her hands. Jake had moved into Grandma Helen’s old room and was the live-in handyman on the property, which gave him a steady job and allowed him to still keep in close touch with his mom. It was exactly the level of space Monica needed.

Val struggled with her abilities and had taken to wearing gloves pretty much all the time. Robin worried about her the most, but until they could figure out some way for her to tamp down or control what she was seeing, gloves were the only thing that helped. People asked, but Val had come up with all sorts of imaginative excuses for the unusual wardrobe accessory.

I’ve developed a circulation problem.

I’m filthy rich.

Have you heard about superbugs?

And pretty regularly: I’ve developed psychic powers and can read the mind of anyone I touch. She always offered to shake people’s hands after that. No one took her up on it.

But all in all, life for Robin had settled back into a seminormal pattern. She had exciting work with fun new challenges like helping to decorate a brand-new inn. She was painting again. She had friends who continued to be the best. And the worst. And the best. Her son was discovering his passion for art and finally finding purpose. And her marriage got better and better as each month passed.

Robin was even thinking she’d be okay when Emma left for Oregon State in the fall.

“Hey, honey?” Mark was scratching his forehead. “Didn’t we measure this twice?”

“Nope.” The little girl who lived in the forest sat on the edge of the gazebo, swinging her legs. “You told him to measure it again, but he didn’t.”

Robin glanced at her and winked. “I’m not sure. Is there a problem?”

“I think I cut it about an inch too short.” He tugged on his baseball cap. “Man, I could have sworn I measured it twice.”

“No big deal.” She walked over and kissed his cheek. “It’s just a two-by-four. We have a whole load of them. We can use the short one on the roof.”

“Right.”

The little girl skipped across the lawn in her billowing white nightgown, golden hair flowing behind her.

“Hey, honey?”

Robin looked up. “What?”

Mark looked at her, then followed her eyes; a smile touched the edge of his mouth. “Everything okay?”

Robin smiled. “Just the usual.”

Mark gave her a grin. “Well, you can’t say it’s boring.”

Is this my life?

Really? This? Every day until I die?

The sun flashing on the deep blue water of Glimmer Lake. Her husband working next to her. Ghosts dancing across the lawn.

“Nope.” Robin smiled. “It’s extraordinary.”





Continue reading for a preview of Semi-Psychic Life,

Val’s story and the next book in the Glimmer Lake series





First Look: Semi-Psychic Life





Val was battling a headache that had been brewing since she’d woken up that morning. It was just her luck that Americano Asshole handed her a refillable coffee cup. One that he hadn’t rinsed out. Of course.

“The usual,” he said brusquely.

“Got it,” Val said under her breath. “Anything else?”

There were baskets of fresh lemon scones on the counter, homemade energy bars, and decadent blueberry muffins that her baker, Honey, had made fresh that morning, but he ignored them all.