Fairytale Come Alive (Ghosts and Reincarnation #4)(138)

Bella smiled a small smile at her friend and said in the sad tone of someone who knew, “No one plugs the hole left by a dead parent, Mikey.”

Mikey, always quick with a retort, had none for that. He simply pressed his lips together and looked at Annie.

They dropped the discussion but Bella got quiet and started fidgeting and although Fiona wanted to go to the school, instinct told her to stay with Bella.

And her instinct was right.

In half an hour, Fiona watched Bella clench her hands into fists.

Mikey caught it too.

He reached out, forced Bella’s hand open and held it on the counter, murmuring, “It’s going to be fine.”

Bella turned to him and said quietly, “You know, I’ve never been happier not even the first time I was with Pren.” Mikey squeezed her hand and she continued, “But even knowing what it would mean, that I would lose them, if I had magic, I would use it to breathe life back into Fiona so I could give them all back what they lost.”

Fiona’s ghostly heart clenched.

Debs made a noise that sounded like a swallowed sob.

Annie whispered, “Oh sweetie.”

Mikey shook Bella’s hand then gripped it tighter. “Well, girlie-girl, you don’t have magic and you’ve taken on this job so now the only thing you can do for those kids is be the next best thing.” He leaned in closer to his friend and went on, “And you know better than anyone that the next best thing is a whole lot better than nothing.”

Bella pulled in breath through her nose and on the exhale, she nodded.

It was then the front door opened and Prentice, Jason and Sally walked in.

Fiona stared, her ghostly heart hammering in her chest when she caught the look on Prentice’s face.

She’d never seen it before but the only way to describe it was enraged.

The coffee klatch all tensed as Jason ran up the stairs not looking at anyone, his face mottled red and Fiona, his very own mother, couldn’t read if he was angry or upset.

Everyone (and Fiona) watched as he disappeared from sight and then their eyes turned to Prentice when he said, “Sally, upstairs.”

Even Sally look subdued but she still opened her mouth to protest.

“Upstairs,” Prentice ordered in a tone that sent Sally scurrying upstairs.

“Prentice, what on earth?” Bella asked and Fiona turned to see Bella was standing.

Prentice made it to the kitchen and with an irate flick of his wrist, he flung a bunch of magazines on the counter, magazines Fiona had been too surprised to notice he was carrying. They skidded through the cookies and coffee mugs and Debs, Annie and Mikey’s hands flew out to limit the damage.

Bella didn’t notice; her eyes were on Prentice.

Prentice didn’t notice either; he was stalking to the phone. He yanked it from its receiver and punched in a number while Bella walked to him and Fiona floated close.

“Pren –” she started, his eyes sliced to her and he lifted an angry hand to stop her from talking.

Bella froze and stared at him.

“Alice,” Prentice said into the phone, “get me Hattie Fennick’s number.” He paused and clipped, “I don’t give a f**k, home, mobile, whatever. Just find a way for me to call that bitch.”

Then he slammed the phone into the receiver.

Fiona couldn’t believe her ears.

Alice was the administrator at his offices. She was a sweet young thing, efficient and organized and had been with Prentice since he started his firm. Fiona had never heard Prentice speak to her like that.

And Hattie was in the picture.

What had that cow done now?

Bella edged closer and asked, “Prentice, why are you calling Hattie?”

Prentice tore his hand through his hair as his gaze cut to the magazines Debs, Annie and Mikey were all flicking through, their faces tight and angry.

Then his gaze came back to Bella. “Davey Fennick came into school today with half a dozen gossip rags, all of them with stories and pictures of us which he shared, apparently gleefully, with Jason.”

“But,” Bella replied, “he’s seen us and even himself in magazines.”

“No’ the ones which talk about how we were together twenty years ago,” Prentice returned, light dawned and Bella grew pale.

Fiona wished she had figured out her magic so she could go zap Hattie Fennick a good one.

“Oh my God,” Bella whispered and her hands clenched into fists.

Prentice noticed it instantly and in an effort to control his rage his jaw tightened so much a muscle ticked there.

But his hands came to hers, he forced them open and laced their fingers. “Elle, he’s upset but he isn’t upset about that.”

Bella stared up at him. “What’s he upset about?”

“Davey didn’t only bring the magazines, he also brought stories, likely heard at home, about you and me and Fiona.”

Bella’s brows drew together and Fiona glided so much closer she nearly drifted into Bella.

“What stories about you and me and Fiona?” Bella asked.

“You don’t want to know,” Prentice replied.

“I do want to know,” Bella returned.

I want to know too! Fiona shouted.

“Elle –” Prentice began.

Her fingers tightened in his and she gave his hands a gentle jerk. “Tell me, Pren.”