Lucky Stars (Ghosts and Reincarnation #5)(104)

“I think that’s good,” Yasmin put in. “A timesaver. They don’t have to drive to work. They can just get up, have breakfast and then,” she clapped her hands, “get right to it.”

Belle looked at Yasmin and asked, “Did you see them?”

“Sure,” Yasmin replied casually.

“Did you get a good look at them?” Belle went on.

“Sure,” Yasmin repeated. “Seriously, Belle, they’re cool. Before you got home, we told them the whole Myrtle and Lewis story and they sounded like they knew exactly –”

“Yasmin,” Belle interrupted her, being uncharacteristically rude but she thought the situation warranted it, “you’ve known Jack longer than all of us. What do you think he’ll do when he sees those two and finds out they’re staying under his roof doing readings and going into weird trances and, I don’t know,” she paused as her hysteria escalated and finished with, “being outrageously Scottish!”

Light dawned and Yasmin whispered, “I see what you mean.”

“I think –” Belle started but her grandmother interrupted her.

“I think that we should let the witch do her work. I think, if Belle has a word, Jack will come around. And I think we all need to be vigilant. Whatever that was wasn’t good and the best thing we can do is let the experts go about their business.”

“Gram –” Belle began but was interrupted again.

“You’ll have a word,” Gram demanded.

“But –” Belle tried yet again but was interrupted yet again.

“Bellerina, have a word.”

Belle sighed then whispered, “I think you might be overestimating my influence over Jack.”

At that, Lila laughed.

As did Yasmin and Rachel.

And they all laughed like what Belle said was hysterically funny.

Which it was not.

“I’m not being funny!” she snapped.

Gram came forward and pulled Belle loosely into her arms.

Putting her cheek against her granddaughter’s, she said softly in Belle’s ear, “I think you’re underestimating your influence over Jack.” She pulled away and looked in Belle’s eyes and when Belle opened her mouth to speak, hurried on, “We’ll see who’s right, hmm, my sweet?” Belle closed her mouth and stared stubbornly at her grandmother when Lila repeated firmly, “Have a word.”

Belle stepped out of Lila’s arms and crossed her own over her baby bump.

Then on a sigh, she gave in, “All right, I’ll have a word.”

“Just,” Rachel added, getting close and putting her hand on Belle’s upper arm, “give me a chance to ask about the car first.”

“Mom!” Belle cried.

“No. Seriously. I don’t want him in a foul mood when I ask him. He might say no,” Rachel said.

Belle decided to let it go.

She was, as she reminded herself hourly, pregnant, hormonal, living in a haunted castle (now with three ghosts) and falling in love with Jack Bennett.

She had to pick her battles and while doing so guard her reserves.

And she needed her reserves in order to have her “word” with Jack.

“I’m going to take a nap before dinner,” she announced, deciding that would do wonders for her reserves.

“Good idea, honeypot. I’ll wake you in an hour, okay?”

Belle nodded.

Then she left.

And she only felt better when she found the dogs, guided them to her and Jack’s room and lay down on their bed.

And she only felt better because Baron and Gretl were with her and she was in a room that was now her and Jack’s and lying on a bed that could be described using the word “their”.

But she couldn’t help but wonder about the possible third ghost, who “he” might be and what Jack was going to think when she had her “word”.

* * * * *

Belle woke before Rachel came to her room.

She lay in the bed still a bit sleepy but feeling rested.

Her hand went to her belly and she felt the hardness there.

“Well, sweets,” she whispered to her belly, “I promised life would eventually go back to normal and boring but your Daddy knew better, didn’t he?”

She splayed her fingers wider on her belly and smiled at the thought of Jack as “Daddy”.

Her mobile, sitting on the nightstand, sounded.

She picked it up and it said, “Jack Calling”.

There it was again.

He was on her mind and then he called.

She couldn’t shake how weird that was.

Or how wonderful.

She slid her finger across the screen and put the phone to her ear.

“Hi,” she said softly.

She could hear the smile in his voice when he replied, “Belle.”

“You okay?” she asked, swinging her legs over the side of the bed.

She heard dog tags jangling as both Baron and Gretl moved forward for pets.

Belle didn’t disappoint, holding the phone to her ear with her shoulder, she pet them both at the same time which was how they preferred it.

“Yes, poppet. I called to let you know I’m taking off in fifteen minutes. I finished earlier than I thought.”

Belle felt a rush of happiness.