Lucky Stars (Ghosts and Reincarnation #5)(73)

“You painted words on their house?” Yasmin asked Gram, grinning.

“Yep,” Gram answered.

“She not only painted them, she stayed up all night. It was practically a mural,” Mom put in. “It was awesome. Too bad they painted over it.”

“What were they?” Yasmin queried further.

Gram opened her mouth to answer but Belle got there before her and suggested, “Why don’t you share that later?”

Belle’s words said later. Belle’s face said never.

Gram threw Belle a smile and closed her mouth.

“Now that I find sad. A Cavendish mural painted over. Tragic,” Jack stated dryly and everyone burst out laughing.

Except Belle, who turned to him and smiled.

Jack smiled back.

Belle felt his smile in lots of places, the best being her heart.

“Feel better about Myrtle and Lewis, poppet?” he asked softly.

Belle nodded.

“You’ll feel safe in the castle now?” he went on.

Belle nodded again.

He bent his head and brushed his lips against hers before he murmured, “Good.”

Then Jack’s arm wrapped around her back and he pulled her close right before Belle thought of the little ghost girl waving at her from the window.

Then she wondered if she was the one that would help release those children and send them to heaven.

Then she wondered if she’d have the courage to do whatever it was that might be required of her.

Then she decided that she probably wouldn’t even as she vowed to find a way.

Then they heard the first roar of thunder.

* * * * *

It was hours later, when they were all in the dining room, the pudding dishes had been cleared away and everyone but Belle was enjoying coffee, that Belle turned her head to Jack.

“Jack,” she called softly, intending to ask if he would mind if she accompanied him on his nightly after dinner walk with the dogs.

Jack looked at her, his beautiful green eyes gentle with enquiry.

Belle wondered if she’d ever get used to how handsome he was (especially his eyes) and she opened her mouth to speak only to be cut off by her Mom.

“Bellerina, after dinner, can I have a word?”

Belle looked to her mother and saw her face was earnest. A look Belle knew she couldn’t deny no matter how much she wanted to walk with Jack and his dogs and, she was forced to admit, she very, very much wanted to walk with Jack and his dogs.

“Of course,” Belle said to her Mom and turned back to Jack to finish what she’d started but instead asking him to delay his walk a bit but Jack spoke first.

“I enjoy your company when we’re out with the dogs but I don’t want you in that weather, poppet. The path gets slippery in the rain,” Jack told her.

Belle looked to the windows. It was late evening but the day was not done as it stayed light until very late during summers in England. However, it was dark as night outside. The lightning and thunder had ceased but the rain was falling hard, heavy and steady and had been since that afternoon.

Belle’s eyes went back to Jack and she nodded.

“I won’t be long, love,” he finished on a small smile.

Belle nodded again and returned his small smile.

“Well, I’m going in search of Myrtle and Lewis. If there’s any time they’ll show themselves, it’ll be during a spooky, dark storm,” Yasmin declared, throwing down her napkin and standing.

“It was a bright, sunshiny day when I saw them,” Belle informed Yasmin.

“Same here,” Mom added.

Yasmin waved her hand in front of her face. “Matters not, everyone knows ghosts like a good old storm,” she said with authority then continued. “I’m off, anyone want to join me?”

“You go on, darling, I’ll find you in a bit,” Joy said.

“You got it,” Yasmin replied and left the room.

The minute she did, Joy turned to Jack and noted quietly, “I’m concerned about her.”

Belle’s eyes slid to Jack and she saw he was watching the door Yasmin just used, his jaw was tense and his chin lifted in acknowledgement of his mother’s words.

“Why are you concerned?” Lila asked.

“She’s trying to hide it but I can tell, this latest divorce is taking its toll,” Joy answered. “Quincy is a good man and he adores her. At first I think he was confused and thought he could talk her ‘round. That didn’t work and now he’s very angry that she’s doing this.”

Belle was surprised at this news, thus she shared, “Yasmin told me about him when she was in my shop. She didn’t make him sound like a good man.”

“Most of what she told you is likely untrue,” Jack explained and Belle’s startled eyes went to his. “Not that she’s lying but exaggerating or telling tales, not to convince you but to convince herself. Yasmin has a habit of sabotaging her happiness.”

Before Belle could respond, Joy continued, “Her first husband was a bit wild, just like Yasmin, but he loved her too. They burnt bright. Therefore, eventually they burnt out. It was probably for the best though he too was a good man and would have done anything for her.” Joy’s eyes moved to Jack. “Yasmin has always had good taste in men. She’s just constantly throwing them away.”