Page 59 of Shake Your Boo Thang

Now that makes me chuckle. “Mama always says I’m stubborn as a mule. Maybe that’s why we get on so well. Look at us. Every day we keep finding more and more things we have in common. Are you starting to believe in our destiny yet?” I prod, a teasing note in my voice.

There’s a beat of silence and then he says, “I’m starting to think there might be something to that theory.”

His unexpected words send my heart racing, and another spark of hope lights up inside me.

Good golly, Miz Dolly, this man’s gonna make me twitterpated before too long.

“When did you realize you could be a medium?”

That jars me out of my rose-colored thoughts and I wince at the memory.

“When I was in middle school, but it’s not exactly a pleasant recollection.”

“You don’t need to tell me about it then,” he rushes to say.

I pat his arm wrapped around my middle. “A boy in my class died in a car accident, very sudden and tragic. His spirit stuck around because he needed to tell his parents something. He’d had a fight with them prior to the accident, and he wanted to apologize and tell them he loved them. Not an uncommon thing.” I sigh. “His spirit followed me around for days until I finally agreed to go to his family’s house. At that time, I didn’t have the level of understanding about mediumship and the parameters of control that I do now. So I told his parents that he had something he wanted to tell them, but I unconsciously opened myself up and he slipped right on in and took the wheel.”

“I take it that didn’t go the way you hoped.”

“No, sir, it did not. Freaked me and them out big time—for different reasons, of course. As you’ve learned, lots of folks can’t handle the idea of the supernatural being real. Those who are grieving the fresh loss of a loved one often handle it even less well. Jimmy’s parents didn’t want to believe their son was talking to them from beyond the Veil. Heck, they weren’t quite ready to accept that he was gone, but they were pretty religious and the whole situation was an affront to them and their beliefs.” I sigh in recollection. “After all was said and done, I was roundly kicked out of their house by his father and cursed at, while his poor mother just kept weeping for her boy. On the plus side, Jimmy told them what he needed to, and despite their reactions, it gave him the peace he needed to move on.” I close my eyes. “But whenever I saw his folks around town after that, they steered clear of me. Eventually, they moved away, but the story got around town and didn’t do any favors to my reputation as the town weirdo.”

He squeezes me tight. “That must have been hard, but you were so bloody brave and kind to do that for him. A lot of people would have looked the other way and kept their nose out of it.”

My cheeks warm under his praise. “I wanted to help but ended up paying a price for it. That’s often the case when it comes to The Gift. I suppose it’s a check and balance in the universe, but it sure can make life awfully lonely.”

“Aye.”

“It’s hard to keep friends who don’t believe in your abilities, and it can sometimes scare away the ones who do. The reality of what we can see is too much for most folks. I don’t blame ’em. I suppose if I had been born just like them, I might look at someone like me and think he was a total crackpot. I’m sure you would have felt the same before your accident.”

He nuzzles my hair, and I have to think he might be a bit like his cat, Poirot.

I yawn again and Callum tucks the blankets in around us tighter.

“Enough yammering for tonight. You need to get some rest.”

I’m touched at his wanting to take care of me. No one besides Mama ever has. I cuddle the arm of his that’s wrapped around me like it’s my very own teddy bear.

“Thank you, Callum, I’m glad you’re here and looking out for me.”

“Aye, beautiful. Now go to sleep.”

I don’t need him to tell me twice.

It isn’t until the next morning that my senses register something, and I blink open my eyes to see Alistair hovering at the end of the bed.

Callum’s still fast asleep beside me, an arm draped over me. He’s a real cuddler when he sleeps. Yet another point in his favor. I can already imagine cold winter nights wrapped around each other.

Maybe even in Scotland?

“Have you decided to take me up on my offer?” I ask Alistair quietly.

He’s silent for a long moment. “I need to tell her a few things. Can you share that with her?”

“I can, but I can’t guarantee how she’ll react to it. Not everyone wants to hear that their loved one is still lingering and hasn’t moved on. Fewer still believe that’s even possible.”

For the first time, he smiles. “I know my mum. She’ll understand that it’s me.”

I hope he’s right. The last thing I need is to be kicked out of my B&B early, but I have to take the risk to help Alistair move on. I’ve genuinely come to care for Miz Edna, who’s a total sweetheart, and I know she would want her son to be able to move on and not stuck here watching over her.