Deception (Absent Shadows Trilogy Book 3) (19 page)

And now that I was running in the gardens again, it also meant I got to spend more time with Elizabeth and Cassie. I told Elizabeth I could resume my assistance for any of the ghosts that thought I could help them, and as it turned out, there were several. Most were very patient and saw no point in rushing. After all, they’d been there for many, many years so waiting a bit longer was nothing to worry about.

And so the days passed, and the long wait until we could move into our new home was over.

~~***~~

‘I sure wish I could help you with the last of the unpacking,’ said Elizabeth as she flitted around the kitchen watching me unpack boxes of glasses and dishes and cutlery.

‘I wish you could too,’ I laughed. ‘But then again, at least if I unpack everything, I’ll have no-one to blame but myself if I can’t find things.’

‘Isn’t Sam going to help you? Don’t tell me he’s leaving all the hard work to you?’ she giggled.

‘Yeah, no, it’s alright—he’s bringing the last of the things from Crystal’s house this afternoon, and he and Tom will have to put all that stuff away.’

The removalists had come early, and brought in everything that had been in storage, as well as numerous boxes of new items I’d purchased over the past few weeks. Everything was here, and the large furniture items were all in their rightful place—we just needed to unpack the boxes, and do some last minute adjustments when Sam got here. And I intended to wash all the sheets and hang them out in the back yard before I made the beds. Barring some unforseen catastrophe, I’d sleep here tonight, in my own bed—with my husband.

A squeal of laughter caught my attention and I turned to see Cassie sliding down the banister from upstairs. I shook my head, wagged my finger and crumpled up my face in mock anger. But she knew I saw the funny side of it, so she raced back up and did it again.

‘Oh, I’m going to have a go at that too,’ giggled Elizabeth as she raced off to join Cassie.

‘Those girls,’ I laughed, and then turned back to the task at hand.

I couldn’t believe we were actually in. The house was everything I could ever have wished for, and so much more. I loved every inch of it; from the old polished floorboards in the entrance hall complete with scars and marks that no doubt went back many years, to the little balcony off our bedroom from where we could just see the top of Sam’s tree, and everything in between. I even loved the way the house creaked sometimes, if I stood very quietly. This was our house, and this was the start of our new life.

When I heard the front door open I stepped into the hallway knowing it would be Sam and Tom bringing their things in. I could see Sam standing there in the doorway—the look on his face mirroring my own feelings. This wasn’t a dream. Our new life was really happening. I could feel the electricity between us, even from this distance. Things would soon be as they should be between us—I just knew it. I could feel it starting already.

The moment was broken when Tom pushed Sam out of the way, his arms full of boxes and clothes.

‘Move it, Sam. Hey, Lili—which room do you want me in?’ he yelled, his face turning to a broad smile as soon as he spotted me.

‘Oh, I assumed you’d want the one closest to the door there, on your left. But we can shift the furniture around if you want to change,’ I answered, walking toward them.

He walked into the room and said, ‘Nah, this one looks great. Thanks, Lil.’

‘Good, glad you like it,’ I said as I walked up and gave Sam a kiss.

‘And which one’s going to be the study? I’ll go ahead and set up your computer for you,’ said Tom, bowing his head and then looking up at me with puppy dog eyes, probably still feeling a bit guilty that the computer had never been set up when they’d moved.

‘Oh, the second one on the right—you’ll see the desk is in there already,’ I replied, flicking my wrist in the direction of the room as if to brush aside his embarrassment.

Within an hour, Sam and Tom had brought everything in and the house looked like we’d been living in it for ages.

‘So, we thought we’d have a small house warming party tonight, Tom. Would you like to invite Rebekah over to help us celebrate moving into our new home?’

‘Beka? Ah, well, I don’t know.’

‘Don’t tell me you’ve split up with her? Is everything alright with you two?’

‘Yeah, it’s great. It’s just … well, if you thought I didn’t like ghosts, you should see Rebekah’s face when we talk about them. I don’t think she’ll be spending much time here—not with Elizabeth and her little friend hanging out here.’

‘Oh, really? I’m sorry; I had no idea. But then again, I guess I really don’t know much about her. But you, you’re okay with Elizabeth and Cassie being here, aren’t you?’

‘Yeah, they’re okay. They’re just kids, after all. And besides, I suppose I’ve known Elizabeth for as long as I’ve known Sam.’

‘Well, I’m sorry that Rebekah won’t be comfortable spending time here, but I suppose it doesn’t hurt for you to have somewhere to go when you want some boy time—you know, with Sam.’

‘Yeah, it’s cool. Beka and I don’t have to spend every minute together. Besides, I can always go to her place when we want time together,’ he said, winking.

I vaguely recalled Sam telling me that she had a place somewhere in West Melbourne, not far from Erranase.

‘Well, perhaps it’s not such a bad thing; I mean it might have been awkward tonight, what with Claire coming over and all.’

‘Claire? She’s coming here tonight?’ he asked, his face lighting up.

‘Yeah, of course. I couldn’t have a house warming party and not invite her.’

‘Yeah, no, I suppose not.’

‘It’s probably better that Rebekah isn’t coming. I mean, at least Claire and Rebekah don’t have to try to make small talk, if you know what I mean.’

He snorted as he nodded his head. ‘Yeah, I know exactly what you mean. So, Claire’s gonna be here … tonight. What time?’

‘About six-thirty.’

‘Great. Gives me plenty of time to shower and clean up a bit,’ he said, then gave me a sheepish look, realising he’d said that out loud.

Sam punched him in the arm and shook his head. ‘You’ll never change, will you?’

Tom punched him back, then smiled at me as he went into his room and shut the door behind him, leaving us standing in the hallway—alone for the moment.

‘He’s never gotten over Claire, in case you hadn’t guessed,’ he said, as soon as the door was shut.

‘Yeah, I kinda picked up on that. So, what about Rebekah? I thought he was head over heels for her.’

‘Yeah, he is, sort of. I mean, I think he is—but then again, sometimes I’m not so sure. I mean, she really pursued him. And of course he was flattered, especially with her being so attractive and sophisticated and all. And Claire was long gone at that stage. But it’ll be interesting tonight, seeing how he handles being around Claire again.’

‘Yeah … it will be very interesting. She’s never stopped asking about him either. This could be very interesting indeed.’

We both laughed and Sam put his arms around me and held me tightly. After a moment, he loosened his hold enough that he could look into my eyes.

‘And you know I never stopped thinking about you, don’t you?’ Sam asked. His voice was serious now, and his eyes filled with love, and perhaps even, dare I hoped, passion?

‘Oh Sam—I did have moments of doubt. When you stopped replying to my emails … and when you didn’t answer my calls.’

‘I’m so sorry, Lili. I never meant for you to doubt us, not for one second. I just … I wanted what was best for you.’

‘And I have what’s best for me. Right now, right here,’ I said, waving my hand, taking in all that surrounded me, and then stroking his cheek and gazing into his eyes. All the distance that had been between us these past months seemed to disappear as his eyes pulled me toward him, drawing me closer and closer.

‘Yes, I think you do at that,’ he finally said, then kissed me with a passion that I hadn’t known since I’d returned to Australia.

When he eventually stepped back, he stared deeply into my eyes, shaking his head gently back and forth.

‘You are the best thing that’s ever happened to me, and I can’t imagine being on this earth without you. Please, never leave me again.’

‘I won’t Sam—not ever. I can face anything, if you’re with me. I know that now.’

Standing there in the hallway of my home, with my husband’s love so tangible I could feel it as though it were a physical object, I suddenly felt like nothing could ever come between us again. There was such strength in his arms as they held me that I wondered how I could ever, even for a moment, have doubted him. And now, we were about to entertain our friends. And soon, our three children would be joining us for Christmas. Life couldn’t be any more wonderful. I quite simply could not imagine anything that could make me happier.

~~***~~

The house warming party wasn’t anything fancy, just finger foods and wine and a bit of music, but it was so nice to have everyone come to
our
house. It was just a small group of us: Sam and me; Tom; Claire; Erranase; Debs; Michael, Crystal and Angelica; and of course Elizabeth and Cassie.

Michael was the first to leave, being ‘on duty’. Crystal and Angelica didn’t stay long either, feeling they should help Michael. Then Debs left shortly after, as she had a dinner to go to, but before she left she mentioned how impressed she was with how well everything had come together in the house—and how quickly. Erranase was the next to depart, although he didn’t say what his plans were.

So that left just the six of us, if you included Elizabeth and Cassie. And it would be impossible not to include them, given that they spent the next half hour giggling as they ran up the stairs and slid down the banister. Sam just shook his head, and we did our best to ignore them.

With the others gone, it was interesting watching Tom and Claire together. He couldn’t take his eyes off Claire—seeming absolutely engrossed in her every word. And she was as vibrant as I’d ever seen her; flirting up a storm. At one stage I heard her say that it would be great for the four of us to get together for bowling again or a movie or something, but while Tom smiled and nodded, I didn’t hear him commit to anything.

When Claire finally left, Tom followed shortly after to go look for Michael. And then it was just the four of us.

‘So … a few ground rules, girls … bedrooms are out of bounds. Everyone’s bedrooms,’ said Sam, his voice was full of authority.

‘Of course,’ came the response in unison from Elizabeth and Cassie.

‘Kitchen, family areas, back yard … absolutely no worries. But bedrooms ... oh, and bathrooms too … definitely no go zones,’ he continued.

‘As if,’ said Cassie in disgust, ‘that’s not going to happen.’

‘That definitely goes without saying,’ said Elizabeth, shaking her head.

‘Right, just making sure. And lastly, and this should go without saying too, but I’m gonna say it anyway. When we are here in the house, we will speak to you out loud. But anything you hear us thinking … where we aren’t specifically speaking to you … is to remain private at all times. Now, we’re off to bed … so … we’ll see you in the morning,’ he said, taking my hand.

And then he led me upstairs where, finally, my husband returned to me in every respect of the word. And we slept, eventually, in our beautiful bed, in our very own home.

~~***~~

And so the days passed. And Sam seemed better and better every day, although sometimes he still got this far-away look on his face, or kept his distance from me when I’d least expect it. But that seemed to be happening less and less often.

On the nights when I wasn’t working, he stayed home with me, and we would generally sit and watch TV with the girls. He was home more nights than he was out now, taking the patrolling in shifts with Michael and Tom, so that I generally fell asleep next to him, but even when he was out during the night, I always woke to find him beside me.

Yes, life was settling into normal or at least normal for us. And it really was awesome.

~ Chapter Twenty ~

‘What time does your Mum’s flight get in?’ asked Debs when she rang the night before Mom was due to arrive.

‘Around ten I think, but I’ll go check the arrival time on the website—just to make sure there are no delays.’

I tucked the phone under my chin and quickly ran into the study and turned on Sam’s computer, then sat waiting for it to boot up.

‘This thing is so slow,’ I complained to Debs.

‘Well, how long have you had it?’

‘Not that long. We bought it before I went back to California … with Ceylona.’

‘That’s three years ago, dear. Technology has moved on during that time. Perhaps you need a laptop, like the one I bought myself last year?’

‘Yeah, maybe. Okay, here we go. Yep, nine-forty. Are you sure you don’t mind going to get her?’ I asked.

I was so glad that Mom had decided to come over for Christmas. Ceylona was growing so quickly she wouldn’t be a little girl much longer. This would probably be our only Christmas with her as a child. Mom would arrive tomorrow morning, and Ceylona would arrive in the afternoon with Ben and Henry.

‘Of course I don’t mind. You’ll have your hands full here, trying to get everything ready, so the last thing you need is to take a trip to the airport. Besides, it’ll give us a chance to catch up, and talk about you,’ she laughed.

‘Thanks Debs, I really appreciate it. So, I guess I’ll see you here sometime late morning?’

‘You will indeed. And if you need me to go back and pick up Ceylona and the boys, just sing out.’

‘Thanks, but Sam said he’d do that—he’ll take Tom’s truck so there’ll be plenty of room. She’s bringing her dogs, remember?’

‘Oh, that’s right. Well, I’ll let you go. I just hope Anita recognises me when she comes off the plane.’

‘She will. Goodnight, and thanks again.’

So, everything was set. We’d be one big happy family from tomorrow, for three whole weeks. I really couldn’t be happier. We’d have Christmas together, and I’d be cooking a traditional Christmas dinner in my new kitchen—in the middle of summer. What on earth had I been thinking? Ah well, it was going to be fine—I’d just keep the air-conditioning blasting if it was a hot day. At least I’d done most of the shopping, although I hadn’t quite finished. I wanted to see the boys and Ceylona so I could gauge their sizes before I bought them some new clothes. And as for Sam—I still needed to get something for Sam, and he was hard to buy for, but at least he was back—he was the man I married once again. At least of that one thing I was completely sure—Sam loved me.

The funny thing was that he couldn’t explain what had been happening with him—why he’d been so distant with both me and Elizabeth. But whatever it had been, it seemed to be behind us now. He was once again the loving, warm, affectionate, not to mention passionate, man I’d married. Our love was growing stronger and stronger every day.

And as for Elizabeth, she was her cheerful self all the time now—just as happy to have the old Sam back as I was.

Everything was working out just fine—Elizabeth and Cassie respected our privacy. In actual fact, they pretty much stayed in the family room, although they couldn’t help themselves when it came to flying up the stairs in order to slide down the banister.

So here we were, a little less than two weeks away from our first Christmas in our new house where we’d be surrounded by our family. It was hard to believe that after all the dramas, we were really here. I felt like I’d died and gone to Heaven. But for tonight, I’d curl up on my beautiful king sized bed beside my husband—who was already on the bed, patiently watching my every move. It was our last night alone in the house … well, sort of alone …and I’d sleep well tonight … eventually.

~~***~~

Sam sat at the kitchen table watching me drink a hot cup of tea, but it was his smile that warmed me more than the tea. The girls had disappeared off to the market already, and Tom was out with Rebekah, so we were alone in our new home for what would be the last time for a few weeks.

‘I still can’t believe it … how lucky we are. I have to keep pinching myself—it’s just so perfect,’ I said, smiling as I looked around at the kitchen—my kitchen, in my home.

‘We are, aren’t we? I must admit it’s the best house I’ve ever lived in … but it’s you that makes it perfect.’

‘Ah, thank you,’ I said, leaning across the table to kiss his cheek. ‘I mean it. Really, thank you … for everything.’

‘Thank me? What, for ignoring you for so long? And for being afraid to touch you, and barely able to speak to you?’

‘Hey, that’s behind us—I’ve forgotten all about it. We have the future now.’

‘That’s true. But I still don’t know what got into me. I can’t explain it. It was like … I don’t know what it was like. But I had no control over it—it consumed me … this … paranoia I guess you’d call it.’

‘Yeah, it was strange. And you know what just occurred to me … I mean, I was wondering,’ I paused, not sure how to say what I was thinking.

‘Wondering what?’

‘Remember what you told me … about that vampire, Buck? You said that when Michael questioned him he admitted that he’d been controlling all the other vampires with some potion that made them impossible to detect, but also made them more susceptible to his mind control.’

‘Yes, that’s right.’

‘Potion … that’s what you called it, right?’

‘Yes. But what are you getting at? You think he was somehow giving me something? That’s highly unlikely. He had no access to me—I certainly hadn’t ever seen him before.’

‘No, not him. But what if it was someone else?’

‘Someone else? Like who? What are you suggesting?’

‘Well … what if it was someone, like, living in the same house as you? Who had access to your things—like your clothes and your phone?’

‘My phone?’

‘YES … that’s it! Someone tampered with your phone! You said the guy at the shop said there was nothing wrong with it. So … maybe someone got to it … you know … deleting stuff.’

‘Lili, I’m not following you? What are you getting at?’

It was all falling into place now … the pieces coming together like a huge puzzle. His phone, his attitude … and now, he was back to normal. He was out of that house … away from her. I finally had the answer, and when I told Sam, I was speaking faster than I’d ever done in my life.

‘I saw Angelica go upstairs in this shop … supposedly to buy some creams for a skin condition. Only I couldn’t see any skin condition. It’s not like she had a rash or anything. What if she was actually buying ingredients? Something dark … some sort of black magic. She was very secretive about it.’

‘What are you talking about?’ he asked, a frown just starting to appear on his face.

‘That day I went to the Dandenongs, with Crystal and Angelica. She disappeared upstairs in this shop we were in. Both she and the shop assistant looked really nervous about whatever it was they were up to. Crystal told me that it was for some creams. But what if it wasn’t?’ I was nearly breathless now as it all came together in my mind. How had I not seen this before?

‘Angelica?’ Sam’s frown deepened, and the tone of his voice told me he didn’t believe me.

‘Yes. And maybe it wasn’t just you … maybe she’s been giving something to Crystal as well!’

Sam looked at me as if I had suddenly grown a third eye in the middle of my forehead. ‘Lili, I think you’re letting your imagination run away with you. Angelica … she’s a dhampira. She’s not into black magic. And she certainly wouldn’t be in cahoots with a vampire … especially one like Buck.’

‘Well, but … don’t you see? The timing is perfect. She arrives, and then a short time later you all feel like you’re being watched, so you move … together … where she suddenly has access to all of you.’

‘Lili, slow down.’

‘Sam,’ I said, dragging out his name sarcastically. ‘Something isn’t right about her. I felt it that first time I met her, at Mladen’s. I would swear she narrowed her eyes, and if she’d been a cat she would have hissed at me. Oh, oh, and there’s more. Elizabeth and Cassie … they can’t read her thoughts. They’ve seen her talking to Crystal, and her mind is a blank wall. Elizabeth says that happens for her occasionally, but it’s pretty uncommon. And her story—about being from Spain … Cassie’s from San Diego, and she says Angelica’s accent doesn’t sound like any kind of Spanish she’s ever heard.’

I’d been talking so quickly I was nearly out of breath, so I stopped and looked at Sam, hoping for support. But instead, he just shook his head.

‘Now you’re going too far. She’s a dhampira. You know, one of the good guys.’

‘But how do you know that? How do you know she’s a dhampira? None of you knew that Ceylona was … not until she spotted that vampire. Crystal couldn’t tell … Mladen couldn’t tell.’

‘But if she was a vampire, we’d all know that.’

‘Would you? If she’s been in cahoots with Buck then she might be taking the same potion that made those other vampires impossible to detect. It would explain a lot of things, don’t you think?’

‘Well … look, I think you’re barking up the wrong tree here, but let me talk to Michael about it. I’ll express your concerns, and he can do his own investigating if he feels there’s any reason to question her. But I do think that either Crystal or Michael would certainly have picked up on it by now… she’s been with Crystal constantly since she arrived.’

‘But it all makes sense … you’ve got to agree, right? I mean, it explains so many things that just didn’t make sense. And it could explain why you were, you know, so distant.’

‘Well, whatever that was, it’s over—I can’t keep my hands off you anymore. And speaking of that, we won’t have the house to ourselves like this again for weeks, my dear. Can I tempt you back up to our bedroom?’

His smile, or rather his cheeky grin, warmed me in places I didn’t know could get warm. And after a few moments all thoughts of Angelica and potions were wiped from my mind like steam wiped from a foggy window. I stood up and held my hand out to him and in a flash he picked me up and we were racing up the stairs.

Man, I loved this house.

~~***~~

‘Has she arrived yet?’ asked Claire, when she rang a few hours later.

‘Not yet, but I expect her here shortly. Debs was going to pick her up. Why?’

‘Oh, nothing really … just, she was bringing something for me—a present from my Dad. I think it’s jewellery. You know … just some little trinket from Tiffany’s I’d say.’

‘Oh, you’re so spoiled,’ I laughed.

‘I know,’ she said, and even over the phone I could tell she was smiling.

‘So, will you be able to make it to dinner with us, on Christmas Eve? It would be so nice if you could. It’ll be our first Christmas here at the house … as a family.’

‘Ah, I wish I could, but I’m going to Bali for three weeks … with a few of the girls from my old job—you remember Steph and Holly? Wish I could do both … you know, especially if Tom will be there.’

‘Oh, yeah, no, I mean, I don’t think he will … I think he plans to spend it with Rebekah.’

‘Oh, her. Yeah, well, since I can’t be there anyway it doesn’t really matter I suppose—I just thought it could have been nice.’

‘Yeah, I thought something might happen too. I mean, after our housewarming party, well, I thought you two seemed to be getting on like old times. I watched Tom, you know … and the look on his face—he seemed mesmerised. But nothing … I mean, you haven’t seen him since?’

‘No, I haven’t heard from him, so I guess he was just reminiscing.’

‘Hmmm … but you’re okay with that, aren’t you? I mean, you’re not heartbroken or anything, are you?’

‘Heartbroken? No, I wouldn’t say I was heartbroken. But I wouldn’t mind getting back together with him either … if he wanted to. There’s still something about him … none of the other guys I’ve gone out with seem to compare to him.’

‘Yeah, I know what you mean. But you never know what the future holds.’

‘No, you sure don’t. Like, who’d ever have thought I’d be working in an advertising agency and you’d be a lady of leisure in your own magnificent home.’

We had a good laugh and then she promised to drop around after work one day during the week to see Ceylona and drop off some presents for her—not to mention to pick up her own present from her Dad.

~~***~~

‘This one is perfect,’ I said to Sam, pointing to a tree that stood at least six feet tall. Ceylona stood beside me and nodded her head in agreement.

‘Are you sure it’s big enough?’ laughed Sam, ‘I mean, I don’t want you to feel you’re being denied the tree you really want.’

The tree was huge—bigger than any I’d ever had as a kid. Ceylona giggled beside me.

‘I like it Mommy. There’ll be plenty of room for presents under it,’ she said, giving me a cheeky grin. Her eyes sparkled, and she took my hand. There was a hopeful look on her face.

I leaned forward, pressing my face up against the lower branches of the tree and took a deep breath. The scent was invigorating—bringing back memories from my childhood.

‘We’ll take it. Ceylona and I are both quite happy with this one,’ I laughed.

Sam paid the man, and declined any offer for assistance as he lifted the tree up easily. I grabbed Ceylona’s hand and bent over and kissed the top of her head. Smiling like Cheshire Cats, we followed behind Sam as he led us home.

When we walked into the house, Mom, Cassie and Elizabeth all gasped, no doubt for Ceylona’s benefit.

‘Well, that’s some tree you’ve chosen. I don’t think I’ve ever seen one that big,’ Mom said, coming over to stand behind Ceylona as Sam set the tree up in the family room. ‘You’ll need a lot of decorations for this one.’

‘Hmmm, yes, I guess we will. I have a few things, somewhere … but definitely not enough. Let’s see … I want gold tinsel, and a big angel for the top, and lights; lots of lights. And Sam, would you be able to put up some lights outside—like, along the balcony? And maybe a star?’

‘Oh, yes please Mommy. Like that house we saw when we were living at Grandma’s house—the one down the street had a big star.’

‘You remember one near Grandma’s, do you?’ I asked.

‘Oh yes. It had lots of lights, and a star … and it had a Santa and reindeer on the front lawn too,’ she replied, smiling coyly.