A Grave Conjuring Page 5

  Ashley knew there was. That was the whole point of this, to give Maya some peace after what had happened that fateful night.

  Maya nodded and swiped a tear from her cheek. “I’m sorry, Mom. I miss you and Daddy.” She sniffed. “Do you forgive me for the awful things I said to you...that night?”

  This time, Henry shifted closer and his hand joined the others. He looked at Ashley, and the look in his eyes was a bit sheepish.

  The planchette sat still, just vibrating a little which could have been just from their fingertips.

  Leah looked at Henry. “Maybe you shouldn’t do this. It worked before, after you left it.”

  Henry’s chin rose, and he pulled his hand back. You could tell he was miffed but he held his tongue.

  The planchette started to move, again very slowly.

  A noise downstairs of the screen door banging made Ashley jump. Her aunt called out as she walked up the stairs. “How’s that game going?”

  Leah almost pulled the planchette from everyone’s fingers getting it to move to the word “Goodbye.”

  Maya jumped up and flipped the light on and then scrambled to get back while Ashley shoved the board under the bed. It was a concerted effort with Henry shuffling the deck of cards and dealing them out.

  Leah yelled looking over at the doorway, “I’m cleaning their clocks, Claire!”

  Claire’s footsteps sounded in the hallway and then she stood in the open doorway. “Henry’s brother is downstairs.” But instead of smiling and teasing them, her eyes were puzzled looking at each of them.

  Uh oh. Aunt Claire wasn’t stupid. She knew that they’d been up to something.

  EIGHT

  HENRY TOOK HIS CELL PHONE from his pocket and looked at it. “Shit! Where’d that hour go?” He jumped to his feet and turned to Preston. “C’mon bud, we’d better get moving.”

  Ashley and Leah were next, making a beeline for the door, brushing by Claire. Ashley heard her aunt step into the room and speak, “Maya? Are you all right, honey?”

  Shit! She probably knew Maya had been crying. Why would she cry if they’d just been playing a game of cards? Ashley paused at the top stair and listened.

  Maya spoke next, “I’m fine. Except for my eye. I think I may have some dirt in it. Can you take a look and see?”

  Ashley let out a whoosh of relief. Trust Maya to come up with something so fast. “Maya! Henry and Preston are leaving! Don’t you want to say goodbye?”

  “Coming!” Maya flew out the doorway, and her eyebrows bobbed high sharing a look with her sister.

  That had been a close call. Ashley could hear the kids downstairs and especially Leah, her voice sweet as milk chocolate saying hi to Mason, asking him about his year away.

  Ashley watched her aunt come out of Maya’s room. She flashed a smile at Claire before adjusting the neckline of her shirt and walking downstairs behind Maya. Her aunt didn’t seem concerned now. Claire had seemed to be stifling a chuckle. Whew!

  Now for the next crisis. Mason Sherwood.

  She smiled and took a deep breath. When she got to the bottom and went into the kitchen, that same breath froze in her chest. He was even better looking than she’d remembered, if that was possible. He turned, and under a tousled lock of dark hair on his forehead, his azure-blue eyes locked with hers. And he’d grown too! He had to be almost six feet tall and the sleeves of his T-shirt were stretched over lean, tanned muscle.

  “Hi Mason.” Ashley finally found her voice even if it had come out kind of squeaky.

  “Ashley?” The corners of his mouth curled up and then he chuckled. “It’s the braces. You don’t have braces on your teeth anymore. That’s what’s different.”

  She shook her head. “Got them off last year.” He’d noticed her back then? Well, he sure was noticing her right now. His gaze lingered, forgetting Henry and the others.

  Leah interrupted the moment. “So you work at Gas Rite? That’s pretty cool to get a summer job so quick. You just got back here.” She stepped in closer to him, blocking the line of Ashley’s sight.

  He looked down at Leah. “It’s okay, I guess.” He turned to Henry. “You ready, little bro? You’d better go out and load your bikes.”

  Maya entered the room and looked up at Mason. “Too bad you had to work. We had a campfire and roasted weenies. You should drop by for a swim sometime.” She turned and winked at Ashley before heading across the room and out the side door after the boys.

  Mason looked over at Ashley. “So you guys just moved in, huh? It’s a nice spot.”

  Leah once more interjected, “Maya’s right about the swimming. We’d love it if you came by for a swim with us.”

  Ashley smiled but inside she ground her teeth together. Leah was acting like it was her house, asking Mason out there. Talk about pushy and obvious. “Yeah. The dock needs some work but the swimming is pretty good. Next time if you’re out picking Henry up, bring your suit.”

  Claire had finished in the bathroom upstairs, and her feet sounded on the stairs behind Ashley. She nudged Ashley forward into the kitchen, following right on her heels. “So Mason, do you think you’ll stay for the school year or go back to Wilmington?”

  He huffed a sigh but smiled. “Haven’t decided yet. My girlfriend is in Wilmington and she wants me to come back. I don’t know. Saranac is closer to Whiteface.” He looked at Ashley. “Do you ski?”

  Leah jumped in with both feet. “I love skiing! I’ve only been a few times, but it’s so much fun.”

  Had she even taken her eyes off the poor guy, gaping up at him like a lost puppy? Ashley stepped closer even though her heart had picked up a beat, and her palms were suddenly sweaty. “I used to ski with Mom and Dad all the time. But not so much the last couple of years.”

  Claire slipped by them and stood with her hand on the fridge door. “We’re going to change that Ashley. I want to get back into skiing as well.” She looked at Mason, “Would you like a soda or glass of water?”

  He shook his head. “No thanks. I better get going and get Henry and Preston home. I’ve got work in the morning.” He started across the room and then paused at the door, turning, “I might take you up on a swim sometime, Ashley. Maybe I should get your cell number. Just to make sure you’re here and it’s okay.”

  For once Leah held her tongue. Ashley smiled at her friend and then prattled off her cell number. He’d asked for her number! Okay, it was only for swimming, and he did have a girlfriend, but still. Mason Sherwood asked for her number.

  ***

  It was almost an hour later before Leah thawed enough to talk to her and Maya. Leah had been quiet and had taken a long time to brush her teeth and get ready for bed.

  Leah wore a long T-shirt, and her face was cleaned of any makeup when she came into Ashley’s room. “He’s not all that great looking...not really. He had a big zit on his forehead. It was like Cyclops looking back at me.”

  Ashley knew better than to argue. Sometimes Leah could sulk for hours, and it was a drag being around her. “He’s already got a girlfriend anyway. Who cares about him. I doubt he’s gonna stay around after the summer.”

  Maya appeared in the doorway in her sleeping shorts and T-shirt. Under her arm was the Ouija board. “Do you want to try this again? I mean we never really had that much time. Just when it started to work, Aunt Claire interrupted, and Mason and...” She looked like she’d cry if they turned her down.

  Ashley sighed inwardly. Between Leah’s sulking and Maya’s ache for their parents, the evening was becoming a real downer. Still, she nodded. “Okay. But just for a little while, all right?”

  Maya’s eyes lit up, “I know that was Mom! How else could anyone know about the mini golf? It had to be her.” For a moment her face was puzzled. “But why would she still be hanging around? I thought you died and then went to heaven if you led a good life. And for sure, she and Dad had.”

  Leah took the board from Maya and once more she set it on the floor for them. “Sometimes when people die pre
maturely like your parents, they are confused about their death. They’ve got unfinished business, issues that keep them tied to this realm. In your parents’ case, you two may be keeping them from crossing over.”

  Ashley was torn. Part of her wanted to believe that it had been her mother earlier who’d connected with them through the board and another part was still skeptical, like Henry. “Is it possible that if there was a spirit they’d be able to read Maya’s mind for the answer? Maybe it wasn’t Mom. Maybe it was Maya subconsciously moving the gizmo.”

  Maya shook her head quickly. “It wasn’t me, Ash. I swear it.” She lowered and knelt next to Leah. “Can you get the lights? Light a candle this time too.”

  Ashley got up and went over to her dresser where a scented candle sat. She lit it and then flicked the overhead light off. With only the candle, it was even darker than when they’d done this is Maya’s room. She hunkered down completing the circle; the three of them hunched around the board. The sound of her aunt and Carol downstairs in the kitchen was a dull backdrop to the quiet in the room. They’d killed one bottle of wine and had started on another. From the odd peal of laughter, they probably were content to stay there for another hour or so. There was little chance that they’d come up to check on them.

  Shadow licked the underside of Leah’s cheeks while her eyes sparked looking at Ashley and Maya. She placed her fingertips on the planchette that she’d placed under the arc of letters. “Do you want me to ask the questions, or will you do it Maya?”

  Maya shook her head. “You start. When Mom comes, I’ll take over.” She placed her fingers on the object next to Ashley’s.

  Leah took a deep breath. “We are seeking the spirit of Gail Vincent. If you are here, please give us a sign that it is you. Please tell us. Your daughters wish to communicate with you, Gail.”

  Ashley watched the planchette, waiting, hoping it would move. She could hear Maya breathing, see her fingers waver a little, lightly brushing the small reader. Again, it seemed to take many minutes for anything to happen. She jerked a little when the object slid to the word “Yes.”

  Maya’s voice was a whisper, “Mom? You know I’m sorry for what I said, don’t you? Please let me know that you forgive me.”

  The planchette moved away from the “Yes” and then slid back, hovering above it. And the light in the room grew brighter. Ashley looked up at the candle where the flame had flared higher. The fire shot to the side burning in a horizontal flash as if moved by a breeze, but the air was deathly still.

  Her heart sped up and she turned to peer into Leah’s eyes. “Is that...”

  Leah nodded. “She’s here, Maya. She’s giving you another sign that she forgives you.”

  Maya’s lower lip quivered. “Mom. I miss you and Daddy so much.” She took a breath, and her voice was stronger when she spoke, “Are you okay?”

  Ashley fought her own tears. She had never expected this to work but when the candle flickered and changed on its own she knew that something was there. And it had to be her mother. “Mom? Is Daddy with you? It’s Ashley, Mom.”

  “She knows that, Ash. Is there anything else you want to add to Maya’s question?” Leah’s face was solemn when she gazed at her.

  Ashley shook her head. “I guess we can only ask one question at a time with this thing. Maya’s question is a good one.”

  Maya repeated it, “Are you okay, Mom? Where are you?”

  The planchette moved to the “W” and then to the “I.” Slowly it crept through the letters “T,” “H,” “Y,” “O” and “U” before stopping.

  Maya’s eyes glistened with tears looking over at her sister. “She’s with us, Ashley!”

  Ashley leaned closer to the board. “Is Daddy there?”

  The planchette began to move toward the “Yes” but then spun down the board to the “Goodbye” so fast it left Ashley’s fingers.

  She looked over at Leah. “What happened?”

  Leah’s eyes practically popped out onto her cheekbones they were so big. She shook her head slowly, “I don’t know. Why would she break contact so quickly?”

  NINE

  DOWNSTAIRS, Claire noticed the lights flicker a couple times. She looked at the refrigerator wondering if it had kicked in causing that.

  Carol set her glass of wine down. “It looks like you may have to do something with the wiring, Claire. That was kind of odd.”

  Claire nodded. “Yeah maybe the panel needs to be updated while I’m changing things. God knows when we use the dryer and get a dishwasher, we’ll probably need a bigger electrical service.” She picked up the wine, about to top Carol’s glass but Carol waved her away.

  “I’ve had enough, thanks.” Carol looked down at the table for a moment. “So, has Lucas seen the house? What’s he think?”

  Claire sat back and felt the muscles in the back of her neck tighten. Carol didn’t like Lucas much, so there had to be a reason for her to bring him into their conversation. “Nope. He’s coming out tomorrow for dinner. I wanted to do the move with the girls on my own.”

  “Is he still bugging you about moving in together?” Carol frowned.

  “Kind of. He wasn’t thrilled that I bought this place. But he needs to understand I want my space. After five years of marriage to Jake, I’ve enjoyed my independence for the last two years.”

  Carol snorted. “Not really independence when you’ve got your nieces in tow.” She leaned forward. “I mean, you took them in right around the time you guys split up.”

  “I wouldn’t have it any other way.” Claire picked at the label of the wine bottle, gazing absently at her fingernail. “The funny and not funny ha ha thing, is that having kids was the reason Jake and I broke up.” She snorted. “He wanted them and I didn’t. I think he thought I’d change after we were married.” She shrugged. “Well, I did but much too late for us.”

  “Have you heard from him since the divorce? Is he still in Syracuse?”

  Claire shook her head. “I thought of calling him when Robert and Gail died. But I didn’t. The girls needed me so much, and it was hard on me too. Rob was my only living relative. Well, around here at least. We have a cousin in Florida. But I haven’t seen him since I was six.”

  She sighed picturing Rob. “My big brother used to watch over me. And now I’m watching over his kids.”

  “And Lucas? How does he feel about the girls? Somehow I can’t picture him as a family guy.” Carol’s face had set into a sneer which she probably wasn’t even aware of. There was nothing phony about Carol which was part of her charm to Claire’s way of thinking.

  “Oh, he’s okay with kids as long as they’re his. He’s Italian with that whole lineage thing.” Claire got up and poured a glass of water. “He’s hinted that maybe the girls would be better off with my cousin. He thinks I should look him up to see if he has a family.”

  “Blood is thicker than water, Claire. You love these girls like they were your own. You can’t go foisting them off for some guy you’ve known only a little over a year.” The muscle in Carol’s cheek twitched.

  Claire flopped down into the chair and looked over at her friend. Even though they’d only been friends for a short time, Carol was her closest confident and ally. “Don’t worry I wouldn’t in a million years consider it. You know, even without the girls I’d still say no to Lucas with his plans to shack up or get married. I really do need my own space for a bit longer.”

  Carol smiled. “You sure you’re really over Jake? I’ve never met the guy, but your voice is always sad when you talk about him.”

  “Sometimes I wonder that as well. But he’s moved on. And so should I.”

  Carol looked away for a moment and chewed her lower lip. She turned back and said, “I saw Lucas in the casino this week. He didn’t see me, but he was with a young blond. She couldn’t have been more than nineteen.”

  Claire’s face froze. “Nineteen?”

  Carol made a small shrug. “Maybe older, but only a little bit. She was dressed like
a skank and looked trashy.” She sighed.

  “But he doesn’t like the casino! He told me!” The only time she’d suggested going there for a change of pace, he’d shut her down fast. He’d said it was boring and loud, not to mention probably rigged as well. Why would he be there and apparently not on his own? “You’re sure you saw Lucas there?”

  “Yeah, I’m sure. He didn’t see me as I was coming out of the office, and he was at the blackjack table with that hooker. But it was him all right.”

  “A hooker!” Oh my God. It was even worse. He was with a hooker? Claire’s mouth fell open. “Maybe he wasn’t with her. She could have just been hustling him. That had to be it.” Still she was going to ask him about it.

  “Look, I grew up in Chicago. I know hookers and how they operate. I’m pretty sure he was with her.” Carol sat back and folded her arms over her chest. “I’m just saying I think you can do better than Lucas Moretti. I know he’s handsome, and he has a nice place, but there’s something about him. Hedge fund manager! Hah! If he was really in the stock market why isn’t he in the Big Apple? Saranac Lake isn’t exactly Wall Street.”

  Claire squared her shoulders. “You don’t have to be on Wall Street to do investment work, Carol. With the internet you can live anywhere and be connected. Frankly, I’m surprised you don’t work from home. I mean the casino is an hour away, and in winter the commute can’t be much fun.”

  “I do work from home sometimes. But I like going in to work. Aside from the free meals it’s nice to see my friends in the office.” Carol stood up and stretched. “I’m going to get my stuff from the jeep. And then crash on your sofa. I kind of feel bad I didn’t do all that much to help you today.” She took a deep breath. “I’ll make up for it tomorrow, I promise.”

  Claire’s head tipped to the side gazing up at her friend. “Just having you out here and us enjoying a night to ourselves is enough. We should make this a weekly thing.”