Page 38 of Haunted Heart
She doesn’t have to clarifywhichbook.
“At the Whittaker house.”
“Did you use it?”
“Yes.”
She shakes her head at me, white curls bobbing. “How many people died?”
“Two, but only one stayed dead.”
Gran sighs and taps me on the nose with her broomstick. “Did you learn your lesson?”
“Yes.”
“Good. Bring The Book back to the house,right now, and I will give you the spell youshouldhave performed tonight.”
“What spell is that?”
She glares at me, and I know she won’t tell me until I’ve done what she asked.
I turn for Julia's house while she turns for hers.
The lights burn low in the windows, and Julia hovers at the threshold, waiting for me.
The moment I make it through the door, she wraps me in her arms and kisses me… it feels like home.
I could almost forget…
Sighing against her lips, I draw back.
“I have to takeThe Bookto my grandmother,” I tell her. “She’s… calm, but I know she’s furious.”
Julia scowls. Her face is almost back to normal, but she still looks a little… wrong. “How long will you be gone?”
“I’m not sure. But Iwillbe back. And I will try to be faster than last time.”
She releases me from her embrace but doesn’t let go of my hand. “Would you stay here when you come back?”
“Of course.”
She twines her fingers in mine. and her brows pinch. “I mean, would you stay here… permanently?”
I bite my tongue because I want to laugh, and I don’t think it would sound like joy.
“You want me to move in?”
She nods. “After two hundred years thinking I preferred solitude, I’ve found that I would rather have your company.”
“I will… if you are okay with the fact I will have to make changes.” I look at broken stairs and the shattered lamps. “Are you okay with me adding electricity and updating the plumbing…?”
“I am.”
“You’ll need someone to repair this place, too.” I kiss her before offering, “Let me put your house back together.”
“Put me back together too.” Julia kisses me once more and then releases me. “Hurry back.”
SEVENTEEN
