“Thanks.” She smiled at him. “That means a lot.”
“You’re one of the best clairvoyants I’ve ever met, and I don’t feel any shame in telling you that I’m going to have one hell of a hard time replacing you.”
“I’m sure you’ll find somebody.”
“Maybe.” He gave her a half smile. “Everybody’s going to really miss you.”
He was such a sweetheart. “Are you trying to make me cry?”
“Depends if you’re swayed by sentimental statements or not.”
“Tissues may be required.”
He took a deep breath and leaned back slightly in his wheelchair. “I’m going to put this out there for you and you can do with it what you want. If you ever change your mind about this single-minded need to fit in with regular society, you’re welcome to come back.”
“That’s not necessary,” she said.
“Maybe it’s not necessary, but it’s still true.”
“You think I’m going to get to New York, find it’s too much for me, tuck my tail between my legs and run back here?”
“All I’m saying is that if you realize that there has never been anything wrong in your life to begin with, and that moving somewhere else doesn’t change who you are deep down inside, then there will always be a place for you here.”
The lump in her throat thickened and she had to swallow hard to get past it. She went to him, leaned over, and gave him a big hug which he returned. “I appreciate it, Patrick.”
His smile widened and he shook his head. “He’s right about you, you know. You are a very stubborn woman.”
Her eyes widened. “Who said that?”
“Jacob.”
She groaned. “Right. Well, everybody’s entitled to their opinion, aren’t they?”
“They are, indeed. Listen, Amanda, I wanted to tell you that I’m finished looking over the paperwork and everything’s in order for the Davis house. I am authorizing the exorcism and destruction of the clock. I already told Jacob, but I thought you’d want to know.”
“Oh.” A chill went down her spine. She’d expected this, of course, but it was still a bit unnerving to find out that everything was going to proceed right on schedule.
“I’ll send Jacob back this week to take care of things. Maybe Vicky can go to help with the exorcism itself.”
She shook her head. “I want to go.”
“You? But you’re through here. I’d thought you’d be happy somebody else is going to take care of it.”
“I’d like to help. There’s still time.”
“I thought you were leaving tomorrow.”
“I can delay my move for another day. David won’t mind.”
“He’s very understanding, isn’t he?” By his tone, there was no mistaking what Patrick was getting at.
Her face warmed. “I’d appreciate if you kept what you know about me and Jacob to yourself. There’s no need for any gossip to get around.”
“I totally agree.”
“Well…good.” She cleared her throat, suddenly feeling very uncomfortable. “Everything will be better once we take care of that grandfather clock.”
“So you’re completely convinced that the clock is the source of all evil in this situation, huh?”
“Of course I am.”
“It acts as a troublesome, magical aphrodisiac and that’s about it.”
“Exactly.” She frowned at his tone. “Why? Don’t you think that, too?”
He shrugged. “I have my doubts, to tell you the truth.”
“Such as?”
“Such as the fact that I found some information on Catherine Myles’s aunt in some PARA historical documents. She was a witch named Rose Embry who practiced her magic out in the open over near Albany at the turn of the century and died just before the Second World War, but there was no indication of her magic ever being black or malicious in nature. I originally had the impression she sold love potions, but that wasn’t exactly what it was. She specialized in spells that revealed secrets and pointed her clients to the truth in their hearts.”
“The truth in their hearts? What does that mean?”
He spread his hands. “Only that Rose’s wedding gift to Catherine in the form of an enchanted clock brings up a lot of unanswered questions. My guess is that she never would have wished ill on her. Perhaps she didn’t approve of her marriage to an overbearing man like her niece’s chosen husband, one that Catherine would have married mostly out of a need for wealth and security, but she wouldn’t have helped to set in motion the events leading to her death.”
“What about her servant, Nathan?” Amanda asked.
“Yes, Nathan. I must admit, I found nothing on him. But he was a man and Catherine was a woman. The clock’s magic may have revealed true feelings between them that normally would have been ignored or denied due to their social differences. The aunt’s truth magic just helped to peel away any reservations they might have had about engaging in a relationship, physical or otherwise.”
“Is this fact or are you only speculating?” Amanda asked.
“I’m afraid I’m only speculating.”
Amanda weighed what he was saying. What if the clock didn’t send out a curse to anyone in its presence, but a spell to reveal hidden feelings? Like a sexy, magical truth serum making its victims admit what they really wanted and unable to fight against the desire to be together?
If that was true, then why had Catherine and Nathan been forced to haunt the house for a hundred years after their deaths, unable to be together except for an hour a day during which they couldn’t even touch?
Didn’t sound all that romantic to her.
“Well, after the clock is dismantled and torched it won’t be an issue anymore,” she said.
“So you think it’ll be that easy? Burn the clock, break the spell and everyone goes back to life as usual?”
She narrowed her eyes. “What are you getting at?”
He grimaced. “Forget it. I need to keep my nose out of other people’s business. It’s going to get me in trouble.”