House of Shadows Read online

  I could tell by the light in Miles’ eyes that this meant a lot to him.

  “Thank you… Mom. That doesn’t make me uncomfortable, at all.”

  Mom hugged him again, just as the server sounded the dinner bell signaling lunch.

  Miles turned and smiled at me, as he held out his hand. We walked slowly to the terrace, behind everyone else.

  “Thanks to you, I’ve got a brother and a sister again, and now a mom,” Miles said softly.

  “You’ll have a dad too, that’s what Dad will want you to call him, since you’re calling Mom, well, Mom.”

  “I like that,” he smiled. “It feels good to have a family again.”

  “Oh, Anika!” I heard Jenny say behind me, in a choked voice, as I went over the list of music for our wedding, with the composer we chose. I turned, and she hugged me hard, barely managing not to cry. “I just can’t believe it, it’s too horrible, what you and Miles went through! And then his parents, too!”

  “It’s okay, Jenny,” I said. “We’re fine, and it’s over now. We don’t have to worry about them bothering us, ever again.”

  If anyone in the future got the bright idea to mess with us, then they better watch out… Miles would use his superpowers on them!

  “Hi, Xander,” I said, noticing him behind Jenny. He looked shaken up, too.

  “Hi, Anika,” he said, rather solemnly.

  I laughed.

  “You guys, really, it’s all okay! The drama is over. Let’s live in this moment, not the one that happened a few days ago.”

  “Okay,” said Jenny, nodding as if to convince herself.

  I turned back to the composer and quickly signed off on the list, then gave all my attention to our friends. “Come on, let’s go find Miles.”

  They’d probably feel better when they saw for themselves that we were both just fine.

  We ran into John and Annette in the entryway, as they arrived.

  “Oh, Anika! I’m so glad you’re okay!” cried Annette, giving me a hug. Serious John stood behind her, looking worried.

  “It’s okay,” I reassured them. “Miles and I are both fine. So come on, let’s go find him. I think you guys will be impressed with what he’s done with some of the rooms.”

  Curious now, our friends followed me through the estate. I stopped outside one of the doors, and watched their faces as I opened it.

  “Oh, man. This is so cool!” said Xander, looking around at the indoor basketball court.

  Miles grinned, and passed the ball to him. He’d been teaching Tryon how to shoot baskets.

  “This is great,” John said in approval. Annette and Jenny looked around in amazement.

  The contractor Miles hired, converted several of the bedrooms into a large gym. We were very satisfied with the work the man had done. In addition to the full basketball court, a doorway to the right led to an exercise room, with all of the weight lifting equipment Miles used for his PT sessions, and some he added since.

  Xander dribbled the ball over to the court.

  “Hey, man. How are you?” he asked Miles.

  “Great,” Miles said, with a smile. “I’m getting married in a few days, haven’t you heard?”

  Xander laughed, and John, Annette, and Jenny looked reassured that we were both just fine.

  “This is my new little brother, Tryon,” Miles said, introducing him to our friends.

  We girls left the guys to their game, and I led the girls to their rooms.

  “I know you live in town Jenny, but if you stay here at the castle with the rest of us, you won’t miss out on anything,” I said.

  “Oh, I don’t mind, believe me,” said Jenny, looking around her room with wide eyes. “I am more than happy to stay here until after the wedding.”

  “When will your cousin get here?” asked Annette. “I’m looking forward to meeting her.”

  “She should be here any time now,” I said. “Of course with a four month old, who knows.”

  We chatted and made our way back to the front of the house just in time to see Miriam and Jeff and baby James, arrive.

  I ran down the steps to the long driveway, anxious to meet my new little—I wasn’t sure what—well, my cousin’s little boy.

  “Hi!” I said, hugging Miriam as she stepped out of the vehicle. “You’re looking great!”

  “Thanks,” said Miriam, beaming as Jeff lifted the infant car seat out of their vehicle, and I got my first glimpse of James.

  “Oh, he’s adorable!” I said, very honestly.

  “He is, isn’t he,” said Miriam softly. There were stars in her eyes, as she looked down at her sleeping son.

  “Well come on, and I’ll show you to your room, and drop Jeff off at the gym,” I said, which elicited a funny look from Jeff, since he didn’t know we now had a gym at the estate.

  Linking arms with Miriam, I turned and introduced her and Jeff to Jenny and Annette, who took the steps down to the driveway at a more leisurely pace.

  As we walked through the estate on our way to the hall where our guests and family would be staying, Annette glanced at me, then spoke.

  “What happened the other night? I haven’t heard much, just that they broke into your apartment and Bea shot and killed George, and you shot Bea.”

  Miriam and Jeff screeched to a halt and stared at me.

  I smiled.

  “When we get to the gym, then Miles and I will tell everyone what happened at the same time,” I said.

  Miriam and Jeff didn’t move forward, but both their jaws dropped and their eyes got larger.

  “Okay, so what are you most shocked by. That someone broke into my apartment, that someone was killed in my apartment, that I shot someone, or that I tackled the person I shot, in the corridor of the courthouse during the trial Miles testified at, while wearing a pencil skirt?”

  Absolute silence.

  I laughed. If they thought that was something, I could just imagine what they’d think if they knew I was marrying a guy with superpowers! Miriam would break a nail in her hurry to inform Lydia. I laughed some more, and guided my stunned cousin and her equally stunned husband, toward the gym. Jenny and Annette looked almost as stunned. There was so much they didn’t know about the past month.

  Miles and I told our friends what happened at the trial, and at Jenny’s and my apartment. They were properly horrified, relieved, and amused, depending on what part of the story we were at.

  “I feel terrible that I wasn’t there at the apartment, maybe I could have done something,” said Jenny.

  “Me too,” said Xander.

  “No, don’t feel bad,” I said. “George checked your room first, Jenny. He knew which room was mine, because he knew if he pounded on my wall, it would get Miles to come over. Bea probably got that information from Gina, who was always listening in to anything Miles had to say. So Jenny… I am so, so glad you weren’t there. Don’t feel bad that you weren’t.”

  “There’s nothing you could’ve done either, Xander,” Miles assured him. “If you’d been there and tried to help, George would almost certainly have started shooting, and one or all of us would have been hurt. It wouldn’t have helped any for you to call 911, Anika already had them on the line. The reason it took them so long to get to the apartment, is because an accident blocked the main road, and construction blocked their alternate route.”

  “And it all worked out,” I said. “If even one small thing had been different… one or both of us wouldn’t be here.”

  Everyone took a moment to digest that sobering thought.

  “So… are you going to try out for the ladies’ softball team?” asked Xander.

  We had no explanation to offer as to how George ended up stuck in the wall, so… that was some water bottle, and apparently I was quite the pitcher.

  “Oh, I don’t think so,” I said. “I’m planning to focus on schoolwork, and my husband, this year. Though not in that order.”

  Miles put his arms around me, and smiled.

&nbs
p; “I like that plan.”

  The remaining days before the wedding, were filled with a flurry of activity. Grandma Polly and Mom worked together like a well-oiled machine. They divided and conquered the list of things left to do, which I appreciated. It left me with more time to enjoy Miles, and time with our friends.

  The Queen of Clean girls were hard at work ensuring that the castle was spotless, and Lawncare Extraordinaire was on the job. There wouldn’t be a blade of grass out of place on our wedding day, not if they had anything to say about it.

  Miles drew me away from our friends and family, after lunch.

  “We have a decision to make,” he said.

  “And what is that?” I wondered.

  “After our honeymoon, we’ll be spending the rest of the summer here. And breaks from school, during the next three years. Possibly living here full time, after that.”

  I waited for Miles to tell me what decision we needed to make.

  “We have a castle full of rooms. We should decide which one we want. You can go shopping in the many storage areas, and I can move the furniture in when no one’s around.” Miles opened the door with a wave of his hand, and we stepped inside the castle.

  “Show off!” I said admiringly.

  Miles grinned.

  “So,” I said, “you don’t want the room that the heads of house have always used?”

  “No,” Miles said. “I really don’t. I want to make our own traditions, not follow in the footsteps of the past. If I had a family in the 1800’s—” Miles must have seen the slight frown on my face at that idea, because he hugged me, and corrected that. “If you were born the same year I was, and we had a family in the 1800’s, then we wouldn’t have stayed here. We would have gone out and made our own life, and our own traditions. For now… for as long as we want, we’ll be staying here. But we’ll make our own traditions, too.”

  “Okay,” I said. “I’m totally on board with choosing a different room. I wouldn’t have said anything if you didn’t, but I didn’t want that one, either. Did you have another in mind?” I wondered, as I leaned back and studied Miles’ hazel eyes. “Maybe I don’t have to live with you for a hundred and forty years, for you to communicate effectively just by looking at me.”

  “What am I thinking?” Miles smiled.

  “You’d like a room on the fourth floor,” I said.

  “You’re getting warm.”

  “You’d like your old room to be ours.”

  “Yes. What do you think about that?” he asked.

  “I think that’s great,” I smiled. “I love your room. I’m so glad it doesn’t make you feel bad anymore, to be reminded of your old life.”

  “It doesn’t remind me of my old life, anymore. Thoughts of the past stopped haunting me as soon as I fell in love with you, and my life re-started. I don’t want my old life. I’d be heartbroken if I had it back. I want the life I have, here with you.”

  “Me too,” I said. “And that room really is amazing. I can’t imagine why it wasn’t the heads of house room, it’s much nicer than the other. I love your room.”

  “Ours, now—or will be, soon,” Miles said.

  I smiled.

  “I like that.”

  “Let’s go take a look, and you can make your shopping list,” Miles said, with a smile.

  I took the hand Miles offered, and we ran up the stairs. I had to slow down after the first couple of flights, but we eventually reached the fourth floor.

  “Now I understand why the heads of house chose to live on the second floor!” I gasped for breath.

  Miles laughed.

  “I’ll put in an elevator for you. I can see that coming in handy someday.”

  I thought of expecting a baby—after we graduate—and later on, carrying an infant, and toting a toddler or two or three—and liked that idea, a lot!

  Miles waved the curtains open, and we looked out the windows at the gorgeous mountain vista that spread out before us.

  “Well, will you look at that,” Miles said. “Everyone’s accounted for.”

  “They’re probably out there wondering where we disappeared to after lunch,” I said, looking down at our friends and family, who were all in the garden or elsewhere on the estate grounds.

  “I’m sure you’ll want different furniture, so I’ll just march this out,” Miles said. And just as easy as that, the contents of the room marched itself to the attic.

  “Your superpowers are just too cool,” I sighed. “You’re just too cool!”

  Miles grinned.

  “Ready to go shopping?”

  “Yes! I am, and I know just where to start.”

  Miles and I traveled through the estate, returning to rooms we searched in the past, to gather our favorite pieces of furniture with which to outfit our room.

  When Miles arranged and rearranged to my satisfaction, we both stood back and looked around us.

  “Perfect,” Miles said. “You’ve got great taste.”

  “The best,” I said, and smiled up at him.

  Chapter 23

  At last our wedding day arrived.

  The morning dawned in a dazzling array of beauty. There wasn’t a cloud in the bright blue sky. Nate and his brother Luke, from Lawncare Extraordinaire, outdid themselves in coaxing and nurturing the garden so that on this day, it gave its very best. The roses were in full bloom, filling the garden with color and the sweetest perfume. The fountain bubbled cheerfully, and birds sang their little hearts out.

  I was up early, too excited to sleep. Through the windows of my room, I could see several crews already hard at work setting up chairs, and the arch that would be covered in roses. A large van was parked at a side entrance, and several white garbed employees from the bakery carefully removed the pieces of our wedding cake, which they would assemble once they carried them to the ballroom, where our reception would be held. Another van pulled up, this one from the florist. Mom and Polly each had their list of wedding details to attend to, and were right there in the action, giving directions and accepting deliveries. They looked as though they were having the time of their lives doing it.

  I heard a soft tap at the door, and went to answer it.

  “Hi,” Miles said softly, his smile lighting his eyes.

  “Hi back,” I smiled, as we hugged each other.

  “I couldn’t sleep, and thought maybe you couldn’t, either.”

  “I couldn’t. I’m way too excited to sleep.”

  “Then let’s grab breakfast, and go for a walk before your bridesmaids realize you’re awake, and whisk you off somewhere,” Miles said, holding out his hand.

  “Okay,” I smiled, placing my hand in his.

  We quietly made our way through the castle to the kitchen, where Chef Antonio and his staff were hard at work. He wasn’t too busy to smile when he saw us though, or put together a breakfast we could take with us.

  Miles and I exited through a side door, away from all of the wedding prep excitement, and disappeared into the forest.

  “I wonder how long they’ll give me, until they storm the door of my room?” I wondered.

  “Not long,” Miles said. “I heard conspiring, your bridesmaids evidently couldn’t sleep, either.”

  “So what were they conspiring about?”

  “Hair, nails, makeup… and making sure I don’t see you until the wedding this afternoon.”

  “The very idea!” I exclaimed. “What are they, superstitious? They’re getting it wrong anyway, it’s said to be bad luck for the groom to see the bride in her wedding gown, before the wedding. Obviously, I am not wearing my wedding gown.”

  I looked down at my t-shirt that had Bride emblazoned in gold across the front, and my crimson rose velour pants and matching jacket.

  “They sounded serious about it, anyway.”

  “Well, good for you for foiling that plan,” I said, squeezing his hand. “I’d think I had very bad luck, if I didn’t see you until this afternoon.”

  “Me too,” Miles
said.

  “I’m afraid this day is going to drag anyway, but it would be worse if I couldn’t see you at all. I’m regretting not having a first-thing-in-the-morning wedding,” I admitted.

  “Now if only we thought of that before,” Miles said.

  We wound our way through the pine trees, until we came to a row of towering oaks.

  “Oh, look! Here’s the cobbled path that led me to the castle,” I pointed out. “Come on.”

  We broke through the trees that lined the path, and followed it until we came to the stone bridge.

  Miles ran his hand over the railing.

  “This is what led me to the castle, you know,” I said. “The day the storm hit, and I fell through the cellar doors, and you saved me.”

  “This did?” Miles asked in surprise.

  “Yes. I had to investigate, of course. This bridge you built, is amazing. Then I saw the path, and then the castle, and the rest is history. Or, the present—where we are right now.”

  “I’m so glad I built this bridge,” Miles said fervently.

  “Me too.”

  We sat on a large stone near the stream, and had our breakfast, enjoying the peace and quiet.

  Miles looked at his watch.

  “Last year, at exactly this time, I saw you for the first time after I became solid again.”

  “That was the first best day of my life,” I said, remembering. “Once I realized it was you, of course. Today will be the second, best day of my life. Or the third, becoming engaged was pretty amazing.”

  “My first and second best day, are the same as yours. But the third best day is when I realized you hadn’t been shot, and I wasn’t about to lose you.”

  Miles started to laugh, and I looked at him curiously.

  “What’s so funny?” I wondered.

  “Only you, Anika Riley, could make me laugh right after that,” he smiled, and I laughed too.

  “I like making you laugh,” I smiled.

  “Good. Because I do a lot of that, when I’m with you,” he smiled back. He glanced at his watch again, and grimaced slightly. “I suppose I should get you back, before your bridesmaids send out a search party.”

  I sighed.

  “I suppose you’re right. Poor Miriam, she’s probably calling the Sheriff to organize a posse to bring me in, as we speak.”