Bewitching You

chapter Sixteen



After Gray had explained their situation, Tom finally let them into his office. Any friend of the Amish was no friend of his, he’d said. Which was odd, considering the location of his shop. But Gray wasn’t going to argue. The man had the only phone in a twenty-mile radius.

“I assure you, he was only giving us a lift,” Gray had told him. “I can’t stand those people myself.”

Sofia had nudged him. He’d pay for that later, he was sure. The truth was, he didn’t have anything against the Amish, especially after one of them had done him a huge favor by getting him out of a dead-end cornfield in a matter of seconds.

It’d been embarrassing to discover if they’d only walked another ten feet, they would’ve reached the road, and across it was Elijah’s family home. Ten children had scurried outside to see what all the commotion was about, along with a very pregnant wife who didn’t smile once.

Gray didn’t blame her.

Sofia had cheered up right away, saying hello to each and every one of those kids. Lord, he hoped she didn’t want to have that many children. Three was the limit for him. He shrugged. Maybe four.

Gray halted that thought process. Kids? Marriage hadn’t even entered his mind. Until now. He watched her charm the suspenders right off Tom with her sweet little smile, and realized he wanted nothing more than to marry and spend the rest of his life with Sofia.

“Gray?” She patted his arm, breaking his thoughts. “Tom says he has a car we can borrow.”

“Rent,” Tom corrected.

“For a small fee,” she added and smiled.

“Sounds great. What is it?”

“It’s right out back. Let me show you.” Tom gestured for them to follow.

“Wait,” Sofia said. “Do you have a restroom I could use?”

“Sure thing. It’s right through that door right there. S’cuse the mess. It ain’t been cleaned by a lady in a while.”

“Oh.” The smile disappeared. She looked up at Gray. “I won’t be long.”

He brought her hand up to kiss. “Meet you out front.”

Tom led Gray through the backdoor and into what appeared to be a scrapyard. More than twenty cars were gutted. Others were melded together with mismatched parts. A red hood on a blue car, a primer gray door on a white car, and far in the distance behind a stack of tires, Gray spotted it.

His BMW.

“This here’s a fine car.” Tom banged the hood of a purple Honda Accord with yellow doors. The car had been lowered to about two inches above the ground. “Have to watch it on the bumps, but it runs like a fox chasing after a jackrabbit.”

“That’s my car,” Gray blurted out, thinking of no other strategy to get his baby back.

“What you talking about?”

“That black BMW over there behind the tires. That’s my car. Did you find it alongside the road?”

“Maybe. How do I know it belongs to you?”

“Check the registration. My name’s on it. Grayson Phillips. And—” He yanked his keys from his pocket and hit the keyless entry button. The lights blinked. “I have the keys.”

“Well, now,” Tom said with blazing red cheeks. “Why’d you leave a perfectly good car out on the road like that? Someone coulda stole it. Good thing I was there with my tow truck.”

“Right.” Gray held his tongue. If the car still didn’t start, he might need to persuade Tom to take a look at it. To Gray’s delight, the engine turned over immediately. And—he did a once-over of the exterior and interior—everything seemed to be in order. No scratches or dents or rips. His baby was perfect, as usual.

He drove the car to the front of the shop and waited for Sofia, proud to be able to show her one of the things he’d accumulated by working his ass off. Over his shoulder, Tom stood at the front door, wringing his filthy car-thieving hands together.

If they hadn’t been in a hurry to save people’s lives, Gray would’ve called the cops to send Big Tom to jail for grand theft auto.

“Wow. Tom rented us this for a small fee?” Sofia slid into the passenger’s seat and ran her fingertips over the beige dashboard and the leather upholstery. “Ooh. Very nice.”

Gray wasn’t sure why, but he grew hard in his jeans. It was true then that a man’s car was an extension of his you-know-what. “Do you like it?”

“I love it.” She swept a come-hither stare up his body. “It suits you.”

“Well, that’s good.” Gray leaned over and kissed her. “Because it’s mine.”

“Nuh uh. Are you kidding?”

“I kid you not.” Gray revved the engine and left Tom in a cloud of dust.

~ * ~

Penny lay in Sofia’s bed, glad to be home from the hospital. It’d been a scare, but everything turned out fine. Herbert had given them a ride home and helped Penny up the stairs. Of course, she didn’t need the help. She was finer than fine china. Not an ache in her old body. Nevertheless, it didn’t hurt to give the man a reason to stick around the house for a bit.

Just in case she had a relapse.

From the thoughts vibrating from Herbert’s mind, he was glad to spend more time with Laura.

With a smile, Herbert said, “Call us if you need anything.” Then he closed the door behind him.

Hmm. Daughter down, still working on the granddaughter.

“You feeling better?” Hayes’s voice asked from the corner of the room, and then the side of the bed indented.

“Much better. Thank you.” Penny wondered why she couldn’t read his mind this time. Could it be because he was on his way to crossing over?

“I wanted to thank you, actually, for helping me. Your spell worked out great.”

“That’s wonderful. So they’ve said they love each other?”

“Yes, and I think I’ll be able to move on now, because Gray seems very happy.”

Yes, Hayes was leaving. Penny’s heart went out to him. He was such a nice boy. “Wonderful. What of Rachel? Did she find true love?”

“She’s well on the way. You might like to know she has a gift like your daughter does. She can see me and touch me. She’s even called me, buy I don’t think she knows this.”

“Interesting. I wonder if I know her mother or grandmother. Gifts run in the family, you know.”

~ * ~

Rachel drove up to the Spencer Estate, as her mother liked to call it. Really, the residence was an immaculate museum, not an appropriate place for a child to grow up. Somehow, Rachel and her sister had managed without breaking too many things.

She felt refreshed since Hayes’s last visit. The thought that she, Rachel Spencer, had the potential to do great things had given her a boost of confidence. A small one, but still. It was enough for her to shrug off the idea of dying and concentrate on living, as he’d told her to do. She wanted to make him proud.

Besides, once she’d calmed down she realized taking her life wasn’t the answer. The very idea had been ridiculous. Selfish, really, now that she thought it through. Suicide? No, she couldn’t do that to her parents and her sister. Hayes was right. She really did have a lot to live for.

Sighing, she shut down the engine and sat there for a moment. Her parents weren’t home, she knew. She’d called ahead and asked Therese, the housekeeper, when they’d be back. Therese had said Dad was at work until late, of course, and Mom was out running errands for the wedding.

The wedding had turned into more of a hobby for her mother than anything else. Something she could talk about with her friends at the country club.

Still, Rachel felt obligated to pay back every penny her parents had put into the ceremony. She grabbed the envelope on the seat next to her and made her way across the lush green lawn to the front door.

She rang the doorbell and Therese answered right away. Her silver hair was up in a loose bun and she smelled like Pine Sol, as usual. “Rachel,” she said, as though it were a surprise. “What are you doing here? Your parents aren’t home.” The woman who used to push her on the swings and give her homemade shortbread cookies after school was getting up there in age. It seemed her mind was slipping as well.

“I know, Therese. I just talked to you.”

“Oh, that’s right. What do you need, my dear?”

“I need a huge favor, actually.” Rachel handed Therese the envelope. “That’s a letter for my mother, but I was wondering if you could wait to give it to her until after tomorrow.”

Rachel wanted to shrink back into her shell for being such a coward. This wasn’t exactly how she should be beginning her new life—by not standing up to her mother in person. But sometimes a girl had to start at the bottom to work her way up. That was her excuse, and she was sticking to it.

Therese flipped the envelope back and forth, as if she’d figure out what was inside somehow.

Rachel didn’t see any harm in her knowing.

“It’s a letter to Mother saying I’ll be moving away and a check to pay her back for the wedding. Well, the first installment, anyway.”

“You won’t be marrying Grayson, then?” Therese gazed at Rachel through silver eyelashes.

“No, I won’t.”

She smiled mischievously and stuffed the envelope in her apron. “I’ll do as you asked, my dear.”

“Thank you, Therese.” Rachel gave her a partial hug. “You won’t forget?”

“No, my dear. I’ll be looking forward to it.”

Rachel thanked her again and headed back across the lawn.

“My dear?” Therese called out, and Rachel turned around. “Well done.”

Well done? The woman always was a little puzzling. Rachel simply waved and hurried to her car before her mom showed up.

~ * ~

Just past two o’clock they arrived at the apartment complex.

Sofia followed Gray through the front door, up the stairs, and down a hallway to where Rachel lived. The building was quaint. The carpets were older. The wallpaper was pretty, but flaking here and there. Not at all swanky, like Sofia had expected.

She’d only seen Rachel once, for a short period of time, but Sofia had gotten the impression of wealth and elegance. She remembered Rachel being stylish and utterly gorgeous. Not the type of girl to burn eggs. More like have them prepared and set in front of her on a silver platter.

However, Sofia’s first impressions had been wrong before.

When they reached the door at the very end of the hall, Gray stopped and grabbed Sofia’s shoulders. “This is it.” He looked as if he might pull out a playbook and show her how to make a touchdown. “She’s not like you. She’s a little bit shy.”

“I’m shy.” Sofia was offended.

“No, you’re not, sugar. You’re you, and you’re perfect, but you’re not even close to being shy.”

“Okay.” You learn something new every day.

“What are you trying to get at?”

“I don’t know. I guess I was just prepping you. Shy sometimes comes off as bitchy, especially from someone who looks like her.”

Sofia gave him the evil eye, daring him to say anything else about how his ex-fiancée looked.

Gray let out a breath. “I love you. Okay? I never once said that to her or any other woman, for the matter.”

“No?”

“Never.”

Sofia smiled. “I love you too.”

“Good. Now let’s get this over with so I can take you home and finish what we started in that cornfield.”

“I can’t wait to see your apartment. Is that the place from the dreams?”

“No. I don’t where that is.”

“Weird.”

“I know.” Gray knocked on the door and held Sofia’s hand.

No answer.

“You don’t think the plane was going up today, do you?” he asked.

“It’s possible. But I read the dead guy’s watch. It said twenty after five.”

“And it was a small plane over a mountain range?”

“Yes.”

“That could be anywhere. She might’ve had to take one plane to get to the other.”

“I hadn’t thought of that. Darn it.” Why hadn’t she thought of that? She couldn’t ask for her Crime Solver Superhero award any time soon.

Times like this Sofia wished someone else had this stupid “gift.”

“Don’t worry about it.” Gray squeezed her hand. “We’ll figure it out. Maybe she went to the store or ran some errands. If we get to a phone, I can try her cell.”

Sofia nodded, and they turned in time to see Rachel walking up the hall, rifling through her purse as she dug out keys. She was wearing heels, a black pair of slacks and a yellow silk top.

Elegant.

She glanced up, saw them, and stopped dead.

~ * ~

Rachel had thought he was Hayes for a moment. Only briefly, before noticing the woman beside him. The waitress from that night.

But he was Grayson. Not Hayes.

What was he doing here?

Slowly, Rachel walked the distance between them, cautious about where this would lead. She hadn’t imagined Grayson would ever want to see her again. Not after she’d told him about the night with Hayes.

Did he want to yell at her? Get some closure?

Find out more?

“Hi, Rachel,” he said, not looking happy, but not angry either. “This is Sofia, my girlfriend.”

Rachel nodded at the woman. Sofia appeared harmless. She had pretty eyes and a smile that was warm and welcoming. Her hair was up in a cute ponytail, and she looked at ease in her jeans and t-shirt. Rachel could easily see why Grayson would like her.

Good for him, she surprised herself by thinking.

“Why are you here?” she asked the both of them.

“We’d like to talk to you for a moment,” Sofia said. “It’s important and it won’t take long at all. I promise.”

“I don’t know. I’m really busy.”

“Packing?” Sofia asked.

“Yes.” How did she know?

“Going to the mountains somewhere?”

“Um, where are you getting all this? Grayson, what’s going on?”

“Can we come in for a minute?” he asked. “Sofia… She knows things. It’s important she get the chance to tell you.”

Knows things? If Rachel didn’t think Grayson was a decent man, she’d be slamming the door in his face. But he was a good man, and he’d never once hurt her.

She bypassed the couple and unlocked her door. “Just for a moment.”

~ * ~

Sofia loved Rachel’s cute little apartment. The living room was feminine and pink and cozy. The couch looked comfy, as did the matching chair next to it. Now this was a woman who knew how to live.

But she stifled the urge to ask her hostess where she’d found the cute flowered throw pillows, knowing darn well this wasn’t the time to ask for decorating tips. She bit her lips shut and took a seat next to Gray on the couch.

“Can I get you a cold beverage, Sofia? Grayson?” Rachel asked from the kitchenette.

Odd how she kept calling Gray “Grayson.” As if she were about to break out a ruler and threaten to smack his hand with it.

“What do you have?” Sofia asked right as Gray said, “No, thank you.” And then gave her a look.

Sofia shrugged. “I’m thirsty,” she whispered to him.

“Water, diet cola, and orange juice.”

“I’d love some water. It feels like we’ve been out in the sun all day.”

“Oh?” Rachel handed her a bottle of water. “That’s nice.” She handed one to Gray as well, and sat down in the chair with her hands placed neatly in her lap. She let out a small sigh and met Sofia’s gaze. “How can I help you?”

Here it goes. This would be the very first time Sofia attempted to prevent tragedy in person. There was nothing anonymous about this interaction. Now, how to begin?

“Sofia dreams of the future,” Gray blurted out, and Sofia sucked in a breath.

Sheesh. The man knew how to get straight to the point.

“She what?”

“I’m able to foresee the future.” Sofia took over. “For whatever reason, I was given this gift and I’ve had it since puberty. Strong emotions trigger these visions of fear, love, grief, and so on.”

“That’s interesting,” Rachel said with no facial expression whatsoever. Her hands clasped tighter together.

“Psychic abilities run in my family,” Sofia added, wondering if Rachel believed a word she said. “Anyway, I’ll get to the point. Lately, I’ve been having visions of a plane flying through the air, but all of the passengers are, well, they’re not breathing. I’m thinking maybe the oxygen depleted from the cabin and the oxygen masks didn’t fall down in time to warn them. So they… well, they died.”

Rachel wiggled in her seat. “And?”

“And in the dream I had last night, you were on the plane.”

“Really? Deceased as well?”

“Yes.”

“Is this some kind of a joke?” Rachel rose out of her coma and set a fierce glare toward Gray. “Why did you bring her here? I never took you as the vengeful type. I guess I was wrong.”

“No, Rachel. It’s not like that. Sofia’s telling the truth. I know it’s a little hard to believe, but she’s the real deal.”

“Listen, I’m sorry I slept with Hayes. I was in love with him. I still am in love with him.”

“Hayes is dead,” Gray said rather gruffly. “This has nothing to do with him.”

“He may be dead to you, but not to me.”

Oh, boy. Sofia needed to get this back on track. “Sorry to interrupt, but did you recently book that flight? Like yesterday?”

Rachel glanced away from them, ignoring Sofia.

“You took the last seat, did you not?”

“How do you know all this? Do you work for the airline?”

“I told you how I know. One seat was empty—number twenty-two—for the first few dreams I had, and then last night you were sitting there. Look, if you could just tell me the information off the ticket, then we’ll leave you alone.”

“Why don’t you already know that? I thought you were psychic?”

Sofia ignored the condescending tone. Obviously, the woman had been through a lot in the past year, and here Sofia was telling her she might die on an airplane that hadn’t even left the ground yet.

“What if, hypothetically, I’m right? What if this plane is going to kill everyone on board, including children, and ultimately crash into a mountain that may or may not have people on it? Wouldn’t you want to do everything in your power to prevent that tragedy from happening?”

“I don’t see what I could do.”

“You’d be doing a great thing if you’d only give me some details.”

“Great.” Rachel hung her head, took a breath and looked up at Sofia. “Fine. What do you need to know?”