Rings On Her Fingers (The Psychic Seasons Series Book 1) Read online

  She sighed and shrugged her shoulders in acceptance.

  Gustavia changed the subject.

  "But tonight, I think a girl's night out is in order. Some drinks, maybe some dancing. Get your mind off of all this for a little while. You know we are way overdue." Before Julie could protest, Gustavia shot off a text. "I'm inviting Ammie and Kat; I think it is time you got to know them better."

  Tyler figured if he just kept his mouth shut, he could tag along. Girls night out sounded fun; and, with this group, it was bound to be interesting. He suggested a club that offered live band Karaoke, partly because one of his friends was in the band and partly because it always proved entertaining. When the singers were good, they were very good; and when they were bad, it was even more fun.

  Before Julie had time to protest, plans were made. They all finished off the picnic meal before she headed back to the house to finish up her interrupted work, then get ready for the evening. She realized her friends were just trying to protect her and keep her mind off of Logan and she appreciated their kindness more than she could say, but it was frustrating to feel like she was losing control of her own life. She would let them have this evening and even accept house guests with a modicum of grace, but there were going to have to be some limits.

  Tyler went home, and Gustavia left to pack a bag for her first night on guard duty and get ready for the evening out. They assumed, rightly, that Logan would not dare show his face here again today; and Gustavia wanted to give Zack an update.

  Julie was alone, probably for the last time until this whole mess got resolved. She let herself sink into the painful feelings of another loss. Even if Logan had turned out to be a bad person, she cared about the man she thought he had been, at least for a while.

  Slumped on the sofa, Julie let the tears flow until she felt a gentle touch on her shoulder. She jumped and swiftly turned to see Grams sitting next to her. "It's not nice to sneak up on a person like that; you scared me," Julie said.

  "I'm sorry; I'm not quite used to being dead yet," Estelle replied. "I don't make noise unless I concentrate."

  Julie just looked at her grandmother. Not all of her pain and anger was with Logan; this whole situation was a bit overwhelming, and Grams was part of it. "So, have you come to say I told you so or just to pass on more cryptic messages about danger or the family fortune?" She asked, clipped tone revealing her deep frustration.

  "I'm sorry you're upset, but I am glad you found out what kind of man Logan is. I won't apologize for it. He is going to be angry when he finds out his past has been discovered. Watch out for him; he is the kind of man who might strike back."

  Julie nodded; she had figured that out for herself today.

  "As to the family fortune, there are things I'm not allowed to tell you. This is your puzzle; but your friends will help you, and you need to let them. They love you, you know. Almost as much as I do."

  The annoyance left Julie in a rush of love for her grandmother.

  "I know they do."

  "And Tyler seems to be fitting in well with the group. He has such a warm soul, not like that cold fish."

  "Matchmaking, Grams? Really? It's only been an hour since I was an engaged woman." Julie couldn't contain her smile. Grams had always had a way of lightening a moment. "Besides, I think Gustavia's the one he is interested in."

  Shaking her ghostly head, Estelle replied, "No, I don't think so, not by the way he looks at you. One thing I can tell you is this: Gustavia has an ordeal ahead of her before she finds true love."

  Julie hoped not; Gustavia deserved something easy in her life.

  "Logan tried to make you feel incompetent; it was one of his tools to try and control you. Remember this: you mustn't think it was because of any failing in you. Don't close yourself off again. You're young; it's time to throw caution to the wind."

  Intrigued, Julie began to ask a question, but Grams just smiled and faded away.

  ***

  Gustavia called Zack and told him about Logan’s recent activities, leaving out any reference to ghostly interference since she knew exactly what his reaction would be to that information.

  Zack hung up the phone and, deciding it was time to pull in some help, made a call to the detective who had investigated Logan’s last alias. The two of them agreed to exchange information, and Zack set the wheels in motion to make the case official.

  Chapter Fifteen

  As he drove back to Hayward House, Tyler was thinking, all things considered, it was shaping up to be a fine day. He was headed to a bar with four head-turning women, and Julie had spectacularly dumped her complete tool of a fiancé. Now, why did that make him so happy?

  Gustavia had already returned to Julie's house, and they had made plans to pick everyone else up on the way. Tyler would be driving since his vehicle was big enough to hold the whole group comfortably.

  As they entered the bar, the group drew plenty of attention. Gustavia, in a floaty top, had exchanged her usual calf-length skirt for a mini that showed off a truly great set of legs. Amethyst wore a purple, polka-dotted dress that looked like something out of the sixties; the outfit completed with a pair of purple go-go boots. Kat wore black skinny jeans and a tank top covered in silver sequins. And Julie attracted plenty of attention in a form-fitting, electric-blue dress. It hugged her curves, skimmed over her butt, and showed off a lot of leg. She had done something with makeup that made her eyes look deep and mysterious.

  They snagged a table and ordered drinks just as the band was introduced. It was a fun concept: instead of singing with a mike and teleprompter, wannabe singers could get a taste of what it felt like to be a real front man or woman. Tyler's friend Colby played lead guitar. The whole concept had been his idea, born out of necessity one Wednesday night when the bar was slow. Their lead singer had quit an hour before they were supposed to go onstage. In the old showbiz tradition that the show must go on, Colby asked the crowd if there was anyone who had ever wanted to sing with a band but had never had the chance. He pronounced this was Karaoke with a twist and got enough takers to fill out the entire evening. Everyone loved it, and word of mouth had turned it into a regular event.

  Conversation was lively during the break after the first set with everyone discussing which had been their favorite singers. Drinks, sent by hopeful patrons, arrived regularly at the table. Tyler, as designated driver, responsibly sticking to soft drinks.

  Instead of the quiet, brooding Julie he had expected to see tonight, she was lively and animated. "Why don't you take a turn at the mike," she teased Tyler. When at first, he declined, she said, "C'mon, I dare you. Chicken?"

  "I will, if you will; but I bet there is no way that will happen," he replied.

  "What makes you so sure?"

  "You just don't seem the type."

  Julie raised one eyebrow, then turning to Gustavia, gave her a look. Tyler realized something was up; it was possible she was going to call his bluff.

  As the band headed back to the stage, Colby stopped by the table to greet his friend and get an introduction to the four women. As he left the table Julie stood up and accompanied him back toward the stage. It was clear she had asked him a question when he grinned and nodded.

  Colby's band took the stage, the drummer pounding out the opening beat to Joan Jett's Do You Wanna Touch. Julie strode out on stage, grabbed the mike and belted out the lyrics. Tyler's mouth dropped open and his eyes nearly fell out of his head. She was good, really good. Then he heard Gustavia say, "Oh, what the heck." Leaving the table, she mounted the stage, walked up to Colby and motioned for him to hand her the guitar. Slinging the strap over her shoulder, she barely missed a beat before taking over the lead.

  "Well, they can't have all the fun," said Amethyst to Kat. "Wanna?" And receiving a smiling nod, she guided Kat to take over for the bass player while she nudged the drummer out of the way. Julie looked surprised, then delighted. The four girls rocked it out. Gustavia nailed the lead; Kat played a strong bass line; and Amethyst n
ever missed a beat, all while singing backup to Julie's vocals. Once Tyler got over the shock, he couldn't hold back a grin as the ousted band members took the empty seats at his table enjoying the show.

  Julie sounded amazing; and she didn't just stand there and sing the song, she performed it. She danced and shimmied around the stage, commanding the attention of the entire room. She had the moves and the voice.

  Then she slithered her way over to Tyler and, with a murderous glint in her eye, began singing straight to him. Rolling her body suggestively, she pulled him from the chair and into a short but sexy dance, then shoved him back down in his seat, turned her back emphatically and returned to the stage. Tyler wasn't sure whether to laugh or cry at this point.

  When the song ended, the bar erupted in thunderous applause; then began chanting, demanding more. No one wanted the four to leave the stage. Looking at the band members now seated at their table, Julie saw their delighted expressions as they waved to indicate the women should do another number.

  After a short conversation, they launched into Rolling in the Deep by Adele. Halfway through, Julie caught Tyler's eye and winked. He responded with the I'm-not-worthy bow and just grinned at her. This was not the little repressed wallflower he thought he had come to know. This was a raging, sexy woman in full control of her life. Where had she been all this time?

  Turning the stage back over to Colby and his band, the four friends returned to the table. Laughing and excited, they enjoyed the rest of the second set. As soon as the band went on break, Tyler looked at Julie and said, "Where in the world did that come from?" She smiled triumphantly and shot a sideways look at Gustavia. "Rock Band came out during our junior year at college; we were sort of addicted. Gustavia already knew how to play acoustic guitar, so she always played lead and I sang." Leaning forward she added, "We performed in the park sometimes for extra spending money."

  She gestured toward Amethyst and Kat saying, "But these two, I had no idea they played."

  "Yeah," Amethyst answered, "the three of us jam with Mishka every so often. You should come to the next session and sing lead; Mishka does it now, but she would much rather do backup."

  "That sounds fun," Julie replied. Then, looking at Tyler with a glint in her eye, challenged him, "It's your turn now; a bet is a bet".

  Knowing he was on the hook, Tyler relented, smiling at the entire table. The evil glint was now in his eye as he approached Colby. When the band retook the stage, it was with Tyler at the mike singing Lonely Boy by the Black Keys. Now it was Julie's turn to enjoy the performance, and she did. It was also her turn to look at him in a new light. He was quick witted, kind, honest and entertaining to be with. She hadn't had this much fun in what seemed like forever.

  She hadn't realized how isolated she had been during her relationship with Logan. Other than an occasional movie or dinner, they had rarely gone out and never with a group of friends. Looking back she could see that under the guise of accommodating his work schedule and his distaste for Gustavia, he had actively set her apart. Julie knew she could also blame some of it on the loss of her grandmother, but she truly hadn't realized how lonely she'd been during the past few months. Now that she was seeing things more clearly, she was more thankful than ever that Gustavia had not allowed him to run her off: her friend, her sister, her savior.

  She was well rid of that jackass, but she couldn't shake the feeling he might not be gone for good. He'd thought she was a good mark, thought he could make her feel small and unable to care for herself. He didn't know who he was dealing with. At that moment, she resolved if he ever did come back, he would regret it. Julie lifted her head, feeling empowered again for the first time in months.

  Amethyst, who was watching the play of emotions across Julie's aura, saw this moment of change; then, smiling in approval, poked Gustavia and nodded her head subtly toward Julie. Gustavia's eyes widened as she took in the changes, then her face broke out in a wide grin. It was going to be okay. Then, noticing the way Tyler was looking at Julie, she decided maybe it was going to be better than okay.

  Chapter Sixteen

  The ride home was full of talk and laughter. There was an ease to the conversation Julie hadn't felt for months, even when it turned to talk of ghosts and treasure, which, considering recent events, it was bound to do.

  "What kind of valuables do you think you're looking for?" Amethyst asked.

  "Well," Julie replied, "great-grandfather inherited some silver and there was also some jewelry. Then, by all accounts, he made a lot of money from his first invention, but everyone thought he had probably blown it all on more inventions."

  "And no idea where or what the magic garden might be?" Tyler said.

  "They said not to think so literally, but I'm not sure what they meant; and they don't seem to be able to give us any other clues. Since I am not sure where to look next, I think it's probably a lost cause," Julie replied.

  "What we need is a clue to help us find a clue," Gustavia stated, "or a good barnstorming session."

  At that Kat cracked up, "You mean brainstorming, I assume."

  "Yeah, isn't that what I said?" Gustavia asked.

  "Not a bad idea, though. Julie, may we storm your barns?" Amethyst asked. Tyler glanced in the rear view mirror and saw the gleam in her eye.

  "What do you mean? There are some outbuildings, but there are no barns on the property."

  "I mean, let's all go to your house and put our heads together. Kat can do her touchy feely thing; I can turn on my woo-woo vision; Gustavia can apply her prodigious intuition; and Tyler can..."

  "Drive the Scooby van?" He asked dryly. "I have other skills, you know."

  Kat waggled an eyebrow and said, "Well, we know you can stand around looking pretty and you can sing, what else can you do?"

  "He also makes a nice tossed salad with homemade dressing and he fries a mean chicken," Julie said.

  Tyler pretended to be wounded by their lack of respect; but, with visions of slumber party pillow fights in his head, he was not planning to be left out. He glanced over at Julie to see how she was taking the possibility of a full scale assault on her privacy. He had expected her to protest, but instead he could see she was touched by the willingness of the group to help.

  "Are you okay with the idea, Julie?" Gustavia asked. She also knew Julie might be easily overwhelmed after the week she had just put in.

  "Sure, why not," was the answer, "I have no idea where to look, and I would welcome the help; though I'm pretty sure we will be chasing the undomesticated goose."

  At that, Ammie honked like a goose, and they all hooted with laughter.

  When they got to Julie's house, the first order of business was to raid her closet for comfy clothes for all of the girls. Then they all hit the kitchen for a snack before the brainstorming began.

  Tyler was way ahead of them and, after poring through the cupboards and fridge, had set out a variety of crisp veggies, crackers, cheese, and chips, along with the ever present pitcher of lemonade Julie always seemed to have at the ready.

  He had grabbed his laptop from the car. While they all munched, he began organizing what they already knew, dropping it into a mind-mapping program. This was a technique he used in his work, and one he thought would serve them well; then he listed the skills each person brought to the table: Gustavia had a keen instinct for putting things together, and she was still carrying her dowsing rods around in her bag; Kat might be able to shed some light on any nuances she picked up while channeling the ghosts, Amethyst thought she might be able to perceive aura imprints in the house, Julie would provide knowledge of the history and the house; he would organize the information.

  It was a good plan.

  The next question was where to start; the library or her great-grandfather's bedroom were the likeliest places so they all trooped upstairs, Gustavia tucking Kat's hand under her arm and murmuring information about the stairs, rugs and any other tripping hazards. Since the library was the first of the two rooms, that is
where they began.

  "I think I should sit in the chairs where your grandparents sat the other night; I might pick up some residual energy from them," Kat said. Julie pointed them out, and Gustavia guided the psychic to the seat where Julius had been sitting.

  "What should we be doing?" Tyler whispered a little too loudly.

  "Nothing special. Maybe be quiet for a minute or two," Kat answered with a grin.

  "Okay, I can handle that." The comment set off a round of feminine eye rolling.

  While Kat was concentrating, Amethyst strolled quietly around the room, head tilting first left, then right. Several times she stopped and squinted at an area before moving on. She paid special attention to the old black walnut desk that was polished to a shine, even getting down on her knees to peer under it; but she walked right past the shimmer in the corner without noticing. Julie shifted her feet several times, not completely comfortable with the scrutiny; but still highly curious about what might happen next. Maybe they would turn up a clue, maybe they would just end the day feeling silly; either way, she was willing to go with it.

  Looking over her shoulder, Julie realized Tyler was also watching, his blue eyes twinkling and a huge grin on his face. He had certainly managed to get himself deeply involved in her life over the course of a few short days. It was the treasure hunt; like he said, no red-blooded male could resist one. She chuckled to herself. Maybe she should start a dating service that involved a treasure hunt; it would sure pull in the guys. Dating service? Where had that idea come from?

  Gustavia watched Tyler; watched Julie; watched Tyler watching Julie, and Gustavia knew it was not the treasure hunt that drew him back to Hayward House; he just didn't know it yet. His eyes kept being drawn back to her friend and Gustavia revised that impression: he did know it, no way he didn't. She smiled; this relationship was going to be fun to watch. You didn't have to know Tyler long to realize he was the kind of guy who stuck like glue when he wanted something. And it was easy to see he wanted Julie.