Allegra Fairweather_ Paranormal Investigator - Janni Nell [94]
It was damaged from the collision with Sir Alastair’s Rolls, but I thought the insurance would cover the repairs if I could prove he had run me off the road. I imagined telling the insurance company my witnesses were a selkie and a guardian angel.
Resigning myself to paying for the damage, I got into the car and headed back to Furness. After rewarding myself with two days of R and R, I said goodbye to Douglas and Bess.
“Are you sure you won’t stay longer?” he asked eagerly.
I declined. Douglas was cute, but he wasn’t right for me. Luckily he was a sweet guy and didn’t bear a grudge. He carried my suitcase to the rental car and put it in the trunk.
“I’ll miss you, Allegra.”
“Thanks for giving me the chance to see the Dedfield Rose. It’s an experience I’ll treasure—well maybe not treasure, but I won’t forget it.” I leaned forward to kiss his cheek, but he turned at the last minute and our lips met. The best kisser in the UK and I didn’t feel anything for him but friendship. Go figure.
I was climbing into the car when a group of villagers marched down the street toward us. Were they planning on lynching me after all?
They formed a circle around me. Stuart and Anne, Jason from the baitshop, Dr. Williamson, Mrs. Ferguson and more than a dozen others, including Douglas.
Mrs. Ferguson, who had always supported me, stepped forward and handed me a small, beautifully wrapped gift. “From all of us—the whole village—to thank you for restoring peace to the loch.”
Genuinely touched, I murmured, “Thanks.”
Mrs. Ferguson hugged me. “You deserve it.” Then everyone in the group came forward to shake my hand or kiss my cheek. When they were done and Mrs. Ferguson had wiped three different colors of lipstick off my cheek, she said, “You can’t leave until you’ve opened your gift.
“I thought maybe later. I’m in kind of a hurry.” Truthfully, I prefer to open gifts in private. Just in case I hate them. Don’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings. But Mrs. Ferguson and the villagers insisted, so I really had no choice.
Pulling off the pink paper, I found a velvety box that contained a beautiful silver thistle brooch. The initials AF were engraved on the front. On the back it read: Tapadh leat.
Mrs. Ferguson translated. “It means thank you.”
As I pinned the brooch on the lapel of my jacket, my eyes filled with happy tears.
“Och, there’s no need to cry, lassie.”
“I’m not crying. I have allergies.”
“Aye, allergies.” She nodded, knowing I was lying.
The villagers gave me a round of applause. Blushing—and I hardly ever blush—I climbed into the car. As I headed down Loch Road I glanced in my rearview mirror. They were all waving and smiling. I felt warm and fuzzy and appreciated. It felt good.
A short drive from Furness, I stopped near the track that led to the Dedfield Rose, got out and made my way to the place where this had all begun. I wasn’t surprised by what I saw.
The rosebush was no longer stunted. The buds that had refused to open were beginning to spread their petals. As I reached out to touch one, someone said, “I thought I’d find you here.”
“Casper.” Without thinking, I sprinted forward and threw my arms around him. He reciprocated, hugging me tight. In unison, we realized what we had done and jumped apart.
I looked down at his bloody shirt but I didn’t touch the healed skin beneath.
I said, “You’re all better.”
He nodded. “Sorry it took so long. But you seemed to manage quite well without me.”
“What do you mean quite well?” I ticked off my accomplishments on my fingers. “I returned Justina to the loch, destroyed Sir Alastair, provided Leith with a new heart and reunited him with Vanora. Not a bad morning’s work.”
He smiled at me. “You did good, Allegra.”
“There’s just one thing