Grave Decisions (A Maddie Graves Mystery Book 7) (11 page)

“
W
hat do
you want to do for lunch, Mad?” Nick asked, popping his head into Maddie’s tent shortly before noon.

After a long morning of tarot readings and trying to keep her emotions in check whenever someone mentioned Cooper Ashcroft, the only thing Maddie wanted was a little peace. “Can we go home and have lunch?”

“Sure,” Nick said, nodding agreeably. “That actually sounds like a great idea to me.”

“That’s good, because there’s something I have to tell you and you’re not going to like it,” Maddie said, grabbing her purse. She expected to follow Nick out of the tent, but he stepped completely inside and barred her path. “Oh.” Maddie pulled up short right before slamming into the wall of muscle that made up his chest.

“Tell me now, love,” Nick prodded. “I don’t think I can take a silent walk home with that ominous sentence hanging over my head.”

Maddie pressed her lips together, uncertain. “I really don’t want you to yell at me in public.”

“I don’t want to yell at you, not in private or public,” Nick said. “Tell me.”

Maddie related her morning conversation with Cathy, Nick remaining still and patient for the duration. When she got to Cooper’s cameo, though, the color in Nick’s cheeks rose and he looked as if he was about to punch someone. Maddie took an inadvertent step back when he clenched his fists.

The move wasn’t lost on Nick, and he was instantly apologetic. “I’m sorry if I frightened you, Mad,” he said, splaying his fingers and holding his hands up. “I never want to frighten you.”

“I didn’t think you were going to hurt me,” Maddie said quickly. “I just thought you were going to yell.”

“Mad, I’m not angry with you,” Nick said. “Please don’t be afraid of me. I couldn’t take that.”

“I’m not afraid of you, Nicky,” Maddie said, impulsively hugging him. “I could never be afraid of you. You’re a good person. I know that.”

Nick returned the hug. “Mad, I like to think I am a good person. If Cooper puts his hands on you, though, I’m going to have to kill him.”

“He never made a move to touch me,” Maddie promised, lifting her eyes to Nick’s. “If he would’ve tried to touch me, you would’ve been the first person I called.”

Nick ran his hand down the back of Maddie’s head before kissing her forehead. “I’m still going to have a talk with him. I’m not angry at you, though.”

“Thank you.”

“I’m not thrilled with you wandering around the fairgrounds alone, though, either,” Nick added. “I’m not going to get in a fight about it, though, so save your explanations. I know you had to talk to the woman. I know it’s not in you to ignore her.”

“I didn’t get anything good, though,” Maddie said, slipping her hand in Nick’s. “Cooper ruined that. He’s such a … butthead.”

Nick snorted. “I think we’ve found the one thing you’re not good at, Mad.”

“What’s that?”

“Insulting people,” Nick replied, pushing the flap open and scowling when he found Cassidy standing on the other side. “What do you want?”

Nick wasn’t exactly known for warm greetings where Cassidy was concerned – especially recently – but the cold way he talked to her wasn’t lost on Cassidy.

“I came to apologize,” Cassidy said, gripping her hands together. “I’ve given some thought to what I said earlier, and I was out of line for suggesting Maddie was a murderer.”

“Oh, really?” Nick arched a dubious eyebrow. “Did you come to that conclusion before or after you remembered Maddie risked her life to save you?”

Cassidy stilled. “I don’t blame you for being angry with me,” she said. “From your perspective I’ve been nothing but a pain. I’ve been a hindrance to your relationship and I’ve embarrassed both of you on multiple occasions.”

“Are we supposed to be wowed by your insight?” Maddie asked, taking Nick by surprise with her fortitude. She was usually the last person to jump on the snark train.

“I just wanted to apologize and warn you about Cooper,” Cassidy said. “You were right. What you said about him was right, I mean. He’s been pumping us for information and he’s a fraud.”

“What brought about this change?” Maddie asked, genuinely curious.

“Oh, well … .” Cassidy stared at the ground as she hopped from one foot to the other.

“Let me guess, he cut you loose from his harem this morning because you were the weakest link in his gossip chain,” Nick supplied. “You’re the newest to town, so you had the least amount of information to give him.”

“He didn’t say that in so many words,” Cassidy hedged. “That’s pretty much what he said, though. I didn’t realize what was happening until it was already over with. I thought I should warn you, though, because he’s still interested in Maddie. He keeps asking for information about her.”

“And what did you tell him?” Nick challenged.

“I told him that … I told him that Maddie was really psychic and could talk to ghosts.”

“Son of a … .”

Maddie gripped Nick’s hand to quiet him. “We knew she would. There’s nothing we can do about it.”

“I’m sorry,” Cassidy said, adopting a pitiable expression. “He confused me and I thought he was really psychic. Marla keeps saying I’m a liar, though, and he kept her around. Maybe he doesn’t think Maddie is psychic any longer. Whatever she said to him today put him in a really foul mood.”

“What about Christy?” Nick asked, tugging a restless hand through his hair. “Has she said anything?”

“She’s never said anything bad about Maddie,” Cassidy replied. “She’s falling for all of his lies, though. It’s like he’s cast a spell on her.”

“Well, great,” Nick muttered. “Thanks for telling us … I guess.”

“I’m sorry,” Cassidy repeated.

“Sorry doesn’t do us a lot of good, Cassidy,” Maddie challenged. “This guy is out to ruin my reputation and he might be a murderer. I don’t understand why someone who appears so smart always does the dumbest possible thing.”

Cassidy opened her mouth to argue, but Maddie cut her off with a firm headshake.

“I thought you were making a go of it with David, but you forgot about him pretty quickly, didn’t you?” Maddie continued. “I expect this crap from Marla, but I thought we put all of this stuff behind us.”

“We did put all of this stuff behind us.” Cassidy hung her head, dejected. “I don’t know what else to say.”

“There’s nothing else you can say,” Maddie said. “Just … stay out of our way. Stay away from Cooper and don’t get involved in this. It’s none of your business, and I can’t tell you how sick I am of people sticking their noses in other people’s business. Just … stop!”

Cassidy nodded, refusing to look up.

“Come on, Nick,” Maddie said, grabbing his hand. “I’m starving and I need a few hours away from this place.”

Nick grinned as he fell into step next to her. “Mad, I have to tell you, that was pretty hot. Do you think I can negotiate a nap after lunch?”

“You’re not negotiating anything,” Maddie countered. “I’m demanding a nap.”

“Yowza, Mad,” Nick said. “Now I don’t even want lunch. You’re on fire.”

“
W
HAT IS
all of this
?” Maddie was dumbfounded when she walked into the kitchen a few minutes later, finding Maude toiling over a pot of soup next to the stove.

“Yeah, what is this?” Nick asked, lifting his nose to scent the air. “Do I smell homemade chicken noodle soup?”

“I decided to cook,” Maude replied, rolling her eyes. “I don’t need commentary from the peanut gallery.”

“I’m not complaining, but how did you even know we were coming home?” Maddie asked, shrugging out of her hoodie and draping it over the back of a chair. “For all you knew we were eating at the fair.”

“I knew you were coming home,” Maude replied. “Although … I’m not sure how I knew. I just did, and for some reason I knew Maddie needed something to bolster her. She hasn’t had her favorite soup in more than ten years, so I decided to make it for her.”

“It’s my favorite soup, too,” Nick said, surprising Maude when he planted a kiss on her cheek. “You have no idea how much both of us need this.”

Maddie was still confused, but when her mother appeared in the doorway between the kitchen and magic store things slipped into place. “Did you tell her to do this?”

Olivia shrugged. “I might have whispered a suggestion in her ear. I had no way of knowing she would actually be able to hear me, though.”

“But … how?”

“I have no idea,” Olivia said. “When she got up and started making the soup, though, it was like … magic.”

“Who are you talking to, Mad?” Nick asked, glancing around.

“Mom.”

“Your mother is here?” Nick smiled. “Hello, Olivia. I miss you.” As children Maddie and Nick were close with members of both families. Nick was welcome inside the Graves house whenever he wished, and Olivia doted on him as much as she did on her daughter.

“I miss you, too,” Olivia said, floating closer to Nick and running her ethereal finger down his cheek. “You’re still as handsome as ever.”

Nick involuntarily shuddered at the touch, causing Maddie to widen her eyes.

“Did you feel that?”

“What?” Nick asked, confused.

“Mom touched your cheek and you shivered,” Maddie replied. “Did you feel her?”

“I guess so,” Nick said, rubbing the spot Olivia touched. “I felt something … kind of like a light wind blowing past my cheek. Was that really her?”

“Ooh, if Olivia is touching people, I want her to do me next,” Maude said, slapping the spoon she held into Nick’s hand. “Watch the soup, Romeo.”

Maddie watched with unveiled interest as Olivia leaned close and hugged her mother. Maude sighed, pressing her eyes shut.

“It feels as if she’s hugging me.”

“She is,” Maddie said, her eyes filling with tears.

“Oh, Mad, don’t cry,” Nick chided, grabbing her arm and drawing her to him. “This is a good thing. Please don’t cry.”

“I’m not crying because I’m upset,” Maddie said, surreptitiously wiping away a tear. “It’s just … how are you doing this, Mom?”

“I don’t know,” Olivia answered. “I feel strong lately. I can control my comings and goings more often. That’s how I knew to come when Cooper was bothering you.”

“This, though, Granny and Nick can’t generally feel you,” Maddie challenged. “How can they do it now?”

“Maybe their hearts are more open today,” Olivia suggested. “Mom didn’t hear me whispering about the soup, and yet somehow she knew what to do.”

“I’ve heard your mom before, Mad,” Nick reminded her. “You’ve been in trouble a few times and she’s been strong enough to force me to hear her. Maybe she’s a special kind of ghost.”

“She’s definitely special,” Maddie said, smiling. “This is a nice surprise after a particularly awful day.”

“What’s awful about your day?” John asked, walking into the kitchen and sitting at the table. “Is that soup? Great. I’m starving.”

Nick frowned as he stared down his brother. “Do you knock?”

“This is a store,” John reminded him.

“The store is closed for the festival and I know I locked that door when I came in,” Nick said. “How did you get in?”

“I used the spare key on top of the door.”

“We really need to move that key,” Nick said, shaking his head. “Everyone knows to look for a spare key there.”

“Well, it doesn’t matter now,” Maddie said. “Granny made chicken noodle soup and we’re all here together. That’s all that matters.”

“He has to leave before our nap,” Nick warned. “I need my nap.”

“Is that code for something else?” John teased.

“Yeah. It’s code for sex,” Maude replied dryly, grinning as John uncomfortably shifted on his chair. “Has it been so long for you that you’ve forgotten what couples do when they’re taking naps?” Maude used air quotes to tease John.

“I know what a nap means,” John countered. “I would think you’re too old to know what a nap is, though.”

Maude cuffed the back of his head. “I’ll bet I get more action than you.”

“Well, that is a frightening thought,” John muttered, shaking his head.

Maddie watched as Olivia moved to the spot behind John and extended her finger, poking his ear. John absentmindedly scratched the spot she touched.

“How long until the soup is ready?” John asked. “I have a few things to discuss with you guys and I figure we can do that before your nap.”

Olivia poked John’s other ear and John swiftly slapped it.

“Is there a fly in here? It’s a little late in the season for flies.”

“What’s going on?” Nick asked, following Maddie’s gaze. “Is that your mom?”

Maddie nodded, amused. “Apparently she really is getting stronger.”

“What are you talking about?” John asked, annoyed. “Stop standing around and feed me, people. Do you know anything about being good hosts?”

“I know you’re supposed to knock before you accuse someone of being bad hosts,” Nick shot back.

Maddie smiled, the engaging conversation – however juvenile – warming her. This was family. This was home. She’d never been so happy to be anywhere in her entire life.

“It’s okay, Sunshine,” Olivia said, smiling at Maddie’s expression. “Your world is complete now. It’s okay to be happy. This is what I’ve always wanted for you.”

Maddie giggled. “Thanks, Mom. Mess with John some more. It’s fun.”

“What the heck is going on?” John asked, glancing around. “Is your mother really here? If so, tell her I always thought she was hot.”

Olivia flicked the end of John’s nose, causing him to hop to his feet.

“Holy crap! Was that her?”

Maddie nodded.

“This brings a whole new meaning to family forever, doesn’t it?” Nick whispered, kissing Maddie’s cheek.

“It makes me happy.”

“Good, Mad. That’s the only thing I ever want for you.”

“Us,” Maddie corrected. “It’s what we want for us.”

“Us,” Nick agreed. “Family comes in different shapes and sizes – and even with dumb brothers making fools of themselves – but love lasts forever.”

“Hurry up,” Maddie prodded, shooting Nick a mischievous smile. “We need energy for your nap.”

“You really are my favorite person, Mad.”