“But –” Belle tried yet again but was interrupted yet again.
“Bellerina, have a word.”
Belle sighed then whispered, “I think you might be overestimating my influence over Jack.”
At that, Lila laughed.
As did Yasmin and Rachel.
And they all laughed like what Belle said was hysterically funny.
Which it was not.
“I’m not being funny!” she snapped.
Gram came forward and pulled Belle loosely into her arms.
Putting her cheek against her granddaughter’s, she said softly in Belle’s ear, “I think you’re underestimating your influence over Jack.” She pulled away and looked in Belle’s eyes and when Belle opened her mouth to speak, hurried on, “We’ll see who’s right, hmm, my sweet?” Belle closed her mouth and stared stubbornly at her grandmother when Lila repeated firmly, “Have a word.”
Belle stepped out of Lila’s arms and crossed her own over her baby bump.
Then on a sigh, she gave in, “All right, I’ll have a word.”
“Just,” Rachel added, getting close and putting her hand on Belle’s upper arm, “give me a chance to ask about the car first.”
“Mom!” Belle cried.
“No. Seriously. I don’t want him in a foul mood when I ask him. He might say no,” Rachel said.
Belle decided to let it go.
She was, as she reminded herself hourly, pregnant, hormonal, living in a haunted castle (now with three ghosts) and falling in love with Jack Bennett.
She had to pick her battles and while doing so guard her reserves.
And she needed her reserves in order to have her “word” with Jack.
“I’m going to take a nap before dinner,” she announced, deciding that would do wonders for her reserves.
“Good idea, honeypot. I’ll wake you in an hour, okay?”
Belle nodded.
Then she left.
And she only felt better when she found the dogs, guided them to her and Jack’s room and lay down on their bed.
And she only felt better because Baron and Gretl were with her and she was in a room that was now her and Jack’s and lying on a bed that could be described using the word “their”.
But she couldn’t help but wonder about the possible third ghost, who “he” might be and what Jack was going to think when she had her “word”.
* * * * *
Belle woke before Rachel came to her room.
She lay in the bed still a bit sleepy but feeling rested.
Her hand went to her belly and she felt the hardness there.
“Well, sweets,” she whispered to her belly, “I promised life would eventually go back to normal and boring but your Daddy knew better, didn’t he?”
She splayed her fingers wider on her belly and smiled at the thought of Jack as “Daddy”.
Her mobile, sitting on the nightstand, sounded.
She picked it up and it said, “Jack Calling”.
There it was again.
He was on her mind and then he called.
She couldn’t shake how weird that was.
Or how wonderful.
She slid her finger across the screen and put the phone to her ear.
“Hi,” she said softly.
She could hear the smile in his voice when he replied, “Belle.”
“You okay?” she asked, swinging her legs over the side of the bed.
She heard dog tags jangling as both Baron and Gretl moved forward for pets.
Belle didn’t disappoint, holding the phone to her ear with her shoulder, she pet them both at the same time which was how they preferred it.
“Yes, poppet. I called to let you know I’m taking off in fifteen minutes. I finished earlier than I thought.”
Belle felt a rush of happiness.
Which was quickly followed by a rush of anxiety.
“Um…” she paused before saying weakly, “Jack.”
He was silent then his tone was cautious when he asked, “What is it?”
“Well…” she began, not knowing how to have her “word” but kind of happy that she was having it on the phone where she didn’t have to watch him blow his stack in person (and before her mother could ask about the car).
“Belle.” His voice was no longer cautious, it held a warning.
“We met Cassandra and Angus today.”
There was more silence, a sigh then, “Angus?”
“The McPherson.”
Jack’s tone was now filled with humour when he asked, “His name is Angus McPherson?”
Belle again thought Jack found the weirdest things funny.
“Yes. Why?”
Jack replied through chuckling, “That’s very Scottish.”
“You don’t know the half of it,” Belle muttered.
“Pardon?”
“Nothing,” Belle said quickly, “Um… I have to tell you something.”
Again with the silence then he said softly, “Anything, my love.”
She felt her belly melt, her heart melt and her mind registered that head over heels love business when she heard his tone and his words.
Both of which made her anxiety fade clean away.
Therefore she told him, “Angus and Cassandra are staying at the castle.”
“That’s fine,” he replied immediately.
Belle blinked before she parroted, “That’s fine?”
“Yes, Belle. We’ve plenty of room. Not to mention if they stay, it’ll save on their expenses.”
Belle was surprised at how easy that was.
She, however, thought it best to forewarn him, “They’re a little bit strange.”
His voice was back to sounding amused. “She’s a clairvoyant witch and he’s a Scottish ghost hunter. I figured they’d be strange, poppet.”
“No, I mean,” Belle took in a breath and said, “they’re really strange.”
“She’s a clairvoyant witch and he’s a very Scottish ghost hunter,” Jack repeated. “I figured they’d be really strange.”
Belle couldn’t help it, she giggled.
Then she gave him the full story. “Cassandra’s doing readings. She thinks there’s a third ghost.”
There was more silence, this longer and far, far heavier.
Finally, he said, “A third ghost.”
“She isn’t sure. She’s doing readings.”
“Readings,” Jack replied.
“I don’t know what that means,” Belle told him. “I’ve been napping but I do know she seemed very keen. Cassandra, I mean. She started straight away.”