bag over there for each of the kids and one for another good boy I know.” Jude dropped a sexy wink.
“Another good boy?” Cope wore a dubious look as if he didn’t believe Jude.
“Come with me.” Jude led Cope over to the present table. “Check out the gift tag on this bag right here.” Jude pointed to the present at the end of the table.
Cope raised a questioning eyebrow at Jude, then did as his husband asked. “Wait, that’s my name.”
“Yes, it is.” Taking the bag, Jude led his husband over to the adult table. He laid it down in front of Cope. “Go ahead. Open it.”
Handing the baby to Jude, Cope reached into the bag and pulled out something flat wrapped in green tissue paper. He set it down on the table and began pulling the paper back from it. It was a purple spiral-bound notebook with four dividers between the sections. Beneath the notebook was a package of purple pens. “Jude, what is all this?”
“I bought those at CVS yesterday. They are brand-new. The only human beings who have ever touched them are very much alive. It’s my way of apologizing to you, for giving you a haunted birthday present.”
After the commotion at The Beecher House was over, Jude and Cope had packed the antique typewriter away and stored it in their attic. The spirit of Brooks Stanhope was no longer tied to it, but Jude knew Cope would never be able to bring himself to write with it again.
“I’ve had a lot of time to think about Father Musgrave, Geneva Beecher, Brooks Stanhope, and the others. I absolutely believe you were meant to purchase that typewriter. We were meant to help those people find peace. It wasn’t the easiest case we’ve ever worked on, but it was the most satisfying.” Cope ran a hand over the new notebook.
“You’re right. I would never want to go through anything like that again, but I’m glad we were able to help the spirits, as well as Peg.” After Marc Waller regained consciousness, Cisco Jackson and Eli Dixon had been there to arrest him on charges of domestic violence, kidnapping, and possession with intent to cause bodily harm. While Eli and Cisco had been arresting Peg’s husband, other members of the Salem Police Department had been arresting Miranda West for her part in the scheme to con Peg out of her money.
Cope was lost in thought when he felt something tug on the leg of his pants. “Hi!” Everly announced before climbing into Cope’s lap.
“Hello, little lady. Did you enjoy your cake?” Cope pressed a kiss to her forehead. Everly’s lips were stained pink from the frosting.
Everly didn’t answer. Instead she settled against his chest with a contented sigh.
“You knew the answer all along, didn’t you?” Cope pressed another kiss to the top of her head.
“What answer? What are you talking about?” Ronan asked from behind them. Tennyson was standing next to him.
“Has Everly been shouting the word ‘no’ since we wrapped up the case at The Beecher House?” Cope asked, a careful tone in his voice.
“Ummm, no, she hasn’t. Everly has also been her old cuddly self. I guess I didn’t put two and two together until you mentioned it.” Ronan wore a puzzled look on his face.
“What does the case at The Beecher house have to do with Everly?” Tennyson asked.
“When I was speaking with Father Musgrave, it hit me. Everly wasn’t saying the word no, she was trying to say Noah. As in Noah Black.”
“You’re telling me my sixteen-month-old daughter knew who was behind this haunting before any of the rest of us knew?” Ronan sounded skeptical.
“We’ve all been telling you how powerful Everly was going to be when she came into her powers. This case is a prime example of what she’s going to be capable of one day.” Cope wrapped his arms around the little girl more tightly.
Thanks to his gift, Cope had seen so much of what was to come for Everly. For all of the kids, actually. For now, he was content to sit back and watch it all unfold.
There weren’t enough true surprises left in the world anymore and what was coming up was a doozy.
THE END
HAVE YOU MET GUNNAR AND KENNEDY? CHECK OUT GUNNAR’S GUARDIAN!
Aside from being a cop, Kennedy is used to living a quiet life. But when a new neighbor moves in next door, his peaceful days are at an end.
Gunnar pushes all Kennedy’s buttons. He’s rude, cocky, and overconfident. He’s also sexy, and Kennedy can’t deny the attraction that simmers between them.
He helps Gunnar find a job at the local firehouse, where Gunnar seems to fit in well. As they grow closer, tragedy strikes. Will Kennedy be able to save the man who’s become his whole life?
Gunnar’s Guardian is the first book in the Protect and Serve Series and features a hot cop and his annoying neighbor, hot firefighters, and an arsonist on the loose.
GUNNAR’S GUARDIAN IS AVAILABLE IN EBOOK AND PAPERBACK. COMING SOON TO AUDIO BOOK
mybook.to/GunnarsGuardian
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