thought better of what I was about to say. I mean nothing could be worse than a person who’s been given everything and finds fault. I don’t want to be her.”
“There’s no one here but you, me, and the dogs. And, since I’m your solicitor, everything you tell me is confidential.”
I chuckled. “Good to know. Well, if you’re pressing and really want to know my deepest thoughts about housing, I don’t like the door that connects the Hallows and the house. It doesn’t feel right.”
Lochlan nodded. “Go on. I can tell there’s something else.”
“Well, there was this TV show once where a private eye sort of lived with his car. I mean there was an overhead door that opened to his living room? With space for the car? And if I was designing from scratch, I’d do something like that.”
With a smile, Lochlan said, “A fairytale cottage with a car in the living room. Sounds perfect for you.”
“Stop it!” I laughed. “When you put it like that, it makes me sound like a ninny.”
“You’re entitled to your druthers, Rita. As we all are. Now here’s what I want you to do. Think through exactly what you’d like. I’ll make a call to someone who can make that happen.”
I stopped abruptly. “Just like that?” He nodded. “Wow.”
“We own a lot of property around Hallow Hill. Where would you like your house to be?”
“On this side of the town.”
He smiled. “Like where Ivy and I live.”
I returned his smile with the appropriate sheepishness. “Well it is a good location. I don’t want to be close enough to crowd you. But it is a great location. From your front gate you can see most of the village and all the way down the lane to the river. It’s charming.”
“I’m flattered you like it. As you know, there’s nothing across the way from us but field. Do you think you’d be happy there?”
“I would, but like I said I…”
“You would not be crowding us. It would be a pleasure to have you as a neighbor. And I’m sure the dogs would love having their pups close by.”
I laughed. “Back to that, are we?”
Lochlan and Fie joined Maggie, Dolan, Olivia, and I for lunch. It was a fascinating study in group dynamics to see how changing the composition of the group changed the atmosphere and conversation.
“Olivia,” I said. “I’m starting to think you really could cook anything I name.” I took another bite of tapa with spicy chicken in perfect pastry.
Everyone around the table complimented Olivia in turn. She blushed, but perhaps slightly less than the day before.
After lunch I picked up reading where I’d left off, but had some trouble focusing. My mind kept wandering to my upcoming tea at Keir’s house and what I was going to see.
The organization that Olivia had made of my clothes was magazine worthy. But that didn’t stop me from plowing through drawers and hangers to try to find the right thing. When I found the perfect thing for a gatehouse tea, a ruin exploration, and a creature unveiling, it didn’t fit. Of course.
My jeggings, that should be flatteringly sexy, pushed my womanliness up so that it spilled over the waistband. Ugh. Pub food. And wine.
With regret I set them aside and dubbed them ‘goal’ jeggings. I pulled on thick cotton tights with plenty of give in fabric and seams, topped that with a long sea-blue knit tunic, and grabbed my vintage knockoff bomber jacket. I tried on the red shoes, but they looked so outrageous that I decided to wear my ankle boots that could sub as hikers and carry the magic pumps in a tote.
I gave Romeo the address.
“Very good, madam.”
“How long until we’re there?”
“Five minutes.”
“Oh. It’s really close.”
“Yes, madam.”
“Well, carry on.” What can I say? It was becoming one of my favorite expressions.
While Romeo drove, I texted Keir.
ME. Five minutes.
KEIR: Waiting.
By the time we were halfway there I could see the castle ruins at the top of a hill.
“Is that where we’re going?” I asked Romeo knowing he could not see where I was pointing.
Still, he said, “Yes, madam,” as if he could.
It was glorious. It was majestic. It was romantic. Perhaps more so than when it was new and in a fine state of repair. When we neared the entrance, I saw Keir waving.
“Drive toward the man who’s waving,” I instructed.
When the car stopped, Keir opened my door and whistled. “Nice car, Magistrate.”
I looked back like I’d forgotten what it looked like. “I didn’t