Even though I’d hemmed and hawed about it, I really didn’t expect anything to happen. I mean, why would Miranda choose a Ouija board to communicate when she could elicit a light show whenever she wanted? So, yeah, I was more than a little surprised when the damn planchette moved over YES. And then, the scent of fresh-cut flowers filled the room. I breathed a sigh of relief. At least I knew it was her.
“Um, wow,” Maddie said. “Ask her something else.”
“Grandma, did you move that?”
Shaking her head no, she said, “Maddie’s right. Ask another question.”
“Miranda, is there a reason you want me to be able to see you?”
YES.
“Why?” My hand trembled. I tried to hold it steady.
I–T
W–I–L–L
M–A–K–E
O–U–R
C–O–N–N–E–C–T-I–O–N
S–T–R–O–N–G–E–R.
Hmm. “Is there anything I can do to help?”
YES.
“What? Spell it for us.”
B–E–L–I–E–V–E
“Believe,” Maddie announced.
“Yeah, got that. I do believe. Kind of hard not to, so I don’t understand.”
Grandma Verda said, “What do we need to believe in?”
The planchette didn’t move, so I repeated Grandma’s question. Still nothing.
“Miranda? I’m confused. Could you help me out?”
NO.
“Geez, thanks,” I said sarcastically. “This is a waste of time.” Y–O–U
“Shh, Lizzie,” Grandma whispered.
M–U–S–T
“You must. You must what?” I asked.
B–E–L–I–E–V–E.
“Obviously, I do believe or I wouldn’t be doing this, would I? No, I don’t think so.” Stubborn ghost.
S–A–R–C–A–S–M
W–O–N–T
H–E–L–P.
Maddie laughed. “That’s awesome. She has your attitude, Lizzie. Or maybe you have hers.”
“Oh hush,” I said. “What will help then?”
J–U–S–T
B–E–L–I–E–V–E.
“This isn’t telling us anything more than we knew before. Ask her something else,” Maddie said.
“Oh. I know.” This was actually kind of fun. In a weird bonding with your long-dead-relatives sort of way. We could have been in one of those Maxwell House commercials. “Miranda, were you with me at A Taste of Magic when Troy came in?”
NO.
That was all me? I scared Troy off all on my own?
YES.
“What did she say yes to? No one asked a question,” Grandma said. “And who’s Troy?”
“Um, I did. Well, I thought a question. I’ll tell you about Troy later.” What do I need to believe in?
Y–O–U
N–E–E–D
T–O
F–I–N–D
T–H–E
A–N–S–W–E–R.
“She went too fast. I couldn’t figure it out,” Grandma said. “What did she say? What did you ask, Lizzie?”
“I asked her what I needed to believe in.”
“She said, ‘You need to find the answer,’ ” Maddie replied. Frustrated, I dropped my hands and stood. “That’s enough. At least now I know where the women in our family get their mule-headedness from.”
Grandma Verda laughed and removed her hands, too. “I could have told you that without Miranda.”
Maddie tossed me a glance. Her skin, normally a golden hue, was pale white. “How can you two be so cavalier about this? This is totally insane.” Clasping both hands around her glass, she shook her head. “I don’t know. It’s just completely unreal to me.”
“Well, I didn’t exactly take it easily the first time Miranda spoke to me. I’d be worried if you weren’t nervous,” I said.
“Lizzie. Maddie. Look,” Grandma said.
The triangle was moving by itself. Really fast. My stomach jumped, and perspiration bubbled on my forehead. “She shouldn’t be able to do that, should she?”
“What’s it saying?” Maddie asked.
“Start over, Miranda,” Grandma said.
The triangle stopped, moved to the center of the board, paused for a second and then started over.
M–A–G–I–C
I–S
G–E–T–T–I–N–G
S–T–R–O–N–G–E–R
U–S–E
I–T
W–I–S–E–L–Y.
The triangle hovered, circling the board but not stopping anywhere in particular. “I know it’s getting stronger, Miranda,” I whispered. Finally, it rested on GOOD-BYE.
Instantly, the flower scent vanished. I picked up the little plastic triangle. It felt warm in my hand. “I guess she’s telling me to be careful of what I wish for.”
Sound advice, even if it had come from a ghost.
Shirley jumped onto Grandma Verda’s lap and meowed.
Grandma Verda nodded. “She never warned me when I used it. You must be really powerful, Lizzie.”
“She is. You should have seen the light show in my place the other day,” Maddie interjected. “Not to mention the wind. It knocked over my plants it was so strong.”
“Wind? Light show? I never had lights or wind—just a tingly feeling that filled me. That’s how I knew what ever I’d cast had taken hold.”
“Really?” This interested me. “I wish Mom had experience with this, too. I’d like to know how it’s differed for each of us.”
Grandma Verda snorted. “Your mother, as much as I love her, never believed in magic. She’s the picture of your grandfather, through and through. Now, tell me who Troy is.”
My grandmother never let anything slip between the cracks. Apparently, my mother hadn’t filled her in. I hesitated. How much to tell her? “Alice’s