I reached for the closet door, and Clay stopped me. “Hang on. What’s your plan?”
Letting out a sigh, I took his hands. “I do have a plan. But I’m not saying anything until Wallie gets back from picking up the trailer.”
“Okay.” He didn’t look convinced as he moved away from the closet door.
“I know what to do. If I tell you right now there is a strong chance you will move on, and I want Wallie here when you do.” I gave his hands a squeeze and let go of them. “We’ll wait.”
I eased the closet door open and peeked inside. Wade was on our twin-size air mattress, sound asleep. My heart ached for him. I hoped I was able to help him adjust. I’d find a way. He was family.
Closing the door, I looked at Clay and my heart broke all over again. “Can you hang out a little longer?”
He nodded but looked so sad. “Putting it off will only make it hurt more.”
I turned away from him, not wanting to have this conversation just yet. He flashed to stand in front of me, his brows bunched together. “You promised me you wouldn’t grieve me for too long. It’s been five and a half years.”
“I know that!” I pushed him and started walking toward the door again.
He rushed up behind me and threw his arms around me. I turned without a second thought and buried my face into his chest the way I had for so many years while we were married. Every time I needed comfort, he’d hold me like this.
My spell had worn off and he was back to his ghostly form. As long as I was touching him, he was solid—like he had never died. I could potentially keep him with me forever. “I made that promise when I believed we would both live to be over a hundred and would die within days of each other.” I looped my arms under his to hug him tighter.
Glancing at the door, I saw Drew standing just inside the room. He watched us, but I didn’t feel any jealousy coming from him.
Clay turned so both of us looked at Drew and Luci, who had gotten up from the bed and stood beside my boyfriend as my dead husband held me. “Ava is a fascinating creature,” Luci said quietly.
Drew chuckled. I rolled my eyes and pointed at Luci. “Clay, this is my new neighbor, Satan. I summoned him during Christmas while attempting to summon Santa Claus.”
Clay studied Lucifer for a moment then focused back on me, shaking his head. “My time on earth is done. I need to go and prepare for my next journey. You have a purpose, and it begins with letting go of the past.”
I released Clay and stepped away. “I know. But not until Wallie gets back. I’m not doing it without him.”
Then I left the bedroom to go finish packing the last-minute items, leaving my old flame and my new flame hanging in a bedroom with my undead uncle. And Satan.
Just a normal day, really.
Chapter Fourteen
I’d been avoiding Clay all day. In my defense, I’d been busy loading the back of the truck and the trailer once Wallie got home. The house was empty now except for the furniture that Hailey said she wanted to keep and the donation stuff, which was marked clearly or neatly boxed.
Luci had even helped with the loading, a miracle. He’d used magic so he could sit on his rear end and surf social media. I guessed I could have used magic too, but I’d needed the physical labor to distract me from what had to be done.
I’d put it off as long as I could. Walking over to the mantel, I picked up the urn with Clay’s ashes and hugged it to me. “Wallie, can you come here?” I called.
He was outside doing a final check and tying down the tarp over the bed of the truck. He walked into the house and stared at the urn in my hands. Sadness filled his eyes as he closed the distance between us and took my hand. “It’s time,” I said.
He nodded then glanced at the hallway. Wade stood in the archway. The sun had just set, so he was safe to move about the house. I waved him over to join us. He was Clay’s uncle after all. Since Wade was now undead, it was possible he could see Clay.
Once Wade joined us, Drew directed Sam, Olivia, Zoey, and Luci into the kitchen to give us a little privacy. That man deserved a kiss.
Clay appeared in front of us, and Wade jumped. “Holy effing hell!” He looked at me then back to Clay. “How?”
Clay pointed at me. “She hasn’t let go, so I can’t move on.”
Frowning, I looked down at the urn. “You were right when you said I’m meant to stay and find my purpose. I’m grateful for the time we had together, and I hate that it had to end.” My heart thumped so hard I had to take a deep breath and release it slowly. Wallie and Wade rubbed my back as I gathered my strength. “Drew helped me figure out the one thing that I haven’t done. I wasn’t ready to say goodbye and that was unfair to you. I broke my promise.” I’d kept Clay at arm’s length the whole time I was here because I’d known that this would be the end game. In reality, I wanted to push everyone away and cling to Clay. We could live here together in the house until I was old and shriveled up.
But that wouldn’t be fair to him. Or me. Or my new life and family in Shipton.
My vision blurred as tears filled my eyes. Before Clay could say anything, I held up his ashes in the center of our little circle. “I’m taking your ashes back to Shipton where the three of us will spread them into the ocean. You’ll be near me that way, always.”
As soon as the words left my mouth, I knew it was the right thing. My grief didn’t feel so heavy. It was still there, but not as crippling. I had to let him go, and I was ready. The Universe had plans for me that didn’t include my past.
Clay smiled and became solid. He also glowed with an inner light as he stepped closer to me. Then he pressed his lips to mine softly. After he pulled back, he hugged Wade, then Wallie. They’d spent some good time together, bonding and saying goodbye while we were here.
Clay turned to me and cupped my face. “I love you and always will, no matter where I end up.”
I believed him. Somehow, someway, and someday, we would meet again. I bit back a sob. “You will always be in my heart and a part of my soul. Go enjoy your next life and journey.” I gripped his arms. “Until we meet again.”
Wallie nodded. “Everything Mom said. Thank you for being my dad. It was too short, but you were the best father.”
Clay hugged his son again and turned to Wade. “A vamp. I never saw that coming. You have to tell my mom.”
We laughed at Clay’s joke. His mother hated anything that wasn’t human.
Clay turned back to me and kissed me lightly on the lips. “I love you, Ava. The best part about moving on now is that I can do so knowing you are happy and found someone to share the rest of your life with.” He nodded toward the kitchen. “If you treat him half as well as you did me, he’s a lucky man.”
I wasn’t sure about the rest of my life, but I was starting to learn I needed to live in the moment. For now, I had Drew. But this wasn’t about him. It was about Clay. “I’ll love you until the end of time.”
And then, I let him go. Something deep inside me unclenched, and I breathed out and with my breath, Clay blew me a kiss, and quietly, lovingly, he faded away, moving on to his next big adventure.
I collapsed against Wallie and Wade, sobbing my heart out. Someone took the urn from me, and Drew came out of the kitchen and wrapped me in his arms. I sank into him, burying my face into his chest. “He’s gone,” I wailed against his shirt.