Romantic Suspense
Date Published: Sept. 1, 2020
After Blake Nelson catches her abusive fiancé, Parker, with another woman, she seeks serenity at her late grandmother’s beach cottage. He follows Blake to the island and attempts to kill her, but instead, he dies in an accident while fleeing the police. His malevolent spirit returns to the cottage to finish what he started. The haunting intensifies when Blake reconnects with her first love, Clint. Will Blake discover how to banish Parker before it’s too late?
Full Chapter - Chapter 19
Excited to host their first wedding, Nancy and Blake set out a
brunch buffet so the bridal party could eat as they had time.
The vendors began
arriving and setting up. A couple of hours later, they had transformed the
garden into an enchanting wedding setting.
“It’s breathtaking!”
Blake said, stepping into the garden as she made her way to the room where the
bride and bridesmaids were getting ready.
When the photographer
arrived, Blake took her to Emily.
“You are such a
beautiful bride!” Blake said, picturing herself in a white dress and her
grandmother’s pearls.
Emily smiled. “You will
be, too.”
The wedding was a blur
for Blake. As the ceremony played out in front of her eyes, she imagined
marrying Clint. The couple had faced hardships, but they always found their way
back to each other. That had to mean something.
“You may now kiss the
bride,” the officiant announced, bringing Blake back to reality. She scurried
to make sure the caterers had set up the reception buffet in the garden.
After dinner, the bride
and groom cut an elegant two-tier cake, delicately feeding each other a bite.
Not interested in a lot
of dancing, Emily had opted for an alternative to the traditional reception—a
private moonlit tour of the Charleston Harbor aboard a yacht.
She invited Clint, Blake
and Nancy to join the wedding party for the tour. Nancy stayed home but told
them to have fun. When they arrived downtown, Blake gasped at the sight of the
church steeples spanning the skyline of the Holy City, named for its sheer
number of churches.
“It’s beautiful.” Emily
grinned.
“Not as beautiful as my
girl.” Clint stood behind Blake, wrapped his hands around her waist and kissed
her cheek.
Emily gave them a
knowing smile.
As they stepped onto the
boat, the steward handed each of them a glass of champagne. Everyone took a
seat on the deck, except for Cooper, who climbed onto a railing and began
making a toast.
“Thanks to all of our
friends and family who made our wedding day so incredible. Tomorrow, we leave
for our honeymoon, and everyone knows what that means…”
“Okay, bud, come on
down.” Clint offered his hand and helped him down just as the yacht motor began
purring, keeping him from falling on his face and possibly overboard.
Emily’s cheeks flushed,
and she took Cooper to the seat next to hers.
Clint took over the
toast. “To Cooper and Emily! Thanks for trusting us with the most important day
of your lives. Here’s to many happy years together.” Clint raised his glass,
and everyone else followed.
Emily mouthed the words
“thank you” and took a deep breath.
Underneath the blanket
of stars, the tour guide delivered a dramatic monologue about Charleston’s
cobblestone streets, unique architecture and storied past.
“The beautiful oleander
flower is quite poisonous and had no scent or taste. It was undetectable by
medical examiners in the 1800s. The running joke was to be careful who you
accepted a cup of tea from back in those days, or it might be your last.”
Clint seemed to eat up
this account of his hometown’s history. Blake had to stifle her laughter when
his amused grin faded, and he placed his finger and thumb on his chin.
After the tour guide
finished his spiel, Cooper’s parents asked everyone to join them inside for a
surprise. Blake told Clint to go ahead. She needed to use the ladies' room on
the other side of the deck.
Leaving the restroom,
she began making her way across the series of wooden deck planks. The gaps
between the boards started blurring. She pressed her head between her hands to
right her vision and alleviate a splitting headache.
With the swell of the
waves, the boat shifted onto its side. And Blake fell over the railing. Her
foot became trapped underneath a trim board—the only thing standing between her
and the gray, choppy water. Taking deep breaths, she told herself a powerful
gust of wind had sent her tumbling, not Parker’s vengeful spirit. Regardless,
the more she struggled, the looser the grip of the board.
She began screaming for
help; her body dangled mere feet from the swelling waves.
The door to the cabin opened.
“Don’t move, we’re coming to help you!” Clint yelled as he and Cooper ran to
her, freeing her foot and pulling her back over the railing.
Blake sat on a bench,
shaking and her chest heaving.
“Are you alright? What
happened?” Cooper asked. Blake stared at her feet in silence.
Clint patted Cooper on
the back. “Thanks so much for helping, man. I’ve got it from here.” Cooper
frowned but nodded and walked away.
Wincing, Clint asked
Blake what had happened. Tears began streaming down her cheeks before she could
open her mouth to speak. He held her close and consoled her.
When the boat finally
returned to the marina, Blake silently vowed not to travel by sea for a while.
Her body trembled. What if Clint had not been there? Would Parker have
succeeded in drowning her?
Clint drove them back to
the cottage. She climbed out of the Jeep, tempted to kiss the ground. Parker
had been a creep in life, but his spirit could show up in the most random
places and do things Parker could not have done in his human form.
Walking into the
kitchen, Blake put on a pot of decaf coffee. The crisp night air and Parker’s
icy grip had chilled her to the bone. She poured a cup for each of them and
grabbed a handful of fresh-baked chocolate and toffee cookies.
Clint leaned over the
table to kiss her on the forehead. “Are you okay? Really?”
“Yeah—It was just a
shock. I guess I’d better get used to it until we figure out how to get rid of
Parker.”
“I’ll do whatever it
takes to keep you safe. I love you,” Clint said. “If I didn’t tell you already,
you look gorgeous tonight.”
“I’m glad I don’t look
the way I feel…exhausted,” Blake said with a half-smile.
“You’re the most
beautiful person I’ve seen on the island, in South Carolina, and throughout the
world.” He always said the right thing, but that didn’t mean she couldn’t tease
him.
“So now you’re a world
traveler.”
“I could be anything as
long as I’m with you.” Damn! He led
her to the bedroom, where he kissed each of her fingers delicately. The couple
became intertwined, connecting on a spiritual level. Their love was more than a
fleeting romance. They were more complete, more themselves together. Who could
ask for more?
About the Author
Stephanie Edwards has been writing professionally since she landed her first newspaper column at the age of 13. Her love for the Lowcountry, the Atlantic Ocean and a good ghost story inspired her to write her first book. She lives in Tennessee with her husband, Ron, and their adorable dog, Shadow.
Contact Links
Twitter: @steph_a_edwards
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(Companion Coloring Book, sold separately) Pearls of Wisdom: An Adult Coloring Book
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