I've Been Waiting for You (12 page)

Colum could see the scene below him by the light of the moon. He saw his Katherine and the two young spirits hugging her. Their light was fierce and then it would dim but he knew where his wife would be for the next few hours till dawn appeared.

Katherine sat with Little Olaf on her lap and Thor cuddled in her arm. They sat talking. Katherine telling them about her past life, how she had met Colum, how he saved her and then ultimately, with the help of Travis, rebirthed her.

“Travis?”

“Yes, he was Mael Morda Mac Muchada, your great Uncle, brother to Gormflaith. I don’t think you saw much of him after the battle of Clontarf because he was a newly born vampire.”

“I remember him before the battle. He would come to talk to my father and his sister, our grandmother
.” Thor leaned into his mother’s arm. Looking up into her face he smiled. Olaf laughed.

“Can I ask you something mother?”

Katherine kissed the shimmer that was very strong for a few minutes then would fade out more and more. She glanced at her watch and knew she didn’t have much time with her boys for now. “Ask me anything.”

Thor looked at his little brother and saw how happy he finally was. They had been waiting and wishing for a very long time. “Will you leave us?”

Katherine knew if she answered young Thor the wrong way she may make it impossible to ever see them again. She knew nothing of the spirit world. “Thor, you know this castle is no longer mine?”

She saw Thor nod his head, but saw him biting his lip. Then she thought of what she had heard the help tal
king about when she was clear across the dining room. They didn’t realize she had acute hearing and could hear mice running along the stone floors.

“We are here for a month for my daughter Sally’s wedding to Odin. Let me talk to Colum. If anyone can help us
, he can, do you remember him?”

Both boys nodded their heads. “Can he purchase the ca
stle so you never have to leave?”

Katherine hugged the boys but it was more shimmer than anything. “Let me see what I can d
o, OK?”

Young Thor whispered in his mother’s ear. “I’ll be
taking my wish to the fairies.”

Katherine saw they were fading. “Are you two getting tired?”

She saw them nod. “Let’s just sit for now. We will visit every night. Just come find me.”

“Mama?”

“Yes, Olaf?”

“Will you introduce us to your family
?”

Katherine smiled. “Yes, tomorrow Colum
, and then I will have you meet the rest, but maybe not my sister-in-law, Issy, she may not understand you.”

Thor laughed. “I think I scared her. We always check out the new guest, hoping it would be you some day.”

Olaf sat up straight. “If you only knew what mischief he has done.”

Katherine smiled. “Oh, I think I can guess. It’s
OK, but don’t be scaring anyone for the next month.”

Thor smiled. “We will try not to.”

Katherine was sitting by herself in the kitchen the next morning. Colum had left early for Dublin saying he was going to speak with the family attorney’s and then go to the realtor, whom he always dealt with. He wanted to see what he could do about getting the castle back in the family.

So Katherine sat by herself. Olivia was still asleep
and the nanny watched over her and her twin, Liam. Katherine was glad for the few minutes of quiet because even with the help of the nanny and Thor, she seemed to be running twenty-four hours a day. Baby Liam was more like a human baby. He was as big as Olivia, but seemed to be content with just being a baby. Whereas Olivia seemed to really want to grow fast and pushed the envelope with everything.

Katherine was ma
king a list and smiling to herself. She wondered if her first husband could see her from heaven. She was adding to her list when someone cleared their throat. Looking up she saw the gardener, Uncle Tom.

“Begging your pardon
, Ma’am.”

Katherine got to her feet and seemed to tower over him. “You must be
Uncle Tom.” She walked up to him and extended her hand.

Tom had seen a great many women but this one took the cake. She was one of the most beautiful redheads he had ever seen. She was taller than him
, too. He had always been short, his family wasn’t known for being tall, and with age he had shrunk some. She also looked really strong. “Forgive my forwardness, but you’re big, Ma’am.”

Katherine laughed. Saw the shocked look. “I’m sorry, it’s just I don’t get that much. You know about my husband’s family
?”

Tom nodded. “Who wouldn’t
, who has half a brain, even me, plain old Tom, the gardener? I understand that there are things in this world that can’t be explained away. I wish I hadn’t gotten so used to the drink but that’s to help with my aches and pains.”

Katherine smiled. “Well then
, you will understand when I say in the last two years I have grown or filled out so to speak, since I was killed and reborn.”

Tom nodded his head. “Your husband told me this morning this was your castle in a past life
.”

Katherine motioned for Tom to come sit with her. “Yes, now let
’s have some coffee and talk. There are fresh scones too. I have many questions about the spirits here.”

Tom took the seat he had been given. It was rare indeed for him, simple Tom, the gardener and grounds keeper
, to sit in the big house. “I will tell you all I know, after all, I have been here all my life. There are other ghosts or spirits that aren’t as nice as the Wee One and his brother.”

Katherine put a plate of scones down in front of him and good Kerry Gold Butter. Tom took one of the scones and slathered on the butter.
Katherine knew she would have to be patient. Though she had seen her boys, she wanted to know as much as she could.

“You know there are a few mischievous ghosts?”

Katherine smiled. “I think it’s the boys, they told me last night when I talked with them that Thor, my step-son would do that if he heard someone was making fun of ghosts.”

Tom wiped his hands. “No, there are other ghosts who have done things that really scared the guest
s. Just about a month ago, after another wedding, the wedding party left very quickly. A woman, some expert she says she was, traveled all the way from America. Said she was coming back to spend a lot of time, to check out the paranormal activity here for some show. I didn’t like her and it happened to be on the day your husband traveled here to secure the castle for the month. I’ve worked for your husband in the past and I told him “I don’t like that woman and I don’t think she’s going to be good for the castle.”

Katherine was sitting on the edge of her seat. “How do you know?”

Tom leaned in closer to Katherine and could detect the strong scent of roses. “Because the boys told me that she is no good and it unsettled all the spirits here. All of them like you, and won’t be bad while you and your family are here, but they still roam and talk to me.”

Katherine knew there was more. “Tell me what you can about the woman
.”

Tom pulled a flyer out of his pocket. “This is what she left behind. See
, she’s real polished looking, but something is wrong when a ghost doesn’t even want a human around. You know they get their energy from humans being around. This one is all bad.”

Katherine opened up the pages of this Madison Smith
’s Paranormal Research Company and when she flipped to the back page she dropped the flyer.

“Ma’am, are you alright?”

Katherine stared down at the flyer she had dropped. She felt a tap on her arm and coming out of the fog she saw Uncle Tom watching her with anxiety. “Ma’am, would you want me to get one of your family members?”

Katherine tried to move but she couldn’t. “No, just pick that up again
. I think I know why the ghosts are so upset.”

Tom picked i
t up and looked at the photo. “Why?”

Katherine took another look and knew she was right. “Because in a past life
, she was my mother-in-law, and her name was Gormflaith.”

Tom looked at the photo and then at Katherine. “You’re sure?”

Tom scratched his head. Thought for a moment and remembered the tale of the High King and his beautiful, wicked wife. “Then that means she was the woman, the High King’s wife, who stirred up trouble for him and her brothers and sons, then started the Battle of Clontarf on Good Friday.” He studied Katherine, saw her visibly shaken. He was sure it would be the only time he would see a vampire shake like she had seen a ghost. “You’re sure?”

“Positive
.”

“Mother of God
,” he said shaking his head as he studied the photo.

* * * * * * * *

Katherine was walking down the stone stairs that led to the rose garden when she felt a rush of wind come breezing past her. “Thor, is that you?” She heard a sound like tinkling bells and knew that must be Olaf. It was funny how his laugh sounded like tiny bells. Then she felt the impact of Olaf and saw a shimmer around her waist. She smiled. “OK, boys, let’s go see Colum.”

Colum heard Katherine tal
king before she walked into the living room. Beside her were the two outlines of her sons. One shimmer disappeared and the next instant he felt a whirlwind around his body, then saw it settle next to Katherine. Seeing the larger spirit next to Katherine, he knew this one must be Thor. He had always been a mischief maker. “Hello Thor, do you remember me?”

Thor came up and stood next to Colum. He was a good eight inches shorter then Colum
, but he was still tall. His mama had said he was going to be as tall as his real father.

“Yes Sire
, I remember you.”

He floated around him one more time and then found a seat. Since Colum and his Mama were vampires the energy they gave off was a great deal stronger. Sitting for a moment he felt strength and knew they would be able to see him
more clearly. He saw his brother coming into focus and saw the look on his mama’s face.

Katherine looked from her two sons to Colum. “Do you see them?”

Colum came up to Katherine and wrapped an arm around her. “Yes, I think they are charging their batteries so to speak.

Olaf looked from his Mama to his step
-father. “Charging batteries?”

Colum laughed and smiled at the younger of Katherine’s sons. “Yes, being around us you are getting stronger.” He took Katherine’s hand and gave it a squeeze and smiled at her.
“Now it seems we may have a problem, but not one that can’t be taken care of.

Olaf had slip
ped onto Katherine’s lap and laid his head on her breast, smiling up to her every few seconds. Thor was content with sitting next to her, touching her hand.

“What kind of problem
, Sire?”

“Thor, call me Colum
, or father as you did when, when you were alive last.”

Thor nodded
. “
Father, what problem?”

Colum hadn’t even had a chance to talk with Katherine so she would be as shocked
as he had been. “It would seem that somehow word got out that the current owners of this castle were thinking of selling. My attorneys contacted the owner who told him to contact his attorney. There appears to be a woman from America who has made an offer for the castle that the current owner, who is in debt up to his eye balls so to speak, took without a backward glance.”

“Debt up to one
’s eye balls, you certainly speak differently, though we have learned a few words over the years and have made our speech more colorful.”

“Yes, without you Mama we have spoken quite freely and with no moral compass
.”

Thor remembered Colum was trying to tell them something and he could see his Mama was getting upset.

“Colum, please tell us about this offer the current owner received,” Katherine said.

Colum cleared his throat. “It’s an undisclosed amount but they are to sign papers in a week’s time. The current owner said he hoped the new owner was going to allow us to stay for the wedding. She has made it quite clear she wants us out.” He saw Katherine’s eyes getting red.

Katherine had a sneaking suspicion just who the buyer was. “Was it this woman?” She laid the pamphlet of Madison Smith’s Paranormal Research down on the coffee table that was loaded with magazines.

Colum picked it up, took one look at the photo and one look at Katherine. He now knew why her eyes were blood red. This woman, Madison Smith
, was clearly Gormflaith.

“Mama, that woman looks just like our
grandmother.”

Thor took off in a whirlwind and rushed about the room. He paced back and forth
.
He knew the man who had killed his Mama had worked for his grandmother. Now, he was looking at a photo of a modern woman and she looked just like his evil grandmother.

Olaf felt nervous and could feel himself getting weak. “Mama, I’ve been waiting for you
, far too long to let her...”

Katherine wrapped her arms tight
ly around her little spirit son. He came back into focus. “You don’t have to worry about me, she can never harm me. She may not even know who she was but just feel a tie of some sort.”

Colum knew Katherine was trying to calm the boys and knew this could send them away if they felt a need to stay safe.
“Your Mother is right. There is no need to worry until we know more. Also, I have placed an offer should hers falls through for whatever reason. Don’t worry.”

Travis came into the living room and saw the shimmers of the two spirits that he knew were Katherine’s boys. They had been his great nephews back before he had died and been reborn. He saw one go off in a whirlwind, the other staying close to Katherine.

“Sire, there is a call for you in the library, a Miss Madison Smith from...”

Colum stood up. “Thank you Travis
, why don’t you come and get re-acquainted with your nephews.”

Colum kissed Katherine’s head as he passed and patted Olaf on the shoulder.

Thor looked at his mother. “Mother would you mind if I went with father?”

Katherine smiled. “Not at all, when you come back Travis will still be here.”

Thor followed Colum down the hallway to the other wing on the ground floor. They reached the library and Thor sat down but felt like flying.

Colum looked at young Thor and knew he would want to hear what this woman had to say. “I will put it on speaker phone so you can hear her speak.”

Thor nodded and sat as still as was all possible.

Colum hit the speaker button and answered the phone. “This is Colum O’Heachthanna
.”

“
Mr. O’Heachthanna, I am so sorry for the late hour of my call but I was busy all day wrapping up this deal with my attorneys and I felt a personal call to you was needed.”

Colum put his finger to his lips because he could see that Thor was reacting to her voice
, a voice one never forgot as long as they walked the earth, whether a creature like himself or a ghost.

Thor was having a hard time. This woman spoke English
, but the tone was the same, and he wanted to fly away and bring mother to a hiding place.

“Yes
, Miss Smith we were told by the realtor and our family’s attorney that you were making a purchase of this castle from the current owner. I was hoping we could come to some arrangement since I had rented this castle for the sole purpose of my daughter’s wedding in three weeks’ time.”

“
I wish I could oblige but I think that will be impossible. I have camera crews coming as early as next week for the show on paranormal activity and a wedding will not fit into my plans.”

Colum smiled at Thor and shook his finger. He was watching Thor write down a note and it said he had plans for this woman and the crew
.

“What day must we be out? I have family already here and to find a place to accommodate a large wedding that was planned at such a late date
will take time,” he wasn’t going to tell her he had his own castles but had purposely rented this castle because it had been Katherine’s. He was determined not to lose this castle and if it took extra paranormal activity to get this lady to give it up he would do it. He wasn’t beyond playing dirty, if needs be.