“I second that,” Vivien added, grinning.
“I was going to say blueberry vodka form.” Heather chuckled.
“Oh, no, no drinks tonight. We all agreed,” Lorna said. “Though I would enjoy a red wine about right now.” Just as Vivien was about to get up to grab a bottle, she added, “Kidding. Kidding. We’re being good. No drunk séancing any demons tonight.”
“So what are you saying? We need to go get candle-making supplies now?” Vivien asked.
“Could be a fun project,” Lorna said. Of course, Lorna also liked to cook, so she would think boiling candle wax sounded fun. For Vivien, it seemed like it would be cool once or twice, but she’d grow bored eventually.
“We could,” Heather said, “but luckily we have something Julia didn’t. Overnight shipping.”
Heather reached into her bag and pulled out blue candles. She placed them on the table. “I intend for these to help us communicate with the dead better.”
Vivien nodded. “Okay. I intend the same.”
“Me too,” Lorna said.
Heather nodded, though it was clear they weren’t exactly sure of what they were doing, or if just stating an intention would even work. She then took out a bundle of herbs.
“Smudging seems pretty straightforward. We should start doing it at least once a month, maybe once a week.” Heather set the smudging sticks on the table next to the candles. “We light these sticks of sage and lavender, then bring the smoke around each room counterclockwise along the walls and cast out negative energy. When we’re done, we smother the ends in sand.” She took out a bag of sand and a bowl. “I tried it at the theater earlier. I know it sounds odd, but I think it helped lighten the area of negative energy.”
“You did this alone? At the theater?” Lorna frowned. She lifted her thigh and adjusted her sore hip.
“I’m with Lorna on this one. We shouldn’t do anything like this alone,” Vivien said.
“I thought it was worth a try. I can’t keep canceling all the shows.” Heather set the bowl and bag of sand on the table. “I want it to be safe when people return. And William was with me. He’s trying to learn about this stuff too. He wants to be supportive.”
Vivien knew Heather was frightened for the safety of theater patrons, and that she also needed the theater to bring in business in order to pay the property taxes on her inheritance.
Vivien nodded. “Okay. Good. I’m glad your brother was there with you.”
William had spent most of his life denying his family’s ability to see ghosts, so supporting them in their new hobby was an enormous step for him.
“Is that what he went to help you with earlier?” Lorna asked. “He mentioned meeting you at the theater. I thought it had to do with shoring up the stage.”
They’d found the book by tripping a hidden lever that caused the stage floor to drop. By all rights, there should have been a hole in the floor, but somehow the trap door reversed itself, and they hadn’t been able to get back inside—not that they needed to. The lever no longer worked.
“We’ve looked at it, but I think the stage floor will hold,” Heather said. “The only thing left under there besides some old ropes and broken pullies is Julia’s altar. I think it was more of a set prop than anything. There are no drawings of it in the book to make me think it is important.”
“I think I’m ready to go back to work,” Lorna said. “I can’t keep lying around here all day long. Besides, I can’t let you pay me for doing nothing. You forgot to turn off the autopay into my bank account this week. Plus, I shudder to think what my hospital bill will look like when it comes.”
Heather looked like she might protest, but then said, “I’ll make you a deal. I’ll let you come back to work if you let us take some of that pain away from you so you can work.”
Vivien nodded. “Yep. I agree.”
“But—” Lorna began to protest.
“No more buts. I can’t stand to see you sitting sideways like that any longer.” Vivien stood. She walked toward the couch and kneeled in front of Lorna. She grabbed Lorna’s hand and pulled it to rest against her own hip. “Do it.”
Lorna tried to pull her hand away from Vivien, but Vivien held on tight. Lorna bit the corner of her lip and closed her eyes. Vivien’s thigh tingled and ached where Lorna touched her. Lorna didn’t transfer much, but the woman gave a small sigh as the tingling sensation stopped.
“Was that too much?” Lorna asked.
Vivien rubbed her hip. It felt like a sore muscle from working out too hard. “It’s fine.”
“Okay, now me,” Heather said. She angled her butt toward Lorna. When Lorna hesitated, she teased, “I don’t back this hiney up for just anyone. Lay it on me.”
Lorna laughed and gave Heather’s hip a light smack. Then, with a deep breath as if steadying herself, she put her hand on Heather and closed her eyes. Vivien watched Heather squint as the pain transferred into her. It wasn’t long before Lorna lifted her hand.
Heather shifted her weight on the couch. “That’s not too bad.”
“Can you sit up now?” Vivien asked.
Lorna leaned to the side, gave a small moan, and smiled. “Omigod, I can’t believe how much that helped. Thank you.”
Lorna wiggled back and forth on the cushion as if testing her healed hip.
“You should have done it days ago,” Heather said. “Next time listen to us.”
“Two days ago it hurt too badly,” Lorna denied. “I couldn’t share that level of—”
“My point exactly,” Heather countered. “What are friends for if not to help carry the load. We were all there when we brought that dogface demon into our world. There is no reason why you are the only one who has to suffer because of it.”
They’d made the argument before. Lorna had refused to listen.
“What I should have done is take you with me to see Rex,” Vivien said, as the idea occurred to her. She went back to her seat. The hip was sore, but she wouldn’t let Lorna see that it bothered her. “You can transfer all the suffering you want to that giant asshole.”
“Here, eat your feelings,” Heather instructed, nudging a wrapped burrito toward Vivien.
Vivien groaned and shook her head. “I can’t eat anymore. Fine, I concede. I might have over-ordered.”
“Ya think?” Heather chuckled. “Listen, you need to push Rex out of your thoughts. What he did to you sucked, and it’s now over. You don’t need him. You don’t need his money. What happens going forward with the alimony will only change your life by small degrees. Don’t forget why we’re here. Tonight is about you finding closure with Sam.”
Julia had told Heather that was why the three of them were brought together—to help each other heal their pain. Vivien nodded, not correcting Heather’s stated intention.
“Save your heart for me. It’s mine.”
She remembered every detail of Sam’s last day. If she let it, the pain would roll through her. This was more than trying to find closure about Sam’s death. She wanted to find a way to get him back. For good. Sam was nothing like Glenn. There should be no risk of demons and ill-will. Sam had been a decent man and a great husband. He’d let nothing hurt them. “You’re right. Thank you for the reminder.”