Shadows of the Past: A Supernatural Suspense Mystery (Shadow Slayers Stories Book 1) by Nellie Steele (read aloud .txt) 📗

wasn’t old enough to be her father; that much was clear. Could he be a brother? A cousin perhaps? Was this what he meant about her being Celine? But if she was a baby when the man had given her to her parents, how would she have childhood memories from when she was Celine. Nothing fit, nothing made sense. Were the two connected? If they were connected, she needed to know how.

She turned onto the road Mountain View Inn sat on and swung her car into the parking lot. She spotted Grayson’s car parked right outside of room seven, where he had said he was staying. She parked her car next to his in the half-empty lot, got out and headed to the door, banging on it.

The door opened. Grayson stood at the entrance. “Josie,” he said, surprised. “I got your text, but I didn’t realize you were coming here.”

Josie pushed past him into the room. “I need answers and I need them right now. No more nonsense, I have to know.”

He closed the door. “Okay, what do you want to know? And why the sudden need? Did something happen?”

“Yes, oh yes, something happened all right.”

“What? More memories? Another vision?”

“Oh, no, not another vision, nope. I just had a visit from my mother, courtesy of an overzealous ex-boyfriend, who told me she thinks you’re stalking me because I’m not biologically her daughter. Yeah, some agency just gave me to her when I was a baby.”

Grayson listened as she rehashed the morning’s events. Josie continued, “So I want to know what you know about that?”

“I don’t know anything about how your parents got you.”

“Really?” she retorted, crossing her arms. “You don’t know anything about it?”

“No, I do not.”

Josie stared at him a moment, considering what he had said and whether or not she believed it. “Are we related?”

He pursed his lips, taking a deep breath. “Celine and I are related, yes.”

“Please stop with the nonsensical answers. I can’t take any more.”

“Josie, please, sit down. I’m sure what your mother told you was a shock but it will all make sense as soon as….”

Josie cut him off. “Yeah, I know, I know, as soon as I remember, if ever. I don’t want to sit down and relax; this talking in circles is driving me nuts. I need some answers, now.” Despite her protestations, she sunk onto the bed, burying her head in her hands. The stress of the day caught up to her, and she began to sob. She felt someone next to her, then arms wrap her in an embrace. She picked her head up.

“Hey, it’ll be okay,” Grayson said, stroking her shoulder.

She wiped a tear from her face and took a deep breath. “Where are you from?”

“What?” he asked, the question taking him by surprise.

“Where are you from? Where did you come from? Where do you live?”

“I doubt you’ve heard of it, why are you asking?” he asked, his face a mask of confusion.

“Just answer, please.”

“I’m from a town called Bucksville. It’s in Maine. See, I told you you wouldn’t have heard of it.”

Josie’s heart dropped. It couldn’t be a coincidence. He was from the same town that her parents had gotten her from. “How are we related?” she asked.

“Josie, I…”

“HOW?!” she demanded.

“You’re my wife.”

“Looks like it’s right up here,” Damien said, tracking Josie’s phone with the map on his phone.

Michael crept along the road, searching for where Josie’s car may be. “There it is!” Damien said, pointing out the window. Michael eased the car into the parking lot and pulled into a space on the opposite end of the lot, far enough away to be hidden to the casual observer but with a view of Josie’s car.

“Mountain View Inn,” he said, reading the sign posted at the entrance. “What is she doing here?”

“No idea, but that’s her car for sure.”

“Guess we’ll wait and see.”

“Should have brought snacks, I didn’t realize we were going on a stakeout.”

The revelation hit Josie like a ton of bricks, it was the second time today that an admission had shaken her to her core. She sat in silence trying to process the information. She had prepared herself for him to be some long-lost relative, someone connected to the dumped-at-birth story her mother had confessed to her but she had never expected this. A brother, a cousin, perhaps even an uncle, but not a husband.

She shook her head; it was impossible. She had been given away as a baby and she’d never been married before, certainly not to Grayson. He couldn’t be telling the truth. But why would he lie? It was too much for Josie to process. “No,” she stated, “that can’t be. I’ve never been married.”

“I can’t explain it, but we are husband and wife. Well, Celine and I are husband and wife.”

Josie stood. “No, no, no, you’re lying. I’m not married to you. I was given away as a baby and I’ve never been married.” She headed for the door, wanting to be away from here.

“I’m not lying, Josie, please wait.”

“No, I’m leaving,” she said, distraught. She opened the door and rushed out into the blinding sunshine toward her car.

Grayson caught up to her before she could get in, grabbing her arm. “Josie, please, wait. We have to talk about this.”

“No,” she asserted, pulling her arm from his grip. “No, this is nonsense. I’m not listening to any more of this.”

“Where are you going?”

“None of your business.” Josie climbed into her car.

“Josie, you’re upset, please, wait, don’t leave like this.”

It was no use; Josie slammed the door, fired the engine and raced out of the parking spot and lot. “JOSIE!” Gray called behind her but she did not stop.

Michael and Damien watched the motel room door behind Josie’s car open. Josie came rushing out, followed by a man. They appeared to be arguing.

“We have action,” Michael said, calling Damien’s attention to the drama unfolding near Josie’s car. “Who is that?”

“No idea, never saw him before.”

“Boyfriend, perhaps?