At the Smithsonian, Hallie pried open the small wooden crate. She dug through the packing and removed a box that contained a bracelet that Napoleon had given to his second wife. The bracelet was only a myth until she’d proven it existed. The workmanship was exquisite, and it would join the rest of the Napoleon jewels in the Gem Gallery. She should have squealed the moment she saw the precious piece. Nothing excited her anymore. Not even having worked at the museum for a month or moving into her own apartment.
Ever since she’d left London—well, Graham really—she couldn’t seem to find joy in anything. Or even focus. From all the way across the ocean, the man still had an effect on her. Edmund had left her alone, but in a strange way, it was Graham who haunted her dreams now.
After cataloging the artifact, she set out to meet her parents for dinner. She’d been avoiding them and their endless questions ever since she’d returned to D.C. But since it was her mom’s birthday, she had no choice but to face them.
She drove straight to the Italian restaurant her mom had chosen. The greeter took her back to the table where her parents were already seated.
They stood up the moment they saw her. She walked over to her mom and hugged her. “Happy birthday. Did you get the flowers I sent?”
“Yes, thank you. They were beautiful. White roses are my favorite.”
Hallie nodded and walked over to her dad. He brought her in for a tight embrace. “Great to see you finally.”
Once seated, Hallie took a drink of her water. After a few moments of awkward silence, her dad was the first to speak. “You’re different.”
Her mom placed her hand on her dad’s arm. “Jim.”
“Well, she is. What is going on with you? Is it your job?”
“No. My job is great.” She paused while the waitress set the baskets of garlic breadsticks on the table.
“Then what? You’ve always been honest with us. You miss London, don’t you? You want to move there? Just tell us. We’re all adults here ... we can handle it if our only daughter wants to live across the ocean.”
Her mom shook her head. “Jim, that isn’t helping. What he means is, we love you and will support you, no matter what.”
Hallie choked on her breadstick. “It’s not that.” How in the world could she explain that she left things unresolved, not being able to help two ghosts find each other? Or that the man she’d left behind was all she could think about? She swallowed. “There was a man. We parted ways on bad terms. I have some regrets, that’s all. I’ll be fine once this passes.” If it ever did.
“Hallie, you’ve been home for a month. Have you tried calling the guy?”
The image of the slamming door and the red umbrella falling to the floor popped into her head. “I’ve considered it, but it would just be a bad idea.”
The waitresses brought hot plates of food to their table. Her mom smiled. “I hope you don’t mind, I went ahead and ordered your favorite.”
Her dad snorted. “If it still is her favorite.”
She cocked her head to the side and sighed. “Yes, I still love chicken parmigiana.” Even though she’d suddenly lost her appetite, she forked a bite of cheese-covered meat and shoved it into her mouth.
The waiter came to the table, holding an expensive bottle of wine. “Excuse me, the gentleman at the bar has sent this over.”
Hallie turned to look. Her heart soared. Graham was sitting not even ten feet away. He waved with a smile. As if no time had passed, all the feelings she had for him came flooding back. Butterflies danced in her stomach.
“Darling, you’re flushed. Do you know that handsome man?”
“Yes, Mom. I do. His name is Graham, and we were just talking about him.”
“Well, what are you waiting for? Go to him. It seems you have some unfinished business.”
Hallie nodded, but before she could get up, Graham strolled over.
“Sorry to interrupt.”
Her dad stood up and shook his hand. “I’m Jim, Hallie’s father.”
“Graham McCoy. Hallie’s ... friend from London.”
“And I’m Hallie’s mother, Adele.”
“So nice to meet you both.”
Hallie gulped down her wine. “What brings you to D.C.?”
“I came to the States because I owed my sister a visit and decided to stop off here before returning to London. Someone once told me how beautiful it is.”
Her quick alcohol consumption put Hallie at ease. “Mom, Dad, can you please excuse us?”
“Of course. In fact, just call me tomorrow.” Her mom winked.
Her dad nodded.
Hallie grabbed her purse. “Happy birthday.” Her legs wobbled as they walked outside. They stopped on the busy sidewalk.
Graham stroked her cheek. “I’m sorry. The way we left things ...”
Desire rushed through her. “I’m sorry too. I’ve missed you. How did you find me?”
“I hope you don’t mind, but there is this app on my phone. I kind of tracked you.”
“I probably should.” She grinned. “But I don’t mind at all.”
His mouth claimed hers, making her weak enough to fall into his strong arms. When they stopped for air, she looked into his eyes. “What does this mean for us?”
“If you want there to be an ‘us,’ we can figure something out.”
She’d already made up her mind the moment she saw him again. “I’m sure I could get on at the British Museum.”
“Really?”
“Really. I belong there. I’ve always known that deep down. I haven’t had any visions of Edmund since I left you that day.”
He cocked his head. “I haven’t had any dreams about Flora.”
“I’m certain I want you and only you. Ghosts or no ghosts, it’s you that my heart beats for.”
He cupped her face. “I feel the same.”
The smile on her face came from deep inside. “Go get your bags from your hotel. You’re staying with me until I can make arrangements to join you back in London.”
He let go of her and stepped off the sidewalk, happier than she’d ever seen him. Before Hallie knew what happened, a car hit Graham from behind. The cab screeched as Graham lay limp on the pavement, blood pooling around him. Her screams echoed through the crowd gathering around her.
She fell to her knees as she heard someone scream to call 9-1-1. “Graham! Don’t leave me. Please. Please.” Tears blurred her vision. Her breathing came out in gasps. Excruciating pain seared through her heart. A vortex of darkness swooped her up and swallowed her whole.
• • •
Hallie’s mom took her hand. “It’s going to be okay. You’re okay. You gave us quite a scare.”
Her dad patted her hand. “Welcome back.”
Hallie’s mouth was bone dry. She looked around the tiny ER room where a nurse stood over her. “Graham.”
The woman gave her a small smile. “He’s in surgery. You’re going to be fine.”
“What happened? Why am I so sore?”
“You don’t remember?”
Panic whipped through her. “I remember a car hitting Graham and ...” A tear slid down her cheek. “And all the blood.”
Her dad placed his hand on her shoulder. “You fainted. I scooped you up, put you in the cab, and we followed the ambulance to the hospital. They took Graham and brought you in here.”
Her mom kissed her head. “You should rest. I’ll wake you as soon as we get news about Graham.”
Tears blurred her eyes. Madame Epiphany’s vision had come true. “I can’t rest. Not until I know he’s okay.”
The nurse took her vitals. “Other than the nasty bump on her head, she’ll be fine.”
Another nurse came in. “I’m glad you’re awake. Your friend is going to be fine. He pulled through surgery without any complications. It will take him some time to heal, but there shouldn’t be any permanent damage.”
“I need to see him.”
“He’s in Room 19. Third floor.”
“Do you want us to go with you?”
Her mom grabbed her arm. “No. I need to see him alone. I’m fine. I’ll call you when I get home.”
After hugging both her parents good-bye and reassuring them she was fine, Hallie walked down the hall to the elevators. She stepped inside, her knees a bit weak. Thank God Graham would be okay. She couldn’t lose him. Not now. As she entered his room, he turned to her.
“I heard you fainted.”
She placed her hand over his and glanced at the monitor showing his vitals. “I thought I’d lost you forever.”
“I’m not that bloody easy to get rid of.” He let out a strained laugh.
“My mom called your sister. She couldn’t make it here to see you but has been getting updates from your nurse.”
“I know I just spoke with her.”
She squeezed his hand and gazed into his eyes. “When I thought I lost you, without telling you how I feel, I wanted to die.” She paused to swallow the lump in her throat. “I don’t want to exist without you. You are the void that has always been in my heart.” She kissed him gently, then deeper. “I love you.”
“I love you. And I need to show you something.” He reached under the sheet and pulled out one of the journals.”
Her eyes widened. “How did that get there?”
“When I just told you, I love you, I felt it materialize under my hand.” He opened it.
Hallie took a deep breath when the words appeared. She read, “You shall both die before you’re meant to leave this earth. Because your love is so profound, the universe will throw your restless spirits back together many times. Your bodies will not be the same, so you will not identify each other. You will relive this agonizing destiny over and over unless your hearts recognize each other, and become one again.”
Hallie gazed into Graham’s eyes. And then it happened. Flora and Edmund appeared holding hands. Then with a bright light filling the room, their souls entered Hallie and Graham. The moment she was whole, Hallie recalled the seer from long ago using old magic to bury memories so deep that any amount of rebirth wouldn’t totally erase them. Then he tattooed matching doves on their wrists so that they might recognize one another, though he warned the marks might not show up when they were reborn. They had though, in another form ... their birthmarks.
Big Ben’s meaning was clear—Edmund had been a gasman and lit the lamps, which illuminated the four clock faces, every night. He’d watch over the lights until dawn to make sure they stayed lit. Flora would help him, and then they would make love under the flickering flames. He’d given her the extra broken pieces of pot opal glass he’d found as a memento of their special place.
She saw the fountain pen in her own hand as she scrolled entries into the red journals. She wore a Victorian nightdress the first time she felt the life drain from her. Then every life she’d spent lost without her love flashed before her eyes. It was clear why she’d been unfulfilled in this life.
She recognized his scent. Edmund. Her heart filled with more love than she ever thought possible. “Did you see? Can you ...”
“I did and I can. You smell like the finest sweet confection with a hint of earthy salt.”
Pure joy lit her up from the inside. “We’re them. They’re us.” She squeezed his hands. “Flora and Edmund and all the others that came after.”
He nodded. “I believe it without question to be true.”
Such transparency made her sigh with relief. “We’re reincarnated.”
“You’re more than my destiny—your love has followed me through time and circumstance. You are what makes me, me. And I, you. A name is just a name. A body is just a body. All the pain that has brought us to this moment, the moment of clarity, has been worth it. Some men love with their heart, some with their mind. I love you with every molecule of my being and will through this life or the next. Our hearts have been reunified.” He caressed her cheek.
She took her gaze away from his eyes, only to kiss him again. A long, sweet kiss edged with enough passion to last her a lifetime and more. Her heart soared. Recognition of who she really was gave her the fulfillment she’d always longed for. When she looked back at him, tears of happiness filled both their eyes. “How is it possible to love someone so much? Is this even allowed?”
“Bloody hell, does it matter?” He laughed. “Rules don’t apply to us. We just ... are.”
She nodded with a smile. Their hearts had become one. They wouldn’t relive the prophecy any longer. The bliss of their everlasting love was worth any amount of pain. Hallie laced her fingers with Graham’s and took a deep breath. They were together at last, and she was ready for eternity.