The Ghost at the Lighthouse: An Osprey Cove Mystery by Adrienne Trapp

Author:Adrienne Trapp [Trapp, Adrienne]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: anonymous
Published: 2024-10-14T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter twelve

Ian’s Doubts

The soft light of the late afternoon filtered through the trees as Maddie sat on her porch, waiting for Ian. The gentle rustling of leaves in the breeze should have calmed her, but the weight of everything that had happened—the deaths, the curse, and her growing connection to the supernatural world—pressed down on her chest. Every time she closed her eyes, she saw Ben’s lifeless body, the marks on his skin a grim reminder that time was running out.

Her phone sat untouched on the small table beside her. Ian hadn’t responded to her messages, and the silence between them had grown heavier with each passing day. Maddie knew what was coming—she could feel the tension building like an approaching storm.

Footsteps on the gravel path broke through the quiet, and Maddie looked up to see Ian walking toward her. His shoulders were hunched, and the worry etched into his face was unmistakable. Maddie’s heart clenched. She had seen that look too many times lately—on the faces of those grieving the deaths in Osprey Cove. But on Ian, it felt different. More personal.

He stopped in front of her, his hands in his pockets, and for a moment, neither of them spoke. The space between them was thick with unspoken words, but Maddie knew they couldn’t avoid this conversation any longer.

“Ian,” she said softly, standing up to face him. “You didn’t answer my calls. I was starting to worry.”

Ian sighed, rubbing the back of his neck as he looked away. “I’ve been trying to figure things out, Maddie. Trying to wrap my head around everything that’s been happening.”

Maddie nodded, sensing the weight of his struggle. She motioned to the chairs on the porch, and they both sat down, the tension hanging in the air like a cloud that neither of them knew how to disperse.

For a moment, Ian stared at the ground, his jaw clenched as if he was gathering his thoughts. Then, finally, he spoke, his voice heavy with frustration and something deeper—fear.

“I don’t know how to deal with this,” Ian admitted, his eyes searching hers. “This whole thing with the curse, the ghost, the deaths—it’s more than I ever imagined I’d be dealing with. But what scares me the most is you, Maddie.”

Maddie’s breath caught in her throat. “Me?”

Ian nodded, his expression pained. “Yeah, you. I’ve been trying to pretend like I’m okay with it, with all the magic and the supernatural stuff, but I’m not. I’m not okay with it at all. Every time you dive deeper into this investigation, I feel like you’re slipping away from me, into a world I don’t understand. And I don’t know how to protect you from it.”

Maddie looked down, her heart heavy. She had known Ian was struggling, but hearing him say it out loud made the divide between them feel even wider. “Ian, I’m still me,” she said quietly. “I haven’t changed. I’m still the same person you’ve always known.”

“But you’re not, Maddie,” Ian said, his voice growing more insistent. “You’re a witch now.

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