“I’ll make sure Maureen knows.”

Constance blinked at me as though she had forgotten momentarily I was there. “And I want you to know, despite what Mary thinks, I did not draw up that addendum to the burial plot to hurt her.”

I blinked. “What?”

“I am a monster, but even I’m not that bad.”

“Then why did you do it?”

“To get at Rip! It happened this one time after he had come over to bully me into giving him the house yet again. I, of course, turned him away, and as he was leaving, he said something to the effect of, You know, Connie. No one will remember you when you’re dead. And the idea just came to me. I’d kick them all out of the family plot. Then they’d remember me.” She cackled at the memory before regaining her composure. “But it wasn’t right.”

I couldn’t help but smile a little.

“The joke’s on me, though, isn’t it? I wasn’t even thinking about Mary. I didn’t know she bought the plot beside ours for Grant. I knew how much she loved him. I’ve done terrible things to my family, held terrible grudges, but I wouldn’t have gone that far. At least I’d like to think I wouldn’t have gone that far. If only I could do it all over again.” Constance suddenly looked at me quite intently. “Don’t you go making the same mistakes as me.”

I frowned in question.

“You know what I’m talking about. I’ve been watching you. You’re stuck living in pain. Do you think it’s a coincidence you can finally see me the night you decide to visit your husband’s grave?” She wagged a glowing finger in the air. “Now, this isn’t my place, but I know firsthand you can spend your entire life living in the past, and that is no life at all. And from what I’ve heard, your husband wouldn’t want that.”

The words seemed innocent enough, but there was something in Constance’s expression that made my heart skip. “What do you mean, from what you’ve heard?”

“You know as well as I do spirits can’t stay here for long, but we usually stick around long enough to meet up with another ghost or two. And we talk.”

“Constance, what are you saying?”

She held up her hands. “I’ll admit, I was eavesdropping on that fight you had with your aunts. I heard what it was you wanted, so I asked around a little.” She looked over to the grave. “And, in answer to your question, yes, I do have a message for you from Adam.”

The world tilted beneath my feet. “How is that possible? He died so long ago.”

She gave me a knowing look. “Brynn, you have helped so many people in this town. Done good for so many families. Do you think the ghosts would let you down? Each person who has passed in Evenfall since Adam died has hung on to his message until it could be delivered to you, and, as it turns out, I get to be the lucky one to do it. Oh honey, don’t cry.”