The Windhaven Witches Omnibus Edition : Complete Paranormal Suspense Series, Books 1-4 by Carissa Andrews (graded readers txt) 📕

and collecting one of the large floral arrangements of blooming lilies. Clutching it to his chest, he makes his way back to me.

As we walk out, the funeral director heads back to the table and gently lifts the urn. Wade pauses in the doorway, waiting for him to catch up.

“Would you like to take the hearse or ride on your own?” the funeral director asks as he reaches us.

Wade swallows hard, shaking his head. “No, I think we’ll drive, if that’s okay.”

“Of course. Whatever you are most comfortable with. I’ll meet you there,” he says, tipping his head and walking by.

“Come on. I’ll drive,” I say, interlocking my right arm in his left.

He nods. “Thanks, Dru. I appreciate that.”

Together, we walk out of the Mistwood Point Funeral Home and out into the crisp fall air. It still smells like the death of summer, but the chill of winter lingers in the air. Snow is on its way.

Without speaking, we walk over to Big Blue and get inside. Wade holds the vase in his lap and the entire car fills with the pungent odor of lilies. We wait for the hearse to leave its garage and I flip on my headlights and follow. The two-minute drive to the cemetery takes ten minutes thanks to the snail’s pace of the hearse and its memorial procession. The silence in our vehicle is a heavy weight. A final good-bye is pressing upon us and, I know all too well, I’m not terribly good with good-byes. Mine, or anyone else’s.

By the time we pull into the cemetery, the funeral director is already opening the small columbarium container.

“So, this is it,” Wade whispers.

“Guess so,” I nod.

Leaning back in his seat, Wade takes a quick look around the cemetery. “This is where we first met.”

A smile spreads across my lips. “It certainly is.”

“Interesting how we both keep getting drawn to the dead,” he says, reaching for the door handle.

“Yeah,” I nod, opening my car door.

Guilt pangs through my insides and I promise myself for the hundredth time that when this is all over, I’m going to tell him about Cat’s resurrection—and Colton’s kiss. Neither of them seemed overly important in light of all of this.

As we get out of the truck, I walk over to him, adjusting his tie again before sliding my hand in his. He adjusts the vase of flowers, holding out to the side to give me some room.

“Would you like to do the honors?” the funeral director asks, holding out the urn.

Wade’s eyes widen and he shakes his head. “No thanks. I’m… I’m okay.”

Nodding, the funeral director places the urn inside its new home and bows his head in silence. We do the same, sending a final wish for a peaceful afterlife. The peacefulness of it makes me wonder, now more than ever, what happens when we die. Is it simply the end? Or is there something beautiful on the other side?

A pang of guilt tugs at the back of my mind. What if I stopped Cat from going someplace beautiful?

After a moment or two, the funeral director closes the container and places a hand on Wade’s shoulder. “Your grandfather was a lucky man to have had you in his life.”

“Thanks,” Wade croaks out, dropping his gaze to the ground.

“I’ll be in touch, Mr. Hoffman. Have a good night,” he says softly before turning to me. “You as well, Ms. Blackwood.”

“Thank you,” I say, tipping my head.

When the hearse has left the premises, Wade steps up to the columbarium and sets down the vase of flowers. Without a word, we take a seat on the granite bench near the memorial wall.

“Well, I guess my time in Mistwood Point is officially coming to a close,” Wade says, swallowing hard.

“Have you decided what you want to do?” I ask, looking over my shoulder at him.

“I don’t know. I need to close out his estate. Something about probate, whatever that is. But I’ll have to get things in line for next year. I suppose I’ll need to find an apartment in town. You don’t happen to know of any good places in Windhaven?” he says, turning to me.

I shake my head. “Not when it comes to renting. But…”

Wade quirks an eyebrow.

I smile. “What if you just come to live at the manor? I mean, there’s plenty of rooms and it’s not like you wouldn’t just be at the house anyway.”

Wade snickers quietly. “And who’s to say you wouldn’t be spending all your time at my new pad?”

I narrow my gaze and shrug. “Mmmm…rented bachelor pad or enormous, historical manor. Tough choice. I see your point.”

“Bachelor pad. Psh,” Wade says. “I’m pretty sure I’m spoken for, but I’ll give you the manor versus apartment debate. Are you sure your dad won’t mind?”

I grin. “Of course not. Then it’s settled. When you’re ready, you move in with me and my dad.”

“How could I pass up staying at Blackwood Manor? I mean, if for no other reason, it contains the most beautiful woman in the world,” Wade says, taking me into his arms. “I’ll certainly have to thank your dad…as soon as we can get him to stay put long enough for me to meet him.”

I laugh. “Well, living in the same house, it will be kind of hard to avoid each other. Don’t you think?”

“Very true,” Wade says. “It will be nice to leave Mistwood Point behind.”

“I can imagine.”

Wade shifts on the bench slightly, his gaze falling on the flowers. “Do you—would you mind if I have a moment alone, Autumn?”

Looking up, sadness and anxiety linger in his silver eyes. “Of course. Take as much time as you need. I’ll just… wander a bit. I have some old friends I’d like to visit.”

I pull back from him and stand up. It’s been a while since I wandered this graveyard…and after all that’s gone on, I could certainly use a little bit of its stillness.

Bending in, I kiss the top of his head and make my way toward the