The Haunting - Chapter 14

Spring 1893

After six months, he was finally back in New York City. The book tour was a huge success. Book sales were on the rise, as was his renown. Black Pawn was very pleased, and was eager for him to write another installment of the adventures of Jameson Rook and the ghost Nicole. Though, to be honest, Castle was not sure if he was even capable of writing another story about the fictional versions egos of himself and the lovely Katherine Beckett, the spirit who had resided in his brownstone and become so much more to him that just a supernatural visitor. But she was gone. She had left, most likely having finally found closure with her death and had moved on to the great beyond. Without her presence in his life, Castle was skeptical he could even bring himself to write another story involving their alter egos.

Upon disembarking from his train at Grand Central Station, Castle paid the valet to take his luggage straight to the brownstone. Though he was happy to be back in New York, he was still not yet ready to face the emptiness that would await him once he went back home. Instead, he met up with Constable Kevin Ryan and Jennifer for brunch, eager to meet the latest member of the family, Sarah Grace.

"She is beautiful," he said, hesitantly accepting Jennifer's offer to hold the infant. He was worried he'd disturb the sleeping babe, but the little girl simply cooed softly and nuzzled into his arm.

The Ryans were glowing parents; of course, he never doubted they would be. After passing the baby back to her mother, Castle regaled his friends with tales from his adventures across the continental United States: How he saw an alligator in the everglades in Florida, to the ruins of the Alamo in Texas, the breathtaking natural wonder that was the Grand Canyon, and the near riotous election in the streets of San Francisco.

During that mob in Market Street, Castle had genuinely feared for his life, nearly being trampled by some of the participants when the crowd had been whipped into a fervor by one of the candidates soapbox speeches. Fortunately, he had managed to avoid the mass hysteria, by turning down a side street and wandering about. He had eventually stumbled upon what some of the city folk called China Town. He conversed as best he could with the locals, though it was difficult, since many still only spoke their native tongue. He was knowledgeable in some Mandarian, very little, but it was enough to allow him to talk with the vendors and merchants selling their wares.

"Oh, that must have been exciting!" enthused Jennifer. "I have always wanted to go abroad, but now with little Sarah Grace that will be more difficult."

"And it is not like we have the funds for such a trip," Kevin interjected, giving his wife a reproachful look. She merely shrugged at his reminder, and went back to bouncing the babbling Sarah Grace on her knee.

"It was," Castle answered Jennifer's question. "I learned quite a bit while I was there. Oriental culture had always fascinated me, so it was thrilling to be given an opportunity to learn more." He opted not to inform his friends about visiting a shop that specialized in the occult and supernatural. Castle had spoken with the proprietor, an old wizened Chinese man, about a situation he was not yet inclined to disclose to his friends. They would not understand. No one would. Yet the old Chinese man had, and he had offered Castle something that might help.

"You know," Ryan said, a tiny smirk playing across his youthful features "For a time while you were away, Jennifer thought that your brownstone might be haunted."

"Huh… what!?" Castle blinked, snapped out of his ruminations by his friend's latest comment. He fumbled to respond, so caught off guard that he could barely think. "She… haunted… what… ho—how so?"

Ryan laughed lightly and took a bite of the lemon cake he was partaking in. "You have nothing to worry about, my friend," the Irishman said, dabbing his lips with a napkin. "Jennifer just thought she heard someone sobbing."

"Really?"

"Yes," Jennifer answered, adjusting the baby in her arms. "When I went over to water your plants, and tidy up the place, I thought heard sobbing coming from the upstairs rooms. But there was no one there when I checked."

Castle nodded, filing away the information for later consumption as his friends shifted topics, informing him about the extravagant winter wedding between his former romance, Gina Cowell, and a dashing doctor by the name of Joshua Davidson. Apparently it had been the social event of the season. Ryan had appeared anxious when telling him about it, but Castle waved off his friend's concern. He had liked Miss Gina Cowell, and had enjoyed her company during their brief courtship, but he had never been in love with her. His heart had always been with another.

As Kevin and Jennifer Ryan described the elaborate wedding celebration, which had apparently enraptured the entire city, Castle furrowed his brow in thought. He could have sworn he recognized the name Joshua Davidson. Years ago, he had met a man by that name in a gentleman's club. He could still remember the man disappearing into a secluded back room to provide a luscious blonde with a 'private consultation'.

Whatever it was that had happened that night between Doctor Davidson and the blonde was none of his concern. He genuinely wished him and Gina Cowell—well, Gina Davidson now—all the happiness the world would allow. With that in mind, Castle wondered if perhaps he should warn Miss Cowell about Doctor Davidson's rendezvous in the gentleman's club. But he shook his head, knowing that at this juncture it would only do more harm that good. Besides, Castle was more interested in what his friends had described hearing in his home whilst he was away. They had laughed it off, but Castle knew the truth. His house had been haunted, and he hoped it still was.

Not wanting to be rude, Castle kept silent about his own yearnings. He listened attentively to their stories of parenthood, smiling and laughing at the appropriate times. These people were his friends. And for a man with very few genuine friends, he was determined not to let his own personal concerns overshadow the time he spent with them.

Still, despite all that, his heart pumped profoundly beneath his breast, longing to discover if his ghostly love had not really left him as he had once believed.

He needed to get back to the brownstone… and soon.