Chapter Eighteen

In the morning, Sonya documents her latest experience and limits work to a half day. She updates her list of house spirits, includes Astrid as having seen and spoken to her, and notices the invisible housekeeper’s cleaning—prompted by playful song cues. A snowfall brings a quiet, contented day of streaming, reading Trey’s recommendation, and moonlit dog walks that make her feel at home.

A shift to 1892 presents Agatha Winward Poole’s opulent wedding to Owen. During the celebration, Agatha suddenly chokes, collapses, and dies. As Owen holds her, a woman in black appears unseen by others, removes Agatha’s custom diamond wedding band, and adds it to rings she already wears, then vanishes—an ominous theft that links to the manor’s ring curse.

Back in the present, Sonya pushes through work, sending proposals and advancing a caterer project. Her former boss, Laine, calls: Ryder Sports is expanding to Portland and wants Sonya; Laine cautions her to take the shot only if she’s sure. After reflection outdoors, Trey briefly visits, hires her firm, and arranges to return with pizza; he’ll also connect her with Bree for a recipe for Sonya’s visiting mother.

Late day, Sonya wins the florist job and speaks with Burt Springer, agreeing to craft a proposal for Ryder. The house nudges her into a casual, appealing outfit before Trey arrives with Mookie and dinner. Over pizza, Sonya recounts “meeting” Astrid via the mirror-like experiences and frames them as instructive, time-skewed encounters rather than simple hauntings.

Trey shares his own encounters: a tuxedoed cigar smoker who warned of a witch, and, at twelve, a flirtatious, sixties-styled blonde in the music room who later proves to be Lilian “Clover” Crest—Sonya’s biological grandmother. Together they conclude Clover is the house’s cheerful “DJ,” confirmed by an apt ABBA cue. Buoyed by Trey’s confidence, Sonya commits to competing for Ryder while assuring focus on Trey’s project. They end the evening comfortable and allied, with leftover pizza for breakfast.