Back in their attic sanctuary, Madeleine sat cross-legged on the floor, a sense of bittersweet accomplishment mingling with the weight of the news she had to share. She could feel Lucy's presence growing closer, the familiar whisper of her spirit guiding her thoughts. It was time to reveal what she had learned.

“Lucy,” Madeleine called softly, her voice echoing slightly in the dimly lit space. Instantly, the air shimmered, and Lucy appeared, her ethereal form glowing softly in the twilight.

“Madeleine! You’re back!” Lucy exclaimed, her expression a mixture of excitement and anxiety. “Did you find Thomas?”

“Yes,” Madeleine replied, her heart heavy with the news she had to convey. “I found his grave. He died in 1944.”

Lucy's face fell, the light in her eyes dimming. “Oh... I see. I was hoping...”

“But there’s more,” Madeleine interjected, trying to keep the hope alive. “He had a family. A wife named Margaret.”

Lucy’s expression shifted from sorrow to intrigue, her spectral form flickering with emotion. “A family? What were they like?”

Madeleine held up a small photograph she had taken of the grave, showing the headstone etched with the names. “Here, look.” 

Lucy leaned in closer, her translucent hand reaching toward the image. “Thomas Mathews,” she whispered, a frown creasing her forehead. “But my last name was Carmichael.” 

Confusion crept into Madeleine’s voice. “I thought... I assumed that Mathews was your family name.”

Lucy shook her head, her brow furrowing with concern. “No, it can’t be. I don’t understand. If Thomas is my brother, why does he have a different last name? My parents were Carmichael. They would have kept that name, wouldn’t they?” 

Madeleine felt a wave of unease wash over her. “Maybe we missed something ? We need to investigate further. There has to be an explanation.”

Lucy’s eyes lit up with determination. “Yes! We can’t stop now. If Thomas had children maybe they might know about the Carmichael name!”

Madeleine nodded, her mind racing with possibilities. “We should go back to the village and talk to Derek. He might know something about the Mathews family.”

“You will need to ask your mother” Lucy urged, her spirit shimmering with excitement. “But we can’t waste any time.”

Madeleine felt a new surge of energy flow through her. “Okay! I’ll ask her first thing in the morning.”

That night, as Madeleine lay in bed, thoughts raced through her mind. The mystery was becoming deeper, and she couldn’t shake the feeling that there was more to uncover. Why had Thomas’s family name changed? What had happened to the Carmichaels? 

The next morning, the sun rose bright and clear, a sense of anticipation filling the air. Madeleine went down to the kitchen where her mother was busy preparing breakfast “Mom,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper, “Mathews isn’t Lucy’s last name, it’s Carmichael. Why does her brother have a different surname?’ She looked into her mother’s eyes, searching for understanding. “Do you think we could go back to Wales? Maybe if we dig a little deeper, we can uncover the mystery behind this name and help Lucy find peace.” 

The next day Madeleine and her mother packed up the car once more, Madeleine’s spirits buoyed by the promise of discovery. As they drove back to the village, Madeleine couldn’t help but glance at the landscape, feeling the weight of history surrounding them. The whispers of the past seemed to echo in her mind, urging her forward.

When they arrived at Derek’s house, Madeleine knocked on the door with a mix of excitement and trepidation. The kind old man greeted them warmly, his smile reassuring as he invited them inside.

“Back so soon?” he asked, his eyes sparkling with curiosity. “What can I do for you today?”

“Derek,” Madeleine began, her voice steady. “We need to ask you some questions about the Mathews family It’s really important.”

Derek nodded, gesturing for them to sit. “Of course. I am not sure I can help, but what do you want to know?”

Madeleine took a deep breath, gathering her thoughts. “Thomas’s grave, had Mathews as his surname, but I thought his surname was Carmichael. We’re trying to understand how they’re connected.”

Derek’s expression turned thoughtful, as if he were piecing together a puzzle. “Ah, I see. I could help you find some records if you’d like.”

“Yes, please!” Madeleine exclaimed, her heart racing. “If we could find anything—letters, documents, anything that could explain what happened—we might uncover the truth.”

“Very well,” Derek said, nodding. “There’s an old archive at the local library that might contain records from that time. It’s worth a visit.”

With renewed purpose, Madeleine and her mother followed Derek to the village library, a quaint building filled with the scent of old books and memories. The librarian, a gentle woman with silver hair, welcomed them warmly.

“What can I help you with today?” she asked, her smile inviting.

“We’re looking for records related to the Mathews family,” Madeleine said, her excitement bubbling over. “Anything from 1914 onwards would be helpful.”

The librarian nodded, her eyes sparkling with interest. “Ah, yes! I believe we have a collection of local records from that era. Follow me.”

They followed her to a back room filled with dusty shelves and old filing cabinets. As the librarian began to pull out folders, Madeleine felt a surge of hope. This was it—the moment they might find the answers they had been searching for.

As they sifted through the records, Madeleine’s heart raced. Each document held the potential to unlock the mysteries that had bound Lucy to the house for so long. She could feel Lucy’s presence beside her, urging her forward.

“Here we go,” the librarian said, pulling out an old ledger. “This contains records of births, deaths, and marriages. Let’s see if we can find anything related to the Mathews.”

As Madeleine and her mother continued their search, the whispers of the past grew louder, guiding them toward the truth that had eluded them. Together, they would unravel the threads of history, and finally bring closure to the story that had been waiting to be told.