New Winslow: The Complete Seventh Season

By Amanda McCormack

The beginning of the end has arrived. Things are getting more dangerous by the day as a campaign for silence targets Andrew and Iris. But if someone is so desperate to shut them up, then it must mean they're getting close to the truth. Meanwhile, Noah, reeling from a newfound connection that shakes everything he's ever believed, is hellbent on getting Andrew to safety, no matter the consequences.

Outside of New Winslow, Roman tries to remain attached to the life he had in New Winslow as he shields his children from what is happening there. And Cleo can't detach herself, no matter how much of her life moves outside the boundaries of the cursed town. And Olivia? She's just trying to hold them all together.

The past is repeating itself, interweaving with the present. And as danger closes in on all sides, it's time to learn who you can truly rely on.

New Winslow: The Complete Seventh Season was previously released on Patreon and Enfield Arts. This edition also contains a sneak peek at Season Eight, the final season.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Amanda McCormack
• Release date: Mar 18, 2024
• ISBN: 9798215965702

Amanda McCormack

Amanda McCormack is a writer, performer, and lifelong Massachusetts resident. In a past life, she was a librarian in both public libraries and private research institutions. This led to a passion for research and writing which, combined with her love of New England’s history and culture, formed the foundation for Enfield Arts.She loves getting lost on the back roads of Massachusetts, chocolate chip cookies, and a good slow-burn romance story. She hates pears and driving in Boston. You can usually find her at home with a cup of coffee in hand and at least three pens stuck in her hair for safekeeping.

Book preview

New Winslow: The Complete Seventh Season

Amanda McCormack

Copyright © 2024 by Amanda McCormack

All rights reserved.

No portion of this book may be reproduced in any form without written permission from the publisher or author, except as permitted by U.S. copyright law.

Cover Image by Patrick Hendry via Unsplash.

Contents

Author Note

1.Episode 1

2.Episode 2

3.Episode 3

4.Episode 4

5.Episode 5

6.Episode 6

7.Episode 7

8.Episode 8

9.Episode 9

10.Episode 10

11.Episode 11

12.Episode 12

13.Episode 13

14.Episode 14

15.Episode 15

16.Episode 16

17.Episode 17

18.Episode 18

19.Episode 19

20.Episode 20

21.Episode 21

22.Episode 22

23.Episode 23

24.Episode 24

25.Episode 25

26.Episode 26

27.Episode 27

28.Episode 28

29.Episode 29

30.Episode 30

31.Episode 31

32.Episode 32

33.Episode 33

34.Episode 34

35.Episode 35

36.Episode 36

37.Episode 37

38.Episode 38

39.Episode 39

40.Episode 40

41.Episode 41

42.Episode 42

43.Episode 43

44.Episode 44

45.Episode 45

46.Episode 46

47.Episode 47

48.Episode 48

49.Episode 49

50.Episode 50

51.Episode 51

52.Episode 52

53.Episode 53

54.Episode 54

55.Episode 55

56.Episode 56

57.Episode 57

58.Episode 58

59.Episode 59

60.Episode 60

61.Episode 61

62.New Winslow will return in 2024

63.Read on for a sneak peek at Season 8

64.Season 8, Episode 1

About the author

Also by Amanda McCormack

Author Note

Originally, Season Seven was supposed to be the final season of the series. However, I found that the final section worked much better as two separate seasons instead of one long one. So the story does not end here, it will end with Season Eight later in 2024.

Though I've talked about this on social media and my newsletter, I know that many Season Six books went out with a note that the final season was coming next. My apologies for any confusion now! Things changed rapidly shortly before release. So this season starts the beginning of the end and the actual end is on its way.

Also, I need to say an enormous thank you to the Massachusetts Cultural Council. Their support through the COVID Recovery Grant for Individuals was a large part of the creation of this season.

And thank you to my Patreon patrons, who have also given their financial support to this series.

Episode 1

Andrew was trying his best to stay calm and he could tell Iris was too. It had been six hours now and nobody had heard anything from Noah. Olivia had left to search for him beyond New Winslow as soon as Andrew came screeching up to the house that afternoon, and he'd been home with Mia until about an hour earlier, when Aunt Monica had come over to take her. And apparently Andrew had looked as bad as he felt because Aunt Monica had taken him in a tight hug and, despite the strict orders he'd given himself, he'd broken down in her arms for a few minutes.

But now he was back at Iris's shop and they were looking for anything in her books that might work to track Noah wherever he'd gone. Iris had already been to the Countess while he'd been doing his best to stay patient and present with Mia, but neither of the women who owned it had seen any trace of Noah that day. She told Andrew that she could sense something connected to him there, but considering the link he apparently had with the ghost of Billy McBride, the link that had torn open the memories he was living every night in his dreams, that didn't actually mean he'd been there. And of course they didn't have CCTV anywhere near the mansion. Because why would they possibly have something so useful as that?

Noah's mobile phone was tucked on a ledge in the shop where he'd set it down earlier in the day. Andrew couldn't help looking over at it as he moved an ornamental dagger aside on the counter and picked up an old, overloaded notebook of Iris's to look through next.

We can try to set up a tracing spell, Iris said, her voice falsely confident as she flipped through yet another useless book, stopping on a page and smiling at Andrew. If you go home and get something of his, maybe I can get a read on his location.

He was about to point out the phone, despite knowing in his heart that this plan wouldn't work. But then the front door of the shop slammed open, making them both jump. Olivia strode across the room, her hair wild and her face murderous. Before Andrew could say anything, or stop her, she walked straight up to Iris, grabbed fistfuls of her shirt, and slammed her into the bookshelf behind them. A handful of spell books toppled to the floor and a glass ball shattered as Iris let out a yelp of surprise and pain.

What did you do? Olivia demanded, her voice ragged.

I was trying to help, Iris choked out, I swear, I told him we should stop, but he insisted we keep going and-

Stop what?

It was the same thing as before, Iris insisted. I hypnotized him. It was just a regular session, I was trying to help him remember his dreams so that we could- things came up and we stopped, but he said we should keep going and-

AND YOU DIDN'T THINK TO SAY NO? Olivia roared. You are literally psychic! It didn't occur to you that, hey, maybe he's not emotionally fit to be doing this? Not even for a fucking second?

That had occurred to Andrew, and he had been turning it over in his head since that hellish moment he'd watched Noah's taillights go out of sight. Liv- he started.

Olivia ignored him, letting go of her grip on Iris. For a second, Andrew was relieved. At least until Olivia grabbed the dagger that had been sitting on the counter and held the lethal point of it to Iris's throat. I should kill you, she said, her hand shaking as Iris looked terrified.

Liv! Andrew yelled. Jesus Christ!

He grabbed the arm holding the blade and pushed it down, away from Iris's neck. Olivia didn't resist. We're leaving, he said.

He worried Liv might try to fight him now. Or maybe she'd turn the knife on him too, which considering how much he blamed himself for what was happening, he was surprised she didn't do. Instead, she dropped the blade, which hit the wooden floor with a clang. She stared down at it for a second, then looked back at Iris. If Noah's not okay, I will kill you.

Iris was still wide-eyed and trembling, pressed back against the bookshelf. As Andrew mentally flailed, Olivia leaned in so close to Iris that their mouths almost brushed. How do you like being fucking afraid for once? she whispered, her voice thick with tears.

Then she stormed out the door, letting it slam shut behind her. Andrew looked at Iris, who had turned almost completely white. Are you alright?

Yeah.

I have to go.

Iris nodded shakily, and he was hesitant to leave her alone. But Liv clearly should not be driving right now. So he'd have to swallow his own terror and focus. He nodded to Iris, then rushed outside.

***

Thankfully, Olivia hadn't gotten back in the car and driven away without him. Instead, Andrew found her bent over a sewer grate in front of the insurance building next door, vomiting. She flinched as he touched her back.

Liv...

I know, she snapped breathlessly, wiping her mouth on the sleeve of the light blouse she wore. I know.

Let's go home, he said. I'll try to track him. That's what we were talking about doing now.

He wasn't anywhere.

We'll find him.

Again he waited for her fury to turn on him. But she just stood up and followed him to the car. I'm going to go back out, she said. My mom has Mia until tonight, I need to keep looking. I didn't check...I know there's a bar in Ware that he used to...

She didn't finish it and Andrew didn't want her to. He'd rather Noah was drinking than dead (his own stomach turned at the thought), but that still wasn't a good ending here. Are you okay to drive? he asked as he got into the driver's seat himself.

She nodded as she slid into the passenger seat and closed the door. Yeah, she said. I know that was...

Again, she trailed off. Assault with a dangerous weapon, Andrew finished for her. Liv, bloody hell, if Iris decided she wanted to press charges...

I know.

They drove in silence, letting the small downtown fall away as they approached Liv and Noah's duplex. I should have stopped him, Andrew said finally as they pulled into the driveway.

Could you have?

That was a different answer than he expected. And certainly not a knife at his own neck to create a twin for the slice he'd hurriedly treated while caring for Mia. Apparently he was quiet for a moment too long, because Liv looked at him with bloodshot eyes. Can any of us stop Noah from doing anything?

He didn't know if this absolution of a kind made him feel better or worse. But he nodded around the enormous lump in his throat. I'm going to keep looking, Olivia said. Keep your phone on you.

He got out of the car and she moved into the driver's seat, driving away as soon as he closed the door. It was too hot out here for April, but he didn't want to go inside. Not unless he was going to be greeted by Noah, who got home when no one was looking. And he was safe and sober.

But that wasn't going to happen and this tracking spell he was absolutely still doing wouldn't set itself up. He had to go back to Iris's, he realized, kicking at a pebble on the ground in frustration. It was at least a half an hour walk and there was no time to waste. So they were both going to have to swallow down their fear and get back to it.

He pulled out his phone and called Iris, who answered hesitantly. Yeah?

When you say something of Noah's, like what? Andrew asked. I saw his phone in the shop, would that work?

No, a phone's electrical charge would interfere. Something that he regularly wears would be a good one, she said. Clothes, a hat. If it makes contact with his body on a regular basis, then it should work.

Okay, he said. Liv just went back out to look for him. I'm still going to do the tracking spell.

He waited for her to offer to help, but she was silent. Iris?

Yeah, she said. Okay.

I suppose I'll walk back then?

Right, of course.

Are you alright?

What do you fucking think?

Absolutely not, he was not dealing with this today. I think it might not have been entirely your fault, but you still have a goddamn responsibility to him, just like I do, he retorted. Forget it, I'll figure it out and do it here.

He was about to hang up when Iris said, Wait, Andrew, I'm sorry.

The hot anger receded as quickly as it had flared to life. Hanging up and storming off wasn't going to help Noah. Olivia left? Iris confirmed.

Yeah, about thirty seconds ago.

Give me your address and I'll pick you up.

Episode 2

The bar was an absolute dive. One of the side windows was broken, the cracks covered with a tattered ad for live music about eight months earlier. It looked a lot like Keegan's actually, if maybe a little dimmer, hotter, and much more crowded. Olivia went straight to the bouncer, a large man with a thick silver mustache. Can you help me? she asked.

She must have looked horrible, because the man's stern expression melted into concern. Of course, he said, sounding more like a grandfather speaking to his granddaughter than someone who could break the shins of anybody here. What's wrong, sweetheart? Someone bothering you?

Despite being at least twenty years older, he sounded like Noah. Not that that accent was anything strange around here, Olivia had traces of it herself. But the sound of his voice nearly got the tears going again. No, she said. I'm looking for a friend who's missing. He used to come here a lot, and I was hoping maybe someone here had seen him.

What's he look like?

Really, really tall, she said automatically, pulling out her phone and scrolling through her photo gallery. There weren't a lot of pictures of Noah in here, he didn't really like having his photo taken. Finally, just as she was starting to panic, she found one of him sitting in the backyard with Mia on his lap. He was facing Mia, so he wasn't looking directly at the camera, but it was enough to make him recognizable. This man, Noah Kelly, she said, holding her phone out.

The bouncer pulled out a pair of reading glasses from his leather vest pocket and put them on, holding the phone at arm's length as he studied the picture. Oh, him, he said. He hasn't been in in a long time.

He quit drinking, Olivia said.

Good for him.

The bouncer looked up toward the bar, where two bartenders were darting back and forth, filling orders and laughing with the patrons. I haven't seen him, he said. But go ask Sue and Dre, they've been here since this morning and would have seen more people.

Thank you, she said, her voice tight.

Neither bartender had seen Noah that day, though the older one clearly recognized him as well. She told Olivia that she'd have Noah call if he did come in. And that he was a good guy, she hoped everything worked out. As Olivia walked out, the bouncer put a giant hand on her shoulder and gave a sympathetic pat.

Once she was in her car and driving through Ware’s quiet downtown, it was safe to cry. She was sobbing to the point of having to pull over alongside a small strip of closed up shops. Noah was gone. And Iris had hurt someone else. Olivia had known it was a bad idea to let Iris mess with him, but like she'd told Andrew earlier, no one could make Noah do anything, couldn't they? Especially not when he thought he was doing the right thing. And she was terrified and sick and she'd threatened to kill Iris. Which didn't even make her feel bad yet.

Maybe Noah was home by now. She'd get home and he'd be there, safe on the couch with Gray Lady. He’d found whatever it was that he was looking for and it wasn't alcohol.

She glanced at the clock on her dashboard. Eight o'clock. There was another possibility, unlikely though. And she felt a little bad pulling Cleo in, but it was time. Maybe she could hope he'd gone to her for comfort.

***

Cleo was in bed with Edie, the sheets tangled and both of them laughing, blissed out and exhausted. It had been a good day off together. Cleo had solidified her recording schedule and it was time to finish the album. She’d built it around a song that had gone oddly viral earlier in the year, easing some of her career stress. So this was a big step for her. And, maybe more importantly at the moment, they'd gotten the call that the apartment was theirs. That cute Brighton apartment that they'd be moving into in two weeks.

Edie rolled over, the sheet sliding down to their waist as they propped their head on a delicate hand and smiled at Cleo. I love you, they said breathlessly.

She leaned in and kissed them. I love you.

As tempted as Cleo was to start round six or seven, her stomach was growling. So instead, she opened her mouth to offer to make dinner. But then her phone buzzed on her bedside table. And she was pretty sure she'd heard it ring a few minutes ago too, so she probably should check it this time.

Sorry, she said to Edie as she reached for the phone. I have a feeling this is something.

She answered. Hey Liv, what's going on?

It was too late for Liv to be calling just to chat, wasn't it? And the sinking feeling in Cleo's stomach was confirmed when Olivia spoke in a shaking voice.

Have you seen Noah today? Or talked to him?

No, I haven't, Cleo replied, looking over at Edie, who was now looking concerned. Why, what's going on?

He left and no one can find him.

Shit. Shit shit shit. Cleo sat up and got out of bed, going straight for her dresser. Edie blinked her, startled by the sudden movement. Did something happen?

Iris, Olivia replied flatly. She did something and Andrew said it messed with Noah. Something with the curse, she hypnotized him or something and he was fine with it, but something he saw really messed him up and he left. And now none of us can find him and he didn't bring his phone.

That was a lot of information trying to cram its way into Cleo's mind. She held the phone tucked between her shoulder and ear as she pulled on some soft pants. Have you talked to the police?

Yeah, Olivia said. A little while ago. They said there's not much they can do, it's only been a few hours and he's an adult.

He has a history of substance abuse and suicidal tendencies, Cleo said. Are they not taking that into account?

They are, Olivia said. But they said all they can really do is keep an eye out for him.

Fucking useless, Cleo muttered as she awkwardly put on a shirt. I'll be there in half an hour. Are you at home?

No, I'm still in Ware, I went to check a, um, a bar he used to go to, Olivia said. I don't know what to do, I thought maybe I should keep driving but I don't know where...Cleo, I don't know what to do.

She was crying now and Cleo was trying not to do the same. We'll find him, she said. It'll be okay.

She wasn't sure she believed herself when she said it. Especially now that her mind was going back to that open back door and freezing evening. I'll head to your house, she said, feeling Edie's eyes on her. I have my phone, call me if anything changes.

They hung up a second later and Cleo turned to see Edie watching expectantly. You're going to New Winslow, they said softly.

I have to, she said. Noah's missing. I can't...

Tears were burning her eyes and her hands shook as she put on her shoes. I have to be there.

She thought Edie might argue, and it looked like they wanted to. But they just looked down at the bedsheets. I'll be here if you need anything, they said instead.

Relieved, Cleo went back over and gave them a hurried kiss. Then she was out the door.

***

Two hours after returning to Iris's shop, Andrew was completely drained, laying on the floor of Iris's shop with an equally exhausted Iris beside him. For all the time they'd spent doing rituals and attempting to contact the spirits of Billy McBride and the Alderidge family to track down the origins of the curse, Iris had never sunk so much of herself into the work. She'd put all of her energy into this ritual, holding Noah's leather jacket as she tried to track him. And when her energy had flagged, Andrew had given his. But there was no sign.

It doesn't make sense, he has to be somewhere, Iris said, letting her hand fall limply to the floor beside her.

Everything in Andrew's battered skull was screaming what he didn't want to hear. Noah was dead. If they weren't able to track him down, it was because he wasn't alive.

No, stop it, Iris muttered, clearly half-asleep. The spell is tracking his physical body. Not like... She trailed off, then shook herself awake. It doesn't mean he's dead.

Great, so she was still capable of reading his thoughts then.

I should have said no, Iris murmured, looking up at the dimmed overhead lights, then closing her eyes again. I'm so sorry, Andrew.

She faded out as Andrew's whole body went cold. It was after midnight by this point. Was it really just that afternoon he'd been kissing Noah on the old sofa in his new flat? And now he might never see him again. And he hadn't told Iris about any of that. He hadn’t told anybody.

Iris's breathing had gone slow and steady as she fell asleep beside him. Andrew was tempted to join her, but he had to go home. If Noah showed up there tonight, he needed to be there. And even if he didn't, Andrew needed to be with Liv.

Are you going upstairs? he asked Iris, shaking her gently.

I'm fine here, she breathed. It’ll lock behind you.

The blanket she'd spread out for the ritual was bunched up now, and Andrew carefully slid it out from underneath the candles and herbs, then laid it over her. She didn't move as he blew out the candle and stood up on sore legs, groggily heading out the door with Noah's jacket in his hands. He pulled it on, holding it tightly closed over himself, even in the heat of the night.

Episode 3

All that tension that had faded away during their nights in Vermont was settled right back into Roman's shoulders as he drove down a winding dirt road somewhere between Petersham and New Winslow. He wasn't quite sure what he was looking for beyond Noah, safe and alive. But it was the middle of the night, there was no sign of anything except wildlife out here. The pine trees loomed above and ahead of him, swallowing the lights from his truck. If Roman didn't start making his way back toward the main roads, he was going to be lost as well.

Iris had sounded more afraid than Roman had ever heard when she called him. Not that he'd heard Iris sound scared very often, or maybe ever. But they'd barely been back to the Countess when the phone rang and Iris said they needed his help. Andrew had called as well, a little while later, to tell him that Olivia was searching for Noah nearby. She’d taken the towns to the south and he'd taken the Petersham area, his hopes dimming a little more with each passing hour.

Iris had explained what happened. Something about one of the ghosts they were looking for, Billy McBride. He was apparently at the Countess and contacting Noah, which was part of why Noah was so messed up these days. Despite decades with Celine, Roman didn’t really know much about all that. But Roman knew all too well what could happen when a recovering addict was overloaded and needed a way out. He'd seen it too many times, guys with years of sobriety starting to drink or use again when life got overwhelming.

He could only hope that if that was what was happening here, that Noah had gotten overwhelmed and taken off to get drunk, that he’d show up safely again when it was all over.

Of course he didn't say any of that to Andrew. He knew they were both thinking it, but there was no point in adding anymore fuel to the fire.

The dirt road was getting more narrow by the foot and finally, Roman had to surrender. He stopped the car, checking his phone as though he'd have any service out here. Nothing, of course.

He pulled a three-point turn a little too quickly, the dirt by the edge of the road crumbling precariously under his truck's tire. Stupid move, he thought, giving it a little more gas to get out as he turned back the way he came. He didn't need to give them all a reason to worry about him as well.

Come on, kid, where did you go? Roman muttered to himself, the silence of the car jarring when he was so used to blasting his music. But it was coming up on midnight, he had his windows open, and he didn't need to get himself shot by someone living this far out in the woods.

He was watching the tightly illuminated road ahead for anything. An abandoned truck, someone walking along the nonexistent shoulder of the road, anything at all to make him feel less helpless and alone out here.

It took Roman longer to get out of the woods than it did to get in them. As his phone regained signal, he noticed a text from Celine and pulled the truck over to check it.

CELINE

No change. Are you alright?

Was he? His sponsee was missing, and Roman was helpless to do anything but search the woods for him. He could be dead, he could be possessed, he could be drunk. Hell, he could be sober sitting somewhere in Worcester, just needing to get away from New Winslow for a little bit. God knew Roman could understand that one. Come to think of it, maybe Worcester should be his next stop. Obviously the rehab center Noah had stayed at last year wouldn't be able to tell Roman anything if he'd showed up there, but it had to be more likely than these old back roads.

But nothing was going to happen at midnight and Roman was going to fall asleep out here. He'd go back, catch a few hours, then keep looking.

He called Noah's phone, which unsurprisingly went straight to voicemail.

Hey, it's me, he said uselessly as he pulled back onto the road. Noah, if you get this, please call someone. Any of us. No one's mad, we're all just worried about you. Or just come to the Countess if you want, I'll be there.

He cleared his throat, trying not to think of the funerals he'd missed over the years for guys who had gone back to using. Or go home, man. Olivia and Andrew are worried about you. Please take care of yourself.

He hung up, feeling like he should say more. But there was nothing more to say, so Roman kept driving in silence.

Episode 4

Andrew was burning. He knew it was a lot of things. Exhaustion, fear, guilt, and the side effects of the five different tracking spells he'd tried in the past three hours. Ever since leaving Iris's shop, he'd been looking for new ones in his own growing collection and trying them immediately. Two were absolute duds, not even making a single change. One was hopeful for a moment until it led him to Noah's closet like a really stupid bloodhound. And the other two were even worse, draining his energy and charging, but not actually doing anything.

He was now lying on the carpet in Olivia's living room with Noah’s leather jacket around his shoulders, waiting for the burning to subside. It was fine, he wasn't actually on fire, not like Iris had been that time in her shop. If anything, he just had a terrible fever from what he was doing.

Liv's front door creaked opened, and he pulled himself up, hoping against hope that it was Noah. Instead, Cleo was walking in the door. She dropped her bag and hurried over to where he was lying.

Andrew, what the hell? she demanded as she helped him sit up. Are you okay?

Fine, he murmured.

You're burning up, she said. Holy shit, you're bright red.

Her hands were cool against his cheeks and Andrew let his eyes fall shut just for a second. It's the spells, he said. I'm fine, don't worry.

How the hell am I supposed to not worry? Cleo demanded. Come on, you need to take a break or you're going to get hurt.

He nodded, leaning back against the couch. Mia's asleep, he said, motioning toward what used to be his bedroom. Liv’s still out. I should have stopped him.

What actually happened? Cleo asked gently, sitting down on the rug beside him. Liv told me some of it, but I couldn't understand everything she was saying.

He started laying out what had happened, starting with how apparently Noah's sleepwalking had tied in with the curse. How Iris had been helping him remember what he dreamed on those nights. And how it apparently meant that a ghost had been connecting with Noah and witnessing the kid's death sent him into shock.

I fucked up, Andrew said. "Cleo, I messed