Chapter 43

LYNN

The next morning, I wake up early. I’m eager to see Chelsea. I leave Dan at home to recover from his gunshot wound. Zoey is still fast asleep. I give Dan a quick kiss and head out to the hospital.

I park in the visitors’ lot and make my way inside. I head straight to the room Chelsea was in yesterday, but she’s not there.

I hear her laughter echoing from another room. I follow the sound and find Chelsea sitting next to Brian, helping him with his breakfast.

“Hey!” Chelsea greets me.

“Hey, I brought you some clothes,” I reply, holding up a bag. I lean in to give her a hug.

She whispers in my ear, “He doesn’t know about the house yet, or this.” She gestures to her stomach.

I nod in understanding.

I sit back and watch them. Chelsea helping Brian with his breakfast is a heartwarming sight. It’s a reminder of why they belong together.

Seeing them smile at each other brings back memories of when they first met. It’s like witnessing their first encounter all over again. It makes my heart flutter.

After breakfast, the nurses take Brian for another MRI to check on his brain swelling.

An orderly comes in to change the sheets, so I follow Chelsea back to her room.

“So, when are you going to tell him?” I ask.

“Which part? That I’m pregnant with his baby, or that I had an affair with a ghost named Clayton?”

“You’re remembering now?”

“I remember everything. It’s so clear what he was doing to me. He manipulated me, used me for sex.

“Don’t get me wrong, the sex was incredible, but I don’t base relationships on sex. Brian and I have a connection—it’s not just about sex. With Clayton, it was all about sex.”

“You remember Brad?” I ask.

“Yeah, you two were always on and off. I remember you said something about trying to work things out,” she replies.

“That relationship was doomed from the start. Brad only wanted a girlfriend when it was convenient for him. He was never around when I needed him.

“Then I met Dan. We were working on the same case but didn’t realize it. We started collaborating, and he invited me to dinner to discuss the case further.

“That’s when I broke my number one rule. No sex until after the fifth date.”

“No, you didn’t?”

“I did, just like you,” I say, pointing at her.

Chelsea blushes, knowing exactly what I mean.

“Dan is different from all the other guys I’ve dated. We just clicked. I hate to admit it…I think he’s my soulmate.

“When I heard he got shot yesterday by Detrick, my heart stopped. I can’t believe I’m saying this…I’m in love with him. I’m really, really in love with him.”

“Good for you. You deserve it,” Chelsea says.

“Thanks. So, when are you going to tell Brian about the baby and the house?”

“I’m terrified to tell him,” she admits.

“Scared of what? Telling him he’s going to be a father or what he’ll think of you?”

“Both!” she exclaims.

“I don’t think Brian would react badly. Here’s why. Dan and I looked into the history of that house.

“My conclusion is that when you were at Fesser Publishing, something or someone was influencing Brian to do things he wouldn’t normally do. Like having an affair with Bunny.”

“Are you sure?”

“Positive. When Dan and I visited him after he woke up from his coma, the first thing he said was that he knew he was sleeping with her, but he couldn’t control himself.

“He said something was making him do it. He wasn’t in control. If you think about it, that’s what led you to take the house—his infidelity,” I explain.

“Oh my god. I was being manipulated this whole time, and he had nothing to do with it. Was Amanda involved in this?”

“No, she was just doing what Dorothy asked her to do.

“So, tell him about the baby first, then tell him about the house and everything that happened. You were being controlled by them, just like they controlled him,” I advise.

“I hope you’re right,” she says.

“I know I’m right. Do you want me to be there when you tell him?”

“No, I need to do this alone.”

A nurse walks in a few minutes later. “Congratulations, you’ve been discharged. Here are some prenatal vitamins you need to take daily.

“Please make an appointment with your doctor for a one-month checkup,” she says, handing Chelsea a bottle of vitamins.

Chelsea signs the discharge papers and takes the vitamins. We watch the nurse leave.

“I’ve got nowhere to go. My car is at the house, probably destroyed by Clayton,” she says.

“Okay, here’s what I can do. I’ll give you my car. I’m driving Dan’s unmarked car now. I’ll get Zoey to help me bring my car here for you.

“You’re welcome to stay with us at my place. Dan’s place is too small for all of us,” I offer.

“Thank you so much. But if I have to leave here, I’ll probably go back to my place,” she says.

“Okay, if you change your mind, you’re always welcome at my place,” I say, kissing her on the forehead.

“I love you,” she says.

“I love you more,” I tell her, sending a kiss her way as I head out.

CHELSEA

I find myself waiting in Brian’s room for nearly an hour. I’m perched on one of those stiff hospital chairs, my feet propped up on the bed, mindlessly flipping through TV channels. Nothing catches my interest.

When I spot a nurse wheeling Brian back into the room, I toss the remote onto the bed and rise to help her settle him back in.

“So?” I ask her, my curiosity piqued.

“From what I could tell from his scan, the swelling has gone down. It looks like he’s on track for a full recovery,” she informs me. As she heads out, she tosses over her shoulder, “Congratulations.”

Brian looks at me, his lips forming the word, ~Congratulations?~

“Well, I guess I should explain.” I flash him a wide grin. “We’re having a baby.”

His face is a blank canvas.

“I’m pregnant, and you’re the father.”

“I thought you were on the pill?”

“I thought so too…but why are you looking at me like that? I thought you’d be happy?”

“I am happy. I just thought we were going to wait until we were married.”

“Well, I guess plans change,” I tell him. “There’s more.”

I climb into bed with him, settling in next to him. I start from the beginning, telling him everything. From the moment I caught him to when Lynn came to my rescue.

I explain Dorothy’s actions. I even share my theory that the house wanted a fifth generation living there, which is why I got pregnant.

After I finish, he pulls me into a tight hug and says, “I don’t care about the past. All I care about is you and the baby.

“All I want to know is…will you marry me? Will you still move into the house I built for us?”

“I wouldn’t want it any other way,” I assure him.

“Shit! You know what this means, right?”

I look at him, waiting for him to continue.

“Now I need to convert one of the rooms into a nursery.”

“In due time, baby. I’m only eight weeks along.”

***

Later that night, visiting hours are winding down. I want to stay with him again, but he insists I go back to our place. Reluctantly, I agree.

When I pull into my parking spot, I realize I don’t have a key. Then it hits me—I would have left a key under the welcome mat for Lynn and Zoey.

I step out of Lynn’s car and head to the front door. I retrieve the key from under the mat and let myself in.

Everything is as I left it when I caught Brian. The empty coffee cups, the stale muffins, everything.

I walk into our bedroom and see the remnants of Bunny’s wax still on the sheets. Brian’s clothes are scattered around, but Bunny’s are nowhere to be found.

I shake my head, grab a trash bag, and start cleaning up. I also change the sheets on the bed.

Eventually, I need a shower. I head back into our bedroom and notice I still have clothes here. I’m grateful Lynn didn’t take everything.

I find a T-shirt and a pair of panties and head to the bathroom.

I’d forgotten how small our bathroom is. I turn on the water and wait for it to warm up before stepping in.

After the shower, I dry off and get dressed. It feels good to take a normal shower again.

I make my way to the bed and crawl in, moving over to Brian’s side. His scent lingers on his pillow. It makes me smile, and within minutes, I’m asleep.

***

~I wake up to the smell of coffee. My eyes snap open to find myself in my bed at the other house. I throw off the covers and see I’m naked. Again. “Typical,” I mutter to myself.~

~The sun is streaming into my room, a breeze wafting in through the windows. It feels like late summer, early fall. I can tell by the way the wind is blowing.~

~I get dressed and head downstairs to the kitchen. I reach for a mug and am about to pour myself a cup when I stop and stare at the coffeepot.~

~“The damn coffee has been controlling me,” I say, pouring the coffee down the drain.~

~I grab a bottle of water from the fridge and step out onto the front porch. I settle down on the swing.~

~I notice a new face mowing the lawn. He spots me on the swing and starts heading my way.~

~He parks the mower and approaches me, hand extended.~

~“Hi, I’m Christian, your new groundskeeper. I just wanted to thank you for the opportunity to work for you,” he says.~

~“Who hired you?” I ask.~

~He looks at me, confused. “You did, ma’am.”~

~Then I hear a little girl’s laughter. The sound is coming from the side of the house. I look over to see her running toward Christian, hiding behind him.~

~Then I see Clayton chasing after her.~

~“Is that your little girl?” I ask Christian.~

~“No, ma’am. She’s yours,” he says, looking at me with confusion.~

~“What do you mean ‘mine’? I haven’t had the baby yet,” I say, touching my stomach.~

~It’s flat.~

~“Where’s Brian?” I ask, looking at Clayton.~

~“He left you and his little girl,” he says.~

~“He wouldn’t do that,” I say, my voice rising.~

~“Oh, but he did. He couldn’t be the man you wanted. He tried to be like me but failed every time.”~

~I look at Christian, and he’s nodding in agreement with Clayton.~

~I hop off the swing, opening my arms wide as a little girl rushes into them.~

~“What’s your name, sweetheart?” I ask her.~

~“Christine, Mom. You should remember that,” she replies.~

~“And how old are you?”~

~“Mom, I’m five,” she says, holding up five tiny fingers.~

~“Where are my friends? Where did they go?” I ask, turning to Clayton.~

~“Well, Brian, as you’re aware, left you. Zoey took her own life. Dan and Lynn started a business and moved out of state, and your mother is still in Europe with her new husband.~

~“Your new stepfather is three years younger than you,” he adds, climbing the porch stairs. “You had nowhere else to go, so you came back to me and this house.”~

~“I would never come back to you,” I retort, looking up at him.~

~“But you did. You came back on your knees, begging me to take you back. Begging me to fuck you the way I used to.~

~“I took you back, but only because of your daughter. Once she’s grown, I won’t need you anymore. I’ll mold her into the perfect, obedient wife.~

~“She’ll accept everything I give her, and the only thing she’ll say is, thank you,” he says, still looking down at me.~

~“No, this can’t be happening. I need to wake up,” I say, pushing him away.~

~He tries to grab me.~

~“Get your fucking hands off me!” I sprint onto the grass, staring at the house. “This is a fucking nightmare. I need to wake up.”~

~I turn around and start walking away. I glance back to see Clayton chasing after me.~

~I break into a run.~

~I head straight for the pond.~

~Clayton shoves me into the water. I hold my breath as I plunge in. I resurface, treading water, and look up to see Clayton with his hands on his hips.~

~“You know, now that I think about it, I don’t need you at all. Christian and I can raise your little girl without you.~

~“Thanks for all the great memories we had. I’ll start making new ones with your daughter,” he says, waving dismissively at me.~

~“Fuck you, don’t you dare…,” I start to say before something grabs my ankles and yanks me underwater.~

~Down, down, I sink to the deepest part of the pond.~

~I scream underwater as the last of my breath escapes.~