Her eyes widen. “What? What are you talking about? Cross over where, exactly?”
My mouth snaps shut.
She doesn’t know. And how could she? Ghosts don’t have carte blanche to roam. Whoever they’re stuck with, or whatever they’re tied to, determines where they go and what they see.
“Have you been here ever since…”
“No,” she snaps, turning her head away from me. “For a long time, I traveled wherever he traveled. Until…recently.”
I blink, trying to understand what she’s not saying. Instead of pushing her and taking the chance of making her angry, I change the subject.
“When you said you choose to stay, what do you mean?”
She clears her throat. “I couldn’t leave him. Especially after what happened in the following months. He needs me.”
She’s referring to the alcohol and how he crumpled into himself when she died.
“I’m sorry, Isla. I can only imagine how difficult that must’ve been for you to witness.”
I mean every word, and she must recognize that, because her shoulders relax, and the deep frown she was wearing moments ago melts away. Her bottom lip trembles.
She lowers her head. “Especially since there was nothing I could do to help. I had to watch him fall apart, and it broke me.” She huffs a humorless laugh. “If that’s even possible for a ghost.”
I offer a sad smile to the woman. “I lost someone I loved too. I can’t claim to know how it’s been from your side of things, but from this side, the survivor side, it’s the worst pain imaginable.”
One eyebrow lifts. “You did? May I ask who you lost?”
I bob my head, smiling sadly. “My husband and I were in a car accident, and he didn’t make it.”
Her eyes widen, and her hand lifts to her mouth. “That’s terrible. I’m sorry…” She purses her lips. “What’s your name?”
“Alyssa. Mann. I live next door.”
“The widow,” she says, mostly to herself. “I heard Jackie talk about you when she was here yesterday.”
“That’s…nice to hear,” I admit, smiling a little too wide, considering the ghost I’m here with.
She rolls her eyes. “Don’t get too used to it. He’ll only push you away. He’s bound and determined to be alone.” She doesn’t say this to be harsh. If anything, she sounds frustrated by it.
I tilt my head to the side. “And you know this how?”
She sighs. “Nick talks to me sometimes at night. He doesn’t know I’m here, but he confides in me. Tells me his plans for the future, and how he wishes I were here to experience it all with him.”
I swallow a lump that’s formed in my throat. I know far too well what that’s like. I often talk to Garrett about my day and my hopes for the future, for me and Ava.
“So…if you know who I am…do you know that we’re…”
“Dating?” she says, and I nod. “I kind of worked that out while you slept next to him last night. Nick has never had another woman that isn’t family here.”
She looks around as if he’s nearby and will overhear. She leans in. “Listen, I’m here to help. I think you have the best chance of making him fall in love with you.”
I open my mouth to say…something, but find myself just blinking instead.
I lift my hands to stop her. “Whoa…Isla…nobody’s falling in love here. We just started seeing each other.”
She bats her lashes at me, pursing her lips. “While that might be true, I can help you move things along faster.”
My nose screws up, and I shake my head. “Thank you, but that’s not necessary. I’m happy where things are.”
