Misguided Ghosts

Chapter Forty-Five

Forty-Five – Tay

We pulled up outside Ed’s house the moment his car started creaking. Something told me that I had too much stuff for his tiny Mini, and the fact that it was one of the older ones didn’t help matters. He squeezed my hand and smiled at me. He seemed… Different. Happier somehow. What had changed? Had meeting his baby sister had that big of an impact on his life? I squeezed his hand back and lifted one corner of my mouth. Then the other. I felt a little better.

Picking up the overnight bag that I’d packed, which contained the essentials, I climbed out of the car. I slung my bag over my shoulder and looked up at the house. Every time I’d been there, I’d been happy. And now? Everything just felt wrong, like something was out of place, but I couldn’t tell what it was. Maybe it was because the last time I’d visited Ed’s parents, I’d had a home to go back to. I shook my head. I did have a home to go back to, a better home. I was building something, starting afresh. I didn’t have to change anything. All I had to do was unpack my things and be myself, which was something that I felt like I hadn’t done for a very long time. I took a deep breath.

Ed and I walked up the drive to the front door, where he pulled out his keys and let us in, holding my hand tightly. He shut the door quietly behind us, as if it would disturb the peace that permeated the very being of the house. We walked up the stairs, making our way to the drawing room, where we’d spent several evenings reading until we fell asleep.

He pushed open the door, causing his parents to look up from their own books. “Mum, Dad… Tay’s parents kicked her out. Can we stay here for a bit?”

His mother got up and walked over to the pair of us, wrapping us both in a tight hug. “Of course she can,” She pulled out of the hug and turned to face me, her hands resting on her shoulders. “You know you’re always welcome here for as long as you want, sweetie,”

I gave her a small smile. “Thank you,”

“Have either of you eaten dinner?”

When Ed and I both shook our heads, his Dad sighed heavily and shook his head. “You were never one for eating dinner, Ed,”

So we all went into the dining room and Ed and I ate the leftovers of their pasta bake, which was far better than anything I could ever cook. But the thing that I enjoyed more than the food was the fact that I finally felt at home. Ed’s parents didn’t question me about why I’d been kicked out. They acted like I’d always lived with them.

“Thank you,” I said, setting down my knife and fork. “That was delicious, Mrs Milligan,”

“How many times, Tay?” She chuckled. “My name isn’t Mrs Milligan. That makes me sound old.”

“Sorry, Molly,” I smiled, feeling weird about using her first name.

His father laughed as well. Under the table, Ed squeezed my hand. I smiled again, properly this time, not the weak half-smiles that I’d only just been managing earlier. There was something beautiful about Ed’s family. They were beautiful people, and not just in terms of their appearance. They had a gift of making me feel happy, and like nothing bad could ever happen to me because they believed in me. Their home felt more welcoming than mine ever had.

From the baby monitor – and from upstairs – came a wail. I jumped, thinking that someone was in trouble, but then I remembered that there was a young baby in the house.

“How old is Clara?” I asked.

“Two months,” His father smiled. “She looks just like Ed did when he was a baby. Thinking about it, she acts like he did as well,”