Ghost of You

Twenty

Lindsey spent the next few days glued to Stevie's side, the fact that an argument between them had almost resulted in them losing a child killed him, doing everything she asked and agreeing with everything she said

Making a drink in the kitchen he picked up a teaspoon stirring the sugar into Stevie's drink and putting it down for a second, turning to pick his mug up from the shelf, suddenly thinking he heard a child's giggle again

"She's making you crazy Linds..." he said shaking his head, turning back round he went to pick up the teaspoon

"What the..." he couldn't see it anywhere, he knew he'd left it next to Stevie's cup, looking around he spotted it on the edge of the work surface, nowhere near where he'd left it

"I must have put it there..." he went to pick it up when it suddenly slid across the work top, and into his mug, he stood frozen..."No! You're just tired that's all, you put it in the mug!" He spoke to himself, trying to convince his brain

Before he could even second guess himself once more, he left the room and handed the drink to Stevie. She smiled, taking a sip.

"Sit down, honey, you look tense" Stevie said.

"No, I'm fine."

"I don't think you are. I know what happened scared you but honestly we are fine." She pat her belly. "Someone was looking out for me"

"Yeah, well..." he trailed off, sitting down.

"It was amazing, wasn't it?"

"What was amazing? The fact that you could have been hurt, or worse, all because of a dumb argument about spirits in the house?"

"An argument which we aren't about to bring out again!" She said firmly "So, what did you see in the kitchen?" She asked

"I don't know what you mean..."

"Cut the shit! You came in looking like you'd seen a ghost...if you pardon the pun!"

"I didn't see anything and I didn't hear anything now leave it alone!"

"One of these days you're going to have to admit it because they need our help!" Lindsey just scoffed at her and sat down, putting his newspaper in front of his face

"Lindsey..." a soft voice said and he didn't look up. "Lindsey..." he heard again.

"I know you're trying to be cute Steph, but it's not going to work."

"Lindsey...sweet baby..."

Lindsey ripped the paper away from his face, thrusting it into his lap. He went white as a sheet, seeing no one and nothing in the room with him. He left, leaving the paper there as he searched the house for his wife. The entire downstairs was empty, he went upstairs, thinking she spoke through a vent. How could he possibly hear her voice but not see her? He pushed open the doors of every room, finding her crying in the nursery.

"Steph...?"

"What?" she asked, wiping her eyes.

"Angel..." He couldn't ask if she was talking to him now that he saw what state she was in. "I'm sorry" he said, simply.

"For what?" She sniffled, looking at him with red-rimmed eyes.

"Our fighting is getting out of hand."

"We wouldn't fight if you would just believe me and admit that there are some things in this world you can't control or explain."

"Stevie, I do fully admit that. I can't control or explain you at all." She scoffed, tears still falling down her cheeks. "I'm sorry, that was supposed to be a joke"

"Well, it wasn't funny."

"I know...will you come back downstairs? I promise I won't yell."

"At me?"

"Anymore." he clarified.

She nodded, sniffing. "Okay." He opened his arms to her and hugged her, kissing the top of her head.

Stevie fell asleep on the sofa, she always exhausted herself after crying, Lindsey contemplated for ages, before finally going up into the attic, pulling the stairs down and making his way up

Looking around the attic he sat in front of the mirror, waiting for something to happen, the mirror...it was causing a serious strain in his marriage and that was the last thing he wanted, especially with a son on the way

"I love you Stevie, but this is going to have to go." He shook his head, quickly making his way back downstairs he looked at Stevie's calendar in the kitchen, seeing she had an appointment the next day, he knew she wouldn't like it but before work tomorrow he would put the mirror out, needing any negativity out of his relationship for good

He looked around and decided what he would tell her. He didn't want to fight with her anymore. Their argument almost cost them their child and his wife, though she was miraculously saved by an unseen force. He rooted through the boxes, dust thickly covering everything he touched. He sighed.

"Why is she always up here?" he asked himself. He found an old photo album, and opened the first page knowing it was blank. As he flicked to the next page, his eyes widened. A photo of a man who looked remarkably like himself and a strange woman with a stern expression. Her hair looked on the lighter side from what he could tell but her eyes were dark and almost brooding. He had no warmth in her form. They stood in front of the house he and Stevie now occupied. He turned the page again to see a woman who looked like his wife. She was absolutely gorgeous, a broad smile and even in the old photo, her eyes seemed to sparkle. "Hey there, pretty girl" he said, smoothing a photo of beautiful light haired little girl in a white dress. She was sitting side saddle on a horse with a man who looked to be her grandfather. The little girl was smiling, almost laughing. Beneath the photo, 'Ramona Joy' was scrawled in loose handwriting. "Ramona" he said aloud.

"Hello..." he heard the faint sound of a voice wisp past him, swinging round he looked for its owner, not seeing anything

Suddenly he found his pant leg being tugged, looking down he saw a little girl, jumping backwards he scared her

"Oh my god, I'm seeing things!" Lindsey said rubbing his eyes roughly, the little girl was still there

"I'm Ramona...are you my brother? I've been looking for you for so long!" She smiled brightly, Lindsey not believing his eyes, it took him a few minuets to speak

"N-no, I'm Lindsey..."

"You aren't Fletch?" She tried to touch him but got distressed when she couldn't. He shook his head, and watched as the little girls lip quivered, and she started to cry softly, Lindsey couldn't help but comfort her

"Hey...there there, it's okay sweetheart..." he put his hand out and it went straight through her, he jumped back for the second time and watched as the little girl ran off crying, disappearing into the mirror and leaving not a trace that she was ever in front of him.