Ghost Boy

Ch 5. A child

Caleb walks to the door slowly, and opens it. But no one is there, except for a basket and a note.
He picks up the note and opens it. And written in rushed but tidy hand writing is this;

Caleb,
Please take care of her, you're the only person I could think of who would take her. I made a promise to you that when the time came, if you wanted. I would be your surrogate. But I'm not ready to be a mother, so take care of her. Give her a name, and love her as your child for me.
Love, Leah.

Caleb drops the note, and picks up the basket, pulling the blanket back. There in the basket lies a small baby, fast asleep, her dark skin blotched with white and her small mouth curved up in a little smile.

Caleb starts to cry, "Christ Leah" he croaks "how could you leave her here.. with me of all people."

I smile, "idiot.."
He looks up, he heard me but can't see me. I guess it takes a while..

He sits there, the baby in his arms looking on his phone for baby names. Under her basket was a mostly empty birth certificate, the names not written down.
He writes his name in the parents' name slot and then.. he writes 'Ivy.'

Caleb groans, "I've got to buy stuff for her now.."
Caleb calls Naya, who rushes over immediately.

"Caleb, who's bundle of joy is this? And why do you have her?" Naia inquired, lifting Ivy into the air as if she was making a weird recreation of the lion king.
Caleb groans, covering his eyes and leaning back, "mine now, apparently." ... "She's my childhood friend's daughter, she asked me to keep her."

Naia stares, "so you're saying someone would simply leave this angel here. With *YOU*?"
"Pretty much." Caleb says through a yawn.
Naia smiles, "there's only one thing worse than a r*pist, boom"
Caleb gasps, "A child"
"Anyway, why did you want me to come here?" Naia asks, cradling Ivy in her arms.
"I need you to either come to the store with me and keep Ivy out of harm while were in the car. Or You can stay here with her while I'm gone."
Naia stares at him, "no way in hell are you leaving me alone with a baby. I'd drop her and I'd never forgive myself! Plus, I could barely take care of Lock and keykey after our mom left and our dad died. Jason had to find a job and we somehow managed to keep the house."

Caleb sighs, "Naia, you're great with kids. You baby sat my brother and sister when you were younger and they loved you."

She chuckles, "that's an overstatement. They were such jerks to me, sure keykey was a devil when she was six. But Alex and Naomi? Oh they were so much worse. But I liked them, they were angels when keykey got involved."

"Sounds like them.. and like Keykey.."

Naia smiles, "I'll come with you, you'll need help finding stuff for her."

Caleb nods, and grabs his keys. As he walks out to his car, Naia follows close behind holding ivy close. I smile, they look like some sort of couple that doesn't know how to take care of a child. And that's sort of what they are.

I follow them around the store, Naia refuses to allow Caleb to buy Ivy a Jojo Siwa shirt, saying "she doesn't even know who Jojo is."
Caleb buys the shirt anyway.
They eventually pay for all the stuff they bought and leave.

Later that night, after Caleb puts Ivy to bed, he walks to the room I'm in.

He stares at me, "L-lock?"
I grin, "hi homo, what's up?"

He looks as if he's going to cry, his eyes filling up with tears. "You're a ghost.. I want to hug you but I can't."

I smile, walking to him. "Me being dead changes a lot of things. But god, you said you loved me like a billion times at my funeral. Don't get me wrong, I cried. Sorta, it's hard to explain. But anyway I love you too you big baby."

I reach my arms up and hug him, which to my surprise actually works, my arms don't just go through him. "Also btw, I'd kiss you too." I wink.

Caleb rolls his eyes, his cheeks flushing bright red.

"No homo, homo."
He grins, "No you."

I clear my throat, "a baby."
He smiles, "Yeah.."
"you're a daddy now" I snicker, punching him in the shoulder.
"What a way to ruin the moment, shrimp."
"Who are you calling shrimp?!"
He laughs, "I'm glad you're back.."

I frown, remembering that this is only temporary.
"I'm staying.. until you are able to let go.."

"What do you mean?" He asks
"Once you're happy again, without me here. I'll be invisible again."

"Why..?" He croaks
"Death himself told me.. I get to roam the earth until everyone I know let's go of me and is happy."

He frowns, "and.. what do you think of that?"
I smile a false smile, "It's the way it is.. so it's okay."

He stares through me, my words and smile a lie. Even after death he's still able to read me like a book.

"You don't want to go.." He whispers, mournfully.
I shake my head, "you're right.. I don't want to go. But it's a long way away from here. So I'll have no need to fear."

"What about me.?"

What about Caleb indeed..

"You'll move on. You'll marry somebody and be happy. You will care for Ivy, you'll grow old, and die.."

He reaches for my hand, "But what about you?"

"I'll roam the earth until I'm sent to the other world, the world of the dead. Those who's second life has been fulfilled.."