Ghost

Chapter 12: Journal

I could hear Flash barking before I even opened the door.

My palms were sweating and I was beyond reasonably nervous.

Nick stood beside me looking content that I was doing this.

Mrs. Leighton opened the door. "We don't want-- oh Eva! What are you doing here sweetie?"

She had her leg stretched preventing Flash from running out the door.

I held up the apple pie I made with a small smile. "I thought I'd come visit."

"Of course, come in." This time she smiled opening the door wide for me.

She took the pie from me as I walked in. I quickly bent down to pet Flash. "Hiya boy, you miss me?"

He jumped on his hind legs excited that I was over. He looked at where Nick stood and began barking at him.

"He keeps barking at things, it drives Bill crazy," Mrs. Leighton said.

"Guilty," Nick pipped.

I followed Mrs. Leighton to the kitchen where she placed the pie on the counter.

"I love your apple pies," she said going to grab plates and forks. "Nick was always a fan too. He would crave it at times, but he would never ask you make one even though I told him numerous times that you are far too kind to reject."

I struggled not to chuckle. So Nick's parents thought I was an angel and my father thought Nick was a saint. Neither knew we were horrible to each other.

"Guilty again," Nick said, leaning against the counter. "I'm so mad I can't taste it."

"But he did ask me for the recipe once," I told her. "I refused to give it to him thinking he'd probably burn the house down like that time he forgot the chicken in the oven."

I still remember how Nick stood miserable and embarrassed outside as the firefighters cleared the kitchen.

This made Mrs. Leighton laugh. "Oh yes, that was probably a good idea."

She placed a piece of pie in front of each of us before going to make tea for the both of us.

I heard heavy footsteps make their way to the kitchen. "Honey, have you seen-- oh Eva! What are you doing here?"

"She's here to visit, she brings her apple pie," Mrs. Leighton answered for me.

Mr. Leighton looked excited as he made his way to the counter. Nick shared that same expression some times. He took a fork and dug right into the pie.

"Bill! Use a plate," Mrs. Leighton exclaimed. She looked at me and sighed. "Such a horrible habit, he even passed it down to Nick."

They both fell silent as if remembering him doing so.

Mr. Leighton cleared his voice. "So Eva, you aren't at your mother's this weekend?"

Beauty to being a divorcee child. Every second weekend I spent it at my mom's.

"I haven't gone this month... I've had priorities," I told them. Being with your son's ghost and trying to find his body are on the top of that list.

"Busy with school I'm assuming. It's your last year! You decided what you want to do yet?" Mr. Leighton asked curiously.

"I was thinking something in law enforcement or criminal justice. My mom's husband, Steve, he's been helping me with applications," I told them.

"Look at Eva chasing her Nancy Drew dream," Nick teased me. Ass.