“I approve. Of your relationship.” She stepped forward and pressed a feathery kiss to my cheek, that I hadn’t realized I’d be able to feel. That was something I knew now. Ghosts could touch us. Then, she whispered, “He’s been sad for so long, while I’m happy. I want us to both be happy.”
Then, to my shock, she grabbed my shoulders and whirled me around as she said, "Nothing was an accident."
To face my Mom and Dad.
For a second I just froze, then I crumpled to the ground. I tried to say something, anything, but all I actually did was start crying. Sitting there, feeling emotional, with my parents in front of me made me feel like a little girl again. I was a child wanting a hug from her parents, wanting them to tell me it would all be okay.
It was only when I heard the gasps from my friends as they realized why I'd fallen to the ground that I seemed to come back to myself. I was sitting in front of my parents. How many people hope and pray and beg for an opportunity like that and I was just sitting there?
I pushed to my feet and wiped the tears from my cheeks as I took a hesitant step toward them. They were crying too, if ghosts could really cry, and that nearly set me off all over again.
"Nothing was an accident," my mom said as she reached toward me. Unlike with Sarah, my mom's fingers didn't connect, they just floated right through my arm. She frowned and looked disappointed.
"What your mother is trying to say is all of our accidents weren't accidents," my dad said before pushing his glasses up on his nose. He takes a breath to say more but they flicker in and out, just like Thomas had done back at home.
"You're in danger. You and Daniel. That’s what we need you to know. That's why we broke our rest," my mom said as she watched me. I looked so much like her, I hadn't realized it until I was standing in front of her and it felt like I was looking in a mirror. Slightly distorted? Yes. But a mirror nonetheless, though I did have my dad's nose. It felt odd recognizing parts of myself in my parents, two people I'd missed beyond measure.
"The answers you seek, the way to protect yourself and Daniel, are buried on your lands," my dad added. His words were strained, as though he was trying to fight against something to get his point across. Was it the curse? The same one that stopped Thomas from telling us who was messing with him? As they both started to flicker even more I realized that they looked like shadows created by a fire whose flames were sputtering and dying out. I wasn't ready for them to leave again. Not yet.
There was so much I wanted to say, wanted to ask, wanted to talk to them about, but I knew we didn't have time. Just like Thomas had disappeared my parents would too, except hopefully they returned to their rest. "I love you. Henry loves you. I wish you could see the man he's become. We miss you," I said, or tried to. My voice cut out at the end as tears choked me once more.
"We l-l-love you both—" my mom said before her voice gave out like a telephone line being cut.
"S-s-so pr-pr-proud." My dad's final words made the tears come once more. They both vanished, fading back into the ether, before I could say anything more, but I guess all the important stuff had been said. We loved each other. They were proud of us.
Oh, and I was in danger.
Again.
Chapter Nineteen
Emma
My phone beeped, once again when I was nearly asleep. I was exhausted. After having a very brief discussion warning Henry to be careful, I’d been even more tired. I’d almost told him about mom and dad, but he was speaking to his buddies in his game over his headset, so I figured I’d have to wait for a better time.
Then, I’d washed my face and braided my hair, and was snuggled in under a thick comforter with my fan blowing full blast. Almost nothing could’ve gotten me to look at my phone at that moment, but it was Daniel’s ringtone. And, for Daniel, I’d make the effort to turn my headslightly.
So, I groaned and squinted at the screen.
I promise to be careful.
I smiled reading the text from him. We’d had a long conversation after the graveyard about what had happened. I’d told him everything. Even about his wife. We’d both sat together on my front steps, and he’d held my hand, his palm warm against mine. The thing was, it wasn’t like we were both sad and suffering together, it was almost like we had felt this unexpected relief when it came to the people we lost. Our loved ones were okay, and they wanted us to be happy.
Still, their message to us couldn’t be ignored. And thatwasn’ta relief. I knew there was trouble afoot, but the fact that we were in real danger, again, made me feel sick to my stomach.
Picking up my phone, I typed, letting my feelings out even if maybe I shouldn’t have.I’m still worried and scared. I can’t help it. All I want to do is go to sleep, but I don’t feel safe.
Is there an officer still there?
I typed back.No, there was some big issue with some local teens, and he had to go help.I told him it was fine. What was I supposed to say? No. Sit out front. Ghosts had warned me that I was in trouble?
I stared at my phone, nibbling my bottom lip, but no reply came. Maybe I should’ve pretended to be strong. Or just said something badass-like. But it was too late now.
My fingers typed something to cover my tracks, but froze, then erased the words. Tried again. Still felt like an idiot and deleted the words.
I was scared. Maybe with Rick I always had to pretend to be tough, but I didn’t want to make that mistake with Daniel. So, I left the message as it was and forced myself to put my phone down.
A while later, there was a soft knock on my bedroom door. “Come in,” I called, expecting Henry.
