Page 63 of A Haunting at Keystone Manor

I suck in a breath. “My father,” I admit. “Andrei. I killed him. Well, I didn’t pull the trigger I guess, but I’m the reason he’s dead. I probably shouldn’t have told you that.” I look down at my plants in shame, wishing I could be normal for just a minute.

“Did he deserve it?”

I let out a low chuckle. “Yeah, he did. He killed me first. It feels like a dream some days, that he’s finally gone.”

“Well, I’m happy for you, sweetie. Good riddance to trash, I say,” she raises her glass in toast before taking another sip.

I look at her in shock.

“Alex told me a bit about what you guys went through. You protected my son. That’s all I care about. I’m glad you’re safe now, too.”

“Some days I still don’t feel safe. Part of me is scared my father will come back and drag me away from this. Like if I blink, I’ll be back at home with… him.” I bite my lip and let my words trail off. I don’t know why I’m telling her all this. Surely she’ll see how damaged I am, how her son deserves so much better.

She’s thoughtful for a minute as she studies me. “Is he the man who abused you?”

“You’re perceptive,” I say.

“I’ve been around the block a time or two. And I saw the way you reacted to my husband.”

Shit. “I’m really sorry about that—” I start, but she raises a hand to cut me off, pointing a finger at me.

“Don’t ever be sorry for reactions you can’t control. Tom knows you didn’t mean any offense, and so do I, honey.”

I nod and let her words soak in. “I’ve never had a parent I could talk about this kind of stuff to.”

“Well, you’ve got me, and I’m a great listener. Any time you want to get something off your chest, you can come to me. I won’t tell anyone, not even Alex. I haven’t known you long, but I can tell that you’re a good young man, and I’m so glad my baby boy has someone like you in his life. Afterlife, I guess.” She takes another drink and shakes her head.

“How do you know?” I choke out.

“Know what?”

“That I’m good? Good for Alex? I’ve done so many things I’m not proud of, things I’m ashamed of. I don’t even know who I am most days.” I wipe at my eyes, hating that I’m tearing up in front of her. “Sorry, please ignore me. I don’t know what’s wrong with me. It’s been a long day.”

“Baby, I don’t know everything that’s happened to you, and you don’t have to tell me anything, but I can take a guess. You have nothing to be ashamed of for the things you’ve had to do to survive. You’re here now, and my son looks at you like you hung the moon and the stars. When I look at you, I see a sweet, caring young man that puts the interests of others before his own, without asking for anything in return. You need to give yourself a little bit of grace to be human, sweetie. You’ve recently been through some really traumatic things, and it takes time to heal from that. There’s nothing wrong with you.”

Her words crack something inside of me, and I break down. My heart feels like it’s ripping in two as I bury my face in my hands. Debbie crawls over to me on her knees.

“Can I put my arms around you?” The question makes me sob harder and all I can do is nod my permission. She says all the words I never once heard from my actual mother, words I didn’t know I desperately wanted to hear.

“You’re going to be okay, honey. I know it’s hard right now, but you have a family here now who loves you. Alex loves you, that’s obvious to everyone with eyeballs. You’ve got so many people in your corner now who want to protect you. Even from your father, if need be.”

“Do you have to leave?” I ask.

She laughs softly. “Unfortunately, I will have to get back to my cats. But we’ll visit again really soon. Now that I have my son back, nothing will keep me away.”

I hold onto her tight and cry into her hair, not caring at the moment if I look foolish or crazy. She rubs my back as I soak in everything she has to offer. Love, protection.

Family.

Chapter thirty-six

In the Garden

Alex

“I love your family,” Jake says simply.

“I’m glad you approve.” I silently preen as I watch him plant his tomatoes. My dad made a run to the store before they left to get tomato cages for him, and he’s installing them now. I would help him, but… then I wouldn’t be able to ogle him.