The Presence

by Charlene Neil

  In the two weeks since Rebecca and Kayleigh went looking for answers to what was happening in her house, Kayleigh had no new weird experiences.

  One morning, she was out of bed and in the shower a half–an-hour before the alarm went off. She was already dressed in a pair of jeans and black T-shirt when she heard the playing of the annoying alarm’s tune. She put some color to her face and added eyeliner with mascara. She even sprayed on some extra perfume. It was just for luck, she told herself, but deep down she knew it was because she was seeing Rebecca later.

  Whistling, she walked out of her room and started down the hallway toward Sarah’s room. She was light on her feet and felt like singing and dancing. Sarah was up, her voice trailing down the hall. Sarah’s bedroom door was partially opened, just enough for Kayleigh to pop her head in through the gap. Sarah sat on her bed and was busy talking to the space in front of her—to something that wasn’t there. The hair on Kayleigh’s arms rose, and chills traveled up and down her spine. At first she wondered if Sarah was talking to her doll again, but noticed the doll was on top of the toy box stashed in the corner.

  “Who are you talking to, sweetie?” Kayleigh opened the door wider and entered the room. She sat down in the spot that Sarah was talking to a few seconds ago. The air felt cool, but it always did in Sarah’s room so she wasn’t concerned.

  “Be careful, Mom!” Sarah jumped up and pushed Kayleigh off the spot. Kayleigh had to catch herself to keep from falling onto the floor.

  “What?”

  “You sat on top of her!”

  “On top of whom?”

  “Carrey!”

  The goose bumps ran all the way down Kayleigh’s neck, and the nausea she felt the other night in the shower overwhelmed her again. “Sarah, who’s Carrey?” Kayleigh tried to steady her breathing and keep her voice gentle to not startle Sarah.

  “The little girl,” Sarah said and pointed to the edge of the bed.

  “What little girl, sweetheart?” Kayleigh’s eyes raked the room—nothing was different.

  “That little—” Sarah looked very confused. “She was there just a second ago, I swear, Mom. I saw her—”.

  “It’s all right, baby. I believe you.” Kayleigh leaned in and gave her a comforting hug. “Did she say anything?”

  “Not much.” Sarah concentrated on her hands in her lap.

  Kayleigh took hold of her daughter’s hands. She was still so small and fragile. Sometimes Kayleigh forgot that Sarah was only eight years old and tended to treat her more like an adult. She leaned forward letting go of Sarah’s hands and wrapped her arms around her thin shoulders. “I love you, baby girl, don’t you ever forget that.”

  Why was this spirit being so damn pushy? Why couldn’t it just leave them alone? What if it was evil? “Let’s go and have some breakfast, shall we?”

  The excitement Kayleigh had felt upon waking had now disappeared—as if someone had suddenly switched off a light inside of her. She went through her morning chores on autopilot, too afraid to ask Sarah more about this alleged Carrey. She just wanted to go to work and have the day she’d been anticipating—working and then having lunch with Rebecca.

  After breakfast, Kayleigh cleaned up before driving Sarah to school. Sarah seemed very uneasy when Kayleigh leaned to kiss her goodbye.

  “Are you all right, sweetheart?” Kayleigh asked as she hugged her close. She was at a loss as to what to ask about the girl named Carrey.

  Sarah started crying. “No, Mom. I promise. She was there. I don’t know where she disappeared to.”

  “I believe you, baby. I really do believe you.” Kayleigh looked into Sarah’s eyes and whispered it again. “I believe you.”

  “But you didn’t see her. Why didn’t you see her? She was right there and you sat on top of her. You went right through her,” Sarah cried.

  “I don’t know, sweetheart. I’m sorry, I wish I could have seen her.” Kayleigh shook her head. “I think you’re just so special that only you can see her. Maybe she only wants you to see her.”

  That seemed to calm Sarah down and after one more hug, she climbed out of the car and walked into the school.

  Kayleigh had to find out what was causing all the shit that had suddenly started to disrupt their lives, before things got any worse.

  †

  Rebecca was at the store when Kayleigh drove into her parking spot. She hopped out of the Jeep and pressed the button to lock the doors when she heard the familiar deep, husky voice.

  “Hi,” Rebecca called from the door. “Do you have time for a cup of coffee?”

  Kayleigh faked a smile and walked up to her. “Sure,” she said before brushing past her and entering the CD store. “How are you today?” But before Rebecca could answer, she said, “You missed the commotion this morning.”

  “No. Not again…What happened?” Rebecca looked horrified.

  “Carrey is what happened.”

  “All right…who the hell is Carrey?”

  “Well, I’ll be damned if I know. Ask Sarah.” Kayleigh swallowed hard.

  Rebecca shifted closer and wrapped her arms around her. “My God, you’re in shock. You’re actually shaking.”

  Kayleigh put her arms around Rebecca and held onto her. She eagerly absorbed all the comfort that Rebecca offered.

  Rebecca positioned her head back far enough to look into Kayleigh’s eyes. Rebecca’s dark bangs were in her blue eyes. “Tell me what happened?”

  “Sarah saw a little girl, even spoke to her. The girl’s name is Carrey.” Kayleigh’s hands dropped to her sides. Rebecca let go of her as Kayleigh dragged herself to the red couch and plopped down onto it. “This has gone too far. They can mess with me, but not with my daughter,” she said, punctuating each word by slamming her fist into the cushion of the couch.

  “I’m really very sorry, Kay, but think about it. At least we have a name to go by. It may not be nice, but it’s progress.” Rebecca picked up her cordless office phone and handed it to Kayleigh. “Here, call the guy.”

  “Which guy? Who am I going to call, Ghost Busters?”

  Rebecca laughed. “No, silly. Graham.”

  Kayleigh felt drained as she took the phone. With shaky fingers, she dug Graham’s card out of her wallet and dialed the number. She tucked her right foot under her body as she made herself comfortable on the couch.

  Graham answered after the third ring.

  “Hello, Graham, this is Kayleigh. How are you doing today?” she asked politely.

  “I’m doing well.”

  “That’s good to hear. Listen, the reason I’m calling is I need the name and number of the owner of the house, please. ”

  Graham was silent for a while. “Um, why, Kayleigh?”

  “I want to… make an offer to purchase,” she lied.

  “I still don’t know if the place is up for sale. I’ll call my client and ask him if he minds me giving out his personal information. Or what I can do is give him your number, if you don’t mind, then he can contact you directly?”

  “That would be great, please ask him to call me as soon as possible. Thank you, Graham.”

  Kayleigh ended the call and looked up at Rebecca. “The owner will call me.”

  “Yeah, right,” Rebecca said as she rolled her eyes. “When?” She must have noticed Kayleigh’s discontented expression.

  “Didn’t you promise me coffee?” Kayleigh asked as she took the phone to the docking station before returning to her favorite couch.

  “Of course.” Rebecca poured two mugs of coffee from the percolator, added some milk, and handed Kayleigh a mug. She sat next to Kayleigh and placed her hand on Kayleigh’s arm. “Everything will be all right,” she added softly. “That I promise you.”

  “Thanks, Rebecca, for all your support.” Kayleigh held up her mug. “Oh, and thanks for the brew.”

  “My pleasure. I like you. I’ll do anything for you,” Rebecca said, her hand still on Kayleigh’s arm.

  Rebecca’s words, and her touc
h, made her stomach twist with excitement. Her breath caught in her throat. Kayleigh was very aware of how close Rebecca was to her. She drank her coffee slowly while she watched her office door—no clients yet. “I have to open at nine, because I have some booked surgery cases today. As a service to the community, I am neutering and spaying dogs and cats at cost.”

  “That’s fantastic.” Rebecca removed her hand from Kayleigh’s arm. “Way too many homeless pets out there with all the accidental breeding going on.”

  Kayleigh drained her cup and handed it to Rebecca. “Sorry to drink and run but I need to go get prepared. I’ll see you at lunch.”

  It was hard to leave, but the sooner she got started, the sooner she could see Rebecca again. She couldn’t understand her need to be around Rebecca all the time. It had to be that all the fear she was feeling had turned her into a dependent person. Rebecca‘s presence eased Kayleigh’s worries.

  †

  After her seventh patient, Kayleigh’s phone rang. Hoping that it would be the owner of the house, she grabbed the phone on the second ring.

  “Dr. Gibbs speaking.”

  “I know I said I’d wait for you to call, but please, can I take you out to dinner?” Damn, it was Kenneth.

  She sighed silently. She really wasn’t in the mood to go anywhere, especially with Kenneth. “I’m sorry, I can’t. I don’t have a babysitter at such short notice. Can I call you back later if I manage to arrange someone to sit for me?”

  “I know you won’t call me, so here’s the deal. I’ll call you again in an hour, and we take it from there.”

  She tamped down her anger at his presumptuous attitude. “Fine. I’ll talk to you then.”

  After the call, she saw two more clients and then went to see Rebecca.

  “How are you feeling?” Rebecca called from behind the counter. She was busy flipping through a music magazine.

  “Hard to say. I was just invited out to dinner with a client, a date, actually.” Kayleigh rolled her eyes. She peeked at Rebecca and swore she saw a hint of disappointment in her eyes.

  Rebecca slammed the magazine down onto the counter. “Cool. Who’s the dude?”

  “His name’s Kenneth. He’s been bugging me for ages—”

  “And he wouldn’t accept no for an answer? God, that’s one of the many things I hate about men.” Rebecca interrupted while looking at the magazine she was paging through. “And?”

  “And what?”

  “Are you going?” The annoyance was evident in Rebecca’s voice.

  “I told him no. That I don’t have a babysitter for Sarah, but he said he’d call me back.”

  “You know that’s not true. You always have a babysitter with me around.” Rebecca sighed. “Maybe you should go. It would do you good to get out of the house.”

  “Let me get this straight, you’re offering to babysit?”

  “Of course. I’d love to. What time do you want me over?” Rebecca’s smile didn’t quite reach her eyes.

  “I’ll tell him to pick me up at seven-thirty. Can you be there at seven?”

  “I’ll bring pizza for Sarah and me.”

  Kayleigh bit her lower lip. “Or maybe I shouldn’t leave her at a time like this. She was so upset this morning.”

  “Nonsense, you need to get out a bit. I’ll be there for her. You’ve told me what happened. I’ll talk to her. You go out, have some fun.”

  “Thanks. You’re the best friend I ever had. As far as having fun…I doubt it. He’s not exactly my type.” Kayleigh pulled a face as she lifted her cell phone and dialed Kenneth’s number.

  “Tonight, seven-thirty. Pick me up at my house. I’ll text you the address,” she said before he had a chance to say anything.

  “You won’t regret it,” he said. She could hear him breathe and it made her stomach churn.

  †

  After Kayleigh left, Rebecca could not function anymore. She sold a lot of CDs, but she still caught herself sitting and staring off into space. Customers came and went, and business had picked up since the installation of the neon sign. Her shop was now on the map, and school kids loved to hang out there after school, wanting to be the first to get the newest releases. Yet, after Kayleigh’s visit, she couldn’t focus. She grabbed her phone after the final customer left and dialed Judy’s number.

  “I’m screwed,” Rebecca said when Judy answered.

  “What’s up?”

  “I have feelings for Kayleigh, who I know is bloody straight.” Rebecca sighed. “And please don’t tell me you told me so.”

  “Oh, shit, Rebecca. Have you told her you’re gay?”

  “Nope. I don’t know why, there just never seems to be a right moment.”

  “You can’t form a friendship based on lies or misconceptions. What are you going to do? Wait. Why am I even asking you this? You have to tell her. She’s my friend, too, remember?”

  “I’m going to tell her. Tonight.”

  “Good. You do that,” Judy said.

  “But what if she likes me too?” Rebecca allowed her mind to wander for a second.

  “She’s straight.”

  “You know I’m awesome,” Rebecca said playfully.

  “She’s straight.”

  “And I’m hot as hell.”

  “She’s straight.” Judy exaggerated a sigh.

  “Cool beans, bud. Will chat later. After she’s confessed her undying love for me,” Rebecca teased.

  “She’s straight.”

  Rebecca giggled when she ended the call. A girl could dream, couldn’t she?

  †

  Kayleigh was ready long before Rebecca arrived. She dressed and put on a little make-up, but while she was applying it, her thoughts were on Rebecca, not Kenneth. Why was that?

  In spite of what had happened that morning, Sarah had been fine since she came home from school. She went to her room and played all afternoon, with the door open so Kayleigh could keep an eye on her as she got ready for the evening.

  Rebecca brought a pizza, as promised and refused Kayleigh’s offer of money. Rebecca seemed distant. She hardly looked at Kayleigh when she spoke.

  Wonder what I’ve done to upset her.

  Rebecca sighed and glanced at her watch. “When is this guy coming again?”

  Kayleigh raised her eyebrows at Rebecca’s attitude. “I told him seven-thirty.”

  Just then, the doorbell rang—he was five minutes early.

  Kayleigh opened the door and Kenneth stood there with flowers and handed them to her.

  “Thanks. That’s so sweet of you.” Kayleigh took the flowers. “Come on in.”

  He followed her to the kitchen. “Kenneth, this is my good friend, Rebecca.”

  Tightlipped, Rebecca shook his outstretched hand. “Have her back by eleven, will you? I’m babysitting and I need to work tomorrow.” She grabbed the flowers from Kayleigh. “I’ll put these in water for you.”

  Kayleigh watched as Rebecca quickly turned to the sink and opened the tap. Why was she being such a bitch? Maybe she was afraid of losing Kayleigh’s friendship? Kayleigh imagined how she would feel if Rebecca had a date with a guy, and she felt a stab of jealousy. I don’t want to lose my new best friend over someone like Kenneth.

  †

  “Is she your sister? Or better yet, your mother?” Kenneth asked as soon as they got in the car.

  “She’s my friend. She’s just worried about me, is all.”

  “I don’t like her. You shouldn’t allow people to walk all over you like that.”

  And now I don’t like you either, she thought. Not a great start to a first date, he was losing points within the first five minutes, and he didn’t have any points to start with.

  Kenneth took her to a steak house in Wilderness, where they could sit on the deck under a huge Milkwood tree. She felt annoyed, and hoped that the evening would be over soon. She wanted to be home early enough so she could spend a little time with Rebecca before she had to leave.

  The waiter came and list
ed the specials. Kayleigh ordered a rare filet steak, while Kenneth ordered a large well-done rump steak with extra chips.

  “You look very sexy tonight.” He gave her a sly grin, while looking into her eyes. “I have to tell you, I’m an upfront kind of guy, I’ve been attracted to you since the day we met, and I can’t wait until we’re all alone.”

  “I…uhm…excuse me?” What the hell was she supposed to say to that? She wanted to leap out of her chair and make a run for it. Instead, she composed herself and searched for the right words. “This is a mistake. I’m sorry, Kenneth. I shouldn’t even have agreed to this.” Kayleigh shook her head while she started reaching for her handbag hanging behind her chair.

  “Wait. I’m sorry. That was too forward of me. Relax. We haven’t even received our food yet. You have to give me a chance at least.”

  “Kenneth, I don’t have the desire to be alone with you and do whatever it is you have in mind, and I never will. I don’t feel anything for you other than friendship. I’m sorry, I just don’t.”

  He sat back in his chair. “I’m sorry you feel that way.”

  “We can be friends.”

  Kenneth instantly bristled. “Oh, spare me the we can be friends speech.”

  “Well, at least we tried this, right?”

  “Yeah. Whatever.” He sighed. There was a long uncomfortable silence.

  The waiter brought their meals. A feeling of relief washed over Kayleigh.

  The food tasted like rubber to Kayleigh and luckily, her portion was small. Both of them ate as if they’d never seen food before. Kayleigh mostly ate fast because she wanted to get home to Rebecca and Sarah. She didn’t belong there.

  When their plates were empty, Kenneth finally spoke again. “Wait. Wow, I think I know that girl who’s looking after your daughter. I thought I recognized her when I saw her.” He nodded thoughtfully. “Isn’t she the chick who owns the new CD shop in town?”

  “Yes.” Kayleigh was happy to talk about Rebecca, but leery that he’d brought her up.

  “I’ve heard some things about her that might shock you,” he said. There was a gleam in his eye, reminiscent of a child with juicy gossip.