by L. K. Kuhl
The landscape and I had both been altered since the last time I had been home almost three months ago. It was now the first of August, and school would start in less than two weeks.
My mom had met us at the airport, and we were now seated in her nineties, cream-colored car, gliding along the winding highway toward home. She said it had been a cool summer here in Cascade, and an early fall looked to be on the horizon judging by the musty, orange- and russet-colored leaves that had already fallen from the trees.
“You remember Aaron Stuart, don’t you, Mom—Mandy’s older brother?” I had asked her back at the airport. I hadn’t told her Aaron was coming with me, and she was a little taken aback when she first saw him. When I came through the gates at the airport terminal with a guy by my side, I could already see her wheels spinning. Her smile, alone, told me she had us married off with a brood of kids on the way.
She stuck her hand out to greet Aaron, unleashing that familiar, excited, matchmaker-look she couldn’t keep hidden. “Aaron, it’s so nice to see you again.” She glanced at me from the corner of her eyes. “It’s been years. My, you’ve grown into a very handsome young man.”
“It’s my pleasure, Mrs. Bandell.” Aaron kissed the back of her hand, laying on the charm so thick, I coughed, slapping at my chest for extra effect.
“I didn’t realize you were coming back with Sophia.”
“Yes, only for a while. Sophia promised me she would show me everything I’ve been missing out on in the big town of Cascade and catch me up on all of the local gossip.” He flashed her an irresistible smile.
Mom whispered to me out of the corner of her mouth while we walked to her car. “Oh, Sophia, you didn’t alert me to any of this. How long have you two been dating, and how do you keep your eyes off that gorgeous man?”
“Shh.” I stole a quick peek to make sure Aaron hadn’t heard. “We’re not dating and he’s not that gorgeous. Besides, he’s only here for a short time.”
On our way home, I sat in the front with Mom, and Aaron sat in the back, making small talk once in a while. In the side mirror, I glanced at him. He couldn’t take his eyes off of himself in the rearview mirror, fixing his hair or examining his smile when he laughed. Way worse than any female.
Mom glanced back in the rearview mirror now and again as she drove. “How’s your family, Aaron? It’s been years since I’ve talked to your mother. Sophia tells me she had a wonderful time with Mandy. Didn’t you, Soph?”
I froze when Mom brought up the subject of his family. How was I going to tell her that Mandy had died? Aaron and I hadn’t discussed what we were going to tell my family when they asked about my vacation. As far as they knew, all was fine.
“They’re all—”
I touched her shoulder. “Aaron doesn’t live in South Carolina anymore, Mom.”
“Yes, I’ve moved to Denver, so I hardly ever see them. I caught up with Sophia in Charleston just this morning.”
“I see. Well, Sophia can fill me in on Mandy and your folks when we get home and have more time. So, what made you move to Denver?” She caught the tail end of me rolling my eyes.
“Mom, I don’t think Aaron wants to tell you his whole life story.”
“No, that’s fine, I don’t mind. I kind of like bragging about my life.” Then he paused dramatically, skimming a hand through his stiff hair. “I’m a criminal defense lawyer, Mrs. Bandell, giving convicts a do-over for a chance to get their lives right. I win ninety-nine point nine percent of my cases.” He flashed a wide smile into the mirror.
Mom gasped. “A lawyer? That’s exactly what Sophia wants to be.” She let her eyes rest too long on the rearview mirror, causing the car to cross over the centerline.
“Mom, watch out!” I grabbed the steering wheel, helping her bring it back.
She jerked it to the right, the car swerving erratically, pushing my hand away. “Everything’s okay. I have it under control. Aaron just caught me off guard.” She shot a quick glance back to him, then fluffed her hair, her face reddening.
He laughed, brushing at his shoulders. “Sorry to make you lose control like that. I guess I do have that effect on women. But, seriously, I told Sophia she has a place in my firm if she sticks with me and wants to be partners…business or otherwise.” A slow smile encompassed his face and he puffed out his chest, sticking his chin in the air.
The inside of the car went silent. I stiffened.
“That’s wonderful! I think you’d better take him up on that offer, Sophia. You know we don’t have the money to put you through law school, and if Aaron can help and make you a partner, you’d be set.”
Not sure how to tell Mom about the thirteen million, I gripped the briefcase even harder, pressing it up against my chest. I’m sure I’d have to make up another lie, for the time being at least, until I knew the time was right. “I’m not sure…I’ll have to give it some thought. That’s a long way off in the future, yet. I still have a year of school left.”
“Time goes faster than you think—it’ll be here before you know it.”
We pulled into our gravel drive, and our sheepdog, Bob, came bounding out of the picket-fenced yard, shaking his head to clear the long hair from his eyes. I could almost hear his old bones creaking. His hurry had slowed down since I’d been gone. My steps bouncy and light, I jumped out of the car, rushing to see him. I gathered him in my arms, and he whined and barked with supreme delectation.
“Cute dog. Wait a minute…is that Bob?” Aaron’s eyes grew wide, amazed, while I continued to throw my love at Bob.
“Yep, sure is. He’s almost ten. I’ll be heartbroken when the time comes to say good-bye to him.” I picked up my briefcase to go inside. “Come on, Bob, let’s go in. Oh, yeah, you too, Aaron.” I laughed and threw a glance over my shoulder.
“Sophia…I just realized something.” Mom gasped when she opened the trunk of the car. “You didn’t bring any of your suitcases back home? Where’s all your clothes?”
“Um…I was in a hurry to leave and forgot them. Mandy is sending them to me…along with something else.” I mumbled this last part under my breath, remembering I had to get Symphony back here.
Mom gave an unsure, shaky nod. “Alright. Sometimes I wonder about you, girl. Forgot your clothes? Who forgets all of their clothes from vacation?”
“Only me, Mom.” Blah, blah, blah, you can drop it anytime now.
We went inside and Dad sat in front of the TV, watching the noon news. He jumped up and came at me, his arms stretched out weakly for a hug. “Sophia, you’re home. It’s about time, your dirty dishes are still waiting for you.” He belted a short laugh, grabbing my shoulders and giving a halfhearted squeeze.
Dad had never shown much affection, and his hugs were always like stiff, creaky boards that you didn’t want to get too close to for fear of getting poked by a rusty nail. But I loved them. He released me, coughing and rubbing the back of his neck, feet planted in an awkward stance like he didn’t know what to do next.
“It’s good to be back, Dad, I had a…wonderful time.” I tried to sound believable.
“Well, good, you’ll have to tell us all about it.”
“Yeah, I will. It was definitely…interesting.” I paused. “You remember Aaron Stuart, don’t you? He’s Steve and Marrian’s son.”
“Aaron, how’re you doing? It’s good to see you again.” Dad stuck his hand out, shaking Aaron’s with a firm grip. His other hand raised awkwardly to give him a slap on the shoulder, but he pulled away and brought it back down to his side, thinking better of it.
“It’s great to see you again, too, Mr. Bandell.”
“Follow me.” I stood on the bottom step of the steep stairwell and motioned to Aaron. “You can have Josh’s room while you’re here.”
* * *
Later on that evening, after we visited with Josh and Kristy and I got introduced to baby Meyer, I closed the door to my bedroom and collapsed onto my lumpy bed. To be back home again and in my bedroom comforted me, but
things were different now…much different than before I left. I was more mature, not the little girl I used to be. Things that once had so much meaning to me, like my high school yearbook and my awards, seemed meaningless and trivial.
I had been given a whole new picture of life and its meaning, not only from what I’d learned from my three dead friends, but by meeting Tate and falling in love with him. He had taught me so much in our short time together. I fought hard to keep him out of my mind, knowing I could keep him around longer if I did.
This wasn’t an easy task, quite the double-edged sword. If I thought about him and loved him too much, I knew he would be gone in a few short weeks. But if I could keep him at a distance, only thinking of him once in a while, I knew he would be around me forever. And if I knew he was still here, even just banging around in limbo with a ball and chain tied to his feet, I was pretty sure I’d be okay. He was my rock and gave me guidance, even when I couldn’t see him.
I pulled my worn pink T-shirt over my head and put on a pair of white shorts for bedtime, then picked up my phone to call my best friend Claudia.
“Hi, Claudia, I’m home.”
“Sophia, it’s so good to have you back. I thought you still had a week or so left of your vacation?”
Claudia Bunker was my serious, no-nonsense best friend. We were both going to be seniors and had been friends since the ninth grade. She became my new best friend after Mandy moved away. Always staying on an even keel, she never let her problems shake her up or bring her down. She told you how things were, and she never lied. You either liked her, or you didn’t.
She sniffled into the phone.
“Do you have a cold? You sound awful.”
“No.” She paused to blow her nose. “It’s allergies. That time of year again. Whenever school rolls around, I get them something terrible. So, when do you want to meet up? I wouldn’t mind seeing you before school starts.”
“I came back early to get some things done before it starts. The vacation started getting kind of lame, anyway. It was fun, but I’d much rather be home.”
This was so far from the truth, but I hoped it would push Tate that much further out of my mind if I talked like that. I ran a strand of hair through my fingers, my usual habit when I talked on the phone. “Yeah, let’s do meet up, Claudia. Does your mom still work at the bank? I need to open an account in the morning. Maybe we could meet each other there?”
Claudia’s mother, Alice Bunker, worked at the Savings Bank in Cascade for as long as I remembered. An upstanding, no-nonsense kind of lady, she and Claudia could have passed for twins if not for the twenty-five-year age difference between them. Their bright shock of curly red hair could be seen for miles, and they couldn’t go anywhere without wearing their black horn-rimmed glasses for fear of bumping into everything in their path. They preferred to wear these silly looking spectacles and didn’t believe in contacts.
I wasn’t afraid to show Claudia the enormous amount of money I would be depositing in her mom’s bank because I trusted her. I could tell her anything, and she would keep it a secret. Claudia wasn’t one to gossip. She would also believe my story about Mandy, Matt, and Tate being ghosts and me getting the money from Tate. Right now, Claudia would be the one I would tell—my family…not so much.
“She’s still there.” Claudia gurgled, sounding like she had just stifled a sneeze. “We can meet there, then. What time?”
“Does ten work for you?”
“Yeah, ten is fine.”
“Good, see ya then.”
I hung up the phone and fell back onto my bed. The pent-up feelings I never had a chance to release when Aaron was around, came rushing out like a dam breaking. I couldn’t stop the pain that brought with it a flood of tears. Tate was so heavy on my brain—engulfing me—I couldn’t breathe, couldn’t think. Worried for me, I bit my knuckle. Would I even be able to carry on a normal life? He had changed me and then left me.
My life didn’t feel right, now. The hollowness inside ate away, nibbling at the sides of my chest and stomach, spiraling me down into a deep depression. Why did it have to be like this? Why did Tate have to die? Why did I have to fall so deeply and insanely in love with him, but yet, couldn’t have him? None of this made any sense. I curled up into a fetal position and bawled my eyes out until there was nothing left. I, too, like Tate, was dead.
I jerked, riveting upright when a movement at the foot of my bed caught my eye. I hadn’t even heard my door open. My eyes adjusting, I shuddered and blinked, then blinked again. My heart wanted to bolt, and it banged against the side of my chest.
Lidia, in her long black cloak, holding a sharp spear, stared me down. The spear, glinting from the glow of my ceiling-fan light, rose up evil and deadly, ready to still a beating heart with one quick flick of a wrist. Her face, tight and grim, glowered down at me, but her eyes carried a gentle kindness.
“Don’t be scared, Sophia, I won’t harm you. I just wanted to drop in and tell you that Tate has been captured by the Livids.”
Gruffness now coated over her sweet voice from the plane that day.
I gasped, the sharp intake of air causing my heart to clang even louder. I’m positive Lidia heard. “Is he alright? I need to save him.” My words were strained and broken, unreal. My eyes fluttered, then opened wide, taking Lidia in. It stunned me to think I was talking to a Livid, even though it was Lidia.
“He’s fine. I have rescued him for the time being. But who knows when he will be captured again, and my chances are limited. I only get three saves, then I must wait twenty-four hours to replenish my ability.”
I nodded. “Tell me what to do.”
“You must always be on the lookout. Tate is unable to reach you if they capture him. I will warn you, but, if my chances are used up, I have no power. Mandy told you what to do. They are on a mission, Sophia, it could be up to you to save him.”
I gulped and nodded again.
The next instant, Lidia was gone—vanished into thin air.
I pressed my heart back into my chest, but it seemed impossible to calm down. My lungs still ached, and I couldn’t slow down my breathing. My poor Tate. If Lidia made herself present again, I hoped I would be able to help him.
A soft tap on my bedroom door sent me reeling again. Was Lidia back already? I wouldn’t think she would take the time to knock. I straightened my messy hair and padded to the door, wiping at my red eyes, hoping my pain and fear wouldn’t show in them.
I opened it slow, and only wide enough to take a small peek. My heart jumped to my throat. Aaron stood by my door, naked except for a pair of red silk boxer shorts. He pushed it farther open, forcing his way in.
“Hi, gorgeous, I hope you weren’t sleeping. I’m restless and can’t sleep without you. You’re all I think about now.” He came at me and put his finger into a hole on the neckline of my T-shirt to tear it even bigger.
I stiffened, unsure how to react—my mind still lost in Lidia’s words. “Sure, Aaron, we can talk.” My hands shook. I fought to ignore the hole in my shirt and my suddenly pulsating body.
“I just don’t know what happened to me, Sophia. How, in the span of one day, I could fall so helplessly in love with you. You stole my heart that day in Mom’s room, and I don’t want you ever giving it back.” He brushed his lips over mine for a hesitated moment, then bound them full on. The force took my breath away. My skin grew hot, face flushing. Then he pulled away, caressing his bottom lip with his finger. “This is so unlike me. I can’t believe I fell this hard for you, but…there’s no going back.”
“Aaron, we’re taking this a little fast. I don’t know if I’m ready. I’m still on the rebound from loving someone deeply, just like the way you say you feel for me.” His grasp was firm around my arm, and I shook out of it.
“On the rebound? With a ghost? You’ve got to be kidding me.” He clenched his jaw tight and threw his hands in the air.
“I’m sorry, but yes, for me it’s real.”
“Get this thr
ough your head, Sophia, there’s no future in it.” He grabbed me by the shoulders. “You can’t have a dead person. Move on with your life. I can give you a great one. Everything you want is lying right in my hands.” He slapped the back of his hand into the palm of his other. Then he pulled me into him, breathing me in and licking my bare shoulder where my oversized T-shirt had left me exposed and vulnerable.
* * *
That night in bed, I rolled over to face the wall. The hot tears bubbled down my face—their salt leaving a tight burning sensation from the abrasions left by Aaron’s beard stubble from earlier. Maybe Aaron wasn’t so bad. I remember carrying around that junior high crush for him, and I did feel it creeping back again. He had the ability to give me a great life and help me get the career I wanted. Maybe I could even live with his ego, if I knew he was on my side.
I fell asleep with Tate being the last thing on my mind, and I dreamt all night of struggling with him, physically trying to push him out of my head, and yet saving him from evil so he could go to where he belonged. But he belonged with me, didn’t he?
Even for as much as I forced myself to love Aaron, there would no way of getting rid of Tate.
Chapter 22
The next morning, my eyes rapidly blinked open. It took me a bit to realize I was back home. I hopped out of bed and escaped to the shower.
Josh’s door across the hall creaked open and Aaron peeked out. “Morning, sunshine. How’d you sleep?”
“Just fine, I’m going to shower now.”
He tiptoed out into the hall, following close behind me.
“Uh-uh. You’re not coming in here.” I shut the door in his face and turned on the water, talking to him behind the door. “I need to run some errands in town this morning. You can use my car to get yourself around, and I’ll use my mom’s. I’m sure you have a lot of old friends you’d like to see.” I squirted shampoo onto my hand and began scrubbing my hair, not hearing a response.