Ghosted: Hayward Manor (Part I)

Ghosted: Hayward Manor (Part I)
 Molly hadn’t expected him to react the way he did. Sure, she’d expected something, but it wasn’t to witness a man so in love already with his unborn child that he was willing to drop to his knees and beg her for its life. When the word left her lips, she never once considered that Robert wouldn’t have agreed with her decision, but beyond that she truly hadn’t considered the way the words would char her tongue like acid, forcing her to get them out. Because the fact was as terrified as she was about having a child who may not even survive, to not give it a fighting chance was something she couldn’t do. And in that moment as Robert clung to the need to do the same, she rubbed her stomach, understanding that she was already in love with their child too.

Molly ran her fingers through Robert’s hair. “Hey,” she said in a soothing voice. “We’re going to have a baby.”

He lifted his head; the glassiness of his eyes made the heart thump. “Really?” he asked, standing. 

“Yes, really,” she replied, giving him a half-smile. “And not just for you. I want to try too. Especially because I know we’re in this together.” Robert pulled her to him and nuzzled into her hair, and she laughed. “By the way, you are an ugly crier.”

He cocked his head back and twisted his lips to the side. “First off, I am not an ugly crier. That was a distraught cry. Trust me, if I give you the boy band one tear down the cheek action, you would swoon.” 

“Swoon? What the hell are you like eighty?” She paused and looked him up and down. “How old are you, anyway? You’re probably old as hell, aren’t you?”

“You’re just full of sass today, aren’t you?” he said, rolling his eyes. “I’m thirty-one.”

“Jesus, you look so young. Wait! Since you’re dead, does that mean you don’t age?” She placed her hand on her chest. “This is about to be some Benjamin Button type of shit, isn’t it? I’m going to be old as shit and you’re going to stay the same. Fuck! I’m going to look like I’m robbing the cradle. Cougar! Sugar mama! Old bitch fucking on young dick! Slobbing–”

“Stop!” Robert shouted, his face practically purple. “I don’t even want to know what that last one was.” He rubbed his face. “Ghosts not aging is a myth–well, at least here in Hayward. When we return every month, we catch up in age.”

“That’s actually kind of cool when you think about it.”

“Yeah, I guess it is.” They stood for a moment unsure of what to do next, then suddenly Robert broke out into another one of his beaming grins. “You do realize that you said that you want to be with me, right?”

“Huh? No, I didn’t.”

“Yes, you did. You said that you would look like you were robbing the cradle. Why would anyone think that about you unless we were together?”

“Shut up,” Molly said, averting her eyes. “I was just venting; that doesn’t mean that I want you to shotgun-wedding me.”

“Okay, yeah, I get that was a bit premature.” Watching her shift her weight, Robert jilted forward and grabbed her hands. “Shit, I’m already messing up. You should be sitting,” he ushered her to the couch. “Come on, sit, sit sit.”

Molly couldn’t help but giggle at how cute he was. “I’m fine, Robert,” she said, sitting down. “I’m hardly pregnant. We still have a lot of time before I start to waddle.”

“Um..about that...”

“Ugh! What now?!”

He sat at the opposite end of the couch. “From what I know, pregnancy moves a bit faster.”

Molly let out a loud groan. “Of course it does. How much faster are we talking?”

“Not sure, but I know someone I can ask.”

“Wait, I thought you didn’t have any friends,” she replied, tilting her head. 

“I wouldn’t necessarily call Heubert a friend, but–”

“Heubert?!” Molly yelled as she doubled over laughing. “What the hell is a Heubert? Ew, I hate everything about it.”

Robert chuckled. “So does he. He’d probably kick my ass if he found out that I said his real name. Anyway, he’s like the protector of the plane’s divide. I remember thinking he would be this old grumpy guy in a cloak, but he’s actually pretty cool…plus he’s one of the few ghosts who was successful in having a child with the living.”

Molly's eyes widened. “Wow. He sounds badass. Can I meet him?”

“Eh, can I get back to you on that? I’m sure he’d be nice to you, but his wife is super..protective.”

“In other words, she’s overbearing and thinks everyone wants her man?”

Robert snapped his fingers. “Exactly. I don’t want to rock a boat that doesn’t need rocking. Not to mention I don’t want to add any more stress to you or the baby.” Standing, he wrinkled his forehead. “Hey Molly?”

“Yeah?”

“I know you don’t want to live with me, but would you at least consider seeing my old home? I don’t live there anymore, but I’d still like to share who I was prior with you, if you want.”

“Really?” She stood and gave him a grin that melted him. “I’d love to.”

“Okay, let’s go then before you change your mind,” he said, smirking as he grabbed her coat from a nearby chair and guided her from her apartment.