Ghosted: Things Move A Little Faster (Part III)

Ghosted: Things Move A Little Faster (Part III)
Hearing the door open and shut, Molly called out to Robert from the bedroom. “Hey, Robert? Could you come here, please?” 

Entering the room, he found her lying in the bed on her side. “Are you okay?”

She patted the empty space beside her. “Yes. I just wanted your company.” Smiling softly, he joined her, and the two laid together enjoying their silent connection. “Thank you for today,” she said, and he kissed her forehead. Repositioning so they were back to chest, she nuzzled into him. “I mean it,” she said. “Thank you for today. It really did make me feel better.”

He’s right. I can’t tell her.

Robert thought to himself. This was the calmest he’d seen Molly since they’d first met. She hadn’t even flinched this time at the coldness of his skin. If he told her about what Heubert said, the peace of her quiet breathing would be over. “I’m glad,” he replied, clenching his teeth, the omission already getting to him. “It helped me feel better as well, though Heubert and Chelsea are an interesting pair.”

Molly giggled. “Yeah, but I guess it’s not up to us to understand their relationship. I’m learning that every couple is different. Some more than others. I think sometimes even when two people seem mismatched, they can actually be the best for one another.” 

“I agree,” he said and kissed the back of her head. “Mols, while we’re on the subject, could you do something for me? Tomorrow, schedule an ultrasound.”

She froze. “Huh? Why? I mean I get that time jumped a bit, but I was going to wait until you returned so you could be a part of it like you said you would be.”

“And I appreciate that, but this is important, okay? So don’t fight me on this. I want you on prenatals, on track with the doctor and sonogram in hand for me to see when I return.”

“You sure have become confidently bossy,” she said, huffing under her breath. 

He laughed. “Don’t worry it will pass. Seriously though, will you do that for me?”

“Okay. You’re right, I will have the doc check me out asap.”

“Good.”

“Oh, wait earlier when I was in the bathroom, you said there was something you wanted to talk about?”

Shit.

He’d forgotten he’d mentioned that to her.

I can’t tell her that either. 

He still had no clue what the revelation of his powers meant, but he did know the moment in his friend’s home was unlike anything he’d ever experienced. His mild manner had disappeared, and in its place something else that would have ripped Heubert apart had he not revealed his true intentions. The thought scared him. How far could he go if he were pushed hard enough? He needed to sort this out before he worried her with a double whammy of problems that were all his fault. 

“Yeah. Heubert said that he would help train me to make my powers stronger. Told you I could make friends.”

Reaching behind her, she swatted at him. “Looked more like a bromance to me.”

“Oh, hush it,” he said through a forced chuckle. He hated keeping things from her, especially after the way she’d reacted before, but his lips couldn’t form the words to tell her. Not when the clock was ticking and soon it would be midnight, and he’d be ripped away from her. Still, there was one more thing he needed her to know before the night passed. “Molly?”

“Yes?”

“I never really cared about my wallet.”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean, saying hello to you was way more important than retrieving it. I am a ghost after all, not to mention the heir to a fortune. A few people thinking I resemble a murdered billionaire is one thing, but showing identification or using credit cards would start the shitstorm I mentioned at the manor. I don’t have any of those things. Cash works the best for me, and I have access to all of it thanks to Estelle and me finessing the discovery of a secret will I’d left behind naming her as the person to inherit everything in my passing. I’m able to use the money however I want, and she covers for me in more ways than one.”

“That’s brilliant.”

“We thought so too, but that's why if I lost my wallet today I wouldn’t care. I guess I returned to find it out of habit, but when I saw you sitting there, I was stuck. You were so chaotically beautiful, and I wanted so badly to say something to you, but I was afraid. I never thought you would be interested in talking to someone like me. I’m rambling, I know, but it’s just-you need to know that when I mentioned marriage to you, it wasn’t because you’re pregnant. It was because you’re unlike anyone I’ve ever met, and as mismatched as we are, I think we would be great together.” Molly sniffled, unable to face him because she felt the same. Robert had blown into her life, and somehow managed to make her second guess everything she’d ever known. “I guess what I’m saying is that if there comes a day, I work up the courage to officially ask, promise me you’ll at least consider it.”

“I promise,” she said, wiping her eyes. 

“Thank you.”

Silence filled then for a moment, then Molly spoke again. “I’m sorry for the way I reacted at the manor. You were being honest and I couldn’t control my emotions. I was just–”

“Mad, sad?”

“…yeah, I guess I was. It’s weird because I hate what happened to you, and on the flip side , I’m conflicted because I don’t think we would have met under different circumstances. I wouldn’t have fit in with your world, and I would never have seen the amazing person you are. But you’re here, and I hardly know you, but you’ve grown to mean so much to me. I don’t know what’s going to happen with the baby, but no matter what, I hope you know that I’m in this with you. I really care about you, Robert. It’s insane because I’m never this impulsive, but with you I feel safe and I know everything will be okay. You’ll make it okay, and I haven’t felt that way in a long time, so thank you.” The silence from behind her made her lip tremble. “Did I say too much? I thought–” She turned around, and the empty side of the bed caused her to inhale sharply. “Of course,” she murmured as she rubbed her belly until she fell asleep.