Ghosted: A Tough Decision (Part II)

Ghosted: A Tough Decision (Part II)
“I’m already mad, but continue," Robert said, causing her to scowl at him.

“Forever the smart ass.”

“Takes one to know one. Now, tell me what it is.”

“Wellll…according to my calendar your peak day was my peak day.”

“I don’t under–oh! Oh!” Robbery shouted, jumping up and down. “Oh! Orrr! I can't believe you!”

“It was an accident! You were cute and clumsy, and ovulation makes me super horny!”

He covered his chest with his hands. “Y-you u-used m-me,” he stammered. “I feel so dirty.”

She sucked her teeth. “Don’t be so dramatic; you were horny too.” He cringed, and she cackled. “Just a horny ‘ole ghost.”

“By God, will you knock it off, please!” he said, fanning himself. 

Molly laughed. “Fine, I’ll knock it off.” Her laughter cut short. “Robert…what happens when someone living gets pregnant by a ghost?”

He rubbed the back of his neck. “That’s even more complicated. It’s even rarer that the baby survives. Most people opt to abort instead of risking it.”

Molly felt the wind knocked out of her and fell backward against the wall. “W-what?”

“Yeah. I meant it when I said It’s really rare.”

She placed her hand over her stomach and looked at the ceiling. After a moment, she said low. “Well, I guess at least now we know what we’re going to do.” She heard his pain as the words fell from his lips. 

“Huh?”

“Robert, you said it yourself. The baby isn’t going to survive.”

“B-but…” he said as his heart tore into pieces. He shook his head over and over. “No, Molly,” he said. “No, I want to at least try.” 

Her shaking hand covered her mouth, and she closed her eyes, refusing to look at him. “Please don’t make this any harder than it has to be. I can’t have a baby all on my own. I have so much on my plate and I can’t go through all of this alone, and it possibly ends in heartbreak. Try to understand where I’m coming from.”

“I do understand!” he shouted as he paced, everything hitting him at once. “I know the odds are against us, but I want to at least try. For us, for our baby, please?” Her silence pushed his panic to the forefront. “You don’t have to marry me, live with me, or try to love me. I get it! I swear I’d never pressure you into that, but I want our baby. I know we hardly know one another, but I love the thought of having a baby with you.” 

He bit his fist to steady himself. His voice cracked as his tears began to fall . “I know you have a lot on your plate, but I will help! It might be a strange situation, but I promise I won’t abandon you…either of you. I can build baby furniture when I’m here and go shopping! We can schedule your ultrasounds during those weeks. And I’ll make friends! I’ll find other ghosts! I know I can do it. I’m a little awkward but I’ll figure out how to make friends for you, Molly. I’ll get them to teach me–yeah! I’ll get them to teach me how to make my powers stronger. That way, when I’m just an apparition I can still help with whatever you need.”

The destruction in his voice cracked something inside her, forcing her to finally look at him. The sight of his eyes—wild, haunted, and heavy with a pain she hadn’t allowed herself to imagine—stole the breath from her lungs. Guilt and fear tangled together, sharp and insistent, and she immediately regretted meeting his gaze. The world seemed to shrink around them, the air thick with unsaid words and broken trust. Her voice barely rose above a whisper, trembling with the weight of everything she feared to confront: “Robert…”

He shook his head, cutting her off. “No, listen. I can do this, Molly, please just give me a chance. You know that babies and animals can see ghosts? I know that sounds stupid right now, but I have a point, I promise. It means that even when you can’t see me, our baby will be able to and they can tell you that I’m there. It means they’ll still know me, Molly, they’ll still know me! And then you’ll know I didn’t abandon you like my parents did me. They hated me… I just want a chance to show my child the love I never got. And I know it’s your body and I would never tell you what to do, but I’m begging you, please.” He raced over to her and dropped to his knees. Hugging her legs, he wailed. “I’m sorry I put you in this situation, but please don’t, Molly, please don’t do it. Please?! Please?”