Page 121 of The Curse of Redwood

Confused, I tilted my head. “Huh?”

“On Halloween, you came in here several times with your boyfriend,” she responded. “Well, I think he was your boyfriend anyway. The guy with the long blond hair.”

And just like that, grief constricted my heart.

I couldn’t escape it.

As more days passed, I got better at going through the motions of daily life. I even smiled a little, mostly when I was with Taylor and Ben. It was progress at least. Once I could talk about it without breaking down, I told them about Halloween night and everything that had happened. Then, I mentioned the ghosts.

“Lady Death isn’t there anymore?” Ben asked.

We were drinking coffee in the sitting room at his manor Saturday morning.

“She moved on.” I stared at my coffee cup before placing it on the side table. “They all did.”

“I’m sure Ezekiel didn’t wish to leave you,” Theo said, appearing beside Ben on the couch.

“You never moved on when Ben solved the mystery of your death,” I countered. Fresh tears surfaced, and I blinked them back. I was more angry in that moment than sad. “Youhad a choice. If he really loved me, why didn’t he stay? How could he leave?”

I knew I was acting like a selfish child, but if Zeke had a choice, it hurt that he didn’t choose me.

“Perhaps he thought it was easier,” Theo said, as his body flickered. “I sometimes feel guilty for being here. If I had left, Ben could be with someone who could travel the world with him. Someone who could give him things that I can’t.”

“That’s enough,” Ben said, placing his empty cup on the coffee table with a loud bang. It was rare for him to explode like that. He took Theo’s face in his hands and pressed their heads together. “Never feel guilty for blessing my life as you have. I wouldn’t be happier without you. I’d be a broken shell of the man I am now. I love you more than anything.”

Theo’s brow smoothed as he stared at Ben. “And I love you.”

Once again, seeing the intensity of their love hurt. I had found love like theirs and had it ripped from me.

I went home shortly after that. Taylor asked if I wanted him to come with me, and I said I needed to be alone. There was something I had to do. And then I started cleaning the house; vacuuming, dusting, and washing the dishes that had been sitting in the sink for over a week. I finally moved my grandma’s knitting and crochet stuff, put it all in a box, and placed it in the attic. Then, I put away the doilies and other random things that belonged to her.

It might not have been a huge thing to most people, but it was a big step for me. Finally, I was learning to let things go.

Later that night, I turned on the lamp and sat in bed with Zeke’s book. I ran my hand over the cover before flipping it open. The story was short, but I recalled the sound of his voice as he read to me. I remembered the feel of his fingers in my hair as I laid my head on his shoulder and listened. He might be gone, but the memories and love he gave me remained.

No matter where Zeke was, he’d always be with me.

“Sleep well, little dove,” I imagined him saying as I laid down.

Tears wet my pillow as I closed my eyes.

The next morning, I woke with a new perspective on life. Sure, my heart still hurt. I wasn’t okay—I didn’t know if I’d ever be again—but I decided totry.For Zeke. Taylor had been right. Zeke wouldn’t have wanted me moping around or pushing away my friends.

After showering and brushing my teeth, I called Taylor.

“Hey, C. What’s up?”

“Are you free today? I thought we could go over and bang on Ben’s door until he answers it. Then, we can raid his kitchen for breakfast.”

“I’m in,” he answered, laughing. “Just give me like fifteen minutes.”

The call disconnected, and I found myself smiling as I put on my shoes and grabbed my keys off the counter.

Yep. It was progress. Little by little.

***

“Did you hear?” a girl asked her friend. “Someone bought the mad house.”