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do. I think I even hear it in my sleep.
    I’m walking toward that exit door even though my mind is screaming this is a bad idea.
    What’s there to get used to? If she can hear you, she can help us.
    Help us? Did this chick just say “us”?
    Anger and curiosity brewing together isn’t such a good mix. So when the flat of my hand pushes the door open, the shocked look on their faces could only have mirrored the one on mine.
    There they are, near the steps. Ricky in his jeans andT-shirt and some girl—some girl ghost, as evidenced by her transparent appearance—with short curly hair and wearing way too much makeup.
    They both stare at me as I stare at them, a standoff like they have on TV when the dead body is found and the wife’s standing over him with blood on her hands.
    Krystal? Ricky speaks first.
    “Who is she?” I speak next.
    Trina.
    His girlfriend.
    They both speak together.

seven
    I am out of that hallway so fast a breeze probably formed behind me. I can still hear Ricky calling my name but I can’t see him.
    Tears are stinging my eyes so seeing isn’t a high probability. Why I am about to cry I don’t know. Ricky’s not my boyfriend so I shouldn’t care if he has a girlfriend. My feelings shouldn’t be hurt. I shouldn’t feel betrayed. But I do. Again.
    I make it back to the table and Janet is immediately up and at my side. I lift a hand, halting her steps. “I’m fine. Just tired. Can we hurry up and eat so I can go home?”
    On the one side of me, still-sitting Gerald is frowning. On the other side, Janet’s expression goes from worried to saddened and I feel a pinch of guilt, knowing that it’s my fault.
    Right about now I don’t even care.
    I’m too busy wondering if I got played by a ghost.
    Even the thought is stupid and I shiver as I think it. What’s wrong with me? Why do I even hear or see these spirits? This is so crazy I can’t believe it, let alone expect anybody else to believe it. So even though I know Janet wants to know what’s wrong with me, I can never tell her.Not that I desperately want her and Daddy to get back together and definitely not that I think I’m losing my mind because I see dead people.
     
    I manage to get through dinner without crying and/or throwing up. The more I think about the fact that I was actually jealous at seeing two ghosts together, the more I feel sick. Maybe I need to be medicated or, worse, sent to a mental institution.
    Those thoughts run through my mind as I also worry over the fact that Daddy hasn’t returned my call. I haven’t talked to him in a couple of weeks. Where is he?
     
    The air is humid and thick. It’s nighttime so it should be cooler. Just yesterday it was so chilly I almost put on a jacket. The weather here is so strange.
    I climb the stairs and go to my room the moment we get back from dinner, but then I don’t want to stay in my room. I am afraid Ricky will come back.
    So when Gerald and Janet are closed in their bedroom probably doing things that would make me want to gouge my eyes out, I sneak downstairs and out the back door to sit on the patio.
    Our house faces some trees and just past the trees is a small beach, then endless water. In the distance I hear the waves. Closing my eyes, I try to concentrate on the soothing sounds and for a minute or so it works.
    Then there’s moaning, like someone’s in pain. It’s my plan to ignore the moan because for some reason I think it’s not really happening.
    Denial at its best.
    Unfortunately, it persists and my eyes creep open. Silent prayers are going up to the heavens that I’m still alone out here. Opening my eyes all the way, I sigh. Prayer works.
    Or maybe not.
    The sound is getting louder, turning into maybe a cry. I sit up in the chair and decide I’m just going to the end of our yard to see what’s going on. My wobbly legs take me a little farther until I’m standing on the beach.
    The water looks dark, like a shiny piece of black material. There’s no moon