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“You need to get your little ass back to Cypress Hills. Permanently.”
“I know. Once I do, what will we do with two ghosts in your house?”
“Our house, mia bella. And I don’t know what we’ll do with having Joseph and Rosalie hanging out with us. No doubt, it’s going to be entertaining.”
“Has Rosalie done anything else since tipping over the glass of orange juice that you left on the kitchen counter because you had to hurry to go take care of that busted water heater at the B&B?”
“Nope. That’s it, thank goodness. Talk about a sticky mess to clean up.”
“The next time I’m there, I’ll ask Rosalie to cut you some slack.”
Rhys laughed. “Good luck!”
“Do you still not want us to tell anyone that we figured out she and Joseph are with us?”
“I still don’t. Folks aren’t likely to believe it anyway, and I don’t want to listen to their doubt or ridicule.”
“Okay. We’ll keep keeping it between us then.”
“I really do think it’s best.”
“I wish Rosalie or Joseph had a way to tell us why they chose to grab onto us like this.”
“I’ve thought about that quite a bit, and if I had to guess, they see themselves in you and me and enjoy seeing it. Their union was cut short in the physical world, so…”
“I think you might be onto something there.”
“Hey, my mom is calling me.”
“Okay, call me back.”
“I love you, Riley Dawn. Come home to me, let me marry you, and let’s make a baby.”
CH 39 - #autumn
Rhys
TODAY WAS SEPTEMBER 22nd, the first day of autumn. Riley was originally going to marry Chad on this day, and I wondered if she’d thought about it since waking up this morning at her duplex. Our wedding date was set for the winter solstice, December 21st.
We decided to have an intimate occasion with our families and closest friends instead of an extravaganza like Riley had been planning with Chad because of him. She never wanted a big to-do. She wanted something simple and meaningful. That included having a traditional wedding cake.
To my relief, she found a wedding dress she loved last weekend but didn’t get it in a store. She got it from her grandmother’s cedar chest and called me afterward to tell me it was a perfect fit. I could hardly wait to see Riley with it on.
I was sure to see her without anything on her sexy body in the next little while since I was almost to her duplex. Before I took her to bed, though, I planned to help her pack the last of her things. We had to finish doing that tonight because the moving company I hired would be at Riley’s first thing in the morning to load all her stuff and then haul it east to our lake house.
I had a surprise waiting for her there. It was something she’d said she would have “one day.” Now, she did. I installed a clawfoot tub in the main bathroom, but that wasn’t my only surprise.
Earlier in the week, I took my mom shopping with me because I needed her help picking out a candelabra, pillar candles, and essential oils for Riley. We got every item, and I also bought a new bottle of Love Story perfume since Riley was almost out of the one she had.
I had just turned onto her street and looked toward her duplex ahead of me on the right when I saw a black BMW parked in the driveway. I knew only one person who drove one: Chad Nolan.
I slowed down and kept looking at the car. Then, I got close enough to see Riley standing in her front yard, holding a box and talking to Chad. She was smiling, and so was he.
I pulled over to the curb and continued watching them. When Chad hugged Riley, I pushed on the gas, furious.
As I pulled into Riley’s driveway, the smile on her face and Chad’s disappeared. They remained frozen when I got out of my truck and began walking toward them with the bouquet of daisies I’d bought on my way here.
“What the hell is going on, Riley? I asked, coming to a stop in front of her.
