by Susan Harris
Eyeing the four-posted bed, she climbed under the covers and let sleep overtake her again, dreaming of the nursery and their child that was to come.
A few hours later, strong arms wrapped around her, pulling her close. “Bill?” she asked groggily, smiling, still half asleep.
“Yes, Maddie,” a male voice answered, whispering into her ear. “It’s me, love.”
“What time is it?” Madison asked, raising a hand to her cringing eyes.
“It’s still early, hon,” Bill replied, pulling her into the contours of his chest. “Go back to sleep.”
Madison nodded, snuggling into Bill’s arms, letting the feeling of security surround her.
“Madison,” Bill asked with a start, as if suddenly remembering something.
“Hum?” she said, not quite awake to answer fully.
“Did you leave a candle burning in the living room?” Bill asked, suddenly a bit annoyed. “You really should be more careful.”
Suddenly, Madison was fully awake. “A candle? I lit a lamp. We don’t even have candles.”
“Yes, we do, and you had one burning in the living room when I came in,” Bill replied, turning over. “We’ll talk about it in the morning.”
“We’ll talk about it now,” Madison replied, sitting up, now fully awake. Then she remembered the apparition she saw in the kitchen. “Bill, I think we have a ghost.”
Bill’s laugher rang throughout the house.
“I’m serious, Bill!” she said, pushing his shoulder. “I saw it in the kitchen. And I didn’t light a candle. I turned on a lamp!”
“Shush,” Bill replied, still smiling incredulously. “So are you saying that a ghost did it?”
“Stop treating me like a child, Bill! I’m serious!” Madison said, pulling on a robe which had been thrown across a nearby cedar chest, then slipped her arms into it.
Bill quickly caught her arm. “It’s okay, Maddie. Just come back to bed. We’ll discuss it in the morning.”
Madison was too tired to say anything back, so without another word, she shrugged out of her robe and climbed back under the covers, careful not to get too close to Bill.
But a moment later, he wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close. She pulled away at first, and then lost the urge to resist when he kissed her gingerly on her neck, moving her long, auburn hair aside. “I believe you,” he whispered into her ear, as if humoring her.
“And about the candle?” Madison asked, stiffening within his arms, bracing for his answer.
“Maddie, you’re my wife, and I love you very much,” Bill replied, still amused. “If you say you saw a ghost, then I believe you. If you say you lit a lamp and I find a candle burning instead? I believe you.” Then he kissed her neck, and gingerly made his way to her lips.
***
Sunlight streamed through the windows the next morning as she groggily opened her eyes, feeling as if she’d slept for a thousand years. Suddenly, strong arms wrapped around her. She smiled, remembering the night she’d spent with Bill. “Good morning,” she whispered.
Good morning … an unfamiliar male voice breathed into her ear.
Suddenly, the weight of arms vanished from around her body.
“Bill?” Madison asked, as sunlight streamed into the room.
“Yeah, honey?” Bill’s voice rang from the bathroom. She heard footsteps down the hall, and then he appeared in the doorway brushing his teeth. “What’s wrong?”
“Were you just in here?” she asked, her eyebrows pulling together in concern.
“Honey,” Bill laughed, clearly amused. “I think the pregnancy is getting to you. I was just in the shower. Why? What’s the matter?”
“Nothing,” she replied, still concerned. “I just could have sworn that you just wrapped your arms around me.”
Bill laughed, clearly amused. “Maybe it was your ghost,” he joked, then darted out when Madison threw a pillow at him. “Maybe he has the hots for you!” Bill replied, laughing down the hall.
“Yeah, right,” Madison replied, remembering the strong, muscular ghost she had seen the night before, then laughed, quickly brushing the thought aside. Then a thought occurred to her as she slipped into her robe, and walked down the hallway and into the kitchen where Bill was making coffee.
“So, what did you do yesterday?” Bill asked nonchalantly as he handed her a cup of coffee.
Madison took the coffee and took a nearby chair at the table. “Cleaning the spare room down the hallway. It’ll make the perfect nursery for the baby.”
“What room?” Bill asked, unconcerned as he hurried to get ready for work. “Maddie, there’s no room down the hallway.”
“Yes, there is,” Madison replied, stirring her coffee.
“No, honey there isn’t,” Bill replied, laughing and shaking his head. “This pregnancy is really affecting you.”
“I’m serious, Bill!” Madison replied, taking his hand. “Come here! I’ll show you!”
“Madison, there isn’t a room …” Bill replied, amused, but let his wife drag him down the hallway and froze when Madison stopped abruptly before the closed door.
Bill’s eyebrows pulled together in disbelief. “That’s impossible …”
Madison looked at him, self-satisfied. “Now who’s crazy?”
“I don’t believe it …” Bill replied, eyeing the door. Madison knew that being a top-notch attorney he’s always prided himself in his attention to details.
“Do you remember seeing this room when we first looked at the house?” Madison asked, watching his stunned face.
“I don’t remember ever seeing this door at all,” Bill replied, then added, “Maddie, I have a bad feeling about this. Maybe we should move …”
“Now who’s freaking out?” Madison laughed, clearly enjoying her husband’s bewilderment. “We just moved in! We’re not moving again.”
“Well, just be careful, Maddie,” Bill replied, pulling her into his arms and to his chest. “I worry about you being in this big house alone all day while I’m at work.”
“I’m fine,” she replied, clearly enjoying his expression. “Now go! Get ready for work or you’ll be late!”
Bill nodded, then reluctantly walked back down the hallway again, still clearly stunned.
A few minutes later, Madison was waving to him from the front porch, watching his car pull away, when suddenly the door slammed shut behind her, pushing a gust of wind across her body.
“What the hell?” Madison yelled at the stone door, shut firmly before her. Immediately, she grabbed the silver ornately decorated door handle and pushed hard. It wouldn’t budge. Then she realized she left her house key and her cell phone in the house. Looking down at her feet, she realized she was barefoot, too. This time, she grabbed the door handle and pushed with all her might. It still wouldn’t move. Then her thoughts ventured to the night before— to the ghost. Anger welled up within her chest as she summoned her strength and pushed as hard as she possibly could. Nothing. Then fury gripped her as she yelled at the door, “Okay, whoever you are! You win! Now let me in! It’s not funny!”
Then she grabbed the door handle again, testing it gingerly. It rattled, when just moments before, it was sealed tight. Cautiously, she gently pushed the door and it opened, creaking loudly.
Abruptly, the anger returned as she marched into the house. “What was that all about?” Madison yelled into the empty house, feeling foolish, but was determined not to let whatever or whoever this thing was to dominate her. “Well? How about it? Not so brave now, are you?”
Ohhhh, I wouldn’t say that, a distinctly male voice with a lovely British accent said.
Madison caught her breath. It was one thing to have a ghost in the house, but another to have a conversation with one. Then she squared her shoulders and marched into the empty house. “I don’t know who you are, but this house is mine!”
For now … a voice whispered into her ear as a rush of cool air abruptly blew past.
Madison turned a
round, but there was nothing. This is ridiculous, Madison thought to herself as she grabbed the bucket from the broom closet.
Ignoring me, eh? The voice breathed past her on a breeze.
“Just leave me alone!” Madison said, running water into the silver metal bucket.
Silence was the only response. Then just when she picked up the bucket, the smooth voice responded, breathing into her ear, Aren’t you the least bit curious?
The voice sounded both sexy and sinister, a thrilling combination. Madison quickly brushed the thought aside. Then she decided to change her strategy. “I’m not afraid of you, but you must be afraid of me, or else you’d show yourself.”
Ahhh … the voice responded seductively. You know the male psyche very well, do you not? Appealing to my sense of courage?
Abruptly, Madison turned off the running water. “Well? How about it?”
Nothing.
Madison waited, then turned her attention back to the task at hand. “Thought so.”
A moment later, a mist crept into the room, then rose and swirled, changing first into pure white smoke, then solidifying into that of a muscular man from years past, wearing his loose fitting shirt unbuttoned, showing his muscular bare chest.
Madison quickly brushed the obscene thoughts filling her mind aside and squared her shoulders. “What are you doing here?”
Ahhhh … the male ghost replied seductively, inching toward her. That’s for me to know.
“Well, I command you to leave this house and leave us alone!”
He laughed a sinister, pealing sound. And what makes you think you have power over me?
“I don’t,” Madison replied, turning back toward the water. “But neither do you have power over me. Now go.”
Another menacing laughed erupted from his lips. You really are a brave one, are you not?
“Who are you, anyway?” Madison asked, backing against the sink behind her as he drew near.
Why, do you want to know? The ghostly man asked, walking slowly toward her.
Madison shrugged, feigning nonchalance. “No reason,” she replied, then turned her attention back toward the bucket in the sink.
My name is Raif, the voice replied.
Madison turned abruptly toward him, smiling. “Well, well, well. You really hate to be ignored, don’t you?” she said with self-satisfaction.
Perhaps … the voice responded seductively, as the white figure smiled, taking another step toward her.
“I’m married, you know,” Madison responded, feeling a bit uncomfortable with the exchange.
Happily? Raif asked, inching still closer toward her.
“And I’m pregnant, too,” Madison replied, grasping at straws, ready to make a run for the door.
Yes, that could prove troublesome, Raif answered, now standing directly before her.
Sudden rage welled up within her chest as she clutched her hands into fists. “How dare you!” she said angrily, trying to slap him, but slapping the air instead.
Do you really believe you can hurt me? Raif laughed seductively, raising a hand to touch her cheek with the back of his cool hand.
Madison looked into his deep blue eyes, wishing they had bought another house. “I know you can’t hurt me,” Madison replied, bravely squaring her shoulders once again.
So you say… a cool sensation brushed her cheek, causing goose flesh to rise down her spine. He trailed his hand gingerly down her cheek to her neck.
“Leave me,” Madison said, closing her eyes, then opened them abruptly. “Now.”
“Honey, are you home?” Bill’s voice resonated throughout the house. And at that moment, Madison realized she had been hearing Raif within her mind.
“Oh, thank God you came back, Bill!” Madison said, taking his hand, pulling him toward the door.
“What’s wrong, Maddie?” Bill asked, pulling her into his strong arms. The feel of human flesh felt so good to Madison, the warmth, Bill’s scent … “Honey, you’re so cold! Maybe you should take it easy today. Lie down and cover up,” Bill replied, then let her go and rushed around the room, his eyes darting into every corner. “Have you seen my briefcase?”
“But, Bill …”
Abruptly, he grabbed her shoulders and looked her directly in the eye. “Honey, tell me about it tonight, okay? I really am late, and this new judge is a stickler for timeliness.”
“Bill …”
Bill found his briefcase behind a winged-back chair. “Here it is,” he replied to himself, then turned his attention back to Madison as he backed slowly toward the door. “Honey we’ll talk about it tonight! I have to go!”
“But, Bill …”
“Maddie, really!” Bill responded exasperated. “I have to go.” And a moment later, he slammed the door behind him.
Madison took a deep breath, determined not to let Raif get to her. It was her house, after all. Madison squared her shoulders, then headed toward the kitchen, half expecting Raif to be there, leaning on a counter.
Madison lifted the heavy metal bucket from the sink.
You know, if I was human, I’d be a gentleman and carry that for you, Raif responded, then, almost as if reading her mind, leaned against the counter.
“Aahhh!” Madison screamed, sending water down the front of her blouse. “Great! Now look at what you’ve done!”
I didn’t do it, Raif responded innocently, then added, but I would be happy to help you change into something more comfortable.
“Who says you’re a gentleman, anyway?” Madison asked rhetorically, as she lifted the bucket from the sink again.
Ouch, that hurt, Raif feigned innocence.
Madison ignored him; tired of the banter she picked up the bucket and headed toward the spare room, now unsure if it was the right room for the nursery after all. And for Bill not to remember seeing the room was remarkable. He never forgets anything.
As she cleaned the room for the remainder of the day, Madison had an uneasy feeling that she was being watched, but ignored it, knowing the source. After a few hours, a toy car suddenly flew across the room, landing with a thud against the opposite wall.
Madison tried to ignore it. “You can’t scare me you know, Raif!”
Want to make a wager on that, Miss? Raif replied, but was not visible.
“Go away,” Madison yelled into the room, setting down the bucket hard, causing water to slosh over the brim.
Now, I’m hurt, Raif replied, feigning innocence once again.
Madison ignored him, and continued with her work.
Your husband doesn’t believe you, you know, Raif replied without showing himself.
Exasperated, Madison finally sat down on the floor and calmly asked, “What is it that you want, Raif?”
Then a mist gathered into the room, building until it materialized into the nearly transparent image of Raif. Oh, you do not want the answer, although it is the right question, he replied.
“Stop playing games, Raif!” Madison replied, feeling exasperated as the sun began to fade from the room, sending shoots of orange and red throughout the sky outside the two beautiful windows. “In the name of God, leave me alone!”
And within a second, Raif vanished.
Well, at least I know what works, Madison thought to herself. Feeling exasperated from a day of banter and cleaning, Madison made her way onto the couch, and lay down as the cushions once again enveloped her, snuggling every part of her body. She was so exhausted that sleep found her right away.
In her sleep, a man’s hand gently caressed her cheek. “Raif, leave me alone.”
“Raif?” Bill laughed into her ear, gently kissing her cheek. “What have you been dreaming about?” He asked seductively, joking.
When Madison opened her eyes, darkness had enveloped the room. “Sorry about dinner, Bill,” she replied, trying to sit up, but fell back onto the couch pillow once again. “I can’t believe I slept so long.”
“Shush …” Bill cooed, tracing a finger lightly down her cheek to her l
ips. “I’ve already taken care of it. Are you hungry?”
Madison shook her head, then replied, “Just tired.”
“Okay, then let’s go,” Bill replied, gingerly scooping her into his arms and carried her down the long, narrow hallway and laid her gently on the bed and carefully covered her with a blanket. “Go to sleep, love.”
“Bill, we have to talk,” Madison replied weakly.
“Shush,” Bill replied, cutting her off. “We’ll talk about it in the morning.
“It’s Raif…” she responded.
“Who’s this Raif?” Bill sounded amused. “Is he your lover?”
Madison laughed. “Be serious, Bill.” Then she paused, wondering how she could word it so that he would believe her. “He’s the ghost.”
Bill’s laugh echoed throughout the house. “Go to sleep. You’ve just had a nightmare.”
“Bill, listen to me,” Madison replied, but she was too weak, as her eyes slowly began to close.
“Yes, love,” Bill cooed, pacifying her, something she hated, but she was too tired to fight. “Now go to sleep and we’ll talk about it in the morning.”
Slowly, her eyes closed, and as sleep found her, she wondered how in the world she could ever get Bill to believe her, or anyone, for that matter.
***
Sunlight trickled into the room when Madison woke. Hunger pangs grabbed her, unable to be ignored, so she rose from the bed, slipped into her robe, and walked slowly down the hallway, leaving Bill sleeping in the bed alone.
Madison rummaged through the pantry, looking for something appetizing to eat, but nothing looked good. She shut the door, then opened the refrigerator as light flooded the dimly lit room. She rummaged through, and finally settled on a plate Bill must have brought from the Olive Garden.
