Page 23 of Chasing Your Ghost

She nodded, and that was all it took for her form to start fading.

The woman moved on far more easily than most, which was the only reason Riley didn’t have to feign enjoying herself when she rejoined the others. The death still weighed on her, but not to the point that their outing was ruined.

Soon enough, Noah was begging for lunch, and though Riley could have spent another half an hour there, she knew she needed to eat something after interacting with the ghost.

Her blood sugar levels had taken a hit, and she was already starting to feel the effects of hypoglycemia. So, she agreed, and the four of them left in search of sustenance. They found it quickly at a nearby café-cum-gift-shop.

After eating, they walked alongside the reflection pool with renewed vigor, this time toward the Washington Monument. Noah and Riley both complained incessantly about the heat, and Riley was sure her hair was a sweaty mess beneath her cap, but they wandered around the National Mall for hours.

Riley felt as though she were in a dream as she took it all in. Though she was covered in sweat and exhausted by the time they got back to the car, it had been more than worth it. Mainly because Edith and Hugh had primarily kept to themselves while she and Noah gallivanted about.

Her egg donor hadn’t been able to ruin the day. Noah was turning out to be an awesome stepbrother. She should have been happy. Instead, during the car ride back, she found herself realizing that it would be harder to say goodbye than she thought.

6

Despite the previous day’s excitement, Riley was in a foul mood as she walked into the main house the next morning— a mood that did not improve when she saw Edith at the breakfast table with her husband. The woman hadn’t seemed to notice that Olivia was visibly upset the previous night over being left out of a family outing. Edith trying so hard to make conversation with Riley at the dinner table had only made her uncomfortable and her half-sister even more bitter.

But Edith wasn’t to blame for Riley’s bloodshot eyes. Guilt had hit her hard when she’d crawled into bed, the realization that she’d enjoyed her day in D.C. far too much slamming into her with unforgiving force.

She’d been a wreck after her dad’s ghost had found her in the apartment, and she’d been in shambles after saying goodbye to him for good. The previous day had been the first time she hadn’t spent a large portion of the day curled up in bed or on a couch, unable to find the will to do anything else. She felt like a monster.

“Morning,” Riley mumbled to the couple.

“Hugh, Olivia, and I will be going to church this morning,” Edith said in place of a greeting as she buttered her toast. “Would you like to join us?”

Riley wanted to laugh at the ridiculous question—her last experience in a church had not gone well—but with Hugh there as a witness, she chose to shake her head instead. “No, thank you.”

“Are you sure? I think you’d enjoy it if you gave it a chance.”

“Edith, I have no interest in going to church with you.”

The woman’s shoulders slumped with disappointment, and Hugh looked between them sadly.

“Alright,” Edith acquiesced. “If you need anything, Noah will be here. I think his friend Chris is coming over in a bit.”

“Okay.”

“Was your dad religious?” Hugh asked, and she could tell he meant no offense in asking the question. He was simply curious.

“Riley’s father wasn’t the godliest of men,” Edith explained to her husband in a way that Riley didn’t like.

“My dad may not have been a Christian,” Riley agreed as she walked around the table and opened the fridge door more vigorously than necessary. “But he wasn’t the one who abandoned his partner and child. Do try to remember that when you’re looking down at him for not going to church.”

She took the milk out of the fridge and opened several cabinet doors until she found a bowl.

“I’m sure Edith didn’t mean any offense,” Hugh said carefully, defending his wife, who had gone rigid and tight-lipped.

“Besides,” Riley added after finding a spoon. “My dad did believe in a higher power. He was actually very spiritual.” How could he not be when he had the ability to see and speak to ghosts? “You know that, Edith.”

“What do you mean?” Hugh asked as Riley reached for the cereal box in front of him.

Edith moved her eyes from Riley to her husband. “Hugh, why don’t you make sure Olivia is ready to go?”

The man hesitated. His forehead was furrowed with a concerned frown, but he stood to do what she’d asked, leaving Riley and her pseudo-mother alone.

“I don’t want you making hints about what you and your father could do in front of Hugh,” Edith said.

“I doubt he’d guess I can see ghosts based on a comment about spirituality,” Riley retorted as she poured herself a bowl of Corn Flakes.

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