Page 55 of Ghost Of You

As Dr. Anderson finishes up, she gives us a few more instructions, but it’s all a blur. All I can think about is the future—of holding our baby, of late-night feedings, of first words and first steps, of all the moments that will fill our lives with even more love than I thought possible.

Finally, we thank Dr. Anderson and leave the room, walking back down the corridor hand in hand. The world outside feels different now, brighter, filled with endless possibilities.

As we step out into the cool air, Laelia turns to me, her smile so wide it could light up the entire street. “I’m so happy, Killian. I can’t believe this is really happening.”

I squeeze her hand, feeling a deep sense of contentment settle over me. “Me too, Laelia. Me too.”

We walk to the car, the scan pictures carefully tucked into her bag. As I start the engine, I glance over at her, her hand resting on her stomach as if she’s already cradling our baby.

Driving home, the world around us seems to blur, and all I can focus on is her and the little life growing inside her. Our futureis unfolding in front of us, full of laughter, love, and the kind of happiness that comes from knowing you’re about to embark on the greatest adventure of your life.

Back at home, we find ourselves curled up on the couch, the scans spread out on the coffee table in front of us. We talk about the future, about the kind of parents we want to be, about the nursery and names and all the tiny details that make up a life. Every word is filled with love, every plan a promise of the life we’re building together.

As the night deepens, Laelia falls asleep with her head on my shoulder, a peaceful smile on her lips. I sit there for a while longer, watching her, my heart so full it feels like it might burst.

This is what happiness feels like, I think to myself. This is what it means to truly love and be loved in return. And with our baby on the way, that love is only going to grow.

With a soft sigh, I press a kiss to her forehead and close my eyes, knowing that the future—our future—is going to be more beautiful than I ever could have imagined.

Chapter twenty-nine

Present

Pinning the scan back onto the wall, I’m startled by a loud crash and a commotion coming from the front of the house. My heart skips a beat, and without hesitation, I jump to my feet and rush out of my station, sprinting down the hallway towards the main area of our parlour to see what the hell is going on.

Pushing aside the curtain that separates the hallway from the parlour, I step through and immediately see the back of Ethan, standing rigid, just a few feet away. Beyond him, Sydney and Maeve are positioned in a way that blocks my view of whatever is happening. Their tense postures and the uneasy glances they exchange make my stomach churn with anxiety.

"Where is he?" a man shouts, his voice cutting through the air like a knife as I push past Ethan and the girls to see the source of the commotion. It's Brian, Laelia's father, and he's swaying unsteadily where he stands. The strong stench of alcohol clings to him, as familiar as it is repulsive. He's drunk, as usual.

My eyes scan the studio, taking in the chaos he’s left in his wake. The wall displays that once showcased our proudest moments are now in ruins, ripped down and scattered acrossthe floor. The glass table where our portfolios used to rest is shattered, its remains glistening like sinister confetti under the harsh lights. The glittering shards crunch under my feet as I take a step forward, trying to assess the full extent of the damage.

When I look back at Brian, I notice the telltale signs of his growing anger—his flared nostrils, bared teeth, and a face that has turned an alarming shade of red. His eyes are wild, practically glowing with a rage that has clearly been simmering for a long time. It’s the kind of anger that feels dangerously close to boiling over.

His gaze locks onto me, and I see a flicker of recognition—or maybe contempt—in his eyes. He lets out a low, sinister chuckle, one that sends a shiver down my spine. "Ah, I see the rat has finally crawled out of the hole it's been hiding in," he sneers.

I sigh, already weary of the confrontation I know is coming. Dealing with Brian is always draining, and today is no exception. He’s a lot of things, but kind isn’t one of them. In fact, it’s the polar opposite. His cruelty is the reason Laelia cut him out of her life, the reason she no longer has—nor will she ever—have a relationship with him.

"What do you want, Brian?" I ask, my voice tired as I rub my hand over my face. "You know you’re not welcome here. You're trespassing and disturbing my workplace." The truth is, he’s lucky we haven’t already called the police to have him removed.

He scoffs, his derision evident. "What do I want? What do I want?" he bellows, his voice growing louder with each repetition. "I want a lot of things, like a relationship with my daughter! But you took that away from me! You cost me my daughter! And because of you, I'll never see her again!" His finger jabs the air in my direction, trembling with barely contained fury. If looks could kill, I’d be dead ten times over by now.

For the record, I’ve done nothing to sabotage his relationship with Laelia. He did that all on his own. He treated her like dirt,and she finally had enough. I nearly beat him to a pulp five years ago because of how he treated her, and looking at him now, I feel that familiar anger bubbling up inside me again. But I keep it in check, reminding myself that he isn’t worth it.

This situation isn’t new, but it never gets easier. The broken man in front of me is a mess of his own making, but instead of facing the truth, he’s chosen to blame me for his own failures. And that, more than anything, is why Laelia will never look back.

12th November 2018

Heavy rain streams down the window as thunder rumbles in the distance. The storm outside feels miles away, separated from the warmth of our bed, where Laelia and I are cuddled up. She's chosen tonight's movie—Alice in Wonderland, a quirky, whimsical film that mirrors her own sense of adventure. As much as I appreciate Johnny Depp's talent, especially in his role as the Mad Hatter, I can't help but wish we were watching something else. My taste leans more towards horror—the scarier, the better—but Laelia can’t stand them before bed. They seep into her dreams, turning them into nightmares, and that’s the last thing I want for her.

I glance at the clock on the bedside table; it's already 1:30 in the morning. But with it being a late Saturday night, we don't have a care in the world. No obligations tomorrow, no need to wake up early. We can sleep in as long as we want, and that feels like a small piece of heaven. Lying here next to Laelia, the outside world fades away. It’s just us, tangled in the sheets,savouring the simplicity of the moment—sex, snacks, and a movie. What more could I possibly want?

Laelia snuggles closer, her eyelids growing heavy as she fights off sleep. She spent the entire day talking about watching bothAlice in Wonderlandand its sequel tonight, but now, halfway through the second movie, her body has other ideas. Her breathing deepens, becoming slower, more rhythmic, and I can tell that sleep is finally winning the battle. I chuckle softly to myself; sleep always wins with her. If she doesn’t get at least eight hours, she’ll be grumpy, miserable, and foul-mouthed all day long. I've never met anyone with a shorter temper than her when she's sleep-deprived.

Carefully, I reach for the remote and turn off the TV, plunging the room into darkness save for the occasional flash of lightning. The rain continues to pelt against the window, a soothing soundtrack that makes it even harder to stay awake. I should close the middle part of the curtain—Meatball, our cat, left it ajar when he jumped onto the window ledge—but I can’t bring myself to move. Laelia is fast asleep, and I don’t want to disturb her. Instead, I stay put, content to watch the rain and hold the woman I love more than anything in this universe.

There's something magical about the rain. People often complain about it, cursing it for ruining plans and leaving them soaked, but I love it. It’s peaceful to watch and even more peaceful to listen to. Rainy days that keep us stuck inside are the best, especially when I get to spend them with Laelia. Living in the UK means we’re more accustomed to rain than sunshine anyway—asking for sun here is like asking for rain in a drought.Very. Fucking. Rare.

As the rain lulls me into a sleepy haze, I feel myself beginning to drift off. I know that with Laelia in my arms, my dreams will be sweet because every dream involves her. Without her, life wouldn’t be as wonderful.

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