* * * *
Laverty and Evan got out of their truck and Evan couldn’t help but smile. As they pulled the truck into the driveway, they saw Lois and Ford kissing. It gave him hope that things were progressing nicely and perhaps they could enjoy the day with her as well.
As they got to Ford’s truck, Lois was opening up the back door and lifting up a box of baking supplies.
“Hey, I got that,” Evan said and took it from her.
“Oh, thank you, Evan.” He winked at her.
“Any time, doll. How was the trip to town?” he asked her.
“Fun,’ she said and held Ford’s gaze. Ford looked her over and Laverty took her hand
and brought it to his lips. “I missed you,” he said and kissed her knuckles.
“Seriously?” she asked. He grabbed her around the waist and tapped her rear as he directed her into their house. “Seriously,” he scolded and Evan and Ford chuckled. Lois blushed.
The moment they got into the house, Evan had a funny feeling. Something wasn’t right. One glance at Ford and Laverty and they knew it, too. Then they heard the sound of something crashing onto the floor. Lois gasped. “What was that?” she asked.
“Evan, take Lois outside to see the gardens while Laverty and I take care of something,” Ford said and brushed by her. She and Evan heard the sounds again.
“What is it? Is that Ghost? Is he okay?” she asked.
“Come on, Lois, let them take care of things.”
“Wait. Is he having one of those episodes?” she asked, shocking him. He squinted his eyes at her.
“We talked about it yesterday. I shared what happened to me when he shared what happened to him and about the nightmares.”
“Let them handle it. You can talk to him later,” Evan said to her. She shook her head.
“No, let’s go see what we can do.” She pulled away from Evan and headed down the hallway. Before he could really stop her they heard the yelling and Ford and Laverty trying to calm Ghost down.
As she got to the door, she froze in place and covered her mouth. Ford was trying to get Ghost to wake up, but he was thrashing on the bed. He was only wearing a pair of compression shorts. His lamp was on the floor and the sheets were all over the place.
“Shit, he won’t come out of it. He can’t hear us,” Laverty stated.
Now Evan walked in there, too, and he could tell by one look from Ford and Laverty that they were pissed off. “She shouldn’t be here. He won’t be happy about this,” Ford said.
Ghost was tossing and turning, his face scrunched up like he was in pain. They called to him, but he didn’t answer.
“Ghost. Ghost.” She said his name and his face changed like he could hear her. Ford and Laverty stepped back. She tried to come closer, but Ford grabbed her arm. “Not too close, baby. When he’s stuck in this, he doesn’t always know what he’s striking.”
Evan didn’t want Lois to be scared, but surely seeing Ghost like this would make her have second thoughts about them not harming her.
“Ghost, it’s me. It’s Lois.” He tossed and turned and then lay there. She stepped closer with Ford holding her hips, ready to pull her out of harm’s way.
“Ghost, please wake up. I need you. Please, Ghost, I need—”
His eyes popped open and he gasped and looked to each of them and then to Lois.
“Get her out of here. Now!” he roared and Lois jumped and stepped back. He was pissed off at them for letting her see him like this. “Leave.”
“No. You need us. You said you wouldn’t leave me or hurt me. I’m not leaving you,” she said to him and Evan was shocked. Where did this strong, confrontational woman come from? Before any of them could say something, Ghost reached out and grabbed her wrist and pulled her onto the bed next to him. She gasped and they thought he might hurt her, but instead he nuzzled into her neck and inhaled deeply. Tears filled Evan’s eyes as he watched Lois wrap her arm around him the best she could and hold him tightly.
He looked at Ford and Laverty, who both seemed on edge and shocked, Laverty picked up the lamp and fixed it while Ford fixed the covers on the bed and Lois whispered to Ghost.
“I’m not leaving you, Ghost. Don’t try to push me away.”