Entering home again, the front door squeak caught my parents' attention. Sitting on the couch wrapped up in a blanket, all their focus was on a tv show.
"Where have you been, Barry? It's late," Mum asks me, noticing Betty.
"We were just out. Sorry for not texting. Is it cool if she stays the night?" I asked as we took off our shoes.
"Of course it is. Have you two had dinner?" as mum got up from the couch.
"Not yet; we are just gonna have showers first, then we can eat," Betty replied, nudging me up the stairs.
As she often stayed over at my place, there were always clothes if needed. Not wanting to think about the room tonight, I decided not to write everything up and instead spend time with my love. We each grabbed a pair of clothes; we carefully washed each other off. Being with Betty made me feel special and loved because I knew she would care for me in any situation. One issue I was aware of was how her dad, Andy felt about me. Feeling like he didn't think I was good enough for his daughter. However, this didn't stop me because she was my world. Gently putting on each other's clothes and stepping back into my bedroom, she turned to me.
"Baby, we need to talk about how you reacted to what we found," she softly spoke.
"I know... I feel like I'm losing it; it never leaves my mind," I replied, sitting on the bed.
I loved Betty's ability to empathize with me very deeply. Always make sure I felt okay and help if I needed it. At this moment, her love was needed more than ever. Taking my hands, she gently sat on my lap, holding me tightly.
She spoke quietly, "Seeing you be this hurt makes me feel like I've let you down."
Listening, I could help but be confused. "Baby, what are you talking about? You haven't."
Sniffling tears began falling, dripping onto my lap as she moved closer.
"It's my fault; I hurt you; I'm sorry," she whispered in tears.
"Baby, you know I don't like it when you blame yourself; please stop," I begged, wiping her tears off her soft cheeks.
"You're not listening! If I said no to going there, we would be fine!" exclaimed Lena, pushing off me.
"This isn't you; you did nothing wrong. Please believe me!" I responded, slightly upset.
We never fought like this, not even shouting once. It hurt seeing the effects of our discovery hours before.
Wanting to solve it, I responded, "You are hurting yourself, baby; stop it; let's just go down, okay?"
"You go down; just leave me alone, please," Lena spoke, surprising me.
Pulling her back onto my lap, I didn't want to leave her in this state. "Baby, listen..."
Standing back up, shuffling onto the bed, she shouted angrily, "LEAVE ME ALONE!"
Listening, I closed the door, heading back down without her, needing a second, wiping my tears away with my jumper. It was the biggest fight we have ever had because that disgusting figure hurt Mary. He was the evil to blame for everything we were feeling; shifting these thoughts for a moment, I see dad beginning to plate it.
"She wants to stay in my room for a bit; I'll take it up," I spoke somberly.
With the food on the plate, I grabbed it; but mum stopped me. "I know, my son, something is wrong; what is it?"
Not wanting them to deal with the effects like we were, I lied, "Nothing is wrong."
Leaving her favourite food by the door, I stayed downstairs watching TV with my parents. Shutting the door again, goosebumps covered her skin as Mary was inside the room.
"Hey, Marry, Barry and I just fought; it's okay. You don't need to be here," Lena spoke, lying under the covers as steam rose from the food.
"Knock," replied Mary against the bed frame.
"I shouldn't have pushed so hard... I just pushed him away."
"He's probably hurt; we've never treated each other like this," she explained.
As Betty was upstairs, the tv show went on, something my family always spent time doing. Trying my hardest to focus elsewhere, I could only be worried about the love of my life. Neither of us thought our exploring would lead to a years-long cold case. Simply doing it because we both loved new adventures. Exciting my thoughts, mum and dad was sound asleep, his snoring overpowering the TV. Gently getting up, I couldn't stay away from her any longer. Quietly stepping up, I could hear her voice, knowing Mary was there.
"Baby, can I..." I spoke before being interrupted by the door opening.
Getting pulled in, I sat on the bed, ready to speak my heart out.
"Barry, I'm so sorry; all these events have messed up my emotions. You don't have to be sorry."
"That will be our only fight. Do you forgive me?" Lena said before I could speak.
Smiling, I was relieved that we both came to an understanding.
"Of course I do; we are all on edge; how about I make it up to you?" I hinted, holding her hands.
Blushing, Lena couldn't help but chuckle as she cheerfully responded, "I've been wanting to do this for weeks!"
"Let's say goodnight to my parent's first love," I say as the night continues.
Making our way back down, by now, they had awoken again, however not on the couch. Knowing they must be getting ready for bed or asleep, jumping up the stairs walking by their room.
"Goodnight, mum," I say, whispering as dad sleeps snoring.
"It was nice seeing you, Betty. Goodnight," Mum replied.
Shutting the door, it was time to relive our first date.
Not minding her presence, Betty exclaimed aloud, "Mary, you are welcome to stay."
Expecting a response soon, we got to work, making our bed more comfortable. Adding pillows and a sizeable woolly blanket, used from that same night.
"Do you want the lights on?" I asked, reaching under the bed.
"That would be magical," Betty said, buried under the covers.
Switching through the different light modes, we chose dimmer and slower. Finding my way to the movie we both loved the most, it began to play. My hands rested around her waist as our heads leaned on one another. Our first date didn't end like most, with little physical touch. Instead, it felt natural and easy. Not wanting to interrupt her viewing, I focused on the movie. Glancing down at the time, I saw nearly half of the film had passed. Handling the remote, Betty pressed pause, focusing her attention on me.
"Baby, I'm still worried; what if there is still much more yet to happen?" she asks, trembling.
"I promise everything will be okay, we have friends and family, and we have each other," I replied, embracing even tighter.
"I know I'm just scared, baby; I can't lose you; you are my everything," Betty quietly spoke, leaning up to kiss me.
Nodding, we gently kissed, my right hand holding her neck as the moment continued.
"That is okay, but nothing will tear us apart. I will fight to the ends of this earth to make sure that is true," I assure in between kisses.
Pulling apart, we giggled as the feeling of kisses made us laugh.
Remembering a question, she asked me, "My parents want us to have dinner tomorrow night. We haven't seen them in a while. It will be delightful."
"Yes!" I expressed, happy they had asked.
"Should we tell them about what we found?" I ask, unsure whether we should risk it.
"Yes, they might know something more," she replies, rubbing her eyes.
Yawing, neither of us could stay awake much longer as the feeling of fatigue took control.
"Night, sunshine, sweet dreams," I say, kissing her one final time before sleeping.
Blushing from my kiss, she whispered, "Goodnight, I love you."
Feeling as if something was watching me, I sat up quickly and looked around, noticing something in the corner. I glanced at my phone, the time reading "3:30 am."
"B-baby, what's wrong?" asks Betty, tugging my arm.
Focusing on the dark corner of my room, a pale body stepped out. Squinting instantly, I knew who it was; somehow, I could see Mary. Not the body we saw on the dirty bed, but a younger Mary. Thinking for a second, it clicked. This explains why there was little blood from the moment before her death. Still nerve-wracking, all the bruises were visible across her arms, neck, and face. Her white dress with flower patterns fell long enough to cover her entire body. The familiar necklace appeared around her neck, the same one we had found.
Slowly walking closer, all I could focus on was the now-visible Mary.
"Barry, you're scaring me. Stop," she begged.
Turning towards her, only one word left my mouth "Mary."
"We can't see her; you must be seeing things," she spoke, concerned.
Blinking, Mary slowly lifts her right hand into the air, her voice staying quiet. Gently waving, she was now only a few feet away with a warm smile. Knowing I was just shocked, I returned a friendly smile.
Happy, I ask her, "Love, can you see her?"
Concentrating, she responds, "Y-yes... I can."
Waving at the both of us, she dissipated as darkness swallowed the space she floated in. Lying back down, we were both awake, seeing something we didn't think was possible.
"How come she appeared now, baby? " Betty questions, snuggling my chest again.
"I don't know... let me grab some water for us. I'm thirsty," I exclaim.
Nodding, she helped pull back the covers as I quietly shuffled out of bed.
Making sure not to fall over, I race into the shadowy kitchen.
Filling two glasses of fresh water, I get slightly scared seeing Mary outside mum and dad's room. Waving once again, she fades, leaving me to return to my beautiful girlfriend. Quietly closing the bedroom door behind me, a big blob sits on the bed. Pretending I didn't know she was pranking me, I placed the water down. I spun around as her hands reached for my waist, frightening her.
"Baby! that wasn't funny; I was trying to scare you," Betty voiced, pulling the cover off her face.
"Here's your water; drink up, love," I smile, handing the water.
Shuffling up so we could cuddle easier, we sat in the darkness using one hand to hold each other. Finishing soon after, it didn't take long before we fell asleep. Hearing a faint knocking from the door, she looked over, seeing it partly open.
"Hey Betty, I just wanted to tell you two that Sandy and I will be out all day. Do you two have any plans?" Dad asks, leaning against the frame.
"We are having dinner at my house; I'll take good care of him; you don't need to worry," replied Lena, as I was still asleep.
"I know you do; he's fortunate; see you later, tt," responded Dad, closing the door.
"Have a good day, Dad!" Betty shouted, accidentally waking me up.
She was very close to my parents because we had been together for some time. Seeing them as her own, the name 'tt' came up when we first started dating. She had a special bond with my dad, which wasn't fully present with her own.
"Was that dad?" I ask, burying my head into the pillow.
Resting on me, she replied, "It was; we have the house to ourselves" while turning towards me.
"That's nice. Can I stay in bed for a bit longer?"I ask, not wanting to get up yet.
"Of course, I'll start cooking some breakfast. Come down when you want, honey," she exclaimed, giving me one final hug before exiting the room.
Still feeling too tired, I closed my eyes. Waking up once again, the sun had broken through the curtains. Fixing the sheets, I wander to the kitchen and see Betty texting someone.
"Emma was asking if we want to hang out very soon," she said as I entered.
"Where was she want us to go?" I replied, opening the fridge.
Flicking on the stove, I helped bring out the ingredients for some pancakes.
"Thanks, baby, To meet up at hers, then go to the park," she replied happily.
"Can Kiki come too? Would be nice with us four," I exclaimed.
Nodding, she smiled, "Definitely let me tell Emma you will text her."
Grabbing my phone, I flicked Kiki a text. Choosing pancakes, it didn't take long before a stack filled out plates. Feeling my phone vibrate, I saw Kiki texting to answer my previous question.
"She's going to drive here, then carpool with us," I say.
Eventually, after demolishing the delicious pancakes, we heard a car pull in. Cleaning the dishes, Kiki walked in as Betty had left the door unlocked. Embracing, we were ready to have a break from the horrors we had already experienced.
"I'll drive. Are you ready to relax for a bit Kiki?" I say, grabbing the keys as we pile into my car.
"Yeah, I need this," Kiki replied as we left the property.
We began heading toward the town center, where Emma lived a few blocks away. In the last few years, our town has seen a dramatic increase in families moving in. Creating a better sense of a welcoming and vibrant place with many things to see and do, expanding the busy streets and rows of housing towards my own home.
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