Free Free-Falling by Nicola Moriarty Page A

we’re all done. No pre-existing medical condition we oughta know about is there, hon?’ The girl’s eyes flicked down to Belinda’s stomach and then back up again. She raised her eyebrows as she waited.
    Belinda bit the inside of her cheek nervously. Obviously pregnancy might be a condition worth noting, but she really just wanted to get out of there.
    â€˜Not that I can think of,’ she said as casually as she could manage.
    â€˜Looks like we can let you go then.’ The girl paused, then added in a tone that suggested she simply couldn’t help herself, ‘Impressive fall, though. Any idea how you managed to come off?’ There was also just a hint of amusement at the edges of her voice.
    Belinda cried all the way home.
    She had just stepped out of the lift, still feeling somewhat fragile, when she saw something on the floor outside her apartment door. As she got closer, she realised it was a bunch of red roses, beautifully arranged in clear cellophane and tied with awhite, silk ribbon. A note was attached.

    She picked up the flowers and held them under one arm as she unlocked her door and walked inside. As soon as she had kicked off her shoes and dumped her gym bag, she phoned first Jules and then Stacey to see if one of them had left the roses.
    â€˜Ooh la la,’ said Jules. ‘Someone’s got a secret admirer!’
    â€˜When would I have time to bring you flowers?’ snapped Stacey.
    Belinda had paused, knowing that Stacey was going to hate what she said next. ‘What if it was Andy?’
    â€˜Belinda, are you feeling okay? You might recall that Andy is in fact dead, right?’
    Belinda had pressed on. ‘You know, I did remember that, but what if he’s haunting me? It’s just that the flowers were waiting for me here after I just had the worst experience at the gym. I was all upset and then here are these flowers saying, “To brighten your day”. No one knew about what just happened to me at the gym. And Andy was always buying me flowers when I needed cheering up.’
    â€˜Actually, Andy was always buying you flowers when you two had had a fight. And you’re telling me even as a ghost he couldn’t finally get it right and deliver lilies – your favourite?’ She had sounded triumphant, adding, ‘What exactly did happen at the gym anyway?’
    â€˜That’s not really important.’ A quick subject change. ‘All right, detective, then who did leave them?’
    â€˜You said they didn’t even say your name, right?’
    â€˜Uh huh.’
    â€˜Wrong apartment.’ Stacey stated it as though it were fact.
    â€˜What? So they’re not even for me? Great, I feel much better.’
    â€˜You asked, I answered.’
    Belinda made herself a late dinner and spent the night glancing doubtfully every once in a while at the gorgeous bunch of roses. She didn’t know why she had been so quick to jump to the conclusion that Andy was somehow responsible. I suppose you thought he’d ordered them from some ghost-florist on the spiritual plane , she chided herself sarcastically. She got carried away then, picturing a wispy-looking Andy strolling along a misty, winding pathway. He was heading for a bright light up ahead when a plump, transparent woman bounded out from the fog. ‘Flowers for the bereaved! Don’t go into the afterlife without first acknowledging the loved ones you’ve left behind! Bunch of daisies for your widow, dear?’ (For some reason, she would have a strong cockney accent.)
    Belinda snorted contemptuously at herself. She’d heard about ‘pregnancy brain’ but this was ridiculous. ‘I know, I know, I’m losing it,’ she said to the puppy as she grabbed the rubbish from the kitchen bin ready to take it to the garbage chute. She opened her apartment door and was just about to step into the hall when something bright caught her eye. A new bunch of