Free The Widow's Walk by Carole Ann Moleti Page A

else okay?” Kevin made eye contact with him for the first time all day.
    They’d talked around the big issues, but now there was nothing to distract them.
    “Yeah.” Enough. He didn’t want to jinx the good vibes.
    As he turned into the driveway, Mae bolted across a pile of debris strewn in the front yard. Mike’s stomach flopped like a fish out of water when he saw her hair a tangled mess, her jeans and thermal shirt spattered with mud–and blood.
    He and Kevin jumped out.
    His eyes went to the widow’s walk, now only a few pieces of wood sticking up like the pilings of an abandoned dock. “Oh my God. Is Liz all right?”
    “Hurt her leg real bad, but by some miracle only has some scratches on her face and arms. I’ve been tryin’ to get in touch with Kevin, but he’s got the danged phone off.” Mae dissolved into tears.
    Mike fought back his own, and Jared flipped inside like a hooked fish. That wave of nausea swept over him again. His wife was out of her mind, and he had no idea what to do next.
    “She tried to hurt herself?” Kevin’s voice quavered, his eyes watered.
    Anger ignited in Mae’s eyes. “Went up on the widow’s walk to get rid of a bird’s nest. Or so she said. Landed in the bushes when the rail gave way.”
    Had she taken his son up there as a sacrificial offering? “Where is Eddie?”  
    Mae crossed her arms over her heaving chest. “Inside, where it’s warm.”
    “Did she..?”
    “No, he was with me.” Her brogue faded into a British accent.
    A dizzying fog swirled around Mike, his vision blurred, Jared took over and his memory played in Mike’s head. Paul helped Katherine along, distraught and sobbing. They followed as Jared carried her body back to the house. He laid her on the bed and stood staring, unbelieving.
    Bethea Vauxhall burst into the room. “What happened?” She glared at Jared.
    He extended his arms toward Elisabeth’s body, then clasped his hands around his head, shielding his eyes. “We don’t know. She was upset last night and . . .”
    “She drowned herself looking for Edward, no doubt.” Bethea’s words, bitter with grief and anguish, cut Jared like a knife.
    He struggled to breathe, and couldn’t summon any words . He walked out and wandered, dazed, to the barn.
    Paul tried to settle Ruddy, who stomped at the far end of the paddock, tossed her head, and backed into a corner. The horse rose onto her haunches; her forelegs flailed in rage. A shrill whinny rang through air already heavy with despair.
    Ruddy charged. Paul ran and secured the gate so she wouldn’t bolt out. Breathless, he put his hand on Jared’s trembling shoulder. “Animals sense what’s going on. They have strong instincts. Jared, I know how much you loved her. I can’t understand why she did it.”
    Mike pulled himself out of the ghost’s control. There was a whole barnyard full of spirits in this house. And he’ left her to sleep in the guest room last night. Left her to stew, left her alone with the whole crew.
    Mae’s voice was distant, like he was hearing her through a wall. “She got very bad news from the lawyer today. That rat Jeffers stole her money, along with a lot of other people’s. She’ll be lucky if she gets any of it.”
    “Damn, will this never end?” It was only money. She was still alive.
    This was your fault . Jared screamed in his brain, I told you not to leave her alone.
    “Let’s go inside.” Kevin guided both Mike and Mae toward the house.
    Mae was blubbering, a most uncharacteristic state. “I told her we would work it all out, and she promised not to do anything rash. I heard a crash and figured it was an accident on the road. When I went outside, I saw her feet dangling off the roof. It took some time to get the ladder up there.”
    He and Liz weren’t the only ones haunted by memories. His boots thudded on the porch, and he knocked the confusion off along with the mud.
    “How did ya do that, Mae?” Kevin asked.
    “I’ve done it