Page 37 of Who's Afraid of the Big, Bad World

“Why have we stopped talking about me?”Therese interrupted.“You haven’t told her about my great impersonations of our friends or how I was an awesome mother, not to mention that I baked the best damn chocolate cake in the world. You can give her the recipe. It’d go great with her spaghetti.”She’d become food-obsessed in her ghostly form.

“Funny how you all work for the same company now,” Annabelle said. “I wish I was that close to my friends.”

He shrugged. “It worked out pretty good for all of them. They met their wives through Benson Security. And that’s more of a miracle than you’d guess because I was sure at least two of those guys would die alone.”

“Amen to that,”Therese said.

“I’m glad you had someone like Therese,” Annabelle said. “And I’m sorry you lost her.”

“I’m not lost; I’m right here. Wondering why you haven’t given her my chocolate cake recipe yet. You could eat it tomorrow.”

He wouldn’t get any peace until he gave in, so Noah listened to the figment of his imagination and said, “She was an amazing cook, just like you.”

Annabelle flushed and tucked her thick hair behind her ear. “I’m not sure about amazing, but I enjoy it.”

“Therese made a fantastic chocolate cake that would’ve gone great with your spaghetti. You want the recipe?”

“About time,”Therese said.

“If that isn’t too weird,” he added because it sure as hell felt weird.

“No, not at all.” Annabelle smiled at him. “I’d love to try making it.”

“Okay then.” He glanced at Therese to see her looking smug.

“It sounds like you were really lucky to have her in your life,” Annabelle said softly.

“Hey,” he said, “I think she was pretty damn lucky to have me!”

“Of course she was.” Annabelle rolled her eyes as she patted his arm.

But her words caused something within Noah to shift. She was right. He was the luckiest man alive to have had Therese, even for a little while.

Annabelle stood and headed for the panic room. “I’d better get to sleep. I’m still kinda wiped out from that virus. Door partially or fully open?”

“Partially is fine.” Noah stood. “I have some work to do on my laptop, then I’ll call it a night. Make sure the other door to the panic room’s locked. If you need me, shout. And if I’m not here for some reason—” He noticed her eyes widen and clarified: “Like I’m in the bathroom or talking to a teammate, just go to your old bedroom. Rochelle and Katrina are sharing that room. There’ll be team members on guard during the night too, andsomeone will always have their eyes on the cameras. You’re safe here.”

“I believe that.” And she sounded sincere. Annabelle hesitated at the door. “Thanks for telling me about Therese. I feel like I know her now.” And with that, she disappeared into the room, and seconds later, her light went off.

Noah sat staring at her open door for a few minutes, unsure of what he was feeling or thinking. He just knew that something was happening. Something had changed inside of him. For the first time in years, he’d been able to talk about his wife and focus only on the good times instead of feeling like he was drowning in a sea of sorrow. It felt… right to focus on the many ways his life had been blessed rather than on what he’d lost. And that rightness somehow freed the weight he’d carried around for so many years.

“You know,”Therese said, shattering his epiphany. “I think it’s time you watched that video I made you.”

“Seriously?” Of course she’d take this opportunity to press the point.

“Did you say something?” Annabelle called.

Noah frowned at his dead wife. “Just talking to myself.”

“Oh, okay. Good night then.”

“Night,” he called back, his eyes still on Therese.

“My bad,”she whispered, even though only he could hear her.“Think about the video. I’m going to check on the triplets.”She waggled her eyebrows.“Those boys are built!”

“I did not hear that,” Noah muttered.

“There’s nothing wrong with looking. After all, I’m dead, so it’s not like I can cheat on you.”She paused, suddenly serious.“You do realize that my death ended our marriage, right? ‘Till death do us part’? Finding love again wouldn’t mean you were cheating on me. You understand that, right?”