but only ends up smearing it. He takes his phone from his pocket a second time.
“Hey, babe. I took care of it. Yeah, everything’s taken care of. It’s all cleaned up. Just come home baby. No, it’s okay. Don’t be ridiculous, the house is not haunted, Jen. No, one of those motherfuckers came into our house and did this. I am just glad you didn’t get hurt. No, he’s going to send a completely different crew out to finish the porch. It’s going to be okay, babe. Just come home, Jen.”
Peter leaves the room. He showers, then goes to bed.
* * * * *
The house is quiet. The construction crew has finished the front porch. It is bigger than before, wider. And screened in. It really does look nice. Jen hasn’t been back. Peter only comes here to sleep. Maybe things will settle down now. Maybe I can have my house back. The back door opens, Peter comes through carrying something. It’s a puppy! How sweet. A white puppy with a brown patch over one eye. I swoop down for a closer look. He has one blue eye and one brown. The brown eye on the side with the patch, how appropriate. He’s adorable.
The puppy begins to shake as if he is cold and then to whimper.
“What’s the matter, buddy? It’s okay. Your momma will be here soon. She’s going to love you,” he says as he massages the puppy’s ears.
Peter ties a big red ribbon around the puppy’s neck and puts him in a large box. Then he runs upstairs. I can hear the water running. He must be showering.
“Hey there, boy.”
The puppy is shaking again. He growls then barks at me.
“It’s okay, I’m not going to hurt you. I like dogs.”
The back door opens, and Jen walks in. She sets her purse and keys on the table and walks over to the box.
“Oh, look at you. What’s your name, hmmm? What’s your name, little guy?” she says in a baby voice. She bends down and picks up the puppy. He licks her face and wags his little tail rapidly. “Oh, thank you for the kisses. Thank you…”
Jen laughs as she hugs and squeezes the pup.
Peter rounds the corner wearing only a towel around his waist. Beads of water roll down his back.
“Hey, baby. I see you met our little boy. What do you think?”
“I think he’s beautiful. What kind of dog is he?”
“A mastiff-pit mix. He’s going to get really big! People will think twice before they come into this house again. Look at him, he likes you. Hey, man, quit kissing on my girl.”
Peter walks over to Jen, takes the puppy from her arms and puts him down on the floor. The pup looks up at me and whimpers, scooting in closer to Jen’s legs.
“I really missed you, baby. So glad you decided to come home.”
Peter says to her as he puts his arms around her and pulls her toward him. She runs her fingers through his wet, curly hair then down his neck and over his shoulders. They kiss passionately.
“Thanks for the puppy,” says Jen breathlessly.
He puts his hands around her waist, lifting her up from the ground. She wraps her legs around him, and he carries her upstairs. I can hear them making love. The puppy paces nervously back and forth. He growls at me every time he looks at me.
It breaks my heart.
* * * * *
Jen is back. She hasn’t gone back into the art studio. She approaches the door cautiously, reaches for the handle, then quickly backs away from it. I can see that she is afraid. But not only can I see it, I can feel it. I can feel the energy of her fear, and it empowers me. She hasn’t worked on the house either. She seems content to spend most of her time in the bedroom sleeping. She named the puppy Bill. Strange name for a dog if you ask me.
Bill never leaves Jen’s side. He sleeps on the bed at her feet. I watch her as she lies there sleeping. Bill lifts his head and looks straight at me. He bares his little puppy teeth, growling gutturally in my direction. I growl back. I have tried to make friends with him, but he has made it clear that he is not interested in my friendship, always growling or barking at me. He has positioned himself against me and resides as Jen’s ever-present protector. I do not begrudge him, though; he’s just doing his job. Besides, it’s not like he can bite me. He continues to watch me, giving me an occasional warning growl, as Jen sleeps the day away.
It is dark by the time Peter gets home. He comes in, showers, makes dinner, and goes to the bedroom to wake Jen up.
“Hey, babe, I made you your favorite, spaghetti, Peter style!”
She lifts her head up briefly from her pillow, then lays it down again. “I’m sorry, Peter, but I am not hungry. I feel sick to my stomach.”
“Have you been in bed all day?”
“Not all day.” She lies.
“Jen, you gotta get up. You need to snap out of this funk you are in. Look around you, babe. This place is a mess. You haven’t been working on your stuff for your exhibition. When was the last time you talked with Sarah at the gallery?”
“Peter, I know what I gotta do, and I don’t need you giving me shit about it!” she snaps back angrily.
“I’m not trying to give you shit, Jen. I’m worried about you, baby. Can’t you see that? I don’t know what’s going on, but you just haven’t been yourself. Tell me what I can do. Tell me how I can help you.”
“Well, you can start by believing me, Peter!”
“Oh, come on! Don’t start that shit again! This place is not haunted, Jen.”
“It is, Peter! I know it is! I feel it! Even now, I feel it…It’s in this room watching us! Listening to us! Bill sees it. He stares at it and growls. He is afraid to leave my side! It follows me around, watches my every move.”
“I am not going to have this discussion with you again, Jennifer!”
“No, Peter, you refuse to acknowledge it. But I know you feel it too. The way the room gets so fucking cold for no reason. I see the look on your face. Why won’t you just admit it?”
“I have nothing to admit, Jen. There is no such thing as ghosts.”
“I should have known. You think you know everything. But this time you’re wrong, Peter! There is something in this house!”
Jen is crying. Peter touches her shoulder, but she jerks it away from him and covers her head with the pillow.
“Jen, please, just get up and come eat dinner with me.”
“No! Go away, Peter. Just get the fuck out of here!”
Peter gets up and leaves the room, slamming the door behind him. I feel his anger, and it adds to my energy.
Peter sleeps on the couch. Jen lies in bed until morning with eyes open staring at the ceiling. I stroll through the halls of my home.
Peter is up before dawn. He goes upstairs to the bedroom. Jen pretends to be asleep as he comes in. He stares at her lying there and shakes his head then continues to get ready for his day. He goes to her and kisses the top of her head. She is rolled up in the blankets like a mummy. She does not respond to his kiss. Bill wags his tale and licks Peter’s face.
“You take care of your mommy today, okay boy. I love you, Jen. I hope you feel better. I hope you have a better day. I’ll be home late tonight. I have band practice at Dave’s. You should try to be there. I am sure Kim would love to see you. It will give you a good reason to get out of the house. Do you hear me, Jen?”
Jen uncovers her head and pushes the hair away from her face. Pale dark circles are visible under her eyes. “I’ll be there, Peter.”
“Great! I look forward