EVERY OCTOBER
by Aubree Lane
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Being dead isn2527t as easy as you think.
Tied to the cemetery where her remains came to rest, the ghost of Zoey Harris is stuck. The only bright spot in her miserable afterlife is that every October she gets to visit her daughter. It2527s typically a quick fly-by to see what costume she2527s wearing for Halloween, but this year the five-year-old can not only sense her mother2527s essence, she can see her. The adventure begins when Zoey grows more confident in her newfound haunting abilities and decides to sneak a peek and see what her husband has been up to.
Until death do us part was all Caleb promised. To have the specter of his dead wife reappear the moment he finds the courage to take off his wedding band is the stuff nightmares are made of. Their daughter loves it when Zoey drops by each fall, but he2527s tired of the sadness and grief. Caleb needs more…even if it means chaining Zoey to her headstone for all eternity.
THE PULL GREW EACH OCTOBER. The urge to check in on her family was overwhelming. Zoey leaned her wispy frame over her daughter2527s bed and kissed her forehead. The little girl blew out a contented sigh and nestled deeper into her pillow.
The scar running down the middle of Amy2527s brow had faded to white. A second scar across her nose was barely noticeable. Zoey smiled. The plastic surgeon did an exceptional job. In another year, both scars would vanish.
Her best and only friend appeared beside her. “Here you are. I should have known.”
“Hush. Don2527t wake her.”
Prue rolled her eyes. “Please, she2527s a kid. I could scream at the top of my lungs and she wouldn2527t move a muscle.” She gazed down at the angelic five-year-old and the tone of the older ghost softened. “Look how much she2527s grown. I have to hand it to you, Zoe, you gave birth to a cute little sweetie pie.”
Zoey glowed with pride at the compliment until the memory of the car crash rushed in. It had been touch and go for the toddler. Every time Amy2527s chubby arms reached out for her, Zoey pushed her away and told her to be with her father. Shunning her child was worse than dying, but Amy was only three years old. She was far too young to pass through the barrier between life and death. Guilt and sorrow filled every inch of Zoey2527s ghostly being. “Then I almost caused her death.”
Icy fingers gouged her arm. Prue pulled her aside and chided, “Zoe, I love you, but you have to let it go. The accident might have been your fault, but Amy and Caleb didn2527t die. You did. They2527re fine.”
Amy2527s sleepy voice called out, “Mommy?”
Prue2527s eyes went wide as saucers. She hesitated for barely a moment before evaporating into thin air.
Zoey glided back to her daughter2527s bed. “Yes, baby. It2527s me.”
The five-year-old2527s eyes never wavered. “I knew you2527d come.”
Amy could sense when her mother was near, but it wasn2527t possible for Zoey to manifest her spectral self. She wondered what Amy saw when she looked at her. “Smarty pants.” Zoey chuckled. “What gave me away?”
“Daddy asked me what I wanted to be for Halloween. That2527s when you come.”
Zoey2527s heart swelled with love. Amy was so small when the accident happened, yet she still thought of her. “Don2527t leave me hanging. What are you dressing up as this year?”
Cartoon princesses danced across the front of her daughter2527s light blue pajamas when she sat up. “I2527m going to be a birthday cake. Lauren is making it especially for me.”
Her ghostly ears perked at the unfamiliar name. Zoey hoped she was the new nanny, but she suspected her husband2527s grief had passed and that Lauren was Caleb2527s girlfriend. Jealousy flared white hot.
Aubree Lane is a true story teller. This award-winning author has been writing in one form or another for most of her life and has loved every moment.
Aubree lives in the beautiful foothills of Northern California with her husband, two wonderful sons, and a super special peek-a-poo named Tanner. When not managing the pooper-scooper, Aubree can be found at one of her favorite vacation spots ranging anywhere from Lake Tahoe to Maui.
Her motto: Write Until Your Butt Hurts, And Your Eyes Are Crossed.
