Crishtin Davenport was almost glad her new boyfriend Josh was going away on an extended trip to Europe for work.

They’d only known each other about six weeks, and she was already expecting his baby. At least she thought, hoped and prayed it was his.

“Of course it is, don’t talk crazy,” she scolded herself as she stared into the bathroom mirror. “You haven’t been with anybody else. And ghosts can’t father children.” On that positive note she turned away, only to turn back quick. “Can they?” She stared into her own wide eyes, hoping they held the answer. Unfortunately, they continued to reflect nothing but the same bewilderment she felt down to her very soul.

Crish headed for the kitchen. After putting on the kettle, she sat down at the table as another wave of queasiness hit her.

“Are you sure you’re pregnant, and not just insane? Yep, definite insanity, since you are now carrying full-on conversations with yourself. And I believe that can be passed down through DNA. Something else to look forward to. I’m going to make our children bat crap crazy, too.”

In despair, she flopped her head onto her bent arms.

Life had sped up ever since she’d met Josh. And the circumstances which had brought them together were nothing short of bizarre.

What had started out as a seemingly harmless paranormal investigation on Halloween with friends had turned into a nightmare when two randy apparitions had high-jacked Crish and Josh, then used their bodies to carry out their own form of supernatural love play.

Since the possession, there were occasions when Crish could swear Shelley was still around. Crish did and said things that she’d never done before she and Shell had shared bodies. It was especially apparent when she and Josh were intimate. She performed acts on him she’d never even known existed, let alone employed in the bedroom. But Josh hadn’t complained so far. It would seem Miss Shelley had been an expert when it’d come to sexually satisfying her clients. And in turn, she was providing Crish with a kind of sexual gratification she’d also never known.

More disturbing, though, was that often when Crish looked at Josh, in particular when they were having sex, she could swear Miles was inhabiting Josh, too.

However, it was the last thing Miles had said before he’d moved on—or so she’d thought—that still haunted Crish, especially now that she was quite certain she was pregnant.

I’ve left you a piece of me for you to remember me always.

Was that what he’d meant? A child? Or had he simply been insinuating that she might catch the occasional glimpse of him in Josh?

Crish rubbed her aching head. “This cannot be happening.”

It couldn’t even be possible. It had still been Josh’s body all along, not Miles’ when they’d had sex at the Allen house. It had to be Josh’s baby. So why then did she feel it necessary to keep her condition a secret from him? The truth was that in some weird way she felt guilty, like she’d been with another man. It was ludicrous, but she couldn’t help it. That wasn’t the only reason she wasn’t being forthcoming with Josh. To be honest, she was feeling sort of trapped. Everything was happening so fast. Not to mention the fantastical circumstances that had brought them together. Six weeks was too soon to think about a lifetime with Josh—let alone the responsibilities of parenthood.

What if he bolts?

What if he doesn’t?

To say she was relieved Josh and Arnie were due to head across the ocean for an international ghost hunters’ convention was an understatement. Their trip would give Crish some much needed time and space to think about what she wanted to do. They didn’t even really know that much about each other. And then there were Shelley and Miles to contend with. How much was them, and what was real?

One other thing that bothered her was that she couldn’t go back to the Allen house and find out if Shelley and Miles had in fact moved on, what with the place burning to the ground. Compounding that worry, Crish was afraid she and Josh had caused the blaze in the first place while attempting to cleanse the dwelling. But whenever she brought up her concerns, Josh was quick to reassure her that it couldn’t have been that.

Despite the complete destruction of the historic Allen House, later that day, Crish found herself standing across the street from the site. There wasn’t much left. Just a pile of ash and charred timbers. The Fire Marshal still had the place cordoned off with yellow caution tape, but Crish ventured closer anyway.

Lost deep in thought, she concentrated—on what, she didn’t really know, perhaps just a sense that they were gone. Instead, she suffered another wave of nausea. She closed her eyes.

“Boo!”

Frightened by the unexpected voice, she jumped a mile. Ready to fight, she spun around and repeatedly slapped the ghost she half expected to see.

“Hey! Stop, hitting me.” Josh chuckled as she slowed the well-aimed strikes.

“Oh, you asshole! You scared the shit out of me.”

“No kidding. I got that.” He smoothed his clothing.

“What are you doing here?” she asked.

“I’m guessing the same thing you’re doing. Trying to convince myself that they’re really gone.”

“You too?”

Josh placed his arm around her. “Yeah, me too.”

“Why didn’t you say anything?”

“Because I know how freaked out you were to begin with.” He shook his head. “I didn’t want to pile on my uncertainties, too.”

“I think they’re still around, Josh. I think they’re in us. Somehow.”

He sighed. “I’m inclined to agree.”

“How is this possible?” she asked, clinging to him.

“I don’t know. What I do know is, I fucked up.”

Stunned by his quiet admission, Crish stared up at him.