1

Sadie Holt normally enjoyed lunch with her girlfriends, but this time was different. Once they had gotten on the topic of their own kids and the difficulties that had come with caring for them when they were newborns, everything had gone downhill.

She thought she could count on them to make her feel better about what the future held for her.

“The early mornings, the feeding, then going back to sleep, then waking up two hours later to feed her again. Oh my god.” Julia shook her head as she reminisced, but at the same time, she smiled.

The weather was nice, so the three of them sat outside. An umbrella grew from the center of the table and protected them from the noon sun.

“Travis would never sleep through the night,” Caroline said. “Then, when we were potty training, he still wet the bed all the time. I was washing the linen four times a week.”

Sadie chewed her lip. She hated washing bed sheets. And she hated pee even more.

“We were lucky with Hannah,” Julia said, sipping her latte. “She potty trained easily, but we couldn’t get her to stop sucking her thumb.”

“Oh,” Caroline said, “but what about food? She wasn’t a picky eater, was she? Travis would not eat anything at all. I swear, it was like he wanted to starve himself to death.”

“At least Travis wore his clothes,” Julia said. “Hannah always took them off. I think she purposely waited until we got to a public place.”

Sadie’s attention bounced between her two friends like she was watching a game of tennis. She leaned back in her chair, hand resting on her prominent, eight-month belly. She didn’t understand. The things Caroline and Julia talked about as if they were fond memories actually sounded like horrendous nightmares.

“The house was always messy,” Caroline said, ticking off her fingers. “Dinner was always burned. Calvin was always in the mood when he got home from work. All of this stuff adds up and you can’t possibly handle it all in those first few months.”

“Nope,” Julia said. “You should’ve seen my house when Hannah was ten months old. Looked like a bomb had gone off.”

The waitress came by with her tray and cleared away the plates. “Anything else I can get you, ladies?”

“I’ll have another latte,” Caroline said.

“And more juice.” Julia added.

The waitress looked at Sadie expectantly.

“Uh,” she said, looking at her plain ice water. “No, thank you.”

Tim would be thankful for her minding her portion of the bill. Every dollar had to be accounted for those days.

Caroline and Julia knew her intention, but chose not to comment on it.

When the waitress was gone, Caroline put a hand on Sadie’s leg. “I know it all sounds terrible, but trust me, when they’re all grown up, you’ll start to miss those early years.”

Sadie laughed nervously. “If you say so.”

It was strange. Sadie wanted nothing more than to be a mother. When she joined her best friends, both of whom had already had kids, she hoped to find advice and encouragement. Instead, what she got were horror stories masked as some sort of treasured memory.

Maybe she didn’t understand. Perhaps it was a secret only for those officially in the mommy club.

She and her husband, Tim, had been planning this for a long time. They’d purposely put off having a baby because the finances never seemed right. Nor was the timing. But Tim had gotten a few raises at work and they decided to go for it.

Now, eight months later, she thought she was going to enter the best phase of her life. But instead, she found herself completely nervous and at a loss.

After lunch, she hugged her girlfriends goodbye and went to her car, which she’d driven since high school and was one breakdown away from being replaced — something she and Tim could not afford.

She drove home, her mind wandering to Tim. She checked the clock. He would still be in his interview. If everything went right, he would become a new manager at the bank he worked in.

That meant a pay increase, and that they would be more financially prepared for the baby.

Home was a modest two-bedroom house in one of the town’s older neighborhoods. It had been all she and Tim could afford, but it was perfect for them. They both loved it and hoped to stay there for as long as they could.

Baby books were stacked on the coffee table in the middle of the living room. Each had been read, reread, worn, marked up, and even had food spilled on them.

Sadie sat on the couch, surveying the spines, trying to decide which to thumb through for the hundredth time.

She sighed. Maybe the books wouldn’t make a difference. Maybe none of the internet research could help her. Perhaps her problem was different, more inherent. Genetic.

The last eight months had put her own mother back on her mind — a person she had, until recently, been able to sequester to the past. Her mother had decided — too late — that she couldn’t handle the pressure of raising a girl and had bailed on the family.

Aunt Nancy had been a mother to her more than her birth mother had.

Will I be the same? Sadie thought. Did that stuff run in the family?

Even though she wanted nothing more than to have a baby, was the possibility that she could turn out the same way the reason she was so filled with dread?

Her phone rang, startling her out of her trance. It was Tim. The interview was over, and her hand trembled as she tapped the screen to accept the call.

* * *

That night, Sadie and Tim sat on the couch, relaxing and flipping channels on the television. They landed on a horror movie — a budget one — and set the remote down.

Sadie had suggested they go out to eat to celebrate his new promotion, but Tim insisted they stay in. She knew he was downplaying what a big deal this was to him and their family. Regardless, she was proud of him.

She curled up next to him during the tense, frightening scenes. Tim just kept his feet up on the coffee table, laid back, unfazed by the whole thing.

The girl in the movie crept down the silent corridor where she’d heard the noise a few minutes before, seeking it out for some reason instead of running out of the place like any smart person would do.

And then, right as she swung the door open at the end of the hallway, the doorbell rang.

Sadie screamed and jumped about an inch off the chair.

Tim laughed. She slapped his arm playfully, but that didn’t get him to stop.

“Not funny!” She shouted.

“I’m sorry, but it’s very funny.” He wiped the corners of his eyes.

On the television, the movie played on, both of them having completely missed what had happened.

It was only when the doorbell rang again did they remember what had scared them in the first place.

“Oh,” Sadie said, looking toward the front door. “Who would come around at this time?” She checked her watch. It was nine o’clock.

They’d been living in the house for a year and had never gotten a visitor after six. The town tended to shut down just after sunset. Most folks were elderly and were usually in bed early.

Sadie and Tim looked at each other, unsure.

“Come on,” Tim said, pulling himself off the couch. “We’re freaking ourselves out. The mail probably got mixed up again so Mr. Jones is coming by to swap it out. That’s all.”

Tim walked toward the door. Sadie watched him with her arms wrapped around a pillow.

Tim pulled the curtain aside and peaked out the side window.

When he didn’t say anything, Sadie asked, “Who is it?”

“Some lady. I don’t recognize her.”

He opened the door. “Evening. Can I help you?”

“Yes,” the woman said. “Is Sadie here?”

And Sadie’s heart went cold. Not only at the mention of her name, but because of the voice. At first, she only vaguely recognized it, then it became clear. She stood from the couch and walked toward the front door.

And sure enough, there she was. As if she hadn’t aged a day. “Judy?” She had a suitcase resting by her side.

“Sadie!” Judy pushed past Tim without an invitation and went to embrace Sadie with open arms.

But Sadie sidestepped the hug.

“What are you doing here?” Sadie demanded.

Judy dropped her arms, realizing she wasn’t going to get as warm of a welcome as she’d hoped. She took a step back from the other woman.

“Oh my god,” Judy said. “You’re pregnant. Like, very pregnant! You’re about to burst.”

“Judy,” Sadie said sternly. “What are you doing here?”

Judy sighed. “I just… need a place to stay for a bit.”

“How did you find me here?”

“You know. Old friends. Asked around.”

Sadie shook her head. “No. That’s impossible.”

“Is it? I found you, didn’t I?”

Tim stepped toward the two women and cleared his throat. They both looked at him.

“Tim, this is my cousin Judy,” Sadie said.

Judy walked over to him and extended her hand, which Tim shook.

“Pleased to meet you,” Judy said, smiling pleasantly.

“And you,” Tim said, unable to hide his confusion. “I don’t believe Sadie’s ever… mentioned having…”

“Oh. Doesn’t surprise me,” Judy said, still pleasant. “Sadie doesn’t talk about me to many people. As a matter of fact, neither does the rest of the family. I’m the black sheep.”

You did it to yourself, Sadie thought.

Judy turned her attention back to Sadie. “How have you been? It’s been, what? Maybe five years since the last time we saw each other?”

Sadie’s lips were drawn and her arms folded across her large belly. “Judy. What are you really doing here?”

Judy frowned for the first time since arriving. “I told you. I was hoping I could have a place to stay for a little bit. You know. Just until some money gets cleared and deposited into my account. I’m talking maybe only four or five days.”

Sadie did not respond. She studied the other woman’s eyes. There was always a hidden agenda with Judy. That she knew all too well.

And even if there wasn’t, there was too much history.

Then Tim broke the silence. “Of course you can stay.”

Sadie cast him a murderous look that he was not expecting at all.

“Oh, thank you!” Judy said, throwing her arms around him in a sudden hug. “I appreciate it so much! I’ll make it up to you as soon as I’m able!”

“Tim,” Sadie said, her voice stern and level. “Can I talk to you for a minute?”

“Umm. Sure.”

“Judy, please excuse us.” Sadie said. Judy cleared her throat and adjusted a loose strand of dyed red hair.

Sadie brought Tim to the front porch and closed the door behind them.

“I can’t believe you just said she could stay here.”

“What’s the big deal?” Tim asked. “She’s your cousin. She needs help. And a place to crash. We have plenty of space for her.”

“Where can she stay, Tim?”

“I was thinking about the baby’s room. Not like anyone’s occupying it at the moment.”

At the mere suggestion at that, Sadie turned away and started pacing on the porch as she nervously rubbed her belly. Her footsteps were loud and heavy on the wooden boards.

“Sadie. What’s going on?”

“There’s a reason no one’s seen cousin Judy in a long time,” Sadie said, pausing in her pacing. “She’s crazy!”

Tim only had a flat expression. “Come on. Crazy? There’s got to be more than that.”

“Oh yes,” Sadie said. She got really close to him and whispered. “She’s involved in all kinds of black magic stuff.”

Tim stared at his wife, his brow furrowing as he processed what he’d just heard. “What?”

“Black magic!”

“You mean… witches and spells and things like that?”

“Sort of. In a way. She isn’t a witch, but she finds old books about demons and ghosts and spirits and do the chants and prayers and see if she can talk to them.”

Tim was quiet as he surveyed Sadie’s face. And he saw she was completely one hundred percent serious. “I’m lost.”

Sadie took in a deep breath. “I’ve told you before about how I never really had a mother. And how I lived most of the time with Aunt Nancy.”

“Yeah. And you didn’t mention you had a cousin.” Tim put his hands on his hips.”

“Because it’s better that way. Better if that part of my life is forgotten.”

“Why? What could she have done that was so bad?”

“Her rituals, her spells, her chanting, and her visions. All of it. When we were girls, I thought it was just fun and games, but then things got… a little too real.” Sadie looked out into the quiet night. Even though it was warm and humid outside, a chilly shiver ran up her spine.

“I don’t think I understand,” Tim said.

“Look, it’s best for both of us if she isn’t around. She attracts trouble, and sometimes that trouble is a bit… paranormal.”

“You mean you believe in that stuff?” Tim asked. He was looking at her as if she had suddenly grown a third eye.

“I don’t know what I believe,” Sadie said through clenched, frustrated teeth. “All I know is I had experiences with her when we were younger that I can’t explain. That I don’t want to explain, and that I don’t want to have anything to do with. I’m lucky I shunned her when I did. Who knows what could have happened if I hadn’t?”

“Right.” Tim rubbed his eyes. Sadie knew she wasn’t giving him all the information, but it was a part of her past she wasn’t ready to talk about with him.

That she would never be ready to talk about.

“So we let her stay here for a few days and then she’s gone again,” Tim said. “What’s the harm?”

“Seriously? She practices black magic, Tim! I don’t want that stuff around our new home and our baby!”

“But what about family?” Tim shot back. “We can’t start off our new life in this home by turning our backs on family when they’re in need.”

Sadie knew that was his trump card. She knew family was very important to Tim, especially because he’d never had a strong one growing up. The one thing he wanted was to start them off on the right foot and build what he wished he’d had when he was young.

And he couldn’t fathom the possibility of throwing Judy out.

He just doesn’t understand.

That was mostly her fault, too. He didn’t understand because she had never told him about that chapter of her life.

“Besides,” Tim said, his voice softening. “You never know. Maybe she’s grown out of it. People can’t mess around with that kind of stuff forever. Especially adults.”

Sadie shrugged, but she began to feel herself soften.

“One chance,” Tim said. “And if she blows it, then you can do whatever you want. Throw her out if you need to. You know her better than I do. But I’m asking you to give her one chance.”

Sadie didn’t answer for a long time — just stared out at the dark front yard. The bugs chirped and the owls hooted in the distance. Other than that, the night was completely still. No sign of anything or anyone around in their quiet, spread out neighborhood.

“Fine,” Sadie finally said. “But one little creepy thing from her, or one thing out of place, and she’s gone.”

“Done,” Tim said. “Deal.”

But Sadie did not feel comfortable with their agreement. Not in the slightest. She knew Judy well — it did not take much for her to start messing with things that any normal person would leave alone.

When they went back inside, Judy wasn’t there. After a quick look around the house, they discovered her in the room at the end of the hallway, the one they had already set aside for their daughter.

She stood in the middle of the room, facing away from them. The walls had been painted pink, and the trim lining the ceiling had cartoon character wallpaper. The crib was against the far wall and nearby was a rocking chair sitting next to a changing table. Everything ready for the baby.

“Judy?” Sadie asked.

Judy whirled and looked at them. Her eyes were wide, almost frightened. The expression melted off her face very quickly, replaced by a smile. “Lovely room. I take it you’re having a daughter?”

“You can stay,” Sadie said. “But if you mess up one single thing in here, then you’re out. Do you understand?”

Tim shifted uncomfortably beside her. He had never heard his wife sound so stern. Or mean.

Judy did not react. “Sure, cousin. Anything you say. It is your home, after all.” And then gave her a sweet smile.

Sadie turned on her heel and left the room, disappearing down the hallway.

Sadie wasn’t gone two seconds before Judy stepped close to Tim — closer than he was comfortable with — and looked at him with wide, frightened eyes. “There is a spirit in this house.”

* * *

All at once, Tim realized Sadie knew her cousin better than he could have guessed. Not five seconds after they’d extended the invitation did she start talking about crazy stuff.

“Judy —”

“I sensed it as soon as I came inside,” she said, her voice a whisper, to make sure Sadie didn’t hear. “But it wasn’t until I stepped into this room — the baby’s room — that I truly felt it. You have a presence.”

Tim was speechless. He had never heard anyone say anything like that and mean it.

And he knew that if Sadie had heard her, that would have been her one chance blown and she would be out on the lawn.

“Judy,” Tim said. “You know Sadie doesn’t like it when you say that stuff.”

“So she told you all about me, then? All about the fun we used to have as girls?”

“We had a brief chat on the porch. And it makes her very uncomfortable. Please respect her and our house and not… talk about that kind of stuff.”

“You’re a lot more patient than my cousin,” Judy said. “That’s good. Because you having a presence here is something you need to know.”

“I… don’t think we have a presence,” Tim said.

“Ah. A skeptic.”

“You can say that. But more than anything else, I’m someone who doesn’t want to see family turfed out onto the street. And I promise you will be if Sadie hears you —”

Sadie returned to the room and Tim promptly shut his mouth. She had a blowup air mattress and a pile of blankets. She set them on the floor and left again without saying a word.

“You’re already on thin ice from the past,” Tim said once she was gone.

“I see that,” Judy said.

“Come on. I’ll help you blow this up. After that… no more talk about ghosts or sprits or presences. Understand?”

Judy nodded, but still Tim got the impression it was like trying to tell a child not to do something they wanted to do.

Which meant they were already planning on doing it, and thinking of a way to not get caught.