Seth unlocked the door and walked inside the house. It was quiet as expected. He knew Meggie was gone but it didn't actually become reality until this moment. Becky stepped inside after him and inhaled sharply.
"Home, sweet home," she said. "It's good to be just us again."
"Yes," he said.
"I'm gonna take a shower. Wanna join me?" She asked.
"No, I'll do laundry first," he said.
"You know where to find me if you miss me," she said.
She walked out in the bathroom and he walked to the guest room. There was no sign of Meggie having been there. She had washed the sheets and left the room as if it was untouched.
He sighed deeply and walked up to the attic to take a look around. She had left the few things he had stored away up there. Most of it was useless and broken by now. Only her violin was gone but he had expected her to bring that with her to Roman's place.
He walked downstairs again and out in the kitchen. He needed coffee, and he needed a lot of it. He put on a pot, sat down on a kitchen chair, and took out his phone. He knew Meggie was safe with Roman but he needed to know for sure. He dialed Roman's number and it was answered after two rings.
"She's fine, Seth," Roman said lightheartedly.
"I'm a fucking mess, aren't I?" Seth asked.
"Yes, but that's okay," Roman said.
"Is that..." Seth started. "Is she playing the violin? I can hear something."
"Yes, she's freaking talented, Seth," Roman said.
"I know," Seth said. "Please, let me hear it."
"Hold on," Roman said.
Roman moved closer to the room Meggie was playing in and allowed Seth to listen in for 30 seconds. He moved away again and placed his phone by his ear again.
"You need to let her go, Seth," Roman said.
"It's just so hard," Seth said.
"Nothing good comes from you constantly putting yourself through this. You're both hurting. You need to let her heal," Roman said.
"I would never hurt her," Seth said.
"What about Becky? What about hurting her? Is that okay in your world? Because you're hurting her too, Seth, and you damn well know it," Roman said.
Seth sighed and closed his eyes for a few seconds. He knew Roman was right. No matter what he did, he would end up hurting someone.
"Meggie is a dream lost in the past. She's not the same Meggie you knew back then. She's changed," Roman said.
"I don't care," Seth said.
"Becky is right there in front of you. She's your wife. She's the one who's been there for you for several years now. She always accepted that she had to share your heart with another woman. Loving someone who's also in love with a ghost isn't easy but she did it. She was there for you all this time," Roman said.
"Meggie is not a fucking ghost!" Seth snarled.
"For a long time we all thought she was," Roman stayed calm. "I'm not saying this to hurt you. I'm saying it because it's the truth. You can't have both. Don't hurt Becky because you're still stuck in the past. Becky is your future. You said that yourself the day you put a ring on her finger."
Seth looked towards the kitchen door. He could hear Becky was done with her shower. Soon she would show up and he would have to put on his best smile and be her loving husband.
"I gotta go," Seth said.
"Let Meggie go!" Roman said firmly. "Concentrate on loving Becky. She's done nothing but love you all this time."
"Yeah, sure," Seth said. "I gotta go, Roman. Give Meggie my best."
Seth hung up and stood up to pour a cup of coffee. Becky came out in the kitchen a minute later and smiled at the coffee.
"Coffee. Thank fuck. I need that," she said.
"Me too," he said.
She moved over and gave him a kiss.
"You're the best husband ever," she smiled. "I love you, darling."