I stir extra cream and sugar into my hazelnut coffee while Analise is still waiting for her skim milk macchiato with extra foam and one pump of caramel. The barista’s eyes practically popped out of his head when she ordered.

Evan’s ghost is sitting at one of the tables and I join him while I wait for her. I’m not sure why I agreed to talk with her, but a part of me is curious as to what she wants to say.

“So, I will be frank. I know that you despised me.” Analise says. She perches elegantly on the edge of her seat, her posture perfect. “And memory or not, it is clear that you know that.”

“Then why were you so adamant that we spend time together again?”

“I was thinking… well hoping,” she suddenly looks uncertain, the haughty expression dropping off her face makes her look younger and even prettier. “Now that your memories are gone, maybe we could start over. I think the only reason you didn’t like me before was that you never really gave me a chance. The slate is empty now, perhaps you would be willing to start over?”

“But why? I didn’t like you, I’m sure I had my reasons.”

“I know, I know, but even though we spent time together you weren’t really interested in getting to know me, you just wanted to spy on me.”

“And from my understanding, I had a good reason for that. You were cheating. I suspected it and was right.”

I take a sip of my coffee as I watch her expression. Her face twists a bit. I lean forward.

“So, tell me about the janitor, and tell me how you can sit there and insist you want to become friends when I’m sure you just want another in with Clef?” She scowls.

“Charlie… was… he was a mistake.”

“That you made multiple times?”

“I don’t have to explain myself to you, but… I will. Clef, he was so busy. Always so focused on his work, and Charlie was there. He wooed me and I, I let him. I was wrong about Charlie; his ambitions are more important than I am. I know it was wrong. I messed up. I really messed up, but I love Clef. I do.” She sounds like she’s trying to convince herself more than me. And even if I didn’t already know the truth of the matter, I would still be questioning her claims.

“And I want him to give me another chance. I won’t lie and say that I’m not hoping to befriend you to get close to him, but I really do care for him. I want to make amends and he won’t talk to me anymore.” Her voice sounds sincere, but her face says desperate.

“I saw the janitor in the paper, did you know that he was related to Desmond Cole?”

Analise shakes her head, “It was a fling, nothing more than that.” Her eyes shift slightly from my face to her coffee, and I’m fairly certain she’s lying, but I decide to change the subject. Maybe she’ll be more forthcoming on other things.

“Tell me, what do you know about the days leading to my accident?”

Analise arches a brow and for a brief moment, so quick I’m not sure that I didn’t imagine it, sheer panic crosses her features.

“What do you want to know precisely? It’s not like you shared much with me.” She waves her hand absentmindedly. “Getting you to talk about any of your interests was like pulling teeth. You were always questioning me and changing the subject, diverting things when I asked you any questions. All I know is that you and your little posse had some sort of mystery you were following.” She waves her hand again, “You were certain that you knew what happened to this missing nurse from the hospital.”

“Right, the nurse, what was her name again?” So, that’s the her the voices were referring to

“Jeanette Waters, and no I did not know her personally. Neither did you for that matter, but you made some sort of connection. Now are you willing to start over or…”

My face must answer her question because she leans forward and drops the sincerity again, this time it’s all desperation.

“Please, please give me another chance, help me get back with him.”

“Why are you so obsessed? You weren’t even with him for that long, and you cheated on him, sorry that I don’t quite believe in your supposed devotion. My loyalty is to my brother, after all. And according to him you were having a fling with Charlie before you ever asked him out.” Her eyes grow wide, an alarmed look taking over.

“I’m pregnant.” It clicks then, the distress in her face.

Analise seems the type that craves perfection, from her pristine appearance to her ramrod straight posture. Being a single mother probably doesn’t fit her image. It raises another question, is Clef even the father?

“So, the father is?” Her eyes shift again. Whatever she says next, I bet will be a lie, so I keep her from saying anything. “You don’t know do you?”

“There’s a chance—”

“Don’t even start with that wishy-washy attitude, tell me honestly. How certain are you that the father could be Clef? Is there any chance?” I cut her off before she can respond again. “Any chance at all? Would you be willing to have a paternity test to prove that it’s his kid?” She won’t look me in the eye now.

I can’t understand how this girl thought she could get away with cheating, she’s so obvious about it. But then again maybe it’s another ruse to gain sympathy. Poor pregnant Analise, about to be a single mother. If there was even a chance it was Clef’s kid, then I’m sure she would’ve told him already. He doesn’t strike me as the type to abandon a child.

“Does the janitor know? Did you tell him? It’s his kid, right?”

She bursts into tears then, and call me heartless, but it solidifies my anger even more. She brought all this onto herself and a few tears won’t sway me.

“He called me a whore. He said he wanted someone better than me, someone that has more substance. As I said… he has ambitions, and I don’t fit into them.”

“He’s got a point. You haven’t answered my question. Is the kid the janitor’s?”

She chugs her coffee, tears still falling.

“It’s his, it’s his kid, and he doesn’t want anything to do with it. That bastard said I might as well get rid of it.” She’s an ugly crier, her face turning red and blotchy. Snot dribbles down to her chin.

“So that’s why you started harassing Clef, you got the bright idea that you’d pass the kid off as his?” She just continues to cry.

“You sit there and have the audacity to claim you love Clef. You don’t love him, you just want him to help you keep your image. You love the idea of him. I admire that you seem to want to keep the baby at least but,” I stand up to leave. “Do yourself and the kid a favor and put it up for adoption.”

“Lyric, I’m sorry, I really am. I –”

“Don’t start. I don’t believe anything you say. I don’t think I ever did.” Just as I reach the door I turn to glance at her. “And stay away from my brother.”