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“You’re haunting a mansion.”

“Correction: I’m living with my family.”

“But you’re dead.”

“Why you keep saying that shit like I don’t know that?”

Marcellus exhaled, long and slowly. “Whatever you’re waiting for, I hope you find it.”

My eyes went back to Lakelyn.

I could see her through the window, her silhouette backlit by the warm light from inside. She was laughing at something Willow said, her head thrown back, her hand on her sister’s arm.

I already did.

For several seconds, neither of us said anything.

The silence stretched between us, comfortable now. Understanding.

He glanced toward the mansion, then back at me with a curiosity I could practically see building behind his eyes.

“Seriously, why haven’t you crossed over?”

I stared at him for a second before a slow smile spread across my face.

“If I tell you, I’ma have to kill you.” I leaned a little closer, my voice dropping. “You trying to join me in the afterlife, Father?”

His eyes damn near doubled in size.

“No!” he snapped, pointing at me, his finger jabbing the air.

The nigga sounded like Red’s daddy in the movie Friday, all indignant and emphatic.

I laughed, the sound carrying across the driveway. “You sure? ’Cause I could use somebody else to talk to.”

“Extremely sure! And what do you mean by somebody else?”

“That’s for me to know and you to only find out if you die nosy.”

“Well, I’m not planning on doing either one, so find somebody else!”

I laughed again as he grabbed the driver’s-side door handle so fast you would’ve thought the damn car was his last available seat out of Hallowridge. Whatever calm, holy composure he’d managed to rebuild disappeared completely. He gave me one stiff nod, ducked into the car, and pulled the door shut with the same nervous urgency of a man who had just realized he’d stayed somewhere several minutes longer than God intended.

The engine started immediately.

He didn’t waste time.

I busted out laughing. “Damn, Father. I was joking.”

The look he gave me through the window said he wasn’t willing to bet his life on that.

His eyes were wide, his hands gripping the steering wheel like it was the only solid thing in his world.

I smiled and lifted my hand in a casual wave. “Come back anytime.”

He shook his head so fast there wasn’t a chance in hell I could mistake the answer.

No.