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Lakelyn turned toward me.

“I tried to get back to you, baby,” I let her know.

“I know that now.”

Miss Veda continued, “For years, his abilities were limited. He could manipulate small things, influence the house, and make his presence known, but he couldn’t simply walk around like this.”

Willow pointed at me. “So you were the reason nobody could stay here?”

I shrugged. “Why the fuck they needed to be living in my house?”

Miss Veda laughed. “Yes, Willow. He ran the renters off.”

“With your help,” I snitched.

“I knew it was him!” Willow exclaimed.

“That is not something to celebrate,” Lakelyn said, though the smile tugging at her mouth ruined the scolding.

“It worked, didn’t it?” I asked. “Y’all here.”

Miss Veda moved on before Lakelyn could fuss at me. “Things changed once you and your son came home. Being surrounded by the people he was most connected to strengthened Caspian.”

Lakelyn immediately picked up on the part that mattered most. “That probably explains why Kaidence could see him. But what about Caspian’s mom. She’s his blood too. Why couldn’t she see him?”

“Because this isn’t simply about being related,” Miss Veda explained. “Caspian’s mother gave him life, but your son is a life Caspian helped create—a continuation of him in the living world. For a spirit anchored here the way Caspian is, that direct connection to his child creates an opening that other family bonds do not. It doesn’t mean his mother loves him any less, or that her bond with him isn’t strong. Their connections serve different purposes. Kaidence’s gave Caspian a way to reach the living before he was strong enough for the rest of you to recognize him.”

I shook my head. “My son had to come let his daddy out this spiritual maximum-security shit.”

Miss Veda sighed. “And somehow, that is what you took from my explanation.”

Lakelyn chuckled then shifted toward me. “So that time Kaidence mentioned seeing you at school…”

“He was telling the truth. Them lil’ niggas wasn’t gon’ keep fuckin’ with my son.”

Lakelyn chuckled, then turned toward me. “So that time Kaidence mentioned seeing you at school…”

“It was me. He was telling the truth. Them lil’ niggas wasn’t gon’ keep fuckin’ with my son.”

She grinned before her brows pulled together. “But how did you know he was being bullied? And wait… that means you can leave the house.” She looked toward Miss Veda. “I’m sorry if I’m asking too many questions. I’m just trying to understand how all this works without making y’all explain it again tomorrow.”

“Ask, sweetheart,” Miss Veda said with a smile. “You’ve spent six years without answers. You’re allowed to want them now.”

“I was already there, baby,” I explained. “It was his first day at a new school. I wanted to see how he was doing, so I followed that connection to him. Then I saw those boys walk up and start fucking with him.”

“So you can go wherever he goes?”

“For a little while,” Miss Veda clarified. “Caspian can project his spirit beyond the property through his connection to Kaidence. The house remains his anchor, and being away from it drains him. The farther he reaches and the longer he stays, the harder it becomes to hold that projection.”

Lakelyn looked at me. “But you couldn’t have just walked up to me at the school?”

“Nah, baby. You wouldn’t have seen me.”

“Being visible to Kaidence through that connection is different from having a solid body,” Miss Veda added. “His physical form draws its strength primarily from this house and from having his family here.”

Lakelyn dropped her hand. “So… this is temporary?”

“Not temporary like you thinking,” I answered, hoping to ease the fear already creeping into her expression.