Page 68 of Caspian: The Not So Friendly Ghost

I turned to her. “Go with her.”

Willow’s eyes widened. “What about you?”

“I need to stay here long enough to talk to the fire department and find out what the hell happened. I need to know if they’re going to let us back inside, what’s damaged, what we can get out… all of that.” I glanced toward the house, where firefighters were still moving in and out through the smoke. “I’ll come to the hospital as soon as they’re done here.”

Willow shook her head immediately. “I don’t like leaving you here.”

“I’m not by myself. Half the neighborhood is standing outside watching us.”

“That is not what I mean.”

“I know.” I reached for her arm. “But Granny needs somebody with her, and I need you to take Kaidence too.”

That got Kaidence’s attention.

He tightened his grip around my waist. “I wanna stay with you.”

I crouched down so we were eye level. His face was still sleepy beneath the fear, and the smoke had left his eyes red and watery.

“Baby, I need you to go with Auntie Willow for me.”

He shook his head. “But what if the house catches more on fire?”

“The firemen are here. They’re handling it.”

“What if you need me?”

That nearly broke me.

I cupped his face in both hands. “I’m going to be okay. I promise. I just need to finish talking to everybody here, then I’m coming straight to the hospital.”

His little mouth pulled tight. “Soon?”

“As soon as I can.”

He leaned into me, and I wrapped both arms around him, holding him longer than I needed to. The whole night had scared him, even if he had been trying to act brave.

When I finally pulled back, I kissed his forehead. “Stay with Auntie Willow and listen to her. No wandering off, no touching anything in the hospital, and no asking the nurses if they have free snacks every five minutes.”