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No. That wasn’t right.

Leo had been unable to go, and Nate had not known the difference.

Miriam went on, carefully. “You chose another life, and while I don’t approve of your choices, I’m not asking you to become a medium again now.”

“Good.”

“I am asking you to leave this with people who can help him.”

Nate didn’t know what to say to that. His mother was right on all counts. This wasn’t Nate’s field of expertise, and it was far from the life he’d chosen.

The life he’d chosen would have him going back alone. Tomorrow, he could finish pulling the upper cabinets. Tuesday, he might be able to have the electrician come in. The roof estimate still needed to be scheduled, and his channel was waiting for updates.

He could return to the work he enjoyed.

Leo would stay here where he was safe. Miriam would investigate. Caleb would take his second look. The whole family would close around the problem, and Nate could step outside it again.

That was what he wanted.

Wasn’t it?

“I’ll get the box?” Miriam said as if it was decided.

Beside Nate, Leo moved.

Not away. Closer.

Only a fraction, until his shoulder nearly met Nate’s arm. The tether between them hung loose. Leo could have stood anywhere within its reach, but he had chosen the space beside Nate.

His eyes remained on the seal.

He had complained when Nate faced him toward a window. He had threatened to haunt Jonah’s children. He had tried to sabotage Nate’s filming attempts with all the noise he could possibly produce and then cried for him when he was being abducted by a fox.

But now that his whole future was being decided for him, he had nothing to say.

Because nobody was asking him.

“No,” Nate heard himself saying out loud. “The ghost is coming home with me.”

All eyes in the room settled on him.

Richard scoffed. “Were you not listening to your mother? This isn’t one of your houses. You can’t fix a soul with a hammer.”

Nate’s jaw tightened. “I’m aware.”

“Are you? Because Miriam just explained why you’re the least qualified person in this room.”

“Richard,” Jonah warned.

“No, he’s right,” Nate said.

The admission silenced his uncle more effectively than an argument would have.

Nate looked at his mother. She was regarding him quietly, giving him the chance to change his mind.

He almost did.

Then Leo drifted another inch toward him.