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“C’mon out, Harold!” I called with a smile. And it felt so good to feel my cheeks rise in happiness that I actually laughed aloud.

Harold phased into the living room. He was still mostly a blob, but he did have hands and a face, which was something.

Kelley slowly pushed herself to her feet but hung back from our new arrival.

“It’s okay,” I assured her with another smile. “He’s not like the other one. C’mon.”

When I motioned to her, she came over to stand beside me.“Dad?” she asked, unsure that a ghost could be trusted, even if it was one she’d known in life.

“Kelley,” Harold responded in that melodic echo of his.

She kept her wide eyes directed at Harold, but spoke to me.“What’s wrong with him?”

“He’s still a new ghost, so he hasn’t formed all the way yet. Go ahead and talk to him. He won’t hurt you.”

Harold’s chubby cheeks bounced as he hovered in the air before us. “All I wanted was to see you one last time,” he confessed. “To tell you I love you, and I’m sorry I wasn’t around.”

Kelley let out a little laugh and swiped at her freely flowing tears.“You didn’t know about me. Not until the end.”

I turned and saw Drake watching the scene unfold in awe. He and Kelley could both clearly see Harold, but no longer could they see Virginia. All this ghost business was terribly confusing. I doubted if I’d ever learn the exact rules that governed how they interacted with the world of the living.

“I should have spent more time with you once I did know, but I was scared I’d disappoint you. I thought we’d have more time.”

Kelley choked on another sob but was all smiles now.“Me, too. But maybe now that you’re back, we can—?”

Harold’s light dimmed, and she stopped short. “No. I can’t stay. I will watch out for you, but it will be from the other side.”

“Why won’t you stay here with me?” If Kelley had possessed a ghostly light, I expect it would have faded then, too.

“Because my business is completed.” Harold spoke matter-of-factly, but I could see how much it pained him to deny his daughter’s wishes. He had changed so much since just last night. Not only was he speaking full sentences, but he was remembering. Emoting. “You now know how much I love you and wish things could have been different. I’ve seen you again, and I’ve given Gracie my warning.”

“Um, speaking of that,” I interjected, raising one index finger to draw everyone’s attention. “Virginia’s bound now. She can’t hurt us. Thank you for the warning. It helped, I think.”

Harold raised his disconnected hands and steepled them in front of his face. His brow furrowed as he drifted toward the ceiling and looked down on both Kelley and me.“No, my message was not about her, but another. One who still lives,” he said at last, using the same strange voice as he had when first delivering this warning. “The seeds that were sown will soon bear dangerous fruits.”

Kelley gasped, but little could surprise me at the moment.

“Yeah, can you give me more specific details? Like who, what, when, why? Any of that would help.”

Harold dropped his hands and returned to my eye level. His blue had become pale and much more transparent than before.“I’ve already said more than I should. The dead aren’t supposed to interfere with the living. And also I don’t remember enough to say.”

He shifted his gaze back toward Kelley.“Stay well, my dear. I’ll see you on the other side one day. Not too soon, though, okay?”

Kelley stretched her fingers out and touched her father’s ghostly hand.

He bobbed for a moment before fading from view.

“That was so cool,” Drake said from his spot on the couch.

Kelley stumbled over to join him.“I can’t believe that was my dad.”

“He seems like a pretty decent guy,” Drake enthused. “I take back every bad thing I ever said about him.”

While those two kept each other company, I snuck into my bedroom and motioned for the cats to join me. Once we were all inside, I gently closed the door behind us.

“What do we do now?” I whispered to them in a sudden burst of desperation. “They both know about magic. Does that mean I’m going to prison?”

Merlin chuckled in delight.“The thing about that is…”

“We found a loophole,” Luna exclaimed with a rumbling purr.

I looked from one cat to the other. Both seemed pleased as punch.“What are you guys talking about? What loophole?”

“Well, technically Virginia is the one who revealed magic to them both. Not you,” Merlin shared with pride.

“And I only spoke to Drake after she’d shown the true nature of her powers,” Luna added. “Which means you won’t be punished.”

I was so relieved, I could almost feel the heavy emotional burden as it lifted from my shoulders.

“Neither of us will,” Luna said with a Cheshire grin.

I let out a slow, long exhale. Ah, it felt so good.“Awesome. Well done. But what do we do now?”

“Gracie, we have a plan,” Merlin promised, then motioned for me to lean closer so he could share all the details.

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