Apparition (33 page)

“Okay. It feels empty to me too. So you can party, be a poltergeist. I’ll try to sneak away to visit you as often as I can.”

How tricky is this going to be? How risky? I mutter to myself, “I just hope I’m not going crazy.”

“Like you’re not
already
crazy?” He’s smiling slightly.

“If I am, it’s your fault.” I head back to the kitchen. “But I meant what I said. What you do on your own time is your business, but just … try not to be scary when you’re with me. Understood?” He turns away from me, but not before I catch him breaking into a big grin. “I’m serious, Matthew. My nerves are bad,” I say, trying to sound tough, like Joyce.

I pull on my boots at the kitchen door. “I’ll sneak back in a few days. In the meantime, please be careful—and lie low.” I try to give him a reassuring smile and add, “Everything’s going to be okay,” but he doesn’t respond. He’s looking around the kitchen like he’s suddenly feeling curious about his new digs. I step out the side door and close it behind me. Who am I kidding? This could be a disaster.