Tamsyn Murray-Afterlife 01 My So-Called Afterlife (17 page)

Listening to Ryan reach out to his dad was one of the most haunting and beautiful things I’d ever witnessed. He opened himself up more with every word and I knew he
was holding nothing back, even though the strength of his emotions hurt. I had no idea if I was the only one who could hear the song or whether the music was working its magic. I hoped with all my heart it was.

As Ryan reached the end of the song. I scarcely dared to breathe. Ryan’s head drooped exhausted on to his chest but his eyes were fixed on his father. For a moment, nothing happened. Then Ryan’s mother let out a gasp. ‘John?’

Her chair flew backwards and she stumbled to the doorway. ‘Sister Margaret, come quickly! He squeezed my hand! I felt it!’

Ryan stepped forward, his expression intent. ‘Dad?’

As we watched, one eyelid fluttered. Nurses crowded into the room. A second later, the other eye opened.

One of the nurses looked at Ryan’s mum. ‘It’s a start. Why don’t you say hello to your husband?’

She burst into tears. ‘Oh, John.’

Whooping with delight, I threw my arms around Ryan. ‘You did it!’

He tore his gaze away from his dad and smiled back. ‘No,
we
did it. I’d never have thought of that on my own.’

‘But it was you he came back to.’

Ryan glanced over at the crowded bed. ‘Yeah. Maybe now they can put their lives back together.’

Thinking fleetingly of my own parents, I rested my head on his shoulder. ‘I hope so.’

He took a final agonised look at his parents and swallowed. ‘I think it’s time we let them get started.’

* * *

Jeremy and Celestine were full of compassion.

‘That was a lovely thing you did, Ryan,’ Celestine said. ‘And I’d be happy to speak to them someday, if you think it might help?’

‘I’d like that, thank you.’

Jeremy looked at me, his pale face puzzled. ‘I don’t understand why you haven’t passed over. We caught your killer.’

I didn’t know what he expected me to say. It wasn’t like I was working from a manual. Miserably, I stared at the floor.

‘I had a thought about that. Do you believe in fate, Lucy?’ Celestine was gazing at me, her blue eyes soft and warm.

I nodded, not trusting myself to speak.

‘Me too.’ She smiled and cast a veiled glance at Jeremy. ‘I think you were here for a very specific reason, and it might not be just the one we all thought.’

Jeremy turned to meet her gaze and something extraordinary happened. I swear I saw a spark pass between them as a connection was made. Sharply, I looked from one to the other and understanding dawned. If Celestine was right, my real task hadn’t been to stop a murderer. It had been to lead Jeremy to his soulmate.

‘Did you see that?’ I demanded of Ryan.

‘Like magic, isn’t it?’ Head tilted to one side, he was watching me closely. ‘Are you ready?’

He didn’t need to explain what he meant.

‘No,’ I whispered, as the fear of losing him tightened its stranglehold. ‘I don’t want to go.’

‘Don’t fight it,’ he said. ‘I think it’s time.’

Even though I knew he was right, my sorrow caused a lump to grow in my throat. I swallowed hard and nodded.

‘You worried me, you know,’ I told Jeremy. ‘You’re a total nightmare. How could I expect you to cope on your own?’

His gaze was suspiciously damp as he looked back at me. ‘Don’t worry, I’m going to be fine.’ He reached out a hand to grasp Celestine’s. ‘We’re both going to be just fine.’

‘You have to promise to name your first child Lucy,’ I said, tears streaming down my cheeks. ‘Even if it’s a boy.’

Celestine was crying too. ‘We promise.’

I caught sight of my hands. They sparkled with a thousand twinkling lights. ‘It’s happening,’ I sobbed. Blindly, I turned to Ryan. ‘I can’t leave you.’

He stood up and walked towards me. ‘You don’t have to,’ he said, smiling softly. ‘Look.’

I stared at his outstretched fingers and let out a ragged gasp. They were filled with the same glow as mine. ‘You mean —?’

He grinned. ‘Yep. There’s no getting rid of me. Wherever we’re heading, we’re going there together.’

My sadness vanished in a searing burst of happiness. I turned my face upwards. ‘You know,’ I said in a low voice only he could hear, ‘I’ve always wondered what it would be like to snog in another dimension.’

Ryan smiled down at me. ‘That’s quite a coincidence, actually. So have I.’

His lips lowered until they gently brushed against mine. A blaze of golden light blossomed all around us, and the final truth crystallised. It didn’t matter where we were going next. I had Ryan, and in that one perfect moment, he was everything I needed.

In order to acknowledge everyone who had some input into this book, I’d have to thank pretty much everyone I’ve ever met because they all contributed something to how I view the world. However, narrowing it down slightly, the following people deserve a mention:

A teacher called Eugene Tumelty, now the headteacher of St Bernard’s RC Secondary School, who encouraged a gawky teenager to believe that just maybe she had something special. Thanks, sir.

My dad, Phil, for setting the bar so high I needed a pogo stick to get over it and my mum, Meg, for teaching the eight-year-old me that if a job is worth doing, it’s worth doing properly.

Pat Posner, who suffered my first draft and offered the best advice and support a fledgling writer could get. You are a star.

Jo Williamson at Antony Harwood Ltd, who is everything I could wish for in an agent. Thank you for taking a chance on Lucy and me, and for putting up with the literary equivalent of ‘Are we nearly there yet?’.

Brenda, Ruth and Melissa at Piccadilly Press, who saw the glitter of gold under the dust and polished away until it gleamed. Thanks for making
My So-Called Afterlife
a reality.

Tamsyn Murray

What’s worse than being the new kid in school? Being the new kid with a secret to hide . . . like the ability to see ghosts.

When fourteen-year-old Skye Thakary stays with her aunt for six months and has to attend a new school, she is not at all pleased.

It’s not long before she attracts attention from the school bullies, but Sorin, a quiet Romanian boy, comes to the rescue. Skye has no idea that Sorin has a secret of his own – and his plans certainly don’t include helping the troubled teenage ghost who Skye has befriended.

A funny, moving new story from the author of
My So-Called Afterlife
.