Page 90 of The Spirit Key

Honestly? I didn’t even have to think it through. “More than okay.” I put my head on his shoulder. “Still not calling you ‘sir,’ though.”

He kissed my hair, then sagged against me. “I can live with that.”

Both of us were so exhausted, we fell asleep on the hall floor, with Tim wrapped around me like he always did.

If this was what I had in store for the rest of eternity, I was okay with that.

Epilogue

FOR THEnext month, Tim didn’t let me out of his sight. He fussed over me, and though I said I didn’t like it, I enjoyed being cared for by him. He called Rachel and told her she was in charge of the store and that she would have to hire someone to help her out because I couldn’t be trusted on my own. Rachel didn’t seem to mind, especially after he explained what happened with Gideon.

My mom and Ryan went apoplectic when they heard the whole story. Mom demanded I give up being the key, but Tim told her neither of us had a choice in the matter. It was our destiny to be together, fighting the good fight, for as long as we could. Ryan hugged me and said how proud he was, even if he still thought I was a bit of a freak. I could live with that.

Karen…. Ugh. She’d seen Tim with his hands on her child, and despite Ryan explaining things to her and me swearing that it was all true, was leery around us for a while. She refused to allow Tim to be alone with the kids, and when I started to protest, Tim stilled me and told her he understood. Ryan promised he would talk with her, and Rachel and Gavin went to see her as well. After she heard about Burton, she loosened up a little, and we hoped that with time she’d let Tim visit with his godchildren again.

Having Tim insist on downtime while I healed wasn’t so bad. Tim and I put to rest a lot of the demons that haunted us. He relaxed a little—okay,verylittle—and smiled more, but the weight of the bad decisions we’d both made when we were younger was gone. He was still a bossy, demanding, arrogant prick, but he was my bossy, demanding, and arrogant prick.

The one thing he did allow—which he reminded me of constantly—was the two of us working with George. He’s been helping us get a handle on our abilities. The stronger and more confident Tim became with his role, the easier my life was. Ghosts no longer came directly to me. They went to Tim and asked for an audience. Depending on how I was feeling, he would let them in or tell them they’d have to come back.

No one ever complained.

It was weird, both of us being treated like royalty. Most spirits were relieved when Tim allowed them to see me. Many seemed afraid and had to be coaxed to come forward. I had no idea why, and when I asked, they wouldn’t say. Either way, we helped them as best we could, and in the end, they went off to their final rest.

Well into our second month, I had finally had enough of staying at home. I told Tim I had something that had to be done and he needed to go with me to do it.

“I love how you’re including me in this.”

It was an effort not to roll my eyes, but I think I pulled it off.

“And for rolling your eyes at me, your ass is mine when we get home.”

Okay, so maybe it wasn’t so successful. “You say that like it’s a hardship.”

He took my hand, pulled it to his crotch, and with a saucy wink, he said, “Thisis a hardship.”

“Oh my God, let’s go before you pun me to death.”

We left the house, and I got into the driver’s seat.

“Uh, I drive.”

I shook my head and jangled his keys. “Not today. Shut up, sit back, and relax. We’ll be there soon.”

He grumbled something but did as I said. The drive only took about twenty minutes, and when we arrived at our destination, I got out and beckoned for him to follow. We strode into the building, and I scanned the area, looking for someone in particular.

I didn’t need to worry, though. She found me.

“Why is my train so late? Sir? Do you know?”

I turned and gave her a smile, then waved at the baby she held in her arms.

The woman looked at me expectantly, her lip quivering. “Do you know when our train will arrive?” she asked again. “My parents are probably worried sick. We should have been there hours ago.”

I gestured toward the chairs. She followed behind me until we were able to take a seat in a quiet area of the train station. I held out my hand to her, and though hers trembled, she took it.

“Hi, my name is Scott, and I’m here to help.”