Page 57 of Leafpoint Lighthouse

Oh, they were magic words. Avery’s head shot around, and I became the target of his laser focus.

“Miss?” he murmured, forgetting to call me Lyra.

“If you stay with us, I can teach you,” I cajoled.

Avery’s eyes gleamed. “I get stories?”

“Yes, and I’ll show you how to read them. And I’ll help with maths.”

“Maths?”

“Adding numbers.”

Avery’s eyes grew even bigger. “Do you understand addition?”

“Yes. Would you like to learn?”

Avery’s expression showed he really wanted lessons.

“Sir?” He turned to William.

William kept his face calm. “The master can’t come above the trapdoor. How can he get you if you stay here?”

Avery slumped as he considered William’s words. “That would make me very lucky.”

“Yes. I can teach you how to operate Leafpoint, too. And I’ll teach you the stars,” William wheedled.

A smile crossed my lips. Like me, William had no intention of letting Avery go back to the Master.

“Come live with us,” I urged.

“Be a family?” Avery demanded, looking excited. “You’d be my mum?”

I paused at that. I was a bit young to be a parent to an eight-year-old ghost. Avery’s face fell.

“Sorry! Mum’s read stories and teach things. They care for children,” he began babbling, but I held up a hand. William stared intently, and I knew he was wondering where I’d go with this.

“Avery, I would be honoured to be your mum. But you have to obey me,” I replied.

Avery froze in place. His form flickered, and he looked shocked.

“Never had a mum.”

“You have one now. And my first rule is: avoid the trapdoor. The kitchen’s off-limits permanently, even with William or myself present,” I ordered.

Avery turned to William, eyes wide. “You’ll be my dad?”

William looked as if he were floundering before he nodded. “Yes.”

Avery shot up from the beanbag. His face broke into a beaming smile. “I’ll keep you safe, Mum,” he promised.

“Avery, it’s my job to protect you. Now your… dad and I are going to talk. Would you like to watch a movie?”

“Movie?”

“Okay, come sit here.” I patted the sofa, and Avery came over slowly. He looked uncertain. I grabbed the remote and turned on the TV. The fact that Avery didn’t react meant he’d seen me using this.

“Are you a witch?” he asked.