At Lettie's words, I smiled for what seemed like the first time in months. Then, I motioned to Michael and Ricky, and they followed me to the ballroom, where Uncle Edward, Elizabeth, and the Everses were taking a break.

When Uncle Edward saw me, he smiled, and I smiled back.

"Are you all right, Chrissy?" he asked. I looked at him for a moment, and then, I felt myself running to him. I needed to hug somebody and he was closest. He didn't resist, and didn't seem surprised, he just went with it and I liked that.

"I wasn't okay before, but I am now," I assured him. "And Lettie says that Daddy and everybody else will be coming back soon."

I saw the Everses smile at each other in relief, but Uncle Edward looked a little saddened at the prospect.

"What's the matter?" I asked.

"Well, Chrissy, I was just getting good at the Ghost Host bit and now I have to abandon it. It's so depressing."

Mr. Evers laughed. "And when he says 'just getting good' he means that in the truest sense."

Uncle Edward ignored him and looked at the motley crew I had brought with me.

"Seeing as I am now your temporary guardian, I don't think it would be wrong for me to inquire about the people you brought with you."

I felt something inside of me stir at his words. Why did he want to know about my friends? Was this what it felt like to have a parent who was responsible and acted like a parent?

I motioned for them to come over to us and I introduced them, Michael first.

"Uncle Edward, this is Michael Allen-Park."

Michael inclined his head in a slight bow, and said "Sir, I am in love with your niece."

Uncle Edward looked at me.

"He has the mansion next door to Mama's family house in Georgia, and if it weren't for him, this whole place would go to ruin. He keeps me sane."

Uncle Edward smiled, and Michael pulled Frank in front of him. "And this, sir, is Frank Malrooney, the reason I died in the first place." Frank said nothing, but growled and tried to bite Michael's hand. "The devil was supposed to come for him, but hasn't, so we're trying to figure out what to do with him."

Finally, I motioned for Ricky to come forward. He came somewhat shyly.

"This is Ricky. He was Frank's last living relative who I sort of killed."

Ricky nodded. "And by 'sort of' she means did kill, but it had to happen for Michael to get the house back, so I'm not bitter."

After introductions, Elizabeth said that I should go up to my room and rest. I agreed, and everyone else came with me.

A few hours later, Lettie came in. I had a question that I wanted to ask her.

"Lettie, where are Scott and Leona?"

She smiled mischievously. "I sort of manipulated the spell they cast so that they went up with it. They won't be a threat again."

I wasn't so certain. "What about when everyone else comes back?"

She kept her eyes on me, and said firmly, "they'll come back too, but they'll no longer be a threat. Trust me."

I nodded and she left. Once she was gone, I collapsed on my bed and wondered what she meant, and how her manipulations would affect my enemies.

I went to bed with the thoughts still on my mind, but soon forgot them as I fell into a dreamless sleep.

When I woke up the next morning, it was because someone was shaking me. After muttering for them to stop, I sat up in bed and waited for my vision to focus. When I could finally see properly, I nearly screamed for joy. Standing by my bed was someone I hadn't seen for more then eighty years in the flesh or otherwise, but she looked no different from the last time I had seen her. Okay, I admit that's wrong. The last time I saw her she was a decaying corpse dead from suffocation in a sea trunk, but now, in ghost form, she moved, and was full of life. She smiled at me shyly.

"Hello Chrissy."

I jumped off the bed and ran to her. "Emily, you're home!"

And she hugged me. "Yes, Chrissy. I'm home."