Tamsyn Murray-My So-Called Haunting (20 page)

Mr Ambrose nodded. ‘Next month. If we let you go.’

The conversation drifted away as they moved along the pavement. I had no doubt Nelson would be allowed to go to the trial, just as I knew West Ham would be mad not to sign him. The last bit of
tension left me as I realised we’d succeeded. Nelson was going to be all right.

Next to me, Dontay arrived at the same conclusion. He punched the air in triumph. ‘Ye s!’

A faint twinkle as he made the gesture caught my eye. An incredulous frown crept across my forehead and I peered at him intently. ‘Dontay, are you wearing glitter?’

Both Celestine and Jeremy turned to study him. Then my aunt broke into a gentle smile. ‘So that’s why you stayed, to make sure Nelson got what he really wanted.’

Dontay stared at her, confused. ‘But I never done nothing.’

Celestine tilted her head. ‘You introduced Skye to Nelson so that she could talk to him. If it hadn’t been for you, he’d probably be badly injured right now, or even dead. One
way or another, his dreams would be over. You stopped that from happening.’

I was so distracted by the sparkling lights settling around Dontay that I was barely listening to Celestine.

‘What’s happening?’ I asked, bathing my fingers in the edge of his golden glow. ‘Where are all these lights coming from?’

She took my hand and drew it gently away from Dontay. ‘He’s passing across.’

Dontay raised his own fingers and gazed at them in wonder. ‘I’m what?’

My aunt smiled. ‘Your time here is over,’ she said, her voice soft with compassion. ‘You’ve resolved the only thing holding you here and you’re ready to start the
next part of your journey.’

I saw a momentary flash of panic cross Dontay’s face and he glanced around wildly for his family. ‘But I didn’t say goodbye.’

‘You’ll see them again one day. But if there’s anything you want us to tell them for you, now would be a good time to say so.’

He gazed wistfully after his brother. ‘I wish I’d told him how proud I was of him.’

Now that I knew Dontay was leaving, I realised how much I was going to miss him. We’d come a long way since our first awkward meeting at the Dearly D, and I could honestly say I’d
never had a friend quite like him. My eyes filled up at the thought of the gap he was going to leave in my life. ‘I’ll make sure he knows.’

‘And I never told my parents I love them.’ His voice was growing fainter and I noticed with a jolt that I could see the lamp-post through him.

I swallowed, trying to shift the lump of emotion in my throat. ‘I can tell them that too.’

He stared after them for a moment, before his face split into a beaming smile. ‘Then I’m ready.’ As he turned to me, I saw gratitude shining in his eyes. ‘Thanks for
everything, yeah? I know it wasn’t easy.’

I couldn’t hold back the tears any longer. ‘That’s OK. I – I hope they have football where you’re going.’

Only his outline was visible now, picked out in tiny sparkling lights. He raised his fist to me in a final salute. ‘Safe,’ he said, and his voice was little more than a sigh.
‘Sorry things didn’t work out with Nico, Skye. Don’t forget the offside rule.’

I gulped and smiled in spite of the tears. It was the first time he’d got Nico’s name right. I’d never told him how Nico had betrayed me; I wondered what he’d call him if
he knew the truth. ‘Bye, Dontay.’

I thought I caught the faintest whispered goodbye, but I couldn’t be sure. The last of the glow faded and Celestine and I were alone.

‘He’s gone,’ I said brokenly. ‘He’s really gone.’

Celestine wrapped an arm around my shoulder. ‘But he’s at peace, and it’s all thanks to you. You did a good job helping him.’

Sniffing and wiping my cheeks, I nodded. ‘I’m going to miss him.’

The drama of the day was catching up with me and I was suddenly exhausted. I glanced along the road, hoping Jeremy was nearby with the car. As though he’d heard my silent prayer, he drew
up to the kerb and leaned towards the open window. ‘Get in. There’s a traffic warden coming and I bet he’d love to give me a ticket.’

I rolled my eyes. After the day I’d had the last thing on my mind was a measly parking ticket. But Jeremy was twitching and I supposed I owed him for coming down to get me, so I swallowed
my sigh and let my aunt lead me towards the car.

She squeezed my shoulders as we stood at the car door. ‘Of course you’ll miss him, but don’t forget there are plenty more ghosts who need help. Like Isobel.’

Guilt wriggled through me. I’d left her to Jeremy and she was even following him to work. Deep down, I knew I’d been avoiding thinking about her, because I didn’t know where to
begin. ‘She’s not interested in me.’

Celestine tilted her head. ‘She’ll be a challenge, then. Make her interested.’

Her words made me feel small. Helping Dontay had made me realise I liked making a difference to the spirits around me. All my life I’d wondered what my gift was for and now I knew
I’d found my purpose. It was a good feeling. I wanted more.

My aunt was still talking. ‘. . . and I cleared it with Father Montgomery. You’d be working mostly with me but what do you think? The Dearly D could use another psychic on the staff,
and perhaps you could take the heat off Jeremy with Isobel, before Mary unleashes the seven spirits of hell.’

‘Do they even exist?’ Then I blinked in astonishment as my brain caught up. ‘Wait – are you offering me a job?’

A wry smile tugged at her lips as she pulled open the passenger door and got in. ‘Why don’t we call it an apprenticeship?’

I thought about that as I climbed into the car. My life had become bumpier than the fairground dodgems since I’d moved in with Celestine. I’d learned a lot in that short time –
who I was, who I could trust and what a broken heart felt like. I could have done without that last one, to be honest, and wondered if Nico had any idea how much he’d hurt me. Megan
didn’t pretend to understand what had gone wrong between us but, like a true friend, she respected my right to privacy. Which reminded me, I’d never got the chance to text her after
I’d left the school. She’d probably wasted all her credit texting me – I resolved to call her as soon as I got home.

I gazed from the back of my aunt’s head to Jeremy’s, thinking how great they’d been, especially in agreeing not to mention anything to my mum. They’d gone out of their
way to help me settle into life without her. The least I could do was return the favour by getting Isobel over her crush on Jeremy. Actually, I quite fancied myself as a celestial matchmaker; maybe
her Mr Right was out there in the spirit world, waiting to be found. He might even be a member of the Dearly D.

‘A psychic apprenticeship?’ I mused, settling back into the seat with a satisfied grin. ‘I like the sound of that. Do you think we can stop at Hornsey Lane Bridge on the way
home?’ Jeremy’s panic-filled eyes locked on me in the rear-view mirror. My grin widened. ‘Relax, Romeo, you can drop me off round the corner. It’s time someone told Isobel
that today is the first day of the rest of her afterlife.’

Writing a book might seem like a one person job but in my case that isn't true. These are the people I owe big time:

Lee, for encouraging me, feeding me and putting up with my diva tendencies. You are still my favourite husband.

Tania, for being amazing and inspiring and sarcastic (if occasionally grumpy) and for reminding me what it's like to be a teenager. Thanks for being you.

My dad, Phil, who encouraged the teenage me to read. Thank you.

My in-laws, Richard and Janice, for always being so supportive and persuading everyone you know to buy my books.

Clare and Mike Watson, for lending me the northern Watson Writer's Retreat. The Wo o-woos are on me.

Jo Williamson at Antony Harwood Ltd, agent extraordinaire and roller-coaster buddy – thanks for all the thrills so far, here's hoping the ride never ends.

Brenda, Ruth, Melissa, Vivien and the whole team at Piccadilly Press, who spotted the promise of Skye and encourage me to get to know her. Thanks for being brilliant.

And lastly, thank you to anyone who read
My So-Called Afterlife
and took the time to tell me so. Keep those comments coming!