Don’t freak. It’s just me.

I knocked on the door and she swung it open, pulled me inside inside the house, shut the door, and proceeded to squeeze the air out of me. I hugged her back just as hard.

“Anna!” I heard Jay say, coming up behind us.

Patti released me and pulled Jay in until we were having a group hug. She repeatedly kissed my cheek before letting us go.

“I’m so glad you’re here!” she said. “You’re sure it’s safe, though?”

“Positive. All the Dukes are flying to Switzerland right now, so the Neph are coming here.”

“All of them?” Jay’s eyes got big. I guess Marna hadn’t had a chance to tell him yet.

“Yep,” I said. “All of the allies.”

He jumped up and punched the air.

I felt euphoric. “Come on, I have groceries.”

They followed me out, and the three of us loaded our arms with bags.

“A turkey?” Patti asked. “Oh, honey, I like the sound of this.”

I thought she might. I’d gotten all of the fixings for a Thanksgiving meal.

We took everything into the kitchen and I looked around at the stainless steel appliances and stone-tiled backsplash.

“Wow, this house is . . .”

“Overboard?” Patti asked. “Ridiculously huge and fancy? Yes. Your father is a nutcase.” But she was smiling as she unpacked the pies.

“Yams,” Jay said. “Nice.” He was a bit more subdued than normal, but it was understandable, given what he was up against.

“So,” I asked the two of them, “do you want the big news first, or should I tell you everything that’s happened in order?”

“In order,” Jay said.

Patti’s eyebrows came together with impatience and she eyed Jay before saying, “Oh, all right then, in order. But make it fast!”

Marna hadn’t been able to talk to Jay at all yet, so they had no idea about what had happened since Ginger went missing. We made our way into the cushy family room. They were rapt as I talked.

“And then this huge spirit showed up,” I said, making Patti gasp and her eyes widen as I described its ramlike appearance. “And you’ll never believe who it was.” They stared at me, on edge. “Dad!”

Patti paled. “Your dad . . . he doesn’t have a . . . he’s . . . ?”

“He had to shed his body,” I said quietly.

“Dude,” Jay said. “He’s scary with a body. I can’t imagine him as a spirit.”

“Yeah. It’s so weird. He’s looking for a new body now,” I said.

Patti closed her eyes and covered her mouth. When she took a deep breath and nodded, I forged ahead.

“We knew Pharzuph was searching for me, so Dad came up with the idea that me and Kaidan—”

Patti squealed, jumping to her feet. “You’re married! Aren’t you?”

Jay’s shocked face swung back and forth between the two of us. “Nuh-uh! Are you?”

I felt so emotional about my news that I could only nod.

Patti screamed, pulling me to my feet for another bear hug. Her excitement should have felt strange, given the reason why Kaidan and I had decided to marry, but I knew Patti wasn’t focused on that. She was focused on the love we shared, and the fact that we were able to share this life experience, despite our circumstances.

“Oh, sweet girl,” she said into my hair. “I knew they couldn’t keep you apart.”

When she let me go, Jay hugged me, saying, “That is crazy. But cool. Congratulations.”

“Thank you.”

We sat down again, still wired from the big reveal.

“So what happened next?” Jay asked. Then his cheeks got splotchy. “I mean, not, like, next next, but, you know, after?”

I picked up the story, telling them how Pharzuph had come to my dorm room in his new form. They were shocked and disgusted.

When I was done, Patti let out a giant sigh.

“I’m so thankful we’ll have this night. I’m gonna pop that turkey in the oven and start prepping stuff. Why don’t you two go to the pool and try to relax? I think your bathing suits are in one of those boxes upstairs still.”

“I can help you with the prep,” I said.

“Nah.” She smiled. “Let me. I’ve got plenty to occupy my mind now. You two go be young or something.”

She was humming to herself as she went to the kitchen.

We changed our clothes, grabbed towels, and headed down the street to the neighborhood’s pool. A couple of families were at the shallow end, so we took lounge chairs at the other end of the pool and lay down. The sun felt glorious.

“I can’t believe you’re married,” Jay said next to me.

“I can’t believe you’re gonna be a dad,” I countered.

“Aren’t we too young for all this? Weren’t we just learning to drive or something?”

“I know, right?”

We both got quiet. He stared off, and the burdens he carried were apparent in his distant eyes.

“Jay . . . how are you feeling?”

“I don’t know. Man. It’s like, I’m not really afraid for myself, but I’m scared for Marna and the baby. I want to keep them safe, but I feel like this little nobody. Powerless or something.”

“You have more power than you realize. Knowing you love her gives Marna strength. She’s happy, Jay. I know it seems crazy, but I think she feels loved by someone other than Ginger for the first time in her life, and she’s thankful.”