Downstairs, my family was stil silent, stil pretending to watch the TV. I perched on the edge of my dad’s armchair and lay my hand down his. It was cold. He looked up at me and smiled. It was strained, but it was something.
“I have a friend coming over,” I announced quietly.
Everyone turned to look at me, surprised.
“Perry,” my mom said with disapproval. “After what happened today.”
happened today.”
“Because of what happened today,” I corrected her. I didn’t want to bring up anything about ghosts but I had to say something. “He’s new in town. And…he makes me feel safe.”
My family was adept at the three-way “Perry” glance.