“Yep, that’s me. Weird but cool Stephy,” Stephanie chuckled, the glow fading from her eyes as she stepped forward and offered her hand to Allie’s son. “A pleasure to meet you, Liam. Your mom is going to be fine. My sister will make her well, Magnus will make her like us, and you’ll never again have to worry about losing her. The two of you won’t have to run anymore either. It’s all going to work out.”

“Promise?” Liam asked, his expression serious.

“Cross my heart,” Stephanie assured him. “I may be weird, but I’m never wrong.”

“Weird’s okay,” he assured her, accepting her hand and shaking it. “Mom says she’s weird too. I like weird.”

“Well, now that that’s settled,” Elvi said lightly. “Magnus, Liam, I’m Elvi Argeneau. Welcome to my home.”

Liam stepped forward and offered his hand, saying politely, “Hello, ma’am. Thank you for having us.”

“You’re more than welcome,” Elvi assured him, and then asked, “Would you like to see the room where you and your mom will be staying? That way we could tuck her in and let her rest.”

“Yes, please, ma’am,” Liam said softly. “Mrs. Tricia says Mom needs her rest.”

“That she does,” Elvi said solemnly, and took his hand, then smiled at Magnus and gestured for him to follow before turning to lead Liam to the stairs, saying, “Your mom’s done a fine job with you, young man. You’re very polite.”

“Thank you, Mrs. Elvi.”

“You’re welcome,” Elvi said, and then called out, “Teddy, are you coming too? The girls are watching movies in the upper porch and you can take Liam there after he sees where he’s going to sleep and where his mom will be.”

“Can I, Mom?” Teddy asked, and Magnus paused at the bottom of the steps to wait.

“Yes. But be good and not too much noise while Liam’s mom is sleeping,” Tricia said firmly.

“Okay,” Teddy called, barely waiting for her words to finish before rushing past Magnus to latch on to Elvi’s free hand as she walked up the stairs. It was exactly what Magnus had expected and why he’d paused. So the boy could get past him on the stairs. As he now followed the trio, Elvi announced, “Liam, you and your mother are going to be staying in the tower bedroom.”

“You have a tower?” Liam asked with interest.

“Yes, and that’s where you’re staying.”

“Where am I staying?” Teddy asked.

“In the blue room next door to Liam’s so you can find each other easy in the morning,” Elvi answered promptly.