Page 21 of Gabriel Grace

And that is the million dollar question. I’ve never met anyone like me. Didn’t know anyone else existed. I mean, yeah I know there are people out there that have gifts, Kristie and Dima can attest to that, but Brenna? Maybe that’s why I’ve been drawn to her all this time?

“Honestly?” She nods at me. “I don’t know.”

She deflates a little, but not too much. She’s made of tougher stuff. Grammy pats her hands and her brows pinch. “So, you said you’ve seen souls for as long as you can remember. But I’ve only heard them since you moved in. And I’ve only seen Grammy tonight.”

We three sit in comfortable silence, all in our own thoughts. There’s only one person I know who might have answers, but it's 9pm at night and nothing good happens at this time.

“I don’t know why or how you can see Grammy, but I know someone who will. But we can’t see her until tomorrow.”

“Well, then tomorrow we get answers. For tonight I think I will go to bed early. I’m pooped.” Grammy says, clapping her hands and ignoring my stare.

She leans over to kiss Brenna on the forehead before wrapping her in her arms and staring at me with huge eyes. I roll mine back at her. I know what she’s doing.

“I love you, Grammy,” Brenna whispers into her grandmother's shoulder.

“I love you too, sweet pea. To the moon and back.”

“To the moon and back.”

Brenna

I watch as Grammy heads off down the hall before turning back to Gabriel. “It’s really nice you’ve given up your bed for Grammy. But you know, she could always stay in my apartment.”

Gabriel gives me a funny look, but it disappears the moment he puts his half eaten cupcake in his mouth in one bite. His gold eyes close and he makes appreciative noises that do funny things to my ovaries. And further down.

“So,” I start, looking around the apartment, “where are the others?” I whisper.

“The others?” Gabriel whispers back. “Wait, why are we whispering?”

“I don’t know.” I shrug. “I guess I don’t want to disturb the other souls.”

Gabriel smiles at me. “It’s OK. She’s the only one here at the moment.”

“Oh.” I reply, a little disappointed. I kind of wanted to meet more souls. “Thought you had more hanging out with you.”

“Not tonight. Grammy has been keeping me pretty busy.”

I nod, but not really understanding. “What about earlier? I heard you, you sounded, upset maybe? Even…sad.”

His broad shoulders rise and fall with his breathing and I figure he’s not going to answer. Maybe I crossed a line. All I know is that if I was downstairs I’d be able to make him a nice mug of hot chocolate with a little chilli and cinnamon on it and that would help ease his woes just a little.

You know that you can help people without feeding them.

I roll my eyes at my inner voice. What would she know?

I know everything.

“Some souls,” Gabriel begins, pulling me from my inner voice argument, “are inherently good. Like Grammy. Like Miss Fanny. They stay here because they have messages to pass on. Things to finish before they move on to their final resting place. Others are evil to their core. Those are the ones I need to send on.”

“Send on?” I have no idea what that means, but it doesn't sound good. “So they don’t just like, leave once they've finished whatever it is they need done?”

He shakes his head, his gaze fixed to the drab wall behind me. “No. These ones want to live forever. They feed off the fear of others.”

“Huh. What better way to do that than scare the bejeezus out of people?” I snort.

“Exactly. So it’s my job to come in and force them to leave.”

Gabriel flexes his fingers and it’s not the first time I’ve noticed him doing that. Or the first time I’ve noticed him coming into the coffee shop with a limp or looking stiff and achy.