by Paula Lester
Gloria’s eyes scanned the crowd as the waiter dropped off their drinks. “And that’s Bubba—he’s from Seattle. He’s a hoot at parties. I bet he’ll be the guy dancing on the pool deck at the hotel.”
Tessa wondered how she’d remember all these reapers’ names. Still, it was fun to hear the stories. Gloria seemed to know everyone.
“That’s Lydia and Cynthia. They always meet up at conferences and room together. Lydia’s from Detroit and Cynthia’s out of Chicago.” Gloria frowned a little, setting down her pink drink. “Hmm . . . Cynthia doesn’t look that good, does she?”
Tessa tried to check out the woman Gloria indicated without being obvious about it. Cynthia was slumped forward, elbows arranged on the table so her arms formed a protective circle around a margarita. Lydia had a hand on Cynthia’s arm and wore a sympathetic expression as she played with the straw in her own drink. Cynthia wiped at her eyes like she was tired.
“Chicago, huh? You know, there was a guy in our office back home yesterday. Timothy—he’s the assistant to the district supervisor.”
“April?” Gloria’s eyes went wide. “I’m glad I missed running into her.”
Tessa nodded. “She was pretty icy. But anyway, Timothy told me there was some problem at the Chicago reaper office. The numbers of souls reaped versus the orders put in aren’t adding up or something like that.”
“Huh. I wonder what’s going on. I’ll have to corner Cynthia at the hotel and get the scoop.”
“Do you think maybe it’s Cynthia’s fault?”
“No. Probably just some kind of accounting error. April likes to create waves where there should be smooth sailing. It’s her leadership style.” Gloria held up her glass to clink with Tessa’s. “Anyway, we’d better drink up. The plane will be boarding in ten minutes.”
Twenty minutes later, having consumed their cosmos way too fast, they were settling into their seats on the plane, having stowed their carry-ons in the overhead compartment. Gloria had asked for the aisle seat. “I feel too claustrophobic by the window.”
“Fine with me.” Tessa loved watching takeoff and landing out the window.
“It’s time to move this party to the beach,” Gloria said excitedly. “There will be even more reapers at the hotel bar. Plus, the hotel has a couple of nice restaurants. I’ll be ready for a nice juicy steak after we get settled in the room.”
Tessa was glad she was getting a chance to go to the conference and spend time with Gloria. The other reaper was fashionable and fun, and Tessa had really been enjoying getting to know her.
She opened her mouth to suggest they find some good Mexican instead. Cynthia’s margarita had looked good. But raised voices drew their attention toward the front of the plane.
Gloria leaned into the aisle.
“What’s going on?” Tessa felt a shiver of concern but quickly tamped down on it. The plane wasn’t in the air, so it wasn’t like a crash was imminent.
“I’m not sure.” Gloria craned her neck.
Murmurs made their way from the front of the plane back through the aisle like a ripple through water. Tessa heard the word dead.
Someone died? She tried to boost herself up to see over the seat in front of her, but the people there were also straining to see, blocking the view.
“Who is it?”
“It’s Art.” Gloria’s tone was hushed. “He’s dead. That’s strange. I didn’t see his soul. Did you?”
Tessa shook her head, scanning every inch of air for a portal to the other side.
Art. The reaper from Minnesota with a flare for the artistic? Tessa hadn’t even really met him, but she felt a pang of loss. He’d sounded like a nice guy. “I wonder who took him over,” she said. Of course, any humans on the plane wouldn’t have been able to see Art’s spirit leave his body or the reaper who would have opened a portal to the other side. But any of the reapers on the plane surely could have.
“How did we miss it?” she asked.
“I’m not sure.” Gloria looked troubled, but she shook her head and the expression cleared. “But it isn’t like we can just shout up there and ask who crossed Art over. We’ll have to wait until we get to the conference and ask around.”
Tessa nodded. She settled back into the chair, aware that it would take longer for them to get airborne now. Art’s body would need to removed from the plane. “Do you think he had a heart attack or something?”
“I don’t know. Maybe.” Gloria didn’t look convinced.
As Tessa watched an ambulance squeal to a stop next to the plane and several EMTs race up the stairs, she wondered about the reaper who’d taken Art. Had he or she known about the assignment for a while? Like, while all the reapers were in the pub drinking and telling stories?
It was one thing to take the souls of strangers to the other side. Even that was sad sometimes. But how would it feel to take someone you knew? A friend or co-worker?
Tessa was pretty sure she didn’t want to find out.
Chapter 5
THEIR DECISION TO BRING only carry-ons proved to be a good one. As Tessa and Gloria passed the luggage claim area, it was clear it would have taken them a while to deal with it. As it was, there was a line of reapers and regular folk pushing and shoving to get close enough to grab their bags.
Tessa’s curiosity threatened to get the better of her. She wanted to talk to the reapers and see if she could find out more about Art’s death. But there were lots of non-reapers around. It wasn’t the right time or place.
Nor was it her job. But these days, Tessa found she often questioned the how, the why, and the timing of every death she heard or read about. Differentiating business from literal life and death was something easier said than done. She hoped there was a talk at the conference to cover such matters.
As they made their way to the rental car plaza, Gloria seemed unfazed. She chattered about what type of food to indulge in for their first night at the resort. Tessa’s mind was only half on the conversation. It kept drifting to Art and what had happened to him on the plane.
Had there been a reaper waiting to escort him over?
Tessa knew from her training that there were circumstances under which someone could die without an assignment having been put in for them at a reaper agency. It was rare, but with the fact that humans had free will, choices could be made in a split second that the universe didn’t seem to foresee. When it did happen, the soul wandered until a reaper could find it and properly escort it over.
She’d even heard whispers about a task force made up of specially trained reapers whose sole job it was to find such lost spirits. Of course, needing to call them in created a bunch of red tape for the agency. Meetings upon meetings. Retraining. Reprimands. This was why Cheryl had hesitated to do it when Tessa lost a soul, preferring to browbeat Tessa into finding him herself first.
Fingers snapping in front of her face drew Tessa out of the reverie. Gloria’s well-manicured eyebrows were up. “Earth to Tessa Randolph. Are you in there? I was asking whether you like sushi. I know it’s somewhat of an acquired taste. There’s a good place close to our hotel that I forgot about. Last year, some of the other reapers and I ate there four times. It’s that good.”
Tessa’s stomach growled at the thought. “Yum. Let’s do it.” There was no good sushi in Mist River. In fact, many small towns in Michigan lacked that particular delicacy, and Tessa loved it.
“Decision made!” Gloria gave a little fist-pump as they entered a large room dotted with rental car kiosks. “Hey! That’s a familiar face a long way from home. Isn’t that your hottie landlord?”
Tessa followed her friend’s gaze and found Silas’s smiling face as he exited the line of a competing rental car agency. She was a little surprised Gloria recognized him—she’d only met him once briefly when she came over to watch movies with Tessa and Abi. But she’d immediately honed in on Tessa’s interest in Silas. In true close girlfriend fashion, Gloria had instantly made it her mission to tease Tessa about having a c
rush every chance she got.
“I wondered if I’d see you here—I didn’t know which flight you’d be on.” Silas held a set of car keys in one hand and carried a navy-blue duffel bag in the other. He wore khaki cargo shorts and a bright blue T-shirt.
He looked vacation ready and oh, so good.
“Hey,” she managed to respond. “You’re here!”
“I’m here.” He shrugged. “I decided to just go for it, ya know?”
“That’s great.” It was great. Tessa’s heart told her as much as it thumped louder and faster in her chest. Silas had come at her encouragement. But now that she saw him here, she wasn’t sure what to do.
“I’m staying at the Roundtree Resort and Spa. Your hotel—the one you suggested—was completely booked, but mine isn’t too far away.” He glanced at Gloria and included her in his thousand-watt smile. “I’m Silas. I don’t know if you remember—”
“Oh, I remember.” She smiled back and sent a wink in Tessa’s direction. “What brings you here, Silas? Vacation?”
“At Tessa’s encouragement, yeah. I haven’t had a vacation in so long that I’m already wondering what to do with myself. Not sure I know how to relax and live in the moment.”
“I find it’s easier to do than you think,” Gloria said.
“I don’t know.” He turned to Tessa. “I’m already worrying about Mrs. Cross’ dental appointment in two days. I usually take her to that kind of stuff.”
“Your cousin can handle all that,” Tessa said. “Try to put it out of your mind and just chill.”
He shrugged. “I’ll try.” He leaned closer and whispered, “I’m a little afraid I’m going to be bored with nothing to do and no one to talk to.”
“Tessa’s going to have lots of free time,” Gloria offered. She ignored Tessa’s wide-eyed, questioning look. “I’ve got more meetings than she does because I have to attend some of the advanced stuff, so she’ll be looking for something to do too. You guys should hang out.”
What the heck was she talking about? This was the first Tessa had heard about Gloria having to go to presentations Tessa didn’t.
Was she lying? She had to be. But Gloria’s grandpa, who’d taught her to play Blackjack, would have been proud. Her face didn’t show her hand at all as she kept her gaze on Silas.
Tessa realized then that he was looking at her, expecting some sort of confirmation. She stammered, “I’ll be available most evenings. It would be nice to hang out. Fun,” she corrected.
Silas set down his bag and pushed hair out of his eyes. “Yeah? Awesome. How about tonight? Would you maybe want to grab a bite to eat with me and then go see some sights?”
She cut her eyes to Gloria, whose smile was so wide it reminded Tessa of the Cheshire Cat. The other reaper nodded at Tessa encouragingly, despite their earlier plans.
“Okay,” Tessa agreed. “That sounds like fun. Let’s do it.”
“How about now? I’m starved.”
“Go ahead,” Gloria urged, even giving Tessa a tiny shove toward her landlord. “I’ll get our rental car and take your luggage to the resort. Get us both checked in too. There aren’t any presentations until tomorrow morning.” Without waiting for an answer, she grabbed Tessa’s suitcase and started off. Over her shoulder, she called, “Have fun, you two.”
Silas picked up his duffel bag and started toward a nearby door. “I asked around a little bit and found out where the best Cuban food in town is. You up for that?”
Tessa followed him, glancing back at Gloria, who stood in line at one of the kiosks. She winked and gave Tessa two thumbs up and then made a shooing motion.
“It sounds good, but I’m not dressed for a fancy meal. I’ve got my traveling clothes on.”
Silas glanced at her, his eyes taking in her stretchy black yoga capris and worn Detroit Lions shirt. “You look great. I’m sure this place doesn’t have a dress code.” He used the key fob to unlock a silver sedan and shoved his bag in the trunk before opening the passenger door for her.
“Maybe we could just drive around a little and see what looks good?” She got into the car, her stomach doing a little flip. Whether from hunger or nerves, she wasn’t sure.
Why would she be nervous? She was just going to explore a new city with a friend. That’s all. It certainly wasn’t a date or anything. No matter how much Gloria had acted like a slightly insane matchmaker.
“That sounds like a great idea.” Silas went around and got in his side. Soon, they were driving along the coast, both of their windows down so they could enjoy the salty ocean breeze.
“Everything is so colorful here,” Tessa mused as they passed a group of turquoise, orange, and yellow-painted shops. “I’ve always loved the bright colors of ocean towns.”
“Mist River Manor is going to be due for a paint job soon. Maybe we should consider Caribbean blue.” Silas grinned. The breeze caught his hair and deposited it over one eye, where it seemed to live most of the time anyway. Suddenly, he pulled over and parked the car. “Do you mind if we walk the boardwalk for a bit? I really need to find a kiosk or shop selling sunglasses. I forgot to bring some.”
“Sure. My legs could use a stretch after the plane ride.”
They strolled on the boardwalk for an hour or so, ducking into shops and buying Silas’s sunglasses. Tessa got a pair too, even though she’d brought some. She couldn’t resist a huge, purple-rimmed pair with rhinestones on the corners.
The sun set as they watched from a deck jutting out from the boardwalk overlooking the beach. Then, Silas suddenly pointed at something a little further along. “Whatever that truck is selling, it smells amazing.”
Tessa inhaled a deep breath and groaned. “Mexican,” she said.
“Let’s go.” Silas grabbed Tessa’s hand and pulled her along, almost jogging, until they stood in front of the truck’s window perusing the menu. Then he darted a look at her and abruptly dropped the hand to push back his hair.
Tessa was sorry he’d let go.
They ordered empanadas and a basket of chips and salsa to share and picked a spot on the sand to sit and eat. They munched in silence, watching the waves and other beachgoers wander along.
“This is nice,” Silas said when his food was gone. “And you didn’t need to be dressed fancy or anything.”
She laughed and popped the last bite of empanada into her mouth.
It was nice.
In fact, Tessa found herself wishing she got to spend all of the next few days with Silas. The thought of attending boring reaper presentations—the thought of death in general—was far away when he was around. Silas was so alive, so full of life and energy, that it made her want to be that way too.
Chapter 6
THE SPREAD OUTSIDE the conference room entrance was insane. Tessa surveyed the first of two long tables. There were all kinds of breakfast foods to choose from. Of course, she gravitated toward the sweets. There were pastries galore as well as French toast stuffed with cream cheese and chocolate chip pancakes.
But thinking of her bathing suit, she settled for scrambled eggs and some sliced fruit. Next to her, Gloria grabbed a sampling of all the treats, ignoring anything that wasn’t sweet—except bacon. Because bacon. She stacked several slices on her already loaded plate.
“These talks can be boring,” she said, gesturing to Mount Sugar on her plate. “This keeps it interesting.”
To Tessa, it looked more like Gloria would be comatose in about a half hour. She grabbed a cup of coffee from the coffee station—and reluctantly snatched a couple donut holes—before following her friend to sit at one of six or seven long tables facing a small stage with a podium.
Tessa stuck pretty close to Gloria. So far, she’d only met a few other reapers in the elevator and the lobby. And she’d tried to act cool. But the truth was it was all slightly intimidating.
Part of her mind was on Silas, wondering what he was doing with the day. He’d dropped her off at a decent hour the night before. Gloria had been in their hotel roo
m, waiting to grill Tessa on how the night had gone. She’d struggled to hide the disappointment on her face, hearing it was just a walk on the beach and some food truck eats with no goodnight kiss.
Tessa might’ve forgotten to tell her friend about the brief moment when Silas had taken her hand. She was still unsure herself if it had really happened—and if it meant as much to him as it did her.
Gloria sat next to Shirley, the reaper from British Columbia, who sipped tea and smiled at them from behind the steaming cup.
Music began to play, and a countdown timer started on a screen above the stage, signaling to everyone that the program would begin shortly.
Gloria and Tessa dug into their food. Around a bite of Boston cream donut, Gloria said, “How’s things in the great white north, Shirl?”
“Oh, just fine. Just fine. And Mist River is still standing, I take it?”
“It’s as exciting as ever,” Gloria confirmed before gulping some orange juice. She wiped her mouth with a napkin. “Luckily, our district covers a pretty big area, so we have plenty of chances to get out of our micro-town pretty often. Oh, this is Tessa Randolph. She’s a rookie this year.”
The woman gave Tessa a kind smile. “I remember when I first started. It’s such an exciting time.”
Exciting. That was definitely one way to explain Tessa’s first week on the job.
“Make sure you take notes here—there are always lots of good tidbits and takeaways. And come to my talk later today. It’s lighter than most. I’m doing one on the funniest reaps I’ve done in my several decades on the job.” She chuckled. “I’ve had some real roll-on-the-floor fantastic times.”
Gloria jerked her chin toward the conference room doorway, where April was just entering. “While Shirl’s talks are fun, there are others that border on torture.” She rolled her eyes and leaned closer to Tessa to whisper, “I challenge you not to fall asleep during April’s afternoon sessions.”
Tessa snorted. “Boring, huh?”
“Mind-numbingly.” Gloria leaned back, getting Shirley’s attention once more. “Do you know anything about Art’s death?”
