Page 117 of Grim Tidings

Gabriel’s face lightens to something pleased. “It’s a good look.”

“Thank you.” I curtsy. “I’ll be keeping it forever.”

His smile slips. Just a bit, but enough for me to notice. “Forever sounds pretty good,” he says, wistful.

I lean over the bed and press my mouth to his. He immediately curls his arm around my back, tugging me closer, deepening the kiss. I sink my fingers into his hair and hold on, letting myself pretend for a second that this is a beginning, not an ending.

But Gabriel pulls away with a sweet peck to my nose, and I tell myself to let go.

“Come find me when you’re done,” he says, his eyes searching mine. I keep my face carefully blank, hoping for once in my miserable existence it doesn’t betray me. “I’ll take you to lunch.”

I exhale and force myself to smile.

“That sounds nice.”

Frank has kept the shop closed for most of the week, but I’ve seen the shipments that have arrived at the back door. I know he’s slowly restocking the flowers I accidentally killed. I time my arrival carefully with the large white van parked in the alley and I wait behind it until Frank opens the door for his supplier.

As expected, he’s not exactly happy to see me.

He tries to slam the door in my face, but I grip the edge of it, holding it open.

“I know you don’t want to see me,” I tell him quietly, aware that the man unloading peonies out of the back of his truck is watching us from the corner of his eye. “But there’s something I need to tell you. I’ll leave after. I promise. You won’t hear from me again.”

I don’t make any contingencies about if he wants me to stay. I know Frank’s forgiveness isn’t something I’m entitled to.

He stares at me, his usually warm eyes hardened by anger.

“Please, Frank,” I beg. I can’t leave without having this. I can’t. “I’ll only take a minute.”

The seconds stretch between us. The flower delivery guy shifts behind me.

“Uh, can I put these down, or—”

“I’ll take them,” I offer quickly, holding out my arms. Frank doesn’t argue, and I take that as tacit agreement. The deliveryman quickly deposits them in my arms without touching my arms with his, then hightails it back to his van. The van barely starts before he’s peeling down the alley.

I look to Frank, my arms full of his most precious blooms. He stares at them, then drags his eyes to mine. “Try not to kill them this time.”

Relief is swift and dizzying. “I’ll do my best not to.”

He nods, then opens the door and lets me inside. I set the flowers carefully on the space he indicates, then back away, giving him room to sort them. He does so immediately, his head bowed over the stems, his glasses perched on his nose.

Without the distraction of action, my nerves creep back in.

“I wanted to—” I have to pause and collect myself. “I wanted to tell you about them.”

Frank’s hands pause in their work. The only indication he’s heard me at all is the tense line of his shoulders.

So I continue, and hope I’m not making a terrible mistake.

“There is a place where souls go, once they’ve departed from this place.” I choose my words carefully. I’ve never spoken about this to anyone. I’ve never had to. “We call it— Well, it doesn’t matter what we call it. It’s just the place where we take our assignments before they move on.”

Frank slowly resumes his work, sorting his flowers into collections of pale pink and white.

“There is a room with a door. And in front of that door is a single desk. All souls pass through. Reapers are not permitted to go beyond it, but on the day I brought your family—” I exhale a shaky breath. “When I took your family to that place,” I try again, “I caught a glimpse of where they went. I was hoping I could share that with you, in case it helps.”

Frank turns to look at me. “In case it helps,” he repeats.

“Yes.”