“I’mgoing to the bakery to see my sister again. I want to try eating today,” I tell him, hopingit’llease the awkward tension.
His brows lift. “What’s your first meal in the afterlife going to be?”
I pinch my chin and pretend to mull over the possibilities, butI’vealready decided. “I’m hoping to grab a blueberry scone from the bakery, but I also want blueberry pancakes.”
He looks intrigued. “Why blueberry?”
“It’sone of my favorite foods.Plus,I havepancakesevery year on my birthday, butI died before I could have them this year.”
His ice-blue eyes glisten. “You died on your birthday?” He sounds sad.
“I think itwas the day before. Itsortof came back to me while I was at the bakery yesterday.I’mhopingif I go back,more stuff will come to me. And I want to spend time with my sister.”
“Okay.” Theo drums lightly on the counter with his fingers, and I realizehe’sstill in his physical body too. “Enjoy your pancakes then.”
“Thanks. Want me to bring you any?”
He shakes his head. “Don’t worry about me.”
I exit the kitchen with one thought at the front of my mind:someone’sgot to.
Idecideto walk into towninstead of flying, and though it feels great to get the fresh air after being in that stuffy old house, I realize I may have underestimated my stamina. IfI’mgoing to be spending this much time in my physical body, I might need to start doing cardio.
The cobblestone streets of Shadow Hills look like dusted sugar cookies now that the bulk of the snow has been plowed away. The jacket wasa good choice, because today is the coldestit’sbeen so far. Everyone around me is layered with hoodies and coats with matching accessories, some with scarves wrapped so securely around their faces and necks that all I see are sets of eyes. The sun feels nice as it rises higher in the sky, butit’snot enough to save the townspeople from mother nature’s bitter winter conditions.
I realize I could save myself from the elements if I shifted back to my spirit form, but clinging to my physical body feels likea safety net. Or an emotional support blanketthat’sfull of holes but stillprovides thatreliable sense of safety.
Wrapping myjacket closer around me, I head straight for the bakery.It’searly morning, butI’mnot sure what time.It might be too early for the bakerytoopen.I’mnot even sure what day it is, having been disconnected from technologysince my death.I wish I knew whereClaudia’shousewassoI could just go there.
Just as I feared,there’sa closed sign hanging on the inside of the door when I approach. I linger awkwardly on the sidewalk, unsure of what to do, butI’mnot alone for long. Walking up the street from the roundabout is Raegan and another woman.They’rechatting animatedly about something and almostdon’tnotice me, but then I catch Raegan’s eye.
She greets me cheerfully. “Kennedy!It’sgood to see you again.”
I smile at her warmly andgivea little wave. “Hi.”
“Are you waiting for the bakery to open?”sheasks, noticing whereI’veplanted myself beside the door.
“Yeah, I’m actually just…well, it’s a long story…” I trail off, unsure if I want to unload the news about finding my sister soout of the blue, then reconsider.“I was going to get breakfast.”
“Us too,” the other woman says. “I’mJoanna. Wehaven’tmet officially, but I was at your seance, and it was super cool.”
She offers her hand for me to shake, and I take it without knowing what to say.I just nod along and keep smiling, hoping that’s enough.
Raegan sort of nudges her in the side, and Joanna retracts her hand. “Not that it was a spectacle or anything. It was just neat.I’venever seen anything like that before.”
“It’s okay,” Itellherwith a smile. “I get it.” I gesture to the buildings around us. “Small town.”
“No kidding,” Raegan says with a scoff. “Unfortunately, you’re the most exciting thing to happen around herein a while.” The corner of her mouth lifts in a reassuring grin. “There were about twenty more people from town who wanted to be there when you were summoned, and we had to shoo them away. But we made sure everyone left you alone until you were fully acclimated.No one’sbothered you, have they?”
I shake my head. “It’s just been me and Theo.”
Raegan lets out a breath of relief. “Oh, good.”
“Simone stopped by to check on me that first night,” Iadd. “And I saw her last night in the woods while she wasforaging. Butshe’sbeen great.”
“She’s meeting us for breakfast!” Joanna announces. “You should come!”
“Yes, please come with us,” Raegan insists, before pausing. “But only if you want to. Ifyou’reready.”
