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Taking a deep breath, I blow it out, and raise my finger to press Mama Celene’s doorbell. “Let's do this.” I mutter under my breath.

“Are you gon’ press it or come right on in?” A warm voice calls from the other side of the door, taking me aback.

Gabe shakes his head, twists the doorhandle and steps into a foyer filled with warmth and light.

“Wow,” Grammy and I breathe at the same time as we step into the house behind Gabe. We catch each other's eyes and then huff out a laugh.

“Well, that be a rare sight.” The small woman, who I’m guessing is Gabe’s mom, smiles in the direction of me and Grammy, her eyes crinkled almost shut because her smile is so darn wide.

“Mama, this is Brenna, and her Grammy’s soul. Brenna and Grammy, my mom, Mama Celene.”

“She’s my mom too you know,” Kristie says entering the tea room we’ve been ushered into.

She makes a beeline for me and I feel a lot more relaxed when she pulls me into a rough hug. It’s a new thing she’s started doing and I love that. I’ve known Kristie for a long time now, mainly as a customer, and she used to be closed off. Scared. Then Dima came into her world and she’s transformed into someone that’s happy deep down to her soul. They’re so in love and sometimes my chest aches with happiness watching them together.

That’ll be you and Gabe one day.

The thought makes me want to happy dance around the room but I suppress the urge. We’re here for serious business. Like why the heck can I see and hear souls now. Like, that's a new, somewhat crazy development to have after 28 years of living normally.

You’ve never been normal.

“Neither have you!” I hiss.

“Huh.” Mama Celene’s warm gaze narrows slightly as she stares at me. “Interestin’.”

Uh oh. Interesting how? Interesting in an “interesting, you have a load of incredible hobbies and my son would be lucky to have you in his life,” or “interesting, she’s completely whackadoodle and Gabriel will do well to run for the hills?” I start to fidget a little as Mama Celene comes closer, reaching out, cupping my cheek. Her eyes sparkle with kindness and something a little more as she searches my face, then my…hair?

“You chile, are more than you should be.”

“Me?” I squeak, pointing to my chest.

“Mmhmm.” Her gaze sharpens, searching, as if she’s looking inside me. “Mos’ folks come in that door carrying one soul.”

I side eye Gabe who frowns down at Mama Celene. “Most?” I squeak out.

She smiles gently at me, her body seeming to glow from the inside out. “Baby, you ain’ most.”

“That’s for damn sure,” Grammy agrees.

“Come, come,” Mama Celene leads us further into the room, waving at us to take a seat.

The room is decorated with cane furniture and I try my hardest not to giggle when Gabe's weight has the couch creaking as he sits. He tugs me down onto his knee, his arm banding around my waist, settling the butterflies in my stomach.

“So, what bring ye here?”

“You mean you don’t already know?” Gabe rumbles over my shoulder.

Mama Celene grins, her eyes sparkling before turning to share a look with Dima.

“You want to know why you share Gabriel’s gift,” he states. Not even asking.

“She what now?” Kristie asks, head snapping to Dima before looking back at me and Gabe.

“Yes. Yup. That’s why I’m here. I mean, that's not normal, right?” I ask everyone. They all stare back at me, the only sound in the room is Kristie’s snort.

“Bren? Remember how I blanked out that day and you held my hand and I told you I have visions and you were like, oddly good with that?”

“Yeah?”