Ghost Train 2 (special preview)

Shae returns, placing two plates in front of us. He’s silent, watching Gracie as she reaches for a great big strawberry on her plate. 

“Is this safe to eat?” I ask. “Or will I be trapped like Persephone?”

“She ate willingly,” Shae growls at me. “She wanted to stay.”

“Thank you,” Gracie sings up to Shae and his expression goes slack. He looks at her as she grins at him. 

“Say you’re welcome,” I tell him.

“You’re welcome,” Shae says breathlessly.

Gracie scrunches up her face as she smiles and digs back into her food. Shae just stands there, watching over her. 

“Why did you name her Gracie?” He asks, sounding as if his soul has left his body.

I look at her, enjoying the way she fills her cheeks before she even starts to chew. “There but by the grace of God,” I murmur. “I heard a lot of people say it around me when I was pregnant.” I then grimace. “I knew they were insulting me, so I took their insult and turned it into my own little blessing. My grace of God.”

Shae sits down across from us, watching Gracie with awe. “Do you like that name?”

“I do,” Gracie nods. “Wanna know my full name?”

Shae chuckles. “Sure,” he agrees. “What’s your full name?”

“Grace Shae Garbadol,” she answers with great cheer. 

Shae blinks and the coins fall from his eyes like tears. “Your middle name is Shae?”

Gracie bobs her head up and down.  “That’s why I like you,” she says and reaches for her glass of milk. “We have the same name.”

Looking at Shae, I want him to realize he was never forgotten, he was always there. His memory was with me every day of my life. Through child pain and hunger, he was always there with us.

“Where is this train going?” Gracie asks.

“I, uhm-” Shae cups his hand around his mouth and he stands up. He walks away from the table. “It’s a short trip,” he answers. 

“Oh,” Gracie pouts.

That evening, I tuck Gracie into bed and Copper lies beside her. My hips feel a bit better, but it is still hard for me to move on my own. I take the sleeper below Gracie, sitting there and looking out the window. Other ghosts come and take up beds. I can hear their bones and bodies creak and clatter as they settle. 

Outside, the snow lets up and the moon is high and full over us. It glows brightly, illuminating the car and making everything look brand new and beautiful. I turn and look, peering into the sleepers, seeing the ghosts look very human.