Under the Whispering Door by T. J. Klune
Author:T. J. Klune [Klune, T. J.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781250217332
Google: w8vdDwAAQBAJ
Publisher: Tom Doherty Associates
Published: 2021-09-20T23:00:00+00:00
CHAPTER
13
At the beginning of his twenty-second day at Charonâs Crossing, a file appeared on the counter next to the cash register. The tea shop hadnât yet opened, and Mei and Hugo were in the kitchen, getting ready for the day to begin.
Nelson was sitting in his chair in front of the fireplace, Apollo at his feet.
Wallace moved around the shop, pulling the chairs down from the tables and tucking them underneath. It was getting easier for him, and it was the least he could do to help. He never thought heâd find joy in such menial work, but these were strange days.
He was lost in thought, pulling down the chairs, when the room seemed to shift slightly. The air grew thick and stagnant. The clock on the wall, ticking the seconds away, stuttered. He looked up to see the second hand move forward once, twice, three times before it moved backward. It twitched back and forth as the hairs on Wallaceâs arms stood on end.
âWhat the hell?â he muttered. âNelson, did you seeââ
He was cut off when the file folder burst into existence next to the cash register with a comical pop! Wisps of smoke drifted up around it as it settled onto the counter. It was thin, as if it only held a few pieces of paper inside.
âOh boy,â Nelson said. âHere we go again.â
Before Wallace could figure out what that meant, Hugo and Mei came through the doors, Apollo trailing after them. Hugo frowned as he glanced up at the clock, the hands frozen.
âDammit,â Mei said. âOf course it comes when Iâm making muffins.â She grumbled as she headed for the stairs, untying her apron before pulling it up and over her head. âDonât let them burn,â she called down. âIâll be very upset.â
âOf course,â Hugo said, looking down at the folder. He touched it with a single finger, tracing along the edges.
âWhat is that?â Wallace asked, going to the counter.
âWeâre going to have a new guest,â Nelson said, rising from his chair. He hobbled over to Hugo and Wallace, cane tapping against the floor. âDoubling up. Havenât done that in a while.â
âAnother guest?â Wallace asked.
âSomeone like us,â Nelson replied. He stopped next to his grandson, peering down at the folder with barely disguised interest.
âYes,â Hugo said, touching the folder almost reverently. âMei will retrieve them and bring them back here.â
Wallace wasnât sure how he felt about that. Heâd grown accustomed to having Hugoâs undivided attention, and the thought of another ghost taking that away caused a strange twist in the hook in his chest. He told himself he was being foolish. Hugo had a job to do. Thereâd been many before Wallace, and thereâd be even more after he was gone. It was temporary. All of this was temporary.
It stung more than he expected it to.
âWhatâs that for?â he asked, rubbing his chest with a grimace. âThe folder.â
Hugo looked up at him. âAll right?â
âIâm fine,â Wallace said, dropping his hand.
Hugo watched him for a beat too long before nodding.
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