“And since you’ll have somewhere to put some clothes…,” I say, fingering the gray sweatshirt on the arm of the couch next to me, “maybe you can expand your wardrobe a little?”

  “What’s wrong with my wardrobe?” she says, and I realize from the pinch of her face and her defensive tone that I’ve offended her.

  “Sorry. Nothing, really. But it’s June and it’s only gonna get hotter. Aren’t you gonna want something more…summery?”

  She looks self-conscious, her eyes dropping to the floor, and I suddenly realize that money is the issue. “I’m good.”

  “All the summer stuff’s on sale at the mall. It’s the best time to get some really great deals.” I’d offer for her to come shopping in my closet, but I’m sure that would off end her even more, and unfortunately, she’s not really my size. She’s at least six inches taller than me, and I can’t figure out whether she’s a little heavy or totally stacked. Hard to tell through the baggy sweatshirt.

  “I pretty much don’t give a crap what I wear,” she says, tugging at her sweatshirt.

  “Just a few tank tops…maybe a T-shirt?”

  “Maybe…” She looks back up at me. “Well…yeah…okay…” A full smile blooms on her face. “Great. When?”

  I tick off my work schedule in my head. “Next Thursday afternoon. I’ll see if my friends Taylor and Riley want to come. Girls’ day out.”

  Her smile falters. “Oh…if you want to go with your friends—”

  “You’ll love them, don’t worry. And it will be good for you to meet some other people. They’re both going to State too.”

  She still looks uncertain, picking at her nail polish. “All right, I guess.”

  “It’ll be great. We can get that dresser then too.”

  The purr of the Shelby through the open window draws my attention, and I smile.

  “Sounds like Luc’s back,” she says, rising from the couch. I’m surprised she’d recognize the sound of the Shelby so easily.

  I pull myself off of the couch and follow her to the window. “You’re good.” I watch Luc slide out of the car, grabbing a couple of grocery bags off his passenger seat, and make his way to the building.

  Her smile is suddenly big and genuine. “No. You are. I knew it was him because of you.”

  “Oh.” I ignore the warmth creeping into my cheeks.

  “If you want to go…,” she starts.

  “Why don’t you come over to Luc’s? We can hang out.”

  Her smile is still there. “Yeah, just what you guys need. A spectator.”

  My cheeks get warmer. “We don’t…I mean…” I trail off, wondering why I care what this stranger thinks about what Luc and I do.

  “Go,” she says, tipping her head toward the door. “It’s okay.”

  “All right. But I’ll come by at noon on Thursday, and we’ll go get that dresser.”

  Her hair falls across her face as she walks with me to the door. “Okay.”

  Matt

  Frannie steps out into the hall just as Luc reaches his door, and I realize I’m still hovering next to Lili, where she stands in her doorway.

  “Hey, Luc,” she says with a wave. As she steps back to close the door, I’m desperate for her not to. When the door closes, she’ll be gone.

  Before I realize I’ve even done it, I’m down the hall, kicking the bottom out of one of the grocery bags dangling from Luc’s hand. An instant later, groceries are strewn across the hall, tomatoes and oranges rolling in every direction.

  Lili steps back into the hall and scoops an orange and two tomatoes up on her way to where Luc is glaring at nothing in particular.

  “Jesus,” Frannie says in surprise, stooping to pick up an onion. “Um…,” she adds as she lifts a dripping carton of eggs by one corner.

  Lili hands Luc the produce she’s collected. “Weird. It’s like there was a bomb in that bag.”

  “Thanks.” Luc’s eyes shift around the hall as he takes it from her.

  Lili picks up a bag of lettuce and hands it to Frannie.

  “Thanks, Lili. We got it.”

  “No problem,” Lili says, turning back toward her door.

  I can’t help following her up the hall, and when she closes it, something inside me squeezes into a tight knot. I lift my hands and lay them flat on the door, fighting to keep from pushing through. Finally, when I’m mostly under control, I turn back to Luc’s and find the hall empty.

  I slide through the wall into the demon’s apartment, where Frannie is putting groceries away as Luc tosses the oozing egg carton into the trash.

  He turns slowly toward me. “What was that?”

  I shrug, hoping I don’t look as guilty as I feel. “What?”

  “The exploding grocery bag trick.”

  I hold up my hands in feigned innocence because I can’t open my mouth to deny it.

  He shakes his head, his mouth pulling into a tight smile as he sorts through the remaining groceries.

  “Matt was telling me on the way over that he wants to try being visible when he’s here,” Frannie says, closing the fridge.

  The demon’s eyes lift to mine. “Why?”

  I ease over to the table and settle into a chair. “I want to get a feel for the people in your building.”

  “I don’t even have a feel for the people in my building,” the demon says.

  “What about that girl? Lili?” Lightning crackles under my skin, and I hope it doesn’t show on my face.

  “What about her?” There’s a sharp edge to his voice.

  I look closer, trying to read his eyes. Finally, I shrug. “Nothing, really.”

  Frannie leans her hip into the table next to me and looks hopefully at Luc.

  “I don’t know…,” he starts, but then he catches Frannie’s expression and his face softens. “I suppose it might be easier if you were visible. At least then we’d know for sure when you were around,” he says, echoing Frannie.

  I smile, relieved, and swing my feet up onto the table. I tip the chair onto its back legs. “I think—”

  Frannie’s on me in a flash, shoving my feet off the table and sending my chair legs crashing to the floor. “For Christ’s sake, Matt! You might not have to eat, but we do. Feet off the table.”

  “Sorry,” I say, straightening in my chair. “So, I think we should start with people here. I can meet them and we’ll see how it goes.”

  The demon’s head snaps up, and something flares in his eyes. “Lili?”

  “I guess. And anyone else you know,” I say, knowing there’s no one else.

  Frannie sits in the chair across from me and glances at him. “What do you think?”

  His eyes narrow. “I suppose.”

  “Great. So next time Lili’s here, we’ll just pretend that I’m hanging out. You know…to see how it goes.”

  Frannie beams at me as she pushes off the table. “This is gonna be great!”

  I catch myself praying she’s right as she gives the demon a peck on the cheek and heads to the door.

  “Gotta get to work. You’ll pick me up for Gallaghers’?” she says.

  Luc smiles as he walks with her. “Like to see you try to stop me.”

  4

  Wrestling with Your Demons

  Frannie

  The early shift at Ricco’s is always so much easier. Even so, I stink when I get home and head straight to the shower. I feel almost human again in a tank top and jeans when I come back to my room.

  Matt is sprawled across my bed on his stomach with my earbuds in, scanning through the menu on my iPod. He lifts his head and grins at me, then starts thrashing his head up and down, sandy curls flying, to the beat of the music only he can hear. “In my next life, I’m going to be a rock star!” he yells.

  I rush over and yank the earphones out of his ears. “Shhh! You want the whole world to hear you?”

  His lips purse and his eyes widen. “Oops.”

  I crack a smile as I realize what he said. “In your next life?”

  “Yeah.”

  “You get another life?” I say, sitting next to him on the bed.

  “No. Not in the real sense, anyway. But when I’m done with my gig as guardian, maybe I’ll start a rock band.”

  “There are rock bands in Heaven?” I say, trying to picture it. “That doesn’t sound like the ‘choirs of angels’ that they talk about at church.”

  He snorts. “No choirs.”

  “So the Heavenly refrain is more along the lines of ‘Highway to Hell’?” I laugh, thinking about how Father O’Donnell would take that news. When I look back at Matt, he’s grinning at me. “What?”

  “Do you remember when we tried to sell Maggie to the neighbors?” he says.

  I laugh at the memory. “’Cause we wanted a puppy, and Mom said to start saving our money.”

  “And Mom made us go talk to Father Mahoney about it—”

  “And he told us we weren’t asking enough for her,” I finish for him, cracking up.

  He rolls onto his back, laughing. Then he props up onto his elbows. His laughter fades, but his smile is bright. “Father Mahoney had the right idea. Heaven isn’t nearly as stuff y as people are led to believe.”

  I flop onto my back next to him and stare at the ceiling, wondering how things would have been now if Matt were still alive. Up till Mary moved out last month, I was the only sister without a roommate, because mine died. Even though I’m sure Matt and I wouldn’t be sharing a room anymore, I know he’d still be my best friend.

  “I’ve been thinking about this Sway thing….” I trail off, not sure how to continue.

  “Yeah, I saw that fight in the park last week. Nice job, sis.” He grins, and I want to punch him.

  “You know what? Just forget it.”

  “Sorry,” he says, but he’s still grinning. “So what about it?”

  I take a deep breath. “If I turned Luc mortal—”

  He rolls on his side and shoves my shoulder. “Everyone makes mistakes.”

  I hear the laugh in his voice, and suddenly I’m furious. I sit up on the bed and glare at him. “Jesus, Matt! I’m trying to be serious here.”

  His eyes go wide and he draws back from me. “Sorry…”

  “I want you to be mortal too,” I blurt. “I want you back.”

  His eyes go wider and he sits up. He just stares at me for a long minute and neither of us says anything. Finally, he starts to shake his head. “No, Frannie. It’s too late for that. I have a job now.” He scoots closer. “An important one. And I couldn’t go back to being your brother anyway. If I were mortal, I’d have to start over again somewhere else. This way, at least I get to be with you.” Then a smile blooms on his face. “And being an angel has its perks.”

  My heart sinks, but I know he’s right. “So, this is as close to having you back as I’m gonna get.”

  “It’s not so bad. I can still give you wet willies,” he says, then licks his finger and sticks it in my ear.

  I jump off the bed and grab a tissue from the box on the nightstand. “Aww! That’s disgusting,” I say, wiping the spit off my ear.

  “Angel spit has magical properties. You should keep that.” He gestures to the tissue with a grin.

  I glare at him, holding the contaminated tissue by the corner at arm’s length. “Such as…?”

  His face draws wide in surprise. “I think I might have just lied.”

  “I knew you were no angel,” I say, chucking the tissue in the trash just as Mom calls up the stairs that dinner is ready. I shoot a grin over my shoulder, and Matt disappears as I pull the door open and head downstairs.

  I get to the kitchen just as the back door screen slams. I look up to see Grandpa.

  “Grandpa!” I squeal, and run over to hug him.

  “There’s my girl,” he says as Maggie steps into the room, and I don’t miss the disappointment on her face. I’ve always been Grandpa’s favorite, since Matt and I started working on cars with him when we were little—not that we were much help back then. None of my sisters were ever interested in joining us in the garage, so since Matt died ten years ago, it’s just been Grandpa and me every Sunday after church. My midnight blue ’65 Mustang convertible was our last restoration project.

  “Did you get that Shelby?” I ask, dragging him to the table by the hand.

  “On its way.” He pulls up a chair next to mine and sits.

  “Is it a total rebuild?”

  “Yep. Pretty much a mess. Don’t know what I’m gonna do without ya when you go off to college.”

  “Well, don’t think about pulling that engine without our help.”

  “Our help?”

  I cringe. “Luc was gonna meet us at your house after church.”

  “Luc wants in, huh?” he says, rubbing his balding head.

  I reach up and brush his gray fringe back into place. “If that’s okay…?”

  “Not sure I want to share my best mechanic.”

  My cringe deepens into a pleading grimace.

  He breaks into a deep belly laugh. “I can see it’s an all-or-nothin’ proposition.”

  “He’s really good. You won’t regret it.”

  His blue eyes sparkle. “We’ll see.”

  Mom steps up behind him, wiping her hands on her apron and leaning down to kiss his cheek before settling in at her end of the table. She brushes a stray lock of sandy blond hair back into place before picking up Grandpa’s plate and serving the chicken.

  Watching her, I can’t help but think about how much she’s changed in the last few weeks. She seems so much more alive, like maybe she’s finally letting Matt go. There’s a little pang in my heart as I glance around the kitchen, knowing he’s here and wishing I could share him with her.

  She hands Grandpa a heaping plate of food. “Glad you could make it for dinner, Dad. I don’t think you’re eating as well as you should.”

  “I’m eatin’ just fine,” he says, laying his plate on the table and patting his roundish belly.

  Dad comes in from the family room as the rest of my sisters—all but Mary—find spots around the table. “Ooh. My favorite. Chicken and dumplings,” he says, tucking his napkin into his lap.

  Food is passed and everyone eats, but the Cavanaugh table is never a quiet one. Grace and Maggie fight over whose night it is to clean the kitchen while Dad gives Kate a hard time about her lack of a summer job this year. Everyone has something to say—all at the same time. Mom turns to me when there’s finally a lull in the conversation.

  “So what are you all dressed up for?”

  I look down at my black silk tank and jeans. I wonder what it says about me that this is “dressed up.”

  “Luc and I are going out to the Gallaghers’ tonight with Taylor, Riley, and Trev.”

  “Trev? Riley’s still seeing Trevor?”

  I can’t help cracking a smile. “Yep, hot and heavy.”

  “And Taylor’s okay about Riley with her little brother?”

  “Getting there.” That’s actually a little bit of a lie. Taylor’s still pretty pissed. But that’s Taylor—not great in the forgiveness category.

  Taylor was the first person I met in Haden, and she’s been the perfect friend for me. We moved here not long after Matt died. I was pretty messed up at the time, so it took me a while to realize that my mom was messed up too. What I know now is that Dad moved us here so Mom could be closer to her parents.

  Anyway, Taylor was just what I needed. Neither of us is big into sharing our feelings or crap like that. Riley came along much later and is kind of our accidental friend. She and all her feelings are dangerous. But I can’t help being happy for her that she’s found “the one.” She always knew he was out there. It’s just too bad for her that it turned out to be Taylor’s brother.

  “Chase is picking me up too, Mom,” Kate says. I look over what she’s wearing and push away the tinge of jealousy. She’s always totally amazing. In a stroke of universal unfairness, Kate got not only the looks in our family, but also the height. She’s the only one of us sisters to break five-six.

  “Don’t his parents get sick of all those parties?” Mom asks.

  “No, they’re good with it. At least they know where all their kids are,” Kate answers.

  Kate’s boyfriend, Chase, is one of ten Gallagher kids, and every high school party since the dawn of time has been in their backyard.

  Maggie bounces in her seat. “I’m going too.”

  Dad points his fork at her and fixes her in a hard gaze. “I don’t think so.”

  “But Roadkill is playing there tonight. Delanie wants me to come,” she whines, turning her pleading eyes on me.

  I pick at the remains of my chicken. “Not up to me, Maggs. Sorry.”

  Dad regards Maggie with his serious hazel eyes. “You’ll have plenty of time for that when you’re older.”

  She pulls a hand through her dark curls and rolls her eyes. “Dad! I’m not a freshman anymore. It’s summer, so I’m a sophomore now.”

  Dad’s gaze becomes even more stern. “Maggie…”

  Maggie jerks back from the table with a shove that nearly knocks over every water glass. At the same instant, two of the three bulbs in the overhead fixture pop loudly and go dark.

  “I hate being the youngest!”

  With a stomp of her foot, Maggie storms out of the kitchen as the last bulb pops, leaving us sitting in the dark.

  Dad looks warily up at the fixture, then he pushes back from the table. “I’ll take care of that.”

  The light in the laundry room clicks on and I hear him flipping circuit breakers in the fuse box. He’s back in a minute with new bulbs and climbs onto his chair to change them. “Must be a short circuit somewhere,” he says, stepping off the chair.

  Mom sighs as the kitchen illuminates, then turns a concerned eye on me. “Who’s driving?”

  “Luc and Riley.”

  I see the relief in her eyes as she dabs the corners of her mouth with her napkin.

  “Mom,” I say, exasperated. “I’m not a bad driver.”

  “I never said you were, dear.”

  “Whatever,” I growl, pushing my chair back and clearing my place.

  I rinse my dishes and finish just as the doorbell rings. I bolt for the door and slide through, smiling up at Luc, who stands on my front porch.

 

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