Read Online The Gatekeeper's Secret: Gatekeeper's Saga, Book Five (The Gatekeeper's Saga) by Eva Pohler - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Eva Pohler
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nothing as he stood, blew her a kiss, and disappeared.
***
The next morning, Than followed Therese’s instructions in making sure he looked as though he had been sleeping all night. He mussed up his hair, put on a pair of pajamas Therese had bought specifically for this purpose, and twisted up the bed covers. It was actually kind of fun. Never in his ancient life had he needed to play act. Well, that wasn’t true. He supposed he had to play act when he first came to the Upperworld to try and win Therese’s heart. But this was different. He waited until the others were awake and moving around, until the smell of fried eggs and potatoes and coffee wafted down the stairs, before he headed up to greet them.
“Merry Christmas Eve!” Carol called from the kitchen.
“Thanks,” he said. “Merry Christmas Eve.” He was a little familiar with the various traditions around the world celebrated during the winter solstice, and Christmas was no exception. For centuries, people in the Northern Hemisphere had created ways to make the darkest season brighter and cheerier with wreaths and trees of lights. Before electricity, they used candles. In recent history, Than could see whole blocks of houses alight with strings of electric-powered lights as he flew across the night sky to retrieve the souls. He learned over the years that people were especially heart-broken to lose a loved one during their holiday season, a time spent celebrating peace on earth and goodwill toward one another, a time when families spent days together and were thankful for their blessings.
Richard stood beside Carol in the kitchen turning the eggs. He asked Than how he liked his cooked.
“Oh, any way is fine with me,” Than said. He had no idea how he liked them cooked. Eggs, for the most part, were not a common food item for him.
“Did you sleep okay?” Carol asked, handing him a mug of coffee. “Sugar, right?”
Than smiled. “Right. And I slept fine, thanks. Where’s Therese?”
Lynn slapped her hands against the tray of her high chair. “Terry! Where Terry?”
Than had a brief thought of what it would be like to have a daughter with Therese.
Two, but none immortal.
“She’s already eaten,” Richard said. “She’s up in the attic, looking for something.”
What are you doing in the attic? Than asked Therese.
Don’t come up! It’s a surprise!
Richard handed Than a plate of eggs and fried potatoes. “Here you go, son.”
“Thanks.”
Carol gave him a fork and napkin and put shakers of salt and pepper in front of him. “How would you feel about driving into town with me today, Than?”
“How would I feel about it?” He wasn’t sure what Carol was asking him. He shoveled in the food and found it tasty. He’d forgotten it had been a long time since his last meal.
Carol sat on the barstool beside him and leaned her elbows on the granite countertop. “I want to get something special for Therese for Christmas, but I need your opinion. She’s been gone so much these past two years. I hardly know what she likes anymore.”
Richard gave Than a sympathetic look. “I doubt the boy wants to go shopping on Christmas Eve. The traffic will be a nightmare, and the crowds can get pretty ridiculous.”
Than had never been shopping before in his life, though he’d fetched souls from mobs of shoppers over the years. Fighting the crowd for merchandise did not sound enjoyable.
“I have something in mind, though,” Carol said. “I just want Than’s opinion before I make the final purchase. One store. That’s it. Please?”
Than could not deny his future mother-in-law. “Of course, Carol,” Than said. “I’d be happy to go with you.”
“Wonderful!” She squeezed his shoulders and seemed a little surprised by their girth. He hid a smirk as she recovered and added, “Then you can drive. I hate holiday traffic.”
Than gave Carol a forced smile. Did you hear that? he asked Therese. She wants me to drive.
Mak e sure she
***
The next morning, Than followed Therese’s instructions in making sure he looked as though he had been sleeping all night. He mussed up his hair, put on a pair of pajamas Therese had bought specifically for this purpose, and twisted up the bed covers. It was actually kind of fun. Never in his ancient life had he needed to play act. Well, that wasn’t true. He supposed he had to play act when he first came to the Upperworld to try and win Therese’s heart. But this was different. He waited until the others were awake and moving around, until the smell of fried eggs and potatoes and coffee wafted down the stairs, before he headed up to greet them.
“Merry Christmas Eve!” Carol called from the kitchen.
“Thanks,” he said. “Merry Christmas Eve.” He was a little familiar with the various traditions around the world celebrated during the winter solstice, and Christmas was no exception. For centuries, people in the Northern Hemisphere had created ways to make the darkest season brighter and cheerier with wreaths and trees of lights. Before electricity, they used candles. In recent history, Than could see whole blocks of houses alight with strings of electric-powered lights as he flew across the night sky to retrieve the souls. He learned over the years that people were especially heart-broken to lose a loved one during their holiday season, a time spent celebrating peace on earth and goodwill toward one another, a time when families spent days together and were thankful for their blessings.
Richard stood beside Carol in the kitchen turning the eggs. He asked Than how he liked his cooked.
“Oh, any way is fine with me,” Than said. He had no idea how he liked them cooked. Eggs, for the most part, were not a common food item for him.
“Did you sleep okay?” Carol asked, handing him a mug of coffee. “Sugar, right?”
Than smiled. “Right. And I slept fine, thanks. Where’s Therese?”
Lynn slapped her hands against the tray of her high chair. “Terry! Where Terry?”
Than had a brief thought of what it would be like to have a daughter with Therese.
Two, but none immortal.
“She’s already eaten,” Richard said. “She’s up in the attic, looking for something.”
What are you doing in the attic? Than asked Therese.
Don’t come up! It’s a surprise!
Richard handed Than a plate of eggs and fried potatoes. “Here you go, son.”
“Thanks.”
Carol gave him a fork and napkin and put shakers of salt and pepper in front of him. “How would you feel about driving into town with me today, Than?”
“How would I feel about it?” He wasn’t sure what Carol was asking him. He shoveled in the food and found it tasty. He’d forgotten it had been a long time since his last meal.
Carol sat on the barstool beside him and leaned her elbows on the granite countertop. “I want to get something special for Therese for Christmas, but I need your opinion. She’s been gone so much these past two years. I hardly know what she likes anymore.”
Richard gave Than a sympathetic look. “I doubt the boy wants to go shopping on Christmas Eve. The traffic will be a nightmare, and the crowds can get pretty ridiculous.”
Than had never been shopping before in his life, though he’d fetched souls from mobs of shoppers over the years. Fighting the crowd for merchandise did not sound enjoyable.
“I have something in mind, though,” Carol said. “I just want Than’s opinion before I make the final purchase. One store. That’s it. Please?”
Than could not deny his future mother-in-law. “Of course, Carol,” Than said. “I’d be happy to go with you.”
“Wonderful!” She squeezed his shoulders and seemed a little surprised by their girth. He hid a smirk as she recovered and added, “Then you can drive. I hate holiday traffic.”
Than gave Carol a forced smile. Did you hear that? he asked Therese. She wants me to drive.
Mak e sure she
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