Grim Reaper 01 - Embrace the Grim Reaper

a napkin and rolled it all into a perfect oblong bundle. “Did she ever say anything to you about work?”
    “Work?” His face crinkled in concentration. “About silverware?”
    “No. No, I mean about HomeMaker.”
    “Oh, that work.” He turned backed to his silverware, as if he didn’t care to reply.
    “ Praise the Lord ,” Loretta said, “Ellen was going to make the need for this kitchen go away, thank you Jesus! ”
    Casey went closer to her. “Did she tell you how?”
    “Didn’t say much, did she now, poor angel of God, but she was confident in His power, yes she was. Praise the Lord! ”
    “She thought God was going to save the factory?”
    Loretta pursed her lips. “Now don’t be getting that tone, young lady, although God loves you even so.”
    “I’m sorry. But I was serious. What made her confident? Trust in God?”
    “That’s always there, honey. But she was the one doing God’s work and helping the meek and poor in spirit.”
    Casey clenched her fists against her hips. “But how ?”
    “Oh, well now, baby, I’d tell you if I knew, wouldn’t I? Hallelujah! ”
    Casey took a deep breath, reminding herself that taking an elderly woman to the mat was really not appropriate. No matter how heartfelt it would be.
    The door slapped open again, and Casey’s stomach dropped. “Leila.”
    “Where’s Eric?” The girl’s eyes sparked with anger—and something else—when she saw Casey.
    Casey jerked her thumb toward the dining room. “Out there.”
    Leila spun on her heel and marched out of the kitchen. Casey followed, stopping in the doorway to make sure Eric wasn’t about to get assaulted. She needn’t have worried. Leila’s only concern seemed to be to find Eric and give him some urgent message. Somehow, Casey had the feeling it was about her .
    Casey went back to the kitchen and took a couple heads of lettuce from the fridge, washing them and cutting off the brown spots with a knife. Maybe it was time for her to leave Home Sweet Home, at least, if not Clymer altogether. She wasn’t getting any answers. Eric was angry with her. Leila was telling secrets. Loretta thought she was a heathen. Johnny had even turned his back on her.
    She closed her eyes and leaned on the sink, a wave of dizziness sweeping through her.
    “Don’t go falling into the sink now,” Death said. “You’ll cut yourself with that knife.”
    Casey shook her head, her eyes still closed, and whispered, “No one would care.”
    “Sure they would. You’d get blood on the lettuce.”
    Casey straightened, giving Death a good glare. “Thanks so much for your concern.”
    Death shrugged and peeled a perfect yellow banana.
    “What is with you?” Casey said. “First junk food, now the healthy stuff.”
    “I get bored. And besides, I’m really enjoying learning about—”
    “Gardening. I know.”
    “Casey?” Eric came to stand beside Casey and she blinked as he stood in Death’s spot, Death’s form shimmering, but staying in place, outlining Eric’s body. Eric shivered. “Is it cold in here, or is it just me?” He reached over to shut the door.
    Leila stood in the entryway to the dining room, her expression triumphant, arms crossed over her chest. Casey went back to chopping lettuce, avoiding the sight of Death/Eric.
    “Um, I’m sorry,” Eric said. “I know you’re just trying to help by asking me to think of these things. I’ll go home tonight and look through my calendar. See if I can piece together which visit to my dad that would’ve been.”
    Casey nodded. “Good. That would be helpful.”
    Leila cleared her throat.
    Eric looked back at her, then turned again to Casey, a violent shudder running through his body. He looked at the window, but it was closed. “Why is it so cold in here?”
    “Go on back out to the dining room,” Casey said. “We’ve got things under control in here.”
    “All right.” He leaned closer. “But that means I’ve got to deal with Leila.”
    Casey grinned. “You’re a big boy. You can handle her.”
    He glanced over at the girl in the doorway, who now had her fists planted on her hips. “I’m not so sure.”
    Casey nudged him out of the way as she leaned over the sink, and he left.
    “That wasn’t nice,” she told Death.
    Death shrugged. “I was here first.”
    Loretta walked past Casey, a stack of pizzas in her arms as she headed for the stove. “Another volunteer for the kitchen, Praise God! Did you bring a friend, Casey?”
    Casey shook her