Chapter 16: Open for business?

Lulu sighed, stepping aside to let the young woman in. She really didn't want to be the topic of neighborhood gossip again.

She really didn't need more rumors of her being crazy (or on drugs) spreading around… again.

She shut the door behind her and motioned toward the small dining table. "Sit," she said, already making her way to the kitchen. "I'll make some tea."

As she set the kettle on the stove, she mentally groaned.

'This is giving me serious déjà vu.'

Here she was again, preparing tea for another ghost. Was this her life now? Some sort of spectral therapist? A customer service hotline for lost souls?

The kettle whistled, cutting off her inner monologue, and she poured the water into two mismatched mugs. One for herself. One for a person who literally could not drink it.

She placed them on the table and sat across from her unexpected visitor. The two of them just sat there for a moment, neither speaking.

Silence.

Lulu had never been one to mind silence, but this was different. The girl sat stiffly, her hands clasped together on the table, staring down at the tea with an intense concentration.

Lulu wasn't in a rush. She'd learned by now that ghosts—like people—needed time to collect themselves before spilling their stories.

Finally, Amelia took a deep breath and looked up at her.

"My name is Amelia," she said. "And as I've said before, Henry told me about you. That you could see… people like us…"

Lulu arched a brow. "Dead people?"

It was a confirmation, not a question, but she immediately regretted saying it so bluntly because Amelia visibly flinched, like Lulu had just slapped her across the face.

'Oh. She's still in the denial stage.'

Wanting to quickly change the subject before she made things worse, Lulu cleared her throat. "You said Henry sent you? How did you even meet him?"

'And how did he even manage to work so fast? I just left him a few hours ago…'

Amelia nodded. "I met him at the train terminal," she explained. "I was… I was looking for help, but no one was responding to me. No one except for him." She swallowed hard. "I didn't even realize I was dead until he told me. I thought people in that city were just exceptionally rude."

Lulu blinked in surprise, realizing that Henry had sent another ghost her way far earlier than she'd expected.

She recalled that moment at the train station—the chaos of it all. Henry had disappeared for about ten minutes before reappearing next to her like nothing had happened, just as she was getting into the taxi.

Ten minutes.

That was all the time he'd had.

And yet, somehow, in those ten minutes, he had met Amelia, figured out she was a ghost, helped her come to terms with it, and then volunteered Lulu as her new personal afterlife guide?!

Lulu dragged a hand down her face. "What the hell, Henry."

Amelia hesitated. "Sorry… is this a bad time?"

"No, no," Lulu said quickly, sitting up straighter. "It's just—Henry never mentioned anything about this. And I literally spent days with the guy."

Amelia gave a faint smile, though there was a sadness behind it. "He was really kind to me," she said softly. "When I realized I was dead, I panicked. I felt so lost. But he comforted me and told me that even though I was dead, that didn't mean I was hopeless to finish any unfinished business that I had… because you could help me!"

Lulu exhaled, leaning back in her chair. Of course.

"Well, Amelia, I understand that Henry meant well, and you seem like a nice person," Lulu said carefully, "but he really shouldn't have just volunteered me, especially when I am already soooo bus—"

"He also mentioned that the going rate for your services is around ten thousand dollars, give or take."

'Hmm? How much did she say?'

Lulu almost choked on her tea.

"It's a little expensive," Amelia continued, oblivious, "but given my current situation, I don't really need money anymore, so it's fine."

Did Henry just—

Did Henry just tell this girl that she needed to PAY her?!

And not just that—but ten thousand dollars?!

"—busy, but I can definitely squeeze you in!" Lulu finished brightly, plastering a businesslike smile on her face.

She took a long sip of her tea to calm her raging, heartbeat and then set the mug down.

"Alright, Amelia," she said, "how may I be of service?"