A Christmas Ghost Read online

  “You know me?” Samuel furrowed his brows.

  “I know everyone.” The man smiled. “Just beyond these gates lies the afterlife. If you go through, you’ll have everlasting peace.”

  “Go through?” Samuel became confused.

  “Every soul that passes through has a choice to carry on into the afterlife, or be granted a second chance.” The man explained.

  “Interesting.” Samuel spoke, nodding his head.

  “Now tell me Samuel, what will you choose?” The man’s voice echoed.

  Samuel stood examining everything in sight. The place had a magical glow with mist floating at eye level. The way he felt was like no other feeling. He was calm and his body didn’t feel like it hurt from head to toe.

  “Samuel?” The man’s voice boomed in. “Have you made your decision?”

  “Can I have time to think?”

  “How much more time do you need? I can only grant you a few more minutes, then you must choose.”

  Just beside the man stood a display screen. On the screen he saw Stacey. She was alone and crying. He could hear her calling out to him, but he wasn’t near her to answer. He wanted to be there with her, but he also wanted to feel peace again. The screen switched over to past events shared between him and Stacey.

  “This is to help me make my choice, isn’t it?” Samuel caught on.

  “Indeed, it is.”

  Samuel watched more of what was being displayed on the screen. The more and more he watched, the more and more he became undecided. He literally felt torn.

  “Do you love her?” The man spoke from beside Samuel.

  Samuel flicked his head quickly and his eyes widened for a second when he saw the man standing next to him.

  “I too can move like you.” He confirmed. “So? What is it going to be?”

  Samuel walked closer to the screen and laid his hand on it. His eyes peaked inside beyond the gates. He could see people laughing, playing and talking like they were human and alive. Their faces expressed no pain and no regret.

  “There’s one thing missing from this.” The man pointed out.

  “What is that?” Samuel inquired.

  “Their families. These are all people who had to leave someone behind. They’ve all learned to live with it, but they made their choices. Are you willing to leave her behind?”

  Stacey’s voice resounded from behind Samuel. An opening formed and he could see a part of the family room where she lived where he lived too. Samuel walked to the gates and laid his hand on it. He was ready to push forward.

  Back in the house, Stacey cried for what seemed like an eternity. Her heart ached for Samuel. She finally got what she craved for, love, and it was suddenly ripped away from her. She couldn’t take this kind of life anymore.

  “Life is so cruel.” Her voiced penetrated the still winter air. “How can someone find love, lose it, find it again and have it ripped away again? I’m beginning to see sometimes you don’t get what you wish for.”

  In the back of her mind, she hoped for a Christmas miracle, but the way her life has become, it would never happen.

  “If anyone can hear me, please. Bring him back.”

  Samuel heard her plea just as he was about to go through. He looked back and stared blankly.

  “Once you go through them gates, there’s no returning. What will it be?” The man spoke a final time.

  “I choose…”

  Five

  Chapter Five

  Christmas morning came and Stacey didn’t feel like getting out of bed. Why should she? There was nothing waiting for her under the tree. There was no one there in the house with her. Nothing could make her happy anymore. With Samuel gone, what happiness was left?

  As she tossed and turned in bed, the doorbell rang. Who could it be at this hour and on Christmas morning? She dragged her body out of bed and headed for the front door. Her feet fell hard on the floor causing a rumble noise to echo. She placed her hand on the knob and turned. When she opened the door, her real estate agent greeted her with a smile.

  “Merry Christmas!” Vanessa handed her a gift bag.

  “Oh…” Stacey grasped the gift in her hands.

  It felt heavy and bulky inside the gift bag. Stacey wondered what it could be.

  “Thank you.” Stacey chimed. “Would you like to come in?” She waved Vanessa in.

  “Oh, no. I have to get back home. I figured I would surprise you with a late house warming gift.” Vanessa explained her visit.

  “Ah, I see.” Stacey’s eyes showed a touch of sadness.

  “I hope everything is okay.” Vanessa asked with concern.

  “Yes, everything is great.” Stacey had to perk up and conceal her hurting heart.

  “Call me if you need anything.”

  Vanessa stepped back, waved and headed back to her car. Stacey waved back and closed the door. She strolled to the kitchen and laid the gift bag on the table. She reached in and dug through all the tissue paper. She pulled out a beautiful piece of décor. It had a saying on it.

  “The key to a happy home is a happy heart.” Stacey recited and then flapped her lips from a heavy sigh.

  She tossed the décor piece onto the table and dragged her feet against the floor to pour coffee. She grabbed the coffeepot and realized nothing was in it. She was used to having it already made for her in the morning. She grabbed the coffee grounds, a filter and a pot of water and made up coffee. She watched it drip slowly down into the carafe. When it was finished, she grabbed her mug and poured. She took a sip and immediately spit it out.

  “YUCK!” She shouted. “How did he get it to taste so good before?” She questioned.

  She flung the mug into the sink and prepared herself for a spur of the moment outing to the coffee shop. When she was dressed, she thought she heard rustling around in the kitchen. She went to investigate, but no one was there.

  Part of her was hoping Samuel somehow found a way back, perhaps it was just residual energy moving throughout the house. Stacey grabbed her purse and strode for her car. It was chilly, and the wind helped none. She dashed inside the car and revved it up.

  En route to the coffee shop, the still winter air drove her mad. She turned on the radio to have something else to listen to. A cheerful voice came over the radio and played Christmas music. The song that played was Stacey’s favorite. She perked up somewhat. She sang in tune to the music and put her whole body into it. She was sure people saw her and thought it comical, however; she didn’t care.

  She pulled into the drive-thru of the coffee shop and ordered a cup of hot coffee with cream and sugar. She paid for it at the window and proceeded onward to her home. She sipped it cautiously and hummed as it slid down her throat.

  “Mmmm. Now this is a cup of joy right here.” She spoke.

  She drove through the small town and glanced at the pretty decorations that donned the lampposts along the road. The crisp snow that fell throughout the night collected on the edges of the decorations and made them seem more festive.

  When she reached home, she raced inside to escape the bitter cold that nipped at her face.

  “Ahhh, heat!” She squirmed in her spot.

  She removed her coat and made her way to the family room to do light reading by the tree. She retrieved a book that was tradition for her to read every Christmas. She flipped through the pages and read till her heart was content. Further into her book, she realized that the fireplace in the family room was on.

  “I didn’t light this.” She became confused.

  She shook her head and was thankful that it didn’t get out of hand and burn the house down. She continued to read her book and while doing so, she noticed something fall in front of the bay window and swing freely. She rose from her chair and pushed the curtains aside.

  A string of lights fell and Stacey questioned herself.

  “Wait, I didn’t put these up.”

  She turned around and went through the house and check things out. Something was stran
ge, and she was determined to find out what was going on. She looked in every room and nothing seemed out of the ordinary until she got to the kitchen.

  The wall décor that Vanessa gave her was placed on the wall in the kitchen and a pot of freshly brewed coffee was ready. Her eyes shifted from side to side, trying to process what was transpiring. No one was there, and this freaked her right out.

  “Please don’t tell me. There’s another ghost that resides here.” She sarcastically spat.

  She waited for a response and nothing showed itself.

  “I guess that’s out of the question then.” Stacey remarked.

  Stacey spun around on her heels and made her way back to the family room. All the weirdness going on she could have sworn it was Samuel, but she knew in her heart it wasn’t. He was gone. He moved on and settled into his new life.

  With each step forward, Stacey heard a footstep behind her. She looked over her shoulder, but nothing was there.

  “Samuel?” She spoke.

  Nothing replied to her. It was just dead air. It was worth a shot to seek who maybe was haunting the house. It was not Samuel.

  When she reached the family room, she sat down and picked back up with her reading. Every time she turned the page, a small pinging noise hit the window. It wasn’t snow, the object that hit the window had a solid mass to it.

  “Who is throwing pebbles at my window?” Stacey thought.

  She once again strolled to the window to investigate the noise. She looked from side to side and even peered out further to the street. No one was visible. She shrugged her shoulders and credited it to small icicles falling and hitting the window.

  As soon as she sat down again, the doorbell rang. Stacey huffed because her day seemed to be restless.

  “Now who is it?” She scoffed.

  She charged for the door with a heavy foot and swung the door open. Someone stood before her with a bouquet of Winter flowers. The person’s face was hidden behind them and Stacey leaned to the left to sneak a peek at who it could be.

  “I figured these would be a great addition to the family room.” Samuel spoke as the flowers revealed his face.

  Stacey’s mouth dropped and her eyes grew wide. She couldn’t believe who was standing before her. She leapt into his arms and he held her tight.

  “I thought you were gone! How is this possible?” Her heart raced.

  “I was given a second chance.” He smiled.

  “I didn’t even know that could be done.” Stacey admitted.

  “Neither did I.” He confessed. “Shall we?” Samuel removed an arm from her waist and pointed to the inside of the house.

  Stacey was the first to enter followed by Samuel. Her brows furrowed in confusion. She pivoted to face him and spoke.

  “Wait. You were outside just now. How?”

  He took a deep breath and let it out through his nose.

  “I’m human again.” He replied.

  “You’re human?” Stacey became stunned.

  Samuel nodded to confirm.

  “I’ll explain everything later. First, I’d like a kiss.” He tapped his lips.

  Stacey ran into him and their lips met with incredible passion. They drew back and admired each other before speaking.

  “Never leave me again.”

  “I won’t.”

  Can’t get enough Christmas romance? Then try Christmas with a Stranger! You won’t regret it!

  About the Author

  I live in the sunny state of Florida, married to a wonderful man and have a beautiful daughter. I’ve been writing for over ten years and my first book, Short Stories for the Soul, was published as an eBook only. After that, I delved into the amazing world of poetry and published three poetry books, two of which are free verse and the third being a holiday edition. Shortly after my third poetry book was published, I learned I was pregnant and took time off to dedicate to myself and baby. I came back a few years later this time wandering into the romance genre and furthering my craft into the thriller and horror genres.

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  https://kimberlygrellauthor.wordpress.com

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  Also by Kimberly Grell

  Christmas with a Stranger

  https://www.books2read.com/u/3yZDJB

  Secret Santa

  https://www.books2read.com/u/mYoMJp

  A Christmas Wedding

  https://www.books2read.com/u/mqZRXQ

  Christmas by Design

  https://www.books2read.com/u/mKKe5V

  On That Winter Day

  https://www.books2read.com/u/boYjL0