PROLOGUE

Tennyson

Kansas City, KS, 1997…

St. Michael's Hospital smelled like death. At least it did to fourteen-year-old Tennyson Grimm. He knew it was the scent of industrial-strength cleaner being used to mask other odors, human waste, blood, and despair, but from this moment forward, Ten would always associate cleansers with death.

Not only could he smell death, but he could see it too. From the parking lot to his father's room, Ten had encountered no less than half a dozen confused and disoriented spirits. He'd been speaking to the dead for nearly a year but didn't dare do it in front of his mother. Kaye had enough on her plate at the moment.

Ten, his mother, and several members from their Union Chapel Baptist church sat around David Grimm's hospital bed, praying, singing, and speaking in tongues. Ten hated the overenthusiastic praying. It made him feel uncomfortable for the simple fact that if his parents or the church found out about his being gay and psychic, the person being prayed over enthusiastically would be him.

David was scheduled for a minor heart procedure, one which the surgeon described as routine . Dr. Klein said he performed hundreds of these types of surgeries every year and had a very good success rate. As he'd been speaking, Tennyson bore witness to several of his patients dying on the operating table. The ghosts of those who'd been lost crowded around the doctor as if they were hoping for a shot at revenge. Ten would do what he could for those lost souls if he managed to get away from the members of his church for a few minutes.

"Tennyson," David Grimm called his son's name. He reached a hand out when Tennyson came to his bedside.

"How are you feeling?" Ten asked, which was a stupid question. He could feel his father's anxiety and worry courtesy of his gift. David also felt annoyed by the prayer circle. He didn't need or want them in the room. This time should be for family. Ten wouldn't say a word about what he knew, not now and definitely not later.

"I'm tired," David admitted. "I just want this surgery to be over so we can go back to our regular lives."

Ten understood where his father was coming from. Ever since David had collapsed in the kitchen a week ago, their lives had been filled with never-ending doctor appointments, bloodwork, stress tests, and a healthy dose of fear. Ten didn't understand the fear. The church pastor preached every Sunday how joyous meeting Jesus Christ would be when our time on this Earth ended. Ten wasn't an expert, but what was happening in the hospital room at the moment didn't remotely resemble joy. It was pure desperation-tinged panic.

"You're going to be just fine, Dad." Ten wasn't being optimistic for his father's sake. He'd seen the results of the surgery. David would pull through with flying colors and would be home in three days. Of course, Ten also saw the frenzy of thankful prayers that would follow and wasn't looking forward to faking his way through the church services that would be held in David's honor. It wasn't that Ten didn't like church or his Lord and Savior, but from everything he'd been told, Jesus didn't like him, or rather his sins.

Hate the sin. Love the sinner.

"Thanks, Ten. I appreciate you saying that." David's grip on his son's hand tightened. "You're the man of the house now. Take care of your mother. She's going to need you to be her rock, especially if I don't make it home."

Ten opened his mouth to tell David that he would be coming home. On Friday. At 10:33 a.m. He thought better of speaking and waited instead for his father to continue.

"I love you, son. I don't say it nearly enough, but I love you, and I'm so proud of the young man you've become." David gave Ten's hand another squeeze.

"Thanks, Dad." Ten knew full well that David was only saying those words because he was knocking on heaven's door. Most days, he found his son a disappointment. Ten wasn't the best student and was the worst athlete in the history of Union Chapel High School. He sat for a moment with his father's rare words of praise and had to admit he felt good.

"Make sure your mother eats and takes her vitamins. Don't give her any hassle about bedtime. Got it?" David sounded exhausted.

"Yes, sir. I'll take good care of Mom. I promise." Ten knew the casserole brigade would be dropping by meals every day for the next two weeks. The nosy women would keep Kaye busy and would come with her to visit David in the hospital. Not out of kindness or community spirit, but so they'd be privy to the latest gossip. Sometimes it really sucked to know what people were thinking and the actual reasons behind their smiles and seemingly kind gestures.

"Ah, here we are, Mr. Grimm," Dr. Klein said, breezing into the hospital room. "How are you feeling this morning?"

The prayer circle didn't break their stride when the doctor approached David's bed. In fact, their prayers became even more frenzied.

"Ready to get this over with, Doc." David offered a weak smile.

The doctor grabbed David's chart from the end of the bed and flipped through the pages. "The nurse will be in to prep you for surgery in a few minutes. I'll need everyone but the immediate family to leave the room."

Kaye ushered the members of her church out into the corridor. "Is everything okay, Dr. Klein?" Kaye looked as worried as she sounded.

"While prayer is helpful in situations like this, what Mr. Grimm needs now are the miracles of modern medicine." Dr. Klein set David's chart on the foot of the bed. "I'll see you soon." He nodded at Tennyson and was gone.

Ten expected both of his parents to offer some pushback against the doctor and his seemingly atheist views, but they were both quiet. "I'll head out to the waiting room so you two can have some time alone." Ten hugged his father and left the room, closing the door behind him.

Dr. Klein's words were a miracle in themselves. Ten had never heard anyone say that God wasn't the answer to every question. It gave him hope that one day he'd be able to live in a world where people delighted in who he truly was rather than reviling him. All he needed to do was bide his time.

With a happy heart, Ten went in search of the lost souls who were wandering around the hospital. While Dr. Klein worked wonders with his gifts in the operating room. Ten would use his own gifts to bring restless spirits the peace they deserved.