Ghost of Christmas Future (Haunted Souls #26)

PROLOGUE

Jude

Jude Byrne sat alone in his apartment overlooking the frozen Charles River.

Christmas lights twinkled on his neighbors’ balconies and on trees in the neighborhood.

The street was mostly deserted, after the mad dash of Bostonians over the last few days to get home in time for Jolly Old St. Nick to pay a visit.

It had been somewhat exhilarating watching his neighbors pack up their cars for road trips or hop into taxis with suitcases on the way to Logan Airport.

He’d even enjoyed the manic frenzy at the supermarket the day before with people practically coming to blows over the last box of stuffing.

Thankfully, the crisis had been averted when an aproned member of the staff saved the day with a case filled with more.

The Christmas spirit of the combatants had been restored, with both parties wishing each other the joy of the season before sprinting off to buy bottles of wine or an arrangement of multicolored Italian cookies.

Jude had been so impressed with the cookie trays, that he’d gotten one for himself.

He hadn’t encountered a lot of Italian-Americans when he’d been growing up on Navajo Nation, but had fallen in love with their loud voices, heavenly marinara sauce, and their baked goods.

Before leaving his tiny office crammed in the back of Bradford Hicks’ law firm, he’d overheard a conversation between two coworkers who were talking about having lasagna for Christmas dinner along with prime rib, mashed potatoes and gravy.

He’d been so inspired that he’d stopped by an Italian market on his way home that day and picked up a fresh lasagna for himself, along with meatballs and a loaf of bread.

From his spot on the sofa, Jude could smell garlic and oregano.

According to the timer set on the microwave, Christmas dinner would be served in ten minutes.

His dining table was bare, aside from a stack of napkins and the salt shaker.

All of his plates were stacked neatly in the cupboard and his empty beer bottles lined the kitchen sink like toy soldiers.

Aside from Jude’s sorry ass, the house was empty.

There would be no family members to hug and reminisce with.

No funny stories from an uncle who was perpetually unlucky in love.

No gifts. No tree to put them under. No carolers.

No broadcast of It’s A Wonderful Life. Jude’s apartment looked like it did on any of the other three-hundred-sixty-four days of the year.

Empty pizza boxes were stacked next to the trash can, which was filled with empty Chinese food boxes and grease-stained fast food bags.

No family pictures adorned the walls. No child’s schoolwork or drawings were stuck on the fridge with alphabet magnets.

Aside from a cozy throw blanket Jude had gotten in this year’s Yankee swap, the apartment looked as sterile as it had the day he’d moved in nearly two years ago.

The house screamed bachelor, but for the fact that all of the gorgeous men who paraded through the apartment on a fairly regular basis were all home with their families.

Enjoying good food, presents, and laughter.

Jude’s family were all back in Arizona. He’d called his grandfather, Running Eagle, a few days before.

Life back on the reservation was status quo.

Eagle asked Jude to come home, as he always did.

Jude told stories of cases he’d help solve and how busy he was with work at the law firm.

What he didn’t tell his grandfather was that the Law Offices of Bradford Hicks & Associates, was locked up tight and would be until the calendar flipped to 2018.

Getting up from the sofa, Jude stood at the picture window looking out over the river.

There were no spandex-clad runners getting in their pre-marathon miles.

No crowded streets. No honking, backed up traffic.

In fact, it seemed to Jude like he was the only man left in the world.

He had to admit it was a pretty lonely place to be.

Usually Jude loved being alone. He brought home a steady string of lovers, who he was quick to fuck and then show the door.

That way no one could ever disappoint or reject him.

Jude didn’t have time in his busy life for that kind of drama.

Although, standing in his silent apartment, he’d give anything to have someone here to share his lasagna or to watch A Christmas Story marathon. Someone to chat with. A friend.

Jude didn’t believe in God overly much. He knew there was a power greater than his own.

An entity who made the planets orbit the sun, who’d created the Grand Canyon, the sea, rivers, animals, and people.

In this moment of absolute silence, Jude reached out to this greater power and asked for something.

Not great wealth or popularity, or playing center for the Boston Celtics.

No, his ask was far simpler. Jude asked for the one thing he was lacking at the moment.

The one thing that would make his lonely life more bearable.

Jude prayed for a friend who’d be closer than a brother.