Some Assembly Required by Bru Baker, Lex Chase Page A

a crier, but it looked like maybe things were headed that way. Time to push onward.
    “Now that we’ve established that you’re the newest employee here at purgatory CASA—”
    “But CASA is such a happy place.”
    Patrick snorted. “Obviously you’ve never shopped here with your wife.”
    “I don’t have a wife,” Benji said, glancing out the window.
    “Ouch. Tough break,” Patrick said and followed Benji’s line of sight. The robins were building a new nest on the windowsill. He took a slow breath and took comfort that spring had come around once again.
    “My…,” Benji muttered and turned his attention to the sugar packet container. “My boyfriend dumped me.”
    Patrick blinked and rubbed the back of his head. He scratched at the short fuzz at the nape of his neck. “You don’t say,” he said absently.
    Sure, he was dead, but he wasn’t blind. It would have been so much easier if Benji had had a wife. Damn.
    Benji unfolded and refolded his hands. “Yeah….”
    The attempt at small talk was as pleasant as a butter knife to the eye.
    “All right.” Patrick spun his chair around and straddled it. “If you’re going to be stuck here, you’re going to learn how to play the game.”
    “Game?” Benji perked up, seeming unsure.
    “Gotta make it entertaining somehow.” Patrick tapped the table with a knuckle. “Ground rules. This is a real CASA. The customers coming in and out are living and shopping for cheap minimalist furniture. They can’t see us. Got it?”
    “We’re ghosts?” Benji knit his brows in confusion.
    “Whatever you want to call it to get you through the day, sunshine,” Patrick said. “Ready for the next part?”
    “Should I be taking notes?”
    “You’ll catch on.” Patrick reached out and clapped a hand on Benji’s shoulder. The jolt of power shot up his arm and to the crown of his head. He forced his smile to stay in place. “I imagine you’re a quick study.” Patrick drew away and flicked his fingers, trying to work out the sting. “Next, our job is to help others move on.”
    “Others?” Benji asked. “Why us?”
    Patrick shrugged. “Just lucky. I suppose. CASA chose us, Mr. Frodo.”
    “We’re on Frodo, now?” Benji’s slow grin triggered Patrick’s own.
    “Don’t get used to it, cupcake.”
    “How do we help them move on?”
    Patrick smirked. “You’ll learn.”
    “Other ghosts are here with us. Like… Karin?”
    “Yup.”
    “Who else?”
    “Agnes. Who you sort of met.” Patrick pursed his lips in thought.
    Benji was like a dog with a bone now that he was getting some answers. Patrick reconsidered his openness. Maybe he should have stuck to cryptic answers. Though that was more Agnes’s schtick. He probably couldn’t pull it off half as well as she did. Damn.
    “But how do we make them move on?” Benji asked.
    “Excellent question,” Patrick said. “People don’t end up here by accident.” He thought about it for a moment and laughed. “Or I guess they kind of do. Anyway, we help them and poof.” He fanned his fingers to demonstrate. “Out the doors they go, another satisfied customer.”
    “Into the void?” Benji shivered, rubbing his arms. “That terrifying thing?”
    “No, they go to heaven,” Patrick said.
    “Okay, if this is purgatory, what’s heaven?”
    Patrick pointed a finger. “You guess.”
    Benji shook his head. “Costless?”
    “Pfft! Please. Costless is one of the seven circles. Keep up with me here.” Patrick locked eyes with Benji. “You can do this.”
    Benji frowned. “Scope?”
    “Is that a guess?” Patrick arched a brow.
    “Is it?” Benji sat straighter in his chair like a petulant child.
    Patrick stood and offered Benji his hand. “C’mon now. We have wrongs to right, skippy.”
    Benji stubbornly set his jaw. “But you didn’t tell me.”
    “Let’s go,” Patrick insisted. “Lunch break’s over. We’re on the clock.”
    “Wait, does that mean we can actually eat? Patrick, wait