Page 66 of The Last Session

“You know, you signed an agreement.” His mouth turned downwards. “I don’t know why you’re sneaking around, but whatever you’re looking for, you’re not allowed to share it. If you’re, you know, a journalist or something.”

I held up my hands. “I’m not a journalist. Just curious.”

“We just put out lunch.” He turned, and I hurried to follow him down the stairs, out onto the walkway, back down to the courtyard.

“I just have to get…” I gestured with my thumb. He nodded and I scurried down the hall, grabbing my phone and charger from the lobby. He was still waiting for me when I got back to the courtyard.

“Dinner last night was incredible, by the way,” I said.

He didn’t smile, but made eye contact. “Thanks.”

“Grace said you lived in India?” I asked as we headed down the hall.

“I spent a few years there.” He paused. “With Moon.”

Had they been together romantically back then? I wasn’t sure how to ask without spooking him. He paused in front of the door that led to the kitchen, judging by the smells.

“Thanks for walking me,” I said. “Sorry again.”

He gave me one last indecipherable glance before he slipped through the door.

28

The statue burned in my mind all through lunch. Steven had prepared a New Mexican feast—crispy sopapillas, enchiladas in rich green chile sauce, gooey cheese quesadillas—but I could barely taste it. Mikki and Karen both seemed high on their sessions, laughing and joking around as if a great weight had been lifted. And maybe it had.

Sure, it was possible that someone here had randomly decided to sculpt Catherine O’Brien, but she hadn’t really been in things as an adult. Combined with Catherine and Moon’s matching tattoos and Jonah’s Facebook pictures, it seemed clear proof that she’d been here.

“You okay?” Jonah leaned in.

“Yeah.” I cleared my throat. “I have to tell you something. Later.”

He nodded. Across the table, Karen watched us.

“Something I want to talk about in my session,” I said in a louder tone.

“As your accountability partner, I’m happy to assist.”

That made me crack a smile.

“You have any tips about channeling the deceased?” I asked quietly, now that Karen had turned to Ramit.

His eyes crinkled as he took a long gulp of botanic-infused water. “Don’t knock it till you try it.”

“Seriously. Whatwasthat?”

“They clearly like theatrics.” He nodded at Moon and Sol. “So I put on a show.”

s

“But how did you know that stuff? Like her dad marrying her mom because he got her pregnant?”

“I don’t know.” He frowned. “I was just making everything up. And Karen seemed to go along with it.”

“Hmm.” Maybe Karen had been swept up in the energy? And telling Jonah he was incorrect might’ve felt like ruining the moment?

After lunch, most people headed for the pool, but Jonah and I walkedto my yurt. He sat on my bed as I filled him in on the locked door in the courtyard and the statue of Catherine upstairs.

“Let me see the pictures,” he said.

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