Page 27 of Stronger Than Blood
Madam smiled. “Do you have sweet tea?” she asked, and finally, Mrs. Kennedy’s mouth lifted into a grin.
“Yes, ma’am, we do, I’ll bring it over. Same for you, Rory?” she asked, knowing that’s what I always got.
When seated, I asked, “What did you see?”
She shook her head. “Not for me to say, not without an invitation. I got carried away.”
“You know she’s married to my cousin. The one you told me about.”
Madam nodded. “Yet, it’s still her business.”
A few moments later, Mrs. Kennedy came out, placed our teas down, and told us to help ourselves to the buffet… then she paused. “Madam Bellamy, do you have a moment?” she asked. Madam nodded and then motioned for me to go get my food.
When I came back, Mrs. Kennedy looked sad. “So, I’m right to consider it?”
Madam patted her hand. “I’m sorry I spouted off, but yes, it’s time. That man of yours is ready for retirement. And,” Madam whispered so only Mrs. Kennedy could hear, “I’m guessing so are you.”
Mrs. Kennedy squeezed Madam’s hand and nodded. “Your food is on the house, Madam Bellamy, even if you’ve given me a whole bunch to think about.”
Mrs. Kennedy winked at me before disappearing back to the front of the restaurant. “She’s thinking of retiring?” I whispered ’cause I already knew that information would cause quite a ruckus, as fond as the townsfolk seemed to be of her cooking.
“Now, Rory, you know about my confidentiality rules. If Mrs. Kennedy wanted you in her business, she wouldn’t have waited for you to leave before she spoke with me.”
“True, okay, well, you should go fill your plate. The food here is dreamy.”
Madam Bellamy grinned and stood, her long flowing skirts billowing around her as they always did. She filled her plate and came back, and I enjoyed seeing her face as she dug into the deliciousness. “Wow, I haven’t had food this good since New Orleans before Katrina. This is amazing.”
I smiled and finished my plate. The one thing you got from working in a hot, dirty old building was an appetite. Otherwise, I’m sure the rich food here would make me gain a hundred pounds.
“So, where’s this man of yours?” Madam asked as she polished off a piece of cornbread.
“Well, not my man, for sure, but he’s probably home asleep. He came in early this morning to work here, in fact. Like I said, it was his food you smelled when you came into the hotel.”
“I see,” she replied, and I could tell she was seeing a lot. “Well, I can certainly feel that things are changing, and I just got here. Speaking of…” she said and sighed as she put her fork down, “there’s been some changes back in Memphis you should know about.” I cocked my eyebrow and waited for her to tell me. “So, a few months ago, a company approached me wanting to purchase my building.”
I nodded, but a sick feeling in my gut told me where this was going. Madam eyed me, then shook her head. “Rory, I knew before you showed up looking all innocent and excited about the occult that the winds of change were blowing at my door. Honestly, I thought you were probably there to learn how to take over for me, but then we realized your talents lay elsewhere, and…” she quickly added before I could moan, “when this company offered to pay significantly more than I paid for the place, I knew they were who I was expecting.”
“You’re closing up the store?”
Madam shrugged. “You know Beale Street isn’t really the same as when I arrived. It’s changed, and I’m a middle-aged womanwho is tired and ready to disconnect from the world, or at least be a little less connected.”
She sighed again and began picking at her food. “Listen, being a psychic, a real one, is exhausting work. I know it looks sexy and fun, but every reading I do pulls energy from me. I’m not the twenty-year-old woman I once was, and now, I find myself struggling to get through the day. I’m ready for retirement.”
“What are you going to do?” I asked, feeling a sadness I hadn’t felt since I had to leave my grandparents’ home for the last time.
Madam looked around and smiled. “I wasn’t wrong that you were an important element of my retirement. I already feel like this is my home. It felt right from the moment I drove into town.”
“Piston Creek?” I asked, surprised.
Madam laughed. “Son, I grew up in a tiny town just south of Lafayette. My people were small-town folks, and although I know my life will never be back there, something feels right about here. Don’t you feel it?” she asked, causing me to pause.
I thought for a few moments and had to smile. “The moment I drove into town, it felt special, and nothing I’ve seen thus far has convinced me it’s anything less.”
“So,” she said and took my hand, “I’ve got to go back to Memphis to close up shop, but yes, son, I think I’ll be coming back here. I think this will be home, at least for the foreseeable future.”
I shook my head. “Well, in that case, I guess we should both consider our options.”
When Madam put her hand over mine, I saw the image of a small but quaint little apartment in my mind. Then, I had the image of Mick’s uncle’s building. “Um, I think I might have found your next home unless you’re wanting a big house or something.”
