Page 106 of The Shop on Royal Street
Beau apparently thought it was an invitation to come in and sit down on one of two armchairs Jolene said I needed in there. She’d included two throw pillows with my monogram, claiming that if something couldn’t be monogrammed, it wasn’t worth having. Beauimmediately took one of the pillows from behind his back and dropped it on the floor.
“I’m starting to think you’re avoiding me. I’ve called you a few times about resuming your driving lessons, but you never called me back.”
“Yeah. Sorry. Jolene’s volunteered, so I think I’m good for now.”
His eyebrows shot up. “Jolene?” He rubbed his hand over his chin. “Isn’t that like asking Wile E. Coyote how to catch a roadrunner?”
“Funny. It’s definitely a learning experience, but at least she doesn’t act like she’s doing me a favor.”
“I never did that, Nola, and you know it. But if you prefer Wreck-It Ralph as your driving instructor, that’s fine. At least you’re learning defensive driving. Just remember that I’m always available.”
“Thank you,” I said. I shifted a bit in my seat. “I’ve been thinking of ways to thank you for doing what you did in my house.” I’d actually been procrastinating, because I didn’t want to remind him about what he said after I’d taken the free fall over the banister. He’d been thanking his grandfather for saving my life.For protecting someone who means a lot to me.“I know it wasn’t easy for you.”
“No. It wasn’t. But I found it oddly... satisfying.” He frowned. “Having you there somehow made it easier. I think Sam is right. We do make a good team.”
“Yes, well, one and done. I think we can rest on our laurels and retire from, well, whatever that was. I don’t think my heart could take another dive over a second-story banister.”
“Not all spirit cleansings are that dangerous, you know.”
“Right. Some of them just involve burning down a house.”
“They’re all not like that. And I’m not even sure this is really a direction I want to move in. In the past, whenever I got involved with restless spirits, I couldn’t block them out and I ended up letting too many of them inside my head. I couldn’t stop them. So I just avoided them until I got better at blocking them. But something about you being there...” He shrugged. “You gave me something else to focuson—emotionally, anyway. It allowed me to concentrate on just my grandfather and Jeanne so I wasn’t a beacon to all the other lost spirits I know are roaming around the Marigny.”
“You should bring Sam next time.”
His gaze met mine before drifting away. “Yeah, maybe.”
Suddenly nervous, I quickly switched the conversation. “Jorge still wants to have the house blessed by a priest. Jaxson said he’d ask his brother.”
“Father Luke? That should be fun. Jaxson, Luke, and I were like the Three Musketeers growing up. He could throw a left punch even better than Jaxson. When he went into the seminary, all the girls cried.”
“I haven’t met him yet, but Jolene refers to him as ‘Father What-a-Waste.’ She says he’s hotter than doughnut grease, which I personally find disturbing.”
“Because he’s a priest?”
“No, because that means she probably knows how to make doughnuts. Is there nothing that woman can’t do?”
Beau grinned. “Before Luke moved parishes, he and I used to take long motorcycle trips together.”
“Wait—he’s a good-looking priest on a motorcycle?”
“Yeah. He’s like a sitcom waiting to happen. I mean, they hadThe Flying Nun, so why not?”
I didn’t say anything about Beau’s being a fan of old television sitcoms, if only because I was one, too. “I’m sure Jolene will let you know when the house blessing is going to be, as she’s planning on throwing a little party and she’ll want you to be there. The roof should be finished by then, so at least we won’t get rained on. I’m not even going to plan on having electricity or water, because every time I plan on something, a wrench always seems to get thrown in the machine.”
“ ‘The best laid plans of mice and men...’ ” Beau quoted.
“Yeah,” I said. “Pretty much.”
A scratch on the door announced Mardi’s presence. Beau stood and opened the door, allowing in the guest of honor, who immediatelypounced into my lap. His kisses smelled like frosting, which I hoped was from the special vet-approved dog cupcakes that Jolene had baked just for him.
“Not that my opinion matters, but I like Sam. She’s really nice.”
“ ‘Nice’ sounds a lot like ‘fine.’ You’re just full of descriptive adjectives today, aren’t you?”
I set Mardi on the floor to let Beau know I was done with our conversation. “Was there anything in particular that you wanted to see me about?”
“Yes, actually. Have you heard from Michael?”
