Page 59 of The House on Prytania
I was surprised by her harshness. She sounded almost bitter, but maybe I did, too, when talking about my mother, Bonnie. Regardless of the reason for a mother’s disappearance, a child’s understanding of it can be either softened or sharpened by memories. I fought almost every day with my own recollections of the mother I’d loved and hated. “Don’t you want to hear what she has to say?”
She crossed her arms. “Not really. Our family was destroyed, and it’s time to rebuild what we lost. I just think that Beau should be focusing on finding our dad instead. He might still be alive. Otherwise, wouldn’t Beau have seen him, too?”
“You might think. But I have no idea how this works.” I was about to mention Sarah, and how she was still trying to figure out her unique gift, but it wasn’t for me to share. Instead, I said, “Maybe we should be grateful that we’re not the ones being awakened in the middle of the night with a ghost needing to tell us something.”
“Well, then,” Sunny said. “I guess we should be grateful.” She tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear, flashing the fleur-de-lis tattoo on her wrist.
“I like your tattoo,” I said.
She lifted her arm to look at it, as if to make sure she knew whatI was talking about, although from what I could tell, it was her only tattoo. “Thanks. I like it, too. It reminds me of where I was always meant to be.”
I smiled and headed to the bathroom, feeling a wistful pang of jealousy at knowing the answer could be summed up in a small symbol marked in permanent ink on the skin.
CHAPTER 20
Despite Jack and Melanie’s insistence on a nap after the massive quantities of food we’d just consumed at Jolene’s New Orleans–themed feast, I helpfully pointed to the itinerary. Everyone had forgotten to bring the ones I’d handed out the previous night, but I’d fortunately printed extras.
“As you can see,” I said, indicating the third item on the list, “we have to be at the swamp tour dock by twelve thirty. Which means we have exactly forty-five minutes to tour my house before jumping into our cars.”
“But the hotel is so close,” Jack insisted. “Mellie and I could use a little time in bed.”
“Ew,” JJ and Sarah said in unison.
“I’m sure he meant sleeping,” I said. “It’s an hour’s drive, so you can nap in the car on the way.”
“Unless you’re driving,” JJ said. “Then all the screams will keep them awake.”
“Very funny. And no. I’m not driving. Beau and Sam said they’d meet us here with Beau’s truck and he’s volunteered to drive.” I didn’t mention how they were supposed to have joined us at breakfast; Ipreferred not to think about what they might have been doing instead. Beau had at least had the courtesy to text me to let me know they’d meet us at my cottage.
When we arrived—ten minutes later than I’d allotted per our itinerary—Beau and Sam had already arrived. I also spotted Jorge’s and Thibaut’s trucks at the curb, indicating that they were inside. They usually didn’t work on Saturdays but instead used the time to film content for the YouTube channel. I found it incredible that Thibaut, a man who didn’t even own a cell phone, had become a social media star. He never watched his performances, and he said he didn’t even know what social media was, but he enjoyed doing it. That was apparently his rule for everything he did in life. If he didn’t enjoy it, then he didn’t do it.
As if conjured, Thibaut and Jorge appeared on the porch with handfuls of tennis balls, making me glad we hadn’t brought Mardi, who would be going wild. They began one of their juggling routines, facing each other while juggling the balls, then turning around and walking in opposite directions without dropping a single ball. I’d seen the routine with small tools before, and I was glad they had stuck with soft, round objects for this particular show. JJ was watching them with a contemplative look, as if he were imagining rolling pins and whisks in place of tennis balls.
We applauded, and they bowed before opening the front door and motioning for us to follow them inside. “Please know this is a work in progress,” I announced as I stepped up onto the porch. “There was a lot more work involved than I had originally anticipated when I bought the house. I have a full-time job to pay for the renovations, but that keeps me from spending all day here.”
My parents hugged me from each side, planting kisses on my cheeks. “Nola,” Jack said, “we couldn’t be more proud of you. You’ve accomplished so much.” I knew he was referring to more than just the house, and it made me blink my eyes.
“Even without knowing how to drive or owning a car!” JJ blurted out. He’d met Trevor during our dad’s visit to the Past Is Never Past the previous day, and Trevor had shown him where I was hiding mybike from my parents. I needed to remember to be nice to JJ, since he now knew my secret.
“I’m pretty resourceful,” I said, giving him the eye-dagger look I’d learned from Melanie. “Shall we go in?”
Melanie and Sarah exchanged looks before moving to the back of the group. I asked Jolene to show everyone around while I went back outside to check on them. Melanie was already adjusting her earbuds in her ears, and Sarah wore the same grim look of determination she’d worn the day before at the church and cemetery. As I approached she held up her hand, showing three rubber bands on her wrist.
“Three?” I asked.
“In case two of them break. Jolene gave me the extra ones. She said your house has a lot of memories in it. I translated that to mean it’s haunted and that I should be prepared.”
I looked at Melanie, who paused her humming of “Mamma Mia” to speak.“And my lips are sealed. Unless you’ve changed your mind about needing my help.”
I shook my head. “Nope. I can handle it.” I wasn’t completely sure of this since the incident in the upstairs closet, but I wasn’t yet ready to admit defeat.
Cooper came up on the porch to stand next to me. “Melanie showed me pictures of what it looked like when you bought it. You’ve done an incredible job.”
“Thanks,” I said, his compliment making my cheeks flush. “I didn’t do it all on my own, though. Thibaut and Jorge are true craftsmen, and Thibaut is as patient as Job in teaching me new skills so I can do things myself. It’s taking longer that way, but I think it’s worth it.” I glanced up to find Beau wearing a speculative expression.
“And Beau,” I added. “He’s helped a lot, too, with resources and advice. Not to mention loaning me Jolene to do the decorative stuff and the social media. She’s the one who’s made the YouTube channel a huge hit.”
“Jolene is...”
