Page 82 of The Lady on Esplanade
“Ha.I knew it!”
I would have smiled, but I was too busy trying to stop my teeth from chattering.The thought of dead people in my apartment talking to my sister was more unnerving than I would have imagined.And the notion of the entity in Cooper’s backseat getting stronger was nearly enough to send me over the edge.
“Very funny,” I managed.“But you’re right.Beau does have a lot on his plate.”Briefly, I considered suggesting that we bring in Melanie.But being allowed to move to New Orleans by myself had been premised on the assurance that I was completely ready to live on my own, without any financial or emotional support from my family.It wasn’t that I felt I would let them down if I asked for help; I didn’t want to disappoint myself.
“So, you’ll ask Cooper to take us?”
I didn’t respond right away; I wasn’t sure what the correct answer was.After thinking it through from all angles, I said, “Yes.I can ask.And we should see if we can meet with the previous owners, too.If Cooper wants to buy the house, he should be part of figuring out what happened to the people who used to live there.”
Sarah and Mardi resettled themselves on the floor, and I resumed drifting to sleep.A needling memory of something Sarah had said brought me fully awake again.“Do you really think I’m brave?”
“Don’t let it go to your head or anything, okay?But yeah.You’re a freaking icon of bravery.”
I paused, letting her words sink in.“I’m not sure if I agree, but thanks.So are you, you know.”
“Or maybe I’m just too dumb not to be afraid.”
“Maybe it runs in the family.”I stared out into the darkness, wondering if anyone besides my sister was there, and decided I didn’t want to know.“Good night, Sarah.I love you.And please disregard every mean thing I said to you when you were little and annoying.I’m glad you’re my sister.”
“Same,” she said.
I listened until her breathing slowed and Mardi began snoring again before I closed my eyes, knowing that, at least for a moment, all was right in my world.
CHAPTER 25
I tried not to feel insulted that Jolene seemed more disappointed to be leaving Mardi behind than to be leaving either Sarah or me.She also spent a lot more time explaining the care and feeding of Mardi to Sarah than she spent explaining mine.Granted, I could speak and explain my needs, but still.
Despite the cooler weather, Jaxson was sweating when he climbed the stairs after loading all of Jolene’s luggage into Bubba, including at least three covered casseroles in insulated containers and an entire cooler filled with her homemade breads and cookies.Since an equal amount of food and goodies had been left in the kitchen, I wondered yet again when—and if—Jolene ever slept.
“Is your mom’s oven broken?”I asked.
Jolene gave me a confused look.“Not that I know of,” she said as she carried out the door yet another dish covered in foil.
Since I couldn’t go down the stairs, we said our good-byes on my perch on the couch.Jolene hugged me twice while delicately wiping tears from her eyes.“I hate to leave you, Nola.Maybe I should call Mama—”
“Don’t even think about it.Sarah and I will be fine, and Cooper will be back on Friday.In case I need anything before then, Mimi and Beau will be on call, with Camille and Christopher on backup.”
“What about Henry?”Sarah asked.“I noticed his name wasn’t on the list of phone numbers.”
I shared a look with Jaxson while Jolene said, “Because that man is as handy as a screen door on a submarine.Now, come hug my neck so we can be on our way.Mama’s called me three times already this morning, seeing if we’ve left yet.Daddy’s going to deep-fry the turkey this year, and Mama’s a nervous wreck.He just about burned down the house last year, but he swears he knows where he went wrong.Which reminds me—we need to stop at the Walmart and get a couple of fire extinguishers, just in case.”
We said our final good-byes, Sarah waving Mardi’s paw, while I narrowed my eyes at Jaxson to remind him of last night’s conversation.“Don’t forget to call Carly!”I called after him.
They’d been gone less than five minutes when the doorbell rang.I checked the Ring app on my phone and saw Beau standing on the doorstep.“It’s Beau.Could you—”
“On it!”Sarah was already racing down the steps to let him in.
He was dressed for the funeral, wearing a dark suit and tie, looking a lot better than any man on the way to his mother’s funeral should.“You clean up good,” I said.“Your mom would be proud.”
“She is,” Sarah said, matter-of-factly.
We both looked at her, and I was reminded of what I’d promised Sarah the night before.
“Do you have a minute to talk?I promise it won’t take long.”
He looked at his watch, and then at Sarah and me.“I still have to pick up Sam, but I can spare a minute.Unless it can wait?”
Sarah shook her head.“I don’t think so.”She stepped closer to him and looked up into his face.“You know what I want to talk about, don’t you?”Closing her eyes, she tilted her head and breathed indeeply through her nose.“That smell—I remember it from the cemetery tour.It’s like dirt and rotting leaves.And—”
