Page 71 of The Lady on Esplanade
“They were.Which was probably why Jolene chose them for alterations.Not that it matters.It doesn’t look like I’ll be wearing normal clothes for a while.”
“You’ll manage.You seem the type of person who doesn’t allow setbacks to become permanent.”
I looked at her.“Me?I would say the same about you.”
She shrugged.“Maybe.Michael says that you and I are a lot alike.”
“Does he?And I was about to say that you and I should be friends.But only if you don’t bring Michael up again.”
“Sore spot, huh?”She opened the bathroom door to allow me in first.
“Seriously?Has he told you about our relationship?”
“I know enough.”
“Great.Then you know why you should avoid mentioning his name in my presence.”
“Deal—as long as you don’t ask if I’m psychic.Everybody keeps asking me—and, for the record, I’m not.I’m totally fine with that, since seeing dead people would probably scare the crap out of me.I wasn’t raised believing that sort of thing was normal.”
“That’s because it’s not.”
Felicity’s movements were quick and efficient, and I was too relieved by not having to ask Beau for bathroom help to be embarrassed.As she was propping me up so I could wash and dry my hands, I asked, “Who do you mean by ‘everybody’?”
“Mimi, Beau.”Felicity held open the door as I hopped out of the bathroom.“Camille.I take it she and Adele were really close.”
“They were best friends from childhood until Adele disappeared, and Camille blames herself for suggesting that Adele go look for Buddy—which is probably why she wants to talk to Adele.To ask for forgiveness, I guess.”
Felicity snorted.“Forgiveness is overrated.All that really matters is learning how to live with yourself, and the rest will follow.I’m obviously still struggling with that, since I’ve been living in New York and pretending I don’t have two families here in New Orleans.But I’m here right now, and that means I’m making progress, right?”
Despite her being Beau’s sister, I decided that we could definitelybe friends.But maybe that was the painkillers talking.I should have learned from the Sunny Ryan–imposter fiasco and practiced being less open and accepting.
“I’m sorry about your mom,” I said, trying to bear as much of my weight as possible as I leaned against her while hopping across the hall.
“Me, too.I wish I could remember Adele and Buddy.From what Mimi has told me, they were both great people and great parents.I know Beau has a different take on them—which is fair, I guess.I wasn’t the one left behind.”Felicity pushed open the door to the library and allowed me to enter ahead of her.
“That’s not really—” I let out a small shout.Highlighted in the glow of the overhead light as my gaze settled on the chair in front of the desk, the creepy baby doll, with her bonnet askew, sat perched on the worn leather, leaning drunkenly to the side while her blue eyes stared straight at me.I whipped around to face Felicity.“I thought you took that to Beau’s truck!”
“I did.I don’t know how—”
Beau burst into the room, followed by Mardi, with crumbs on his snout, an open bag of Zapp’s Spicy Cajun Crawtator chips in Beau’s hand.“Is everything okay?”His gaze followed Felicity’s to the chair.He marched over to the desk and snatched up the doll.“I should burn it.”
I was inclined to agree, but Felicity spoke up.“I’m kind of new to this, but don’t you think there’s a reason it keeps showing up?Like, maybe somebody’s trying to tell you something?”
“Well, yeah…” Beau began.“But it’s creeping me out now, too, and I’m not easily scared.”
Felicity brought me over to the bed and gently helped me sit and prop my leg up.“Again, I’m not the expert here, but it seems to me that if a person is trying to tell you something from beyond the grave, you should listen.”
I sent Beau a pointed glare.“Imagine that.”Turning back toFelicity, I said, “So, if someone whocouldspeak with the dead kept getting phone calls from the spirit realm, the person should listen, right?”
“Obviously.Unless the person has a really good reason not to.Although I can’t think of any, because when it comes down to it, there will always be a choice about what to do with the information given.Just like in, well, normal conversations.”She looked between me and Beau.“Unless I’m missing something here?”
“That’s something you’ll need to discuss with Beau.”
The muffled vocals from ABBA’s “The Name of the Game” rang out.Felicity reached into her back pocket to retrieve her phone.“Spam,” she said, ending the call.“I figured either that or Michael.He’s texted and called a few times today, and I haven’t had a chance to get back to him.He was probably just checking to make sure I hadn’t changed my mind about returning to New York.”
“Have you?”Beau asked.
Felicity stilled, her eyes steely.“We agreed—remember?I’m here, and that’s all I’ve got for now.I feel like I’m being pulled in half, and it’s going to take time for me to figure out who I am, because I honestly don’t know anymore.”
