Chapter 21 #2
“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 definitely be 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 to Felicity, I said, “So, if someone who could speak 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.”
Needing to cut the tension that seemed to bounce off the room’s walls and swing from the ceiling, I indicated her phone. “So, you’re an ABBA fan?”
“Isn’t everyone?” she asked. “I mean, they’re one of the most accomplished and talented musical groups ever.
I get teased a lot, but whatever. It got me into a lot of trouble in boarding school, but it taught me how to throw a solid punch so that people would keep their stupid opinions to themselves. ”
Felicity wasn’t much taller than five feet, and Jolene had described her as “a tiny slip of a girl.” I couldn’t imagine her getting into a fight, much less winning one. I decided to keep that to myself.
“ABBA’s incredible,” Beau said. “Even though she hates to admit it, Nola’s also a fan.”
“Cool,” said Felicity. “You would know about good music, Nola. I actually loved that jingle Beau told me you wrote for Apple—even before I knew it was yours. And that song you wrote for pop legend Jimmy Gordon is on my playlist. I keep waiting for another one. Please tell me you’re working on something? ”
I looked down at the shredded denim of my once-favorite jeans. “I’ve started.” I didn’t mention that I couldn’t get beyond the first line. It was hard enough admitting my failure to myself, much less out loud. “It’s just…”
When I didn’t finish, Felicity said, “Believe me, I get it. Life throws us curveballs sometimes. You’ll get through it.
You have too much talent not to. Beau was saying that a lot of the music venues on Frenchmen Street have open mic nights and that he thinks you should give it a try.
We both agree that it’s the perfect way to get back into your music, to sort of test out the waters and find your voice again. ”
I wanted to say thanks for her kind words, but I was too surprised that Beau had talked about me and had mentioned my curtailed music career.
He studiously avoided my gaze, so our embarrassment was mutual.
“I’ll think about it” was all I could manage.
I looked at the clock on the mantel. “It’s after four in the morning.
We should probably all go back to sleep. ”
Beau shoved his hands into his pockets, then looked surprised as he pulled out something in a plastic bag. “I forgot I had these.”
I couldn’t see what was inside, but I knew what they were without asking.
“Adele’s rings?” Felicity asked.
Beau nodded. “I meant to put them in a safe-deposit box, but Mimi said she wants to hold them first. She just wasn’t ready.”
“Mimi told me about her gift,” Felicity said. “When she was asking me if I had any sort of psychic abilities. She almost seemed relieved when I told her I didn’t. I’m guessing her readings can be pretty traumatic.”
“Trust me,” Beau said. “Nobody sane asks to be psychic—and those delusional enough to ask probably don’t know how it will affect their entire lives.
I know I won’t be able to stop Mimi from wanting to put her hands on these rings, but seeing what most likely were the final moments in the life of a woman she loved like a daughter…
” Beau stopped. “I’m not even sure she should do it, but I don’t think I could stop her.
Maybe you and I should sit this one out.
” He looked at his sister. “Sometimes not knowing is better.”
Felicity lifted her pointed pixie chin. “I get it, and I won’t hold it against you if you don’t want to be there.
But I will be. I think Mimi will want one of us next to her.
” She stepped closer to Beau. “Can I see? I didn’t get a good look at the coroner’s office.
” She cupped one hand under the other and held them up to Beau.
I listened to the platinum bands clinking against each other as they slid out of the bag.
Using her thumb and index finger, Felicity held the wedding band close to her face to read the inscription.
“ ‘The past is never past; our love is eternal as time.’ ” She swiped at her eyes with a knuckle.
“I’m not crying—I don’t cry. But that’s heartbreaking.
I hope these weren’t the reason she was killed.
Because that would make her death even more pointless. ”
“I agree.” Beau held out his hand for the rings.
“We’ll know for sure as soon as Mimi can get a reading on them.
I think I’ll keep them at Sam’s until then.
The bank’s closed tomorrow, and with so many people coming in and out of the house to pay their respects, I’d feel better leaving them at Sam’s.
Her building has great security, and she’s got a safe in her closet.
” He glanced at his watch. “And since it’s almost time to wake up, I might as well take these over there now. ”
“What about Buddy?” Felicity asked, her voice barely audible.
“What do you mean?” Beau stared at his sister.
“Could he have done something…”
“No.” They both looked at me. “I’m sorry.
It’s not my place to voice an opinion here.
Camille suggested the same thing, but I can’t believe it.
I won’t. Everything I’ve heard about your parents tells me that they loved each other and that your father would never have hurt your mother.
I don’t have any evidence either way. It’s just…
” I shrugged. “It’s a gut feeling. My dad’s always told me to trust my gut, and he’s always been right about that.
And Madame Zoe believes that Buddy is in danger.
Which means that we need to find him. Soon.
There’s a reason why he hasn’t returned, but we won’t know until he’s found. ”
Beau shook his head. “What if we find him and discover that he just didn’t want to come back?”
Felicity put her hand on Beau’s arm. “Then we’ll know. And we can go on from there.”
My ankle had begun to throb, distracting me from thinking about Beau and Sam and their missing father and their murdered mother.
I was almost glad to feel a physical pain so that I could ignore all of it.
“If it’s not too much trouble, I could use another pain pill.
I already skipped a dose, and I’m beginning to see stars. ”
“On it,” Felicity said. “I’ll go get you a fresh glass of water from the kitchen. Be right back.”
I said good night to Beau while faking a huge yawn before leaning back against the pillows to wait.
My eyelids drooped with exhaustion, but the pain in my ankle kept me from drifting off.
When I was on the brink of passing out, my eyes snapped open and my gaze met that of the baby doll perched on the desk chair.
“Beau?” I called out, just in case he hadn’t left yet.
I mentally measured the distance to the desk and to the doorway of the library.
With a soft groan, I pulled myself up using the wall and the side table, grabbed the creepy baby by her foot, and then hopped to the doorway.
“Beau?” I called again, keeping my voice down so as not to wake everyone upstairs.
Except for the ticking of a multitude of clocks, and the faint noises from Felicity in the kitchen, the house remained quiet.
I looked back at the side table where I’d left my phone, dismissing the thought of retrieving it as soon as it crossed my mind.
My ankle felt as if it had been lit on fire, and I knew it would take the last of my strength to propel myself back to bed.
I turned in the doorway, mentally preparing for the hop back, then stopped.
A floorboard creaked somewhere in the dark hallway behind me, the sound as sharp and loud as the crack of a rifle.
I held my breath, listening for the sound of a footstep.
Or the soft expulsion of a breath. But only the gentle ticking of the clocks filled the void, the absence of any other sound making it somehow more unnerving.
Feeling unseen eyes on me, I dropped the doll in the hallway, hearing a satisfying thunk when it landed on the wooden floor, and continued on my way back to the bed. It didn’t matter where I put the doll. By morning it would have found its way to wherever it thought it needed to be.