Chapter 26
Sarah and I were debating whether to stick one of Jolene’s casseroles in the oven or order pizza when the doorbell rang. I opened my Ring app with more anticipation than I should have felt, but instead of Beau I spotted Felicity on the doorstep.
“I’ll get it,” Sarah said, already heading down the steps. Mardi surprised me by staying at my side, his ears and posture indicating his full alertness.
“It’s okay, Fluffer-butt,” I soothed, stroking one of his silky ears. “It’s just Aunt Felicity. You’re friends, remember? She gives you treats.”
We listened as footsteps climbed the stairs, both of us looking through the open door toward the landing. Mardi’s tail thumped against me when he spotted Felicity but slowed when he spotted the man behind her.
“Henry,” I said, not bothering to hide my surprise. “I wasn’t expecting you.”
“Or me, either, I’m guessing,” said Felicity. Sarah followed them in, giving me a discreet shrug before closing the door. “I basically grew up in New York City, so I don’t know how to drive. I was going to take an Uber, but Henry insisted on bringing me.”
Henry stopped in front of me, reeking of cigarette smoke. “Yeah, it was getting pretty crowded at Mimi’s with all the people from the funeral,” he said as he helped himself to the bowl of popcorn Sarah and I had been sharing.
“I guess I should have called,” Felicity said, “but it was sort of last-minute. Beau didn’t want to leave Mimi, but he wanted someone to physically check in on you to see if you were all right and if you needed anything.”
“Beau said that?”
“He did. He also wanted me to let you know that he’s been thinking about what you and Sarah said.”
I exchanged a glance with Sarah. “Wow. Thanks for letting us know.” I could tell by her face that she wanted me to say more, but I was reluctant to share anything in front of Henry, including how many times a day I brushed my teeth.
He seemed to be the type of person who would take any glimmer of information, twist it, then use it against you.
I had no proof except for Trevor’s opinion, and that was enough for me.
Henry edged his way behind the sofa, nudging my side table with his leg and jostling the loose pills as he peered out the window. “I offered to drive because I wanted to see where you and Jolene live. I’m not gonna lie—I kinda expected something a lot nicer. It’s kind of a dump, isn’t it?”
“Thanks for noticing,” I said. “Jolene’s done a great job of decorating and has made it homey, which is all I need, and it’s also all I can afford right now.
I’m spending most of my money and energy on renovating my Creole cottage, which will hopefully be done around New Year’s.
” It was unclear why I was trying to justify myself to this man.
There was just something about him that made me bristle.
Apparently he had the same effect on Mardi, since my sweet dog growled when Henry tried to scratch behind the dog’s ears.
“How’s your house hunt going?” I asked. “I know Mimi loves having you stay with her, but I’m sure you and Camille are looking forward to getting your own place.”
Henry grabbed another handful of popcorn and shoved it into his mouth, stray kernels falling to the floor.
Mardi stayed close to my side instead of licking them up like he usually would.
“I’ve been busy working, so Camille’s supposed to be taking care of that,” he said with a full mouth.
“Not sure why nothing’s happened yet, but we’re pretty comfortable at Mimi’s.
I think she appreciates having me around for security, too. ”
“I thought she had an alarm system,” I said, unable to stop goading him. It was too easy. Besides, he deserved it. I wanted to ask about Camille’s working, too, but Felicity cut me off.
“Your water glass is empty—can I refill it for you?”
“Yes, please.” She picked up the glass before disappearing into the kitchen.
“Looks like y’all have been having a party in here,” Henry said, indicating the dirty plates and loose pills.
“If you’re offering to help clean up…”
“Nah. That’s women’s work. Wouldn’t mind having a tour of the place, though. Beau’s been talking about me joining JR Properties, to help with construction, so I’m studying up on old places like this, to figure out what doesn’t work for modern living.”
I’d heard Beau say that exact thing, and it didn’t surprise me that Henry would simply repeat what he’d heard instead of coming up with an original thought.
Henry brushed off his hands over the popcorn bowl, and I caught Sarah’s look of horror behind his shoulder. He continued. “I had a year of engineering at Louisiana Tech before I realized I knew a lot more than those so-called professors and dropped out to forge my own path.”
“And how’s that working out for you?”
Felicity appeared with my water and placed it next to my pills on the side table. “I’d love to see the place, too,” she said. “I mean, the company is named after me. I should probably know more about what it does, right?”
Sarah began leading Felicity and Henry to the back hallway that separated my bedroom from Jolene’s.
“There’s just one bathroom,” Sarah said.
“So if you’re talking about modern living, I’d highly suggest having more than one, just in case there are boys living in the same house.
I have to share a bathroom with my brother, JJ, and I can’t describe the trauma. ”
I closed my eyes, listening to Sarah’s voice as she moved through the small apartment. I focused on deep breathing to distract myself from the pain in my ankle, telling myself that I could wait two more hours for my bedtime dose.
I must have dozed off, because when I opened my eyes again Felicity was gently nudging my shoulder. “You okay?”
“Fine. Just tired from lying here all day. What did you think?”
“It’s a dump,” Henry said.
Ignoring him, Felicity said, “I love what Jolene’s done with the décor! It’s hard when you’re renting, because you don’t want to invest in anything permanent, but the Wizard of Oz décor in her room is adorable.”
“She takes her devotion to the Emerald City very seriously. Wait until you see her plans for my cottage. She’s done an amazing job of exchanging shout-outs and other promo on our social media channels for goods and services.
Jolene is truly a gem. As is Trevor. He made a breakfront for my kitchen out of an old antique. He’s a genius.”
Henry coughed. “More like a troublemaker, if you ask me.”
“No one did,” I said, not caring whether I sounded belligerent.
There was only so much I could take, and his saying something mean about Trevor pretty much took me over the edge.
To Felicity, I said, “I’m hoping to get Cooper to drive Sarah and me to the property on Esplanade on Friday. If you’d like to come with us…”
“I’d love to,” Felicity said.
“If it’s as much of a dump as this is, I think I’ll take a pass,” Henry said. “Now, if you ladies will excuse me, I need to use the little boys’ room.”
Sarah raised an eyebrow and pretended she was trying not to throw up.
“Are you sure you’re okay to ride in a car?” Felicity asked.
The alarm on my watch sounded. “Time for me to move.” I sat up and Felicity and Sarah, one on either side of me, pulled me onto my scooter.
“I’ve already figured out that it takes fifteen minutes to go to the kitchen and back.
If I do that four times a day, that’s the one hour I’m allowed off the couch.
I’m already going stir-crazy, so I’d say a field trip would be just what the doctor ordered.
Traveling by car won’t be much more strenuous than sitting on the couch. ”
Ignoring their dubious expressions, I began my trip to the kitchen, followed closely by Felicity and Sarah.
“It takes me fifteen minutes because I always pause to see what else Jolene left for me in the fridge. I mastered opening the fridge without falling over in the first hour.” I happily demonstrated by opening it and pulling out a mystery tin with a lid on it.
I closed the door with my head, then scooted over to the nearest counter to drop the tin and pry it open. Smells of sugar and chocolate wafted toward me. “Jolene’s famous peanut butter balls! I should do fifteen extra laps to burn off the calories, but it will be worth it.”
“Should I put some on a plate?” Sarah asked.
“Nah. Just bring the whole tin and put it on the coffee table.”
“So,” Felicity said, “Mimi said that Thanksgiving dinner tomorrow will be small, which makes sense under the circumstances, but I’ll be happy to come back and bring you food.”
“Please don’t,” I said, scooting over to the freezer and flinging open the door.
Foil-covered dishes in all different shapes and sizes had been stacked inside like blocks in a game of Tetris.
“We haven’t even gone through everything she left in the fridge yet.
I think she was planning on the world ending.
So we don’t need any food, but thank you.
Actually, would you like to take some with you? ”
Felicity laughed. “Nah, I think we’re good. Friends and neighbors have been bringing over casseroles ever since Adele was identified.”
I didn’t question why she didn’t refer to Adele as her mother.
I’d been calling Melanie Mother for a long time, and when I thought of the mother who’d given birth to me, I thought of her only as Bonnie.
It wasn’t an either-or thing but more of a before-and-after.
I’d long since realized that the human heart was big enough to contain all the love from the succession of important people in our lives, but the human mind was much more limited.
We made up hierarchies to help our hearts cope with loss.
“I’m sure,” I said. “How was the funeral? How are Mimi and Beau holding up?”