Page 8 of January

“Jolie, we’ll do your list. I just want some time to think.”

“And you’ve hadthatfor days already. I know you want to learn about our family history and everything, but this is a vacation, too.”

“I’m aware. And you are free to do whatever you want to do. You don’t have to worry about me.”

“Oh, no. You’re not getting out of this. You sold me on a vacation to Bourbon Street, and I’m getting that. Don’t think I’m trying to party there solo.”

“I’m not partying every night, Jolie. I’ll go out a fewtimes, but not constantly. Besides, New Orleans isn’t only about partying,” she replied.

“I know. And if you open your eyes, I can show you the list I made that demonstrates that fact.”

Kyle opened her eyes reluctantly and turned her head toward her sister, who had chosen the aisle seat. She looked down toward the tray table and saw Jolie’s phone, which was unlocked and showing her notes app.

“Okay. Go.”

“So, there’s the Garden District, the food, the museums, and the swamps.”

“The swamps?” Kyle asked with a lifted eyebrow.

“Yeah. I was thinking we could do a swamp boat tour. Supposedly, you get to see alligators.”

“Why would I ever want to see analligator?”

“Why not? It’s an experience,” Jolie replied. “I heard they feed them marshmallows.”

“Sorry, what?”

“They throw them in the water to attract them. I read about it after we booked the trip.”

“Didn’t we do that with raccoons that one time Dad took us camping? Works for alligators, too?”

“Apparently,” Jolie said, lifting up her phone. “There’s Jackson Square, the riverboat casinos, and I also want to hit up that voodoo shop in the French Quarter everyone always talks about.”

“How long are you planning on being here, exactly?” Kyle asked.

“I don’t know. I took off two weeks, so we’ll go from there. You’re the one who didn’t book a flight back.”

“I’m freelance,” she reminded. “I can work from anywhere. And it just seemed like the right idea, booking an open ticket.”

“But the house is going to be gone. Even if we get the key and can get in to check it out – and that’s a big if, too – it’s not like it’s just going to sit there for us to pilfer or keep going back to. I’m sure it’ll be sold at auction or something.”

“We’ll find out, I guess. Either way, I didn’t want to book a week only to decide that I wanted to stay longer and then have to change my ticket. This was just easier.”

“Well, not all of us have cushy freelance jobs,” Jolie replied.

“Cushy?” Kyle laughed. “I own my own business and make enough to get by, but nothing is cushy in my life. You know that.”

“Mom again?” Jolie asked. “When did she hit you up?”

“Last month,” Kyle replied. “She played the mom card and talked about how she’d given up her body and life to have me.”

“How many times has she used that one?”

“More than I can count,” she admitted. “I gave her a thousand bucks.”

“Ky, why?” Jolie asked in a louder voice.

“She needed work done on the trailer.”

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