Page 53 of One Last Regret

We all laugh, and Etienne says, “Josephine, why don’t you take the children home while I finish with the officers? Mary, you’re welcome to stay a while longer if you’d like.”

I return their smile. “I think I can stay for a while longer.”

The children rush forward and wrap me in a bear hug. I return their embrace with equal fierceness, then hold their hands in mine as we leave the Midnight Melody and the curse ofVie Apres a la Mortsbehind us.

CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE

I kiss Gabriel on the forehead and straighten. I look at his drawings and smile ruefully. The witch depicted in the drawings is quite terrifying with her snaggle teeth and her large black eyes, but she looks nothing like the ghost that haunts me. It’s incredible the lengths to which the mind will go to convince oneself one is too far gone to save.

I tiptoe out of the room and head back downstairs. Josephine and Etienne sit in the parlor with coffee and donuts on the table in front of them. A cup waits for me, and I smile gratefully as I sit across from them. Tonight feels more like a tea night than a coffee night, but if I’m going to eat donuts, I suppose coffee is a better companion than tea.

My phone charges in the outlet near my seat. I’ve resolved to have it connected to a charger constantly unless I’m actively using it. Part of me feels that my subconscious allowed the battery to run down just so it could justify its choice to feel hopeless.

It will have to content itself with a half victory. I’ve found nothing here to suggest that Annie ever set foot in New Orleans. I suppose I could remain in the city and look in earnest now that my employment with the Lacroixs is coming to an end, but I am too exhausted to put myself through that strain right now. I haven't given up on learning the truth about my sister, but I think it's time I admit that I'm not up to the effort of doing so full-time. What I want now is to return home to my lover and forget about all of this for a while.

Speaking of that.

I unplug my phone—not before confirming I have a full charge—and text him.Slight delay. All good news. Talk later. Love you.

I set the phone down and take a bite of my donut. “Well, that’s done, then.”

“Do you think so?” Josephine asks. “Do you think that’s it?”

I sip my coffee as I think of my answer. “I think you’ve all turned a corner,” I say. “I don’t think you’ll be imagining any more spirits of vengeance or cursed musical numbers. There will be hard times ahead. The children will want to know what that note said, and you will have to tell them eventually. That will be difficult no matter what age you choose to reveal that information. But I do feel that the worst is behind you.”

“I just can’t believe it,” Etienne says. “I mean… I suppose I knew she was attracted to me. A lot of women find me attractive. I think it’s the money they think I have more than anything else.” He chuckles. “If only they knew. Anyway, I didn’t imagine it was motivation enough to kill Claude.”

“I don’t think that’s why she killed him,” Josephine said. “I think she felt trapped. I think when she met Claude, he was larger than life to her. I think she was awed by him more than she was in love with him, and I think when she realized that, she reacted badly to it.”

She and I share a look, and I realize that it’s not just Audrey she’s talking about. She didn’t kill Marcel, but the rest of it applies.

Etienne shakes his head. “That’s still no excuse. She might not have loved him, but he loved her. She was the most important thing in the world to him.”

Josephine lowers her eyes and smiles sadly. That, unfortunately, doesn’t seem to have applied to her and Marcel. “Yes. He did.”

He sighs and reaches for another donut. “What do you want to do about the piano, Mother?”

“I don’t know. I suppose we should have it restored, if we can. It’ll never play again, not the way it used to. Maybe that’s a goodthing. Your father had a wonderful talent, but it consumed him, and… well, I fear it risks consuming Gabriel too.”

“Yes. I’ve considered canceling their music lessons. Amelia probably wouldn’t mind, but Gabriel would likely tie himself to Mr. Gilroy’s boots if he heard that.”

“Don’t cancel their lessons,” I implore him. “It’s possible to explore a talent without letting it consume you. You just need to guide them and make sure they have other things to love besides music.”

He nods. “Yes, you’re probably right. But not here and not at the club. I’ll send them to their house to study. Franz will like that. He’ll send them home stuffed with strudel every day. You know he makes it himself?”

“His mother’s recipe,” Josephine confirms. “He’s quite proud of it.”

“He should be, at least to here Mr. Gilroy talk.” He cocks his head. “I wonder why he never took Franz’s last name?”

“Does it matter?” Josephine asks. “Names are only names.”

“I suppose not,” Etienne agrees. “I only wondered.” He laughs. “You know, I’ve never seen them fight? I’ve never even seen them argue. They pretend to argue, but I’m convinced it’s only how they express their love.”

"They met when they were older," Josephine speculates. "They had time to learn who they were. When they met, they weren’t children looking for an identity. They were adults looking for companionship.”

“Well, I envy them,” Etienne says. “I don’t think even Julia and I were ever that close.” He looks at me. “So Mary, I suppose I know the answer to this, but I have to ask. Are you still determined to leave us?”

I nod. “I’m afraid so. I’ll stay for a few days longer, at least until after Audrey’s funeral. But Idoneed to get home. I havemy own demons to face that have nothing to do with what your family’s overcome.”

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