Page 46 of Undo Me

Chapter 9

“She hasn’t left the room for three days and she’s barely eaten.”

“Bethany will come out when she’s ready. I don’t think you’d be doing any better if it was Rousseau who’d disappeared into thin air.”

She smiled at Michelle’s protective tone as she stood in the hallway that led to the kitchen. What Allegra didn’t know was that Michelle had knocked on Bethany’s door every few hours, offering food and talking softly through the barrier. Keeping her company.

Michelle was a good friend. The best one she’d ever had. However misguided, Catherine had been, too.

It was strange, looking over the diaries again and seeing them with new eyes. There were still a lot of blanks, but she knew who she was. Or who she had been.

Isabel.

She touched the locket she’d kept pinned to her shirt since they’d brought her home. She knew how the latch worked now, but she couldn’t bring herself to look inside. Marcel had given it to her. Along with his promise that he’d find a way for them to be together. A promise that, in the end, he wasn’t able keep.

Antoine had paid a woman to sneak into his room and tricked Catherine into leaving a note for her to “catch” Marcel. He’d admitted as much the first time he’d taken her to the cemetery to die.

Marcel had never been unfaithful. He’d never betrayed her.

She still couldn’t believe he was gone. Or that the Marcel she remembered had somehow become Bone Daddy, a sexual Loa who would live forever.

Not dead.It was a comforting thought, despite everything.

A part of her wanted to turn around and hide in her room for a few more days, but that wasn’t who she was anymore. No more hiding. She had to celebrate her life. It was too short not to. She owed him that much.

“I smell something cooking. Is there enough for me?”

She entered the kitchen and chaos ensued.

Allegra and Mambo Toussaint both instantly wrapped her in their soft, relieved embraces. Even Ben lifted her up in a bear hug that left her feet dangling off the floor.

Rousseau rushed to get a bowl for the seafood paella he was making, knowing how she loved all things Spanish, he told her with a gentle smile. And Elise passed by, handing her a glass of mango juice and kissing her cheek. She’d never had so much attention in her entire life.

Michelle was the only one who hung back. She was smiling, but her eyes were wary. Bethany knew she was still worried about what Antoine had said. She’d admitted as much the last time she’d spoken through the door.

That was one of the reasons she had to come downstairs. She jerked her chin toward the dining room, knowing Michelle would follow her. “I have something to show you.”

Bethany set the puzzle box she’d brought with her down on the table and Michelle looked at it and her in confusion. “I’ve already seen this, Bethany.”

“But you don’t know that it wasn’t Isabel’s. I—she isn’t the one who put it in her secret spot.”

She smiled as the others crowded in the doorway between the kitchen and the dining room, obviously unwilling to put forth the effort to pretend they weren’t listening avidly to every word.

Michelle sat down in the chair across from her. “Then who?”

“Only two other people in the world, besides Isabel, knew about the secret panel. Emmanuel.” Bethany felt the cool breeze and smiled lovingly. “And Catherine Toussaint, Isabel’s very best friend and confidant.”

Michelle flinched, looking at the box as if it had turned into a poisonous snake.

“Isabel had initially given it to her as a gift. A box they could hide secrets in. One only they could open, because they had to do it together.” Bethany shook her head wryly. “Isabel did love her secrets. Maybe that’s why I’m not a fan of them.”

She placed one finger from each hand on two indentations on either side of the box. “Now you.”

Michelle studied the remaining sides and then hesitantly placed a forefinger on either side and pressed in the small divots. The lid popped up with a click and the others gasped. Bethany slid the lid in a circle, opening it the rest of the way, as curious as everyone else as to what was inside.

“It’s a letter.” Michelle’s voice was hushed, and Bethany was reminded of the first time she’d found that letter from Marcel and his locket.

“Catherine must have gotten someone to help her put one last secret inside.”

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