Page 82 of Phantom
And what was Jaime’s excuse?
The question whispers across my mind and I push it away. A sneaking suspicion is creeping across my thoughts that I don’t want to analyze just yet. Not here. Now that I’ve cracked the Bordeaux loyalty code, I can’t help but wonder… does Jaime work for him? Is he a shadow? If he is… how long has he been working for Sol?
Any of those answers terrify me because it means my best friend, the rock I’ve leaned on since my father died, could potentially just be a shadow, maybe even aspy, and not myfriendat all—
Jaime’s accused me of sticking my head in the sand before, and I’m trying to be eyes wide open, but this is a lot to handle. In a cemetery, no less.
I try to change the subject, not ready to deal with real life just yet. “You mentioned Monty. How’s he doing?”
She rolls her eyes but a spark of excitement lights her face. “He’s fine. He didn’t have a scratch on him. But for the first time ever, he was true to his word. He actually quit. Miss Scarlett Day, you’re looking at your new director.”
My jaw drops, but I shake my head with a smile. “Oh my god,Maggie. That’s amazing!”
Ben shushes us from the bench and I cover my mouth, but Maggie just laughs. “It’s been a lot at once, but I’m happy. At first I was afraid people might think I only got the job because of Ben… but then I sat on the stage and imagined a full auditorium, standing with applause formycast andmycrew, and I thought fuck them—” She slams her hand over her mouth and looks at Marie who’s not paying us any attention before she whispers back to me. “Fuck them. I earned it so they can just get used to it.”
“Absolutely,” I agree.
“Oh, but speaking of favoritism.” She juts her chin to the Bordeaux family on the bench. “I’ll be doing another audition for the role as Marguerite inFaust.Just to make sure no one can say Jilliana only got it because of Monty, or that you only got it because of the Phantom. We’ll be doing this one the right way, from the jump. Auditions are tomorrow, so bring yourAgame.”
“You got it.” I smile, wondering if Sol will actually let me even go.
Do I care? I didn’t really want that part anyway…
The plan my father made for me has been tossed into the wind ever since I sang Juliet the other night. If I could play venues like Masque, just like my dad did right here in New Orleans, I’d be happy.
“And what about you? How are you doing lately?” She glances around and hushes her tone so that only I can hear her again. “I heard about what… happened.”
I startle for a second, trying to figure out what she’s talking about. She narrows her dark-brown eyes slightly before filling in the blank.
“Your… medication?”
“Soltoldyou about that?” My heart cracks at the betrayal, but she shakes her head.
“No honey, Ben did. Sol called him when he needed Dr. Portia to leave Valérie and come to you. She’s basically a live-in doctor. Runs her business in a shotgun house right down the road and comes to the family wing of the opera house anytime we need her. The good doctor has been getting calleda lotlately, what with it being the anniversary and all. Valérie always has a hard go of it this time of year.”
My head is spinning, trying to keep up, and I blink as I try to piece all this info together. “Anniversary?”
Maggie nods and tries to tease Marie with the teething ring. “Yeah, of their father’s murder,” she says it so casually but when my eyes pop wide she stills.
“You didn’t know?” Her tight corkscrew curls bounce and Marie grabs several in her little fist. “I thought… since you were here…. Damn it, don’t mind me. Mom brain.” She chuckles nervously and tickles Marie’s belly until the little girl shrieks with happiness and sets her mom’s hair free from her tiny grasp.
“May I?” I ask, hoping to both coax more “mom brain” confessions and play with a sweet toddler. Being the only child of a traveling musician, I grew up always wanting a huge family and planning to have one of my own. Any chance I can get to hold a baby, I’m there.
“Oh, yeah, sure.” She passes Marie off to me and slouches as if it’s the first break she’s gotten in hours. Maybe it is. “She’s teething so if she’s a little drooly, just pretend it’s ’cause she likes you.”
I chuckle as Marie snatches my own hair. She tugs ithardand I try to keep a straight face like her mom did, but my scalp is way too tender. Maggie helps me by tickling her belly again and Marie erupts into giggles. Maggie and I still and glance around guiltily at the Bordeauxs while Marie goes back to her teething ring.
Ben is smiling at Maggie, like they’re in on a secret the rest of us aren’t. Mrs. Bordeaux is grinning wistfully and Sol, hell, the possessive heat in Sol’s midnight gaze makes my core clench.
“Oh please, don’t stop on our account,” Mrs. Bordeaux encourages. “Abraham loved to hear children’s laughter. Hearing his beautiful granddaughter would have been his greatest joy.”
“We’ll still try to keep the giggles to a minimum,” Maggie promises.
When the Bordeauxs go back to their conversation, my eyes catch Sol’s lingering on me and I have to fix my eyes on the ground, Marie, anything to avoid the absolutely sinful thoughts I’m having about him in this cemetery.
I glance back to Maggie, who’s doing her best to fan all three of us. Even though Maggie cut herself off earlier, I can’t get what she said out of my head.
“So… Mr. Bordeaux. He was… murdered?” I mouth the last word.
