Page 60 of The Aura Answer
“Spirit energy is cold. Until the late Mayor Block figures out why he’s still here, he’s not leaving. I’m not sure about Bertie, though. He may just want his mama’s Christmas present back.” Being polite hadn’t helped, so she might as well take stabs in the dark and pray no one heaved her over the railing.
The Cajun wasn’t as overprotective as Jax. He stayed hidden and let her do her thing.
Satterwhite was the one who stepped in. “Evie is a Malcolm, Rhodes. I don’t suppose you had any of her family in your classes when you lived here? Extraordinary women.”
Rhodes rolled his eyes. “Unless our late esteemed mayor can return from the dead to fix the mess he left behind, I don’t believe I’m interested.”
He started toward the stairs. Unable to resist, Evie called after him, “Bertie’s ghost says you’re a bully, Your Honor. Maybe if you make it up to him by helping his mama, he’ll go away. That’s a whole lot cheaper than building a new courthouse!”
Rhodes didn’t even turn around.
“Oh well.” Evie sighed and turned back to Judge Satterwhite. “Maybe I should look forSammy’sghost. Will you tell the sheriff it’s okay for me to go in the Barn? Mr. Patel might be able to use some part of it for his fruit stand. And Nick might be able to sell off the antiques, if that would help.”
The judge patted her on the shoulder. “Stay home and bake cookies, Evangeline. You don’t want to be mixed up in what you don’t understand. Whoever is behind these deaths won’t care who or what you are, and you have a daughter now.”
She ground her teeth on thebaking cookiesbit, because he was probably right about the rest. She had no illusions about killers, and she wasn’t a real detective. But Loretta had Jax and money. A lot of people who had nothing were counting on her for a lot of reasons. If she wanted respect, she had to fulfill her responsibilities.
Or die trying, if that’s what it took.
Gulping, she headed for her next stop—access to the Barn.
Twenty-Three
Gracie lookedup from her laptop at Nick. After their expedition to the storage unit, he had changed from his jeans to dress-up clothes. Appearing very British sophisticated, he wore a silky black turtleneck under a tailored gray suit coat he wore open, displaying his awe-inspiring physique. “You’re going into the city?”
Without her, went unsaid, because it was too pathetic.
“Jax said I might borrow his motorbike. I’ve taken a position, and I need to look for a place to stay. I can’t live off your family’s good will forever.” He smiled confidently, as if this were his dream come true.
Taken a position?What did that mean? A job? He had ajob?
Stunned, she mouthed platitudes. “You know you’re welcome here. Evie said she was getting keys to the Barn from Mrs. Walker. We thought you might be interested. I hadn’t realized you were job hunting.” That came out all wrong. She should be expressing her excitement for him, not whining about whatshewanted to do.
He shrugged one broad shoulder. “It would take years to make antiques pay off. This position is practically designedfor me. But there’s travel involved, so there won’t be time for hobbies.”
She offered a weak smile. “You’ll enjoy that. Will you at least stay for Christmas?”
“If your family will have me, I’d like that. I don’t want this to be farewell. Perhaps I can take a look at Sammy’s inventory and advise the family a tad on what to do with them. I’ve done a bit of research already.”
She couldn’t read minds or auras, but Gracie thought she read Nick well enough. His heart was in antiques, but his pockets required cash. She certainly understood that dilemma.
“You’ll have time to work on Bertie’s website?”
“Of course! I won’t be starting in my new position until after the first of the year. There’s plenty of time to have the sale up and running and send a publicity blitz.”
So many things she should say but frustration stopped her tongue. She didn’t even know why she was disappointed. Men came and went. She didn’t need them.
Nick left. Aster ran in to show her a gift she’d made of popsicle sticks. Gracie hugged her daughter. Aster had to be the most important part of her life, and she was fine with that.
Setting aside her useless attempt at writing, she followed Aster back to the parlor. The eccentric Christmas tree with its gleaming old-fashioned lights harbored a mountain of equally eccentric gifts. The ones from Great Aunt Val had arrived wrapped in burlap with gingham bows. Others were wrapped in comics or fabric scraps from the attic. The recycled gift wrap competition had reached the absurd but reassured her a little. Her family would always be her family.
Trying not to fret over how she’d buy her mortgage back, Gracie joined Pris in the kitchen to prepare lunch. She supposed she could live with Evie. Would the mortgage company pay herwhat her house was worth? Maybe that could be Aster’s college fund.
“The parade’s tomorrow!” Aster cried in excitement, nearly knocking her milk off the table. “Will there be Thanta Clauth?”
Dante’s twins looked up expectantly, their dark eyes gleaming. They still weren’t very talkative, but they were learning to participate more. “Santa?” Nan inquired.
“Parades always have Santa,” Loretta declared, from her lofty, eleven-year-old position. “And bands and candy. Mr. Nick said he might even find elves.”
