Page 12 of Carnal Magic
Amy’s face fell. “Oh. I see.”
“I’m sorry. I never intended to stay this long. I really thought I’d sign some papers, take a few pictures of the old family place, and then drive back to Little Rock for the night.”
“Well, if you’re still here tomorrow, you’re welcome to join us at seven thirty for fried chicken and all the fixings. I sure hope you can come, even though it’s so late. The kids will want to trick-or-treat first.”
I nodded. “Thank you. I’ll let you know.”
She tucked her arm back through Drew’s and smiled at him like he was her knight in shining armor. “Every Saturday night we walk down to the diner for pie, while Mama watches the kids.”
It seemed a bit silly to get all dressed up for pie, though on second thought, if I could have another piece of Mama’s coconut cream pie, I’d put on my nicest dress and walk a few miles in heels too. “Well, you two have a good evening.”
They stepped back and I pulled away from the curb. I had some answers, at least, and a couple of bottles of wine. Before I got too far up the mountain and lost reception, I called Keneesha.
“I was getting worried about you. Everything okay?”
She sounded tired. I checked the time, but it was only six. “I texted you that I was staying. Did it not go through?”
“Oh, it did. I just wondered what was going on. When you left, I thought you were just going to be gone a day or two.”
“Yeah, that was my plan, but I’m learning more about Mama’s family. More than I expected. I might stay a few more days to sort everything out.” Though that probably meant I should go to the Woodward’s for Sunday dinner. I bit back a sigh. “Can Isiah help out at the shop while I’m gone?”
Her son had graduated from LSU over the summer, but I didn’t think he had a job yet.
“You wouldn’t mind?”
“Of course not. In fact…” I hesitated, letting the idea bloom in my head. My nerves tingled and my nape prickled, as if I’d stuck my finger into the metaphysical light socket. “Would he be interested in taking my spot full time? Or is the shop not really his thing?”
“Really?” Keneesha sighed with relief and she laughed, though it sounded more like a sob. “He’s been so frantic to get a job, but nothing has seemed right. Are you sure? What are you going to do?”
“Well… How much did Mama ever tell you about the Redwines?”
“Not much, actually. She said her mother died when she was a senior in high school. She lived with her best friend until she graduated because she didn’t have any other family. I didn’t know about this grandmother until you found the paperwork in her things.”
“Great-Great-Grandmother Katherine was evidently quite the businesswoman. She sold off some land to a mining company but retained a portion of the mineral rights. Those royalties have been paying all this time. I’m actually inheriting the land and about… three million dollars.” I finished in a rush, my voice breaking on the end, still dumbfounded.
“Oh goddess,” Keneesha breathed shakily. “Arwena! That’s wonderful! Oh my goodness. I wonder if Layla didn’t know. Why didn’t she ever call that attorney like you did?”
“I don’t know. Her mother left the mountain when she was sixteen years old and never went back. I was hoping maybe someone knew that story.”
“I wish I did.” She sniffed, her voice shaking. “I had no idea about any of this.”
I wished I could see Keneesha’s face. Was she crying? Obviously I was thrilled about the inheritance but I didn’t think it was worth tears. “What’s wrong?”
Another sniffly sound. “Oh bother. I didn’t want to tell you like this. I’m sorry, baby girl.”
Alarm sheared through me, my fingers clutching the steering wheel in a vicious grip. She never used Mama’s pet name for me—unless the news was dire. Like my mother had weeks to live dire.
I pulled over into the grassy shoulder before the road narrowed and started the sharp incline. “What’s wrong?”
She tried to laugh again but it turned into a hopeless sob that wrenched my heart. “I’ve not been feeling right. Nothing major, just… My intuition said something was wrong. I kept having alarming dreams at night, as if my spirit guides were trying desperately to warn me.”
The same as Mama. When we found out she had cancer.
I swallowed down a giant lump of furious tears that almost choked me. “No.”
“I decided not to wait and avoid the truth, like she did for so long. If we could have gotten her treatment quicker, she might have been with us longer, you know? So I called the doctor. I have breast cancer. It’s early, but we’re going to treat it aggressively. I’ll have surgery next month after they do some imaging.”
I clutched the phone desperately, fighting down the urge to scream. To rail and cry and curse at the sky for the unfairness. There were so many shitty people in this lousy world. Why did the only two people who loved me unconditionally have to suffer so much? “I’ll head home first thing in the morning.”
