Page 18 of The Lady on Esplanade
“They were one of many families who evacuated after the storm and didn’t come back.And then, with my sister’s kidnapping and my parents…missing, we got distracted and pretty much lost touch.But Camille and Henry recently moved back and reached out to Mimi to reconnect.”
“And Mimi wants to have them over.Makes sense.But why invite me?And why isn’t Mimi calling me herself?”
I heard a drawer slamming and silverware rattling on the other end of the line.“Why isn’t Mimi calling me herself?”I repeated.
“Because it wasn’t her idea to invite you.”
“Ah.Okay.So are you saying you might need a little emotional support?”
“Maybe.”His voice sounded forced, as if his lips were blocking the way.
“And how does Sam feel about that?”
“She doesn’t have to know that I invited you, okay?It’s best to keep that to ourselves.”
I took a moment to consider what that was supposed to mean.“Won’t Sam want to know why I’m wearing a vest with a leash?”
“Very funny.Look, if you don’t want to help out a friend—”
“Oh, so we’re friends now.”I wanted to pull back the words, knowing I’d approached dangerous territory.
“We’ve always been friends, Nola.Maybe more than just friends.”
I didn’t say anything, half dreading and half anticipating what he would say next.
“Because of all we’ve been through together.Sort of like soldiers who’ve fought battles shoulder to shoulder.I’m actually glad that Sam wasn’t with us in the attic while we were fighting Antoine, because now when I’m with her I’m not bombarded with bad memories.”
“Uh-huh.So I’m like a PTSD trigger.”
“Exactly.I mean…no.That’s not what I meant.It’s just that when I’m with Sam my thoughts go where I want them to, but when I’m with you they get a little more…visceral.”He paused.“Your presence does something to my brain.Like, it weakens the doors I’ve built between this world and the next.Your presence is…distracting.And not in a good way.”
I recalled what he’d once said to his mother on a disconnected phone in the middle of the night, when he’d presumably been sleepwalking.She’s dangerous.I can’t afford to lose my focus.I can’t ever let that happen again.
“Wow, Beau.You really know how to make a girl feel special.Has anyone ever told you that you have a lousy way of asking favors from a friend?”
“Look.I’m sorry.I’m not…I’m not good with words.But you know what I mean.You understand and appreciate my psychic abilities.And whether that’s the reason or not, you seem to make them stronger.”
I took a deep breath and wondered if it was his Y chromosome that made his reasoning so obtuse as to defy understanding.“Then why do you want me to come to dinner to meet your mother’s best friend?”
“Because I’m thinking that’s why Mom’s still here.She needs me to pass some information on to Camille.They were best friends until the day my mother disappeared.There must have been something unsaid between them, maybe some parting words that Mom thought important enough to hang around to deliver.”He paused as if searching for his next words.“You make me stronger.My psychic abilities, I mean.I need to help Mom get this done so she can move on and leave me alone.”
“Uh-huh.”I chewed on my lower lip.“Can I bring Jolene?I might also need an emotional-support person.”
“Sure.No need for vests, though, all right?I’ll pick you up around six o’clock.”
“I’ll ask Jolene to drive.Should I come early so we can talk about Madame Zoe and your—”
“See you tonight,” he said before the phone went silent.
—
Jolene knocked on my bedroom door for the third time in fifteen minutes.“Are you sure you’re all right?”she asked, the last word extending into three syllables.
“I know how to get dressed, Jolene.I’ve been living with you for a while now.”I gave a cursory glance in the mirror, pausing long enough to drag a brush through my hair.I frowned, watching my halo of curls expand around my head.Even though it was November, humidity in New Orleans was still a thing, and a daily threat to those of us with overexcited hair follicles.
“Do you at least need me to do your hair?I’ve brought my hair spray just in case.”
I frowned into the mirror, realizing that not even a can of Jolene’s miracle hair spray would be enough.In desperation, I grabbed a hair tie from my wrist and swept my hair back.“No, I’m good.But thanks.”
