Page 38 of So in Love
“We’re back!”Mom’s voice carried up the last few stairs.“Just giving you advance warning.You know.”
Oh great.She might not have a love potion, but she was sure working the power of suggestion.
Jamie mouthed,Sorry, at Crystal.She shrugged, but little worry lines remained around her eyes.What had she wanted to tell him?
Mom carried a box into the living room and set it on the coffee table.“Here’s fine, Sam.”
Dad deposited the other one next to it.
Mom lifted the lid off the first one.“Now don’t get too excited.I think most of this stuff is from the 1950s and later, but there’s a bit of older stuff.We just have to find it.”
Crystal moved to stand near her.“How cool.Do you remember what you’re looking for?”
“Not exactly.It’s been years since we went through this.To be honest, I haven’t gone through it since my mom died.”She gave Dad a sad smile.“I guess I’ve been putting it off.”
Dad touched her arm.“We don’t have to do this now either.”
“No, we don’t,” Crystal said, her brow creased with concern.
Mom squared her shoulders and summoned a bright show of determination.“It’s okay, I want to.”She pulled an album from the top and set it aside.“I know this is from right after my parents were married.In fact, I’m pretty sure this whole box is later stuff.”She bent over and shuffled through it for a moment before putting the album back inside and replacing the lid.“Let’s start with the other one.”
She moved around the table and sat on the sofa.Dad sank down beside her.
Mom lifted the second lid.“Yes, this looks better, I think.”She pulled out some loose photographs and laid them on the table.“You can sort through those, but they seem too late.I know there’s an old album in there from the 1920s or so.And some letters.”
Crystal leaned down to pick up a few pictures.“These look like the 1940s, maybe 1950s.”
“Yes,” Mom said, distracted by going through the box.“I think those are my father with his cousins.”
“Here’s a picture.”Mom smiled victoriously as she handed it to Crystal.“That’s my grandfather.He was born in 1911.The date of the photo should be on the back.”
Crystal flipped it over and read, “October 1922.”
Mom continued pulling things out of the box and passing certain items on to Crystal, who in turn handed them to Jamie.He gave them to Dad so he could set them on the table.
As she reached the bottom of the box, Mom frowned.“Well, this is strange.I know there’s more than this.”She sat back and cocked her head to the side for a moment.“I think there’s a third box.”
“I didn’t see another box like these downstairs in the storage room.”
“That’s my old bedroom,” Jamie told Crystal.
“I’m not sure it’s there.I’m trying to think.”Mom tapped her finger against her lip.“Mom gave me that box of really old stuff before she died, so it’s not in the same place.”She shook her head.“But what in the heck did I do with it?”She looked at Dad, who shrugged.
He chuckled.“Don’t look at me.”
Crystal cleared her throat softly.“So, I, uh, I don’t suppose you recall seeing anything about the KKK?”
Jamie turned to stare at her, but his mom’s reaction beat his.
“The what?”she asked, sounding a bit shrill.
Crystal’s neck flushed.“The, uh, KKK.We found a letter to Redmond Stowe indicating he was the Grand Cyclops.”
Mom’s gaze turned cool.“You didn’t say you were looking for something like that.I think you must be mistaken.”
Crystal shook her head gently.“We’re not.”
Jamie stared at her.Why the hell hadn’t she told him about that?“That’s kind of a big deal.Why didn’t you mention it?”
