Page 47 of Memento Mori

“I told you, call me Linette,” my mom corrected.

“Are you ready for the premiere?” I asked, and my mom nodded enthusiastically. “I so am. I cannot wait to see the old homestead and you guys on television. I’m so happy that you had such a wonderful trip initially and that you decided to return for the airing.” We hadn’t told her what’d happened with Remy a couple of weeks ago. At least, not yet. It had been tough to avoid chatting with her on video as I healed, but I still felt it was the right decision. She would likely find out eventually, but we didn’t want to worry her right now. Everything was taken care of, and nobody was in danger any longer. I figured I could tell her when I was settled back here in New Orleans for good. Especially since I pretty much knew that once she heard and found out we knew who’d killed Reagan, she’d want to hop on a plane immediately and make sure I was okay. See for herself, in person, that I was all right. And, surprisingly, I was okay with that.

She turned to her left and accepted a glass of wine from someone just off screen. “Thanks, hon,” she said and blew a kiss before looking back at the screen. “Your stepfather says hello.”

“Tell him hi from us. Are you guys watching alone?”

“No,” she said. “We have two sets of neighbors over. They’re in the other room getting drinks and filling up on appetizers. What about you guys? Romantic night?”

“Not at all, actually. But, even better. Here, hold on.” I flipped the view of the screen and panned the camera across the courtyard at the assembled guests. I wished that Mom could see Ray, but it was enough for me to know that she could see my mom. I looked over and saw her nodding with a sad smile. I waved from behind the camera where my mom couldn’t see.

“Hey, guys,” I called. Everybody turned to look at me. “Say hi to my mom, Linette. The previous owner of Arborwood. Mom, as I’m sure you’ll recognize, this is the cast and crew ofHaunted New Orleans.”

“Oh my gosh,” I heard my mom say, and Dev smiled at me. “Brilliant stars. All of you. I absolutely love you all. Thank you for taking on Arborwood and getting us some answers.”

I flipped the camera back around and got both Dev and me in the frame. “Thanks for calling, Mom.” Just as I said that, someone extinguished the lights in the courtyard, the only illumination coming from the citronella tiki torches we had set up around the place, and the sound came on, the network’s logo showing on the massive screen.

“I think that’s our cue,” I said and smiled at my mother. “Enjoy the show. Call me tomorrow?” I asked. “I’m not headed back to Texas to pack up and get things squared away there for another day or two.”

“Of course, sweetie. Oh my gosh, I’m so excited,” she said and bounced in her seat. It made me smile. She placed her fingers against her lips. “Mwah, mwah, mwah.” She blew us kisses. “Go. Enjoy. Love you.”

“I love you, too, Mom.”

“You, too, Deveraux,” she added.

“The feeling’s mutual, Linette.”

Mom winked and disconnected, and I cuddled into Dev again, his strong arms coming around me.

“What do you say, gorgeous?” he said. “Ready to join everybody and check out this show? I hear it’s pretty good.”

“Yeah, I suppose that’d be okay,” I teased. “On one condition.”

“What’s that?” he asked.

“That as soon as the credits roll, we kick everybody out, and you take me to bed immediately.”

He turned us, slung an arm around my shoulders, and kissed my temple. “I think that can be arranged.”

Just as we started walking, the atmospheric theme music forHaunted New Orleansfilled the space, and Dev’s gorgeous face and melted-chocolate voice came on screen, followed by shots of each of the others in action. Schuyler handed me a glass of whiskey with ginger ale, and when I heard,“This . . . is Haunted New Orleans,”I knew that those five words would always mean more to me now. The truth had set me free.

I was finally home.

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