The House on Prytania (Royal Street #2)(56)
Author: Karen White
“All right,” I said. “But don’t tell Mom or Dad.”
She sent me a look that reminded me so much of Jack when I’d tell him that it was the other drivers on the road who were the problem that I laughed out loud, but I quickly sobered when Sarah returned her gaze to the top of the stairs and an almost imperceptible shudder rippled through her. “I see two men.” She tilted her head, a tentative smile playing at her lips. “One of them is smoking a pipe. He says you’ve met before.”
“That’s Beau’s grandfather Charles. Can you ask him why he’s still here?”
Sarah moved to the first step, then stopped, a deep frown forming on her face. “He says that you and Beau still need him.”
I’d expected that answer, but to have it spoken out loud hollowed out a small pit of fear in my stomach. “Can he tell you why?”
Her gaze shifted, traveling slowly across the upper hall as if following something I couldn’t see. “It’s the other man. He’s . . . evil.” She turned to look at me, her pupils dilated, her blue eyes almost black. “He says there’s unfinished business.” Another shudder went through her as her hand flew to the banister, then gripped it tightly. “He wants to hurt Beau. And you.”
I sucked in a breath. “I think it’s Antoine Broussard—the man who killed his own daughter in this house and got away with it. Can you ask him if I’m right?”
Sarah gave a violent shake of her head, her gaze returning to the top of the stairs. “No. He’s not the type of spirit I should interact with. Grandma Sarah calls spirits like him ‘soul stealers.’ ”
I remembered the feeling I had while locked in the closet, the bleak sense of dread and hopelessness and unending fear. A lot like Jeanne must have experienced when her father choked the life from her on the exact steps upon which we were currently standing.
Jolene approached with her tour group consisting of Jack, Jaxson, Cooper, Sam, and Sunny. Sunny’s blond ponytail now sported an oversized purple ribbon, tied with Jolene’s signature perfect bow. “If you think the kitchen is amazing, just wait until you see what they’ve done upstairs.” Jolene winked at me as they approached. “Pay special attention to the floor tile in the upstairs bathroom. I’ve never been to Italy—yet—but I don’t think those Romans could do a better mosaic.”
Sarah and I stepped back to allow them to pass, watching as each one rubbed their arms as they passed the closet door.
“Are they okay up there?” I asked.
“Charles is up there. As long as he’s there it’s okay. But I get the feeling that he doesn’t want to be here anymore, and that he’s only staying to protect you and Beau. That Antoine guy has got to go.”
“I know. I’ve already had a bad experience.”
“Maybe Beau can help? I wish I could do more, but I know just from standing here that I’m not strong enough. Yet. I’m only here a week, and I don’t think that will be long enough.” Her eyes traveled to the closet door, and we both watched as it slowly opened.
I took Sarah’s arm and pulled her away from the stairs and into the kitchen. “Are you still on board with coming with Jolene and me to Michael’s beach house? Like I said, I have no idea what to expect, but Michael and his family are all related to Antoine Broussard.”
“At least we have an escape hatch, since Jolene’s driving, and we can leave if things get a little crazy.”
“Yes—and I’ll make sure people know where we are.”
“In case we go missing?”
“That’s not going to happen, Sarah. I just thought it would be in our best interest if people knew where we were—for any reason.”
“Like if King Kong suddenly appeared to destroy New Orleans and we needed saving?”
“Has anyone ever told you that you think too much like Dad?”
She grinned up at me. “Mom does all the time.”
“Okay, everyone,” Melanie announced from the middle of the living room, “according to Nola’s schedule, it’s time for us to leave if we’re going to make it to the swamp tour in time. Everybody outside!”
I was the last to leave, Thibaut and Jorge having already left after their show, and I went around the house turning off lights and making sure the doors and windows were locked. As I reached the front door, I noticed a large purple ribbon on the floor, strands of blond hair stuck in the knot. Figuring it was Sunny’s hair bow, I shoved it into my jeans pocket since I needed both hands to close and lock the door.
It took almost fifteen minutes to situate everyone in the available vehicles to drive us all to Ponchatoula for the swamp tour. Sam said it was ridiculous for Cooper to drive, since there was room in the backseat of Beau’s truck for Cooper and me. Sunny would sit up front between her brother and Sam. Jolene, Melanie, and Jaxson would ride in Bubba’s front seat, and JJ and Sarah would ride in the back. That left Jack, who instead of riding with Melanie chose the middle of the backseat in Beau’s truck. When I strongly suggested that he might be more comfortable in Jolene’s car, he just smiled and said he was looking forward to spending the time catching up with Cooper.
“It’s not like I’m going to get pregnant sitting next to him,” I hissed.
“I have three kids, Nola. I know what backseats can do to a levelheaded male.”
“You do know that I’m an adult, right? Not to mention that there will be three other people in the front seat.”
“Just saying,” he said with that infuriating grin that Melanie found so inexplicably attractive. Which just went to show that love truly was blind.
I realized that Sarah was still standing on the sidewalk, looking at the house. I called out to her, “Come on, Sarah. Let’s go. I’m riding in Beau’s truck, so you don’t have to sit on the hump.”
She didn’t appear to have heard me, so I moved closer. “We’re ready to leave.”
Sarah bit her lip but kept her gaze focused on the house. “Is Thibaut’s wife dead?”
I would have been surprised to hear that question from anyone but her. “Yes.” I didn’t elaborate.
“She loves him. She wants him to know that.”
“Okay. I’ll tell him. I think that will help him.”
She nodded. “He doesn’t look it, but he’s very sad. He misses her.”