The House on Prytania (Royal Street #2)(78)
Author: Karen White

 

“Yay.” Sunny clapped lightly. “It’s about time we moved on, don’t you think? Without any real evidence and with only conjecture about wrongdoing, I don’t see why our families can’t be friends again.”

 

Michael nodded. “That’s exactly what Nola and I have been talking about. And I’m excited that she’ll be meeting my aunt and uncle this weekend to see how very kind and wonderful they are.”

 

Sunny laughed; it was high-pitched, like a young girl’s giggle. “Like a kind of ambassador, since Nola’s not related to either family. It’s perfect!”

 

“Right. Perfect,” I repeated. I stepped back to avoid a good-bye hug or kiss from Michael. “I’ve got to get back—lots of work to do so I can be gone all weekend.”

 

“And you gave Jolene the address?”

 

“Yes. And we know to use Google Maps instead of Waze so we don’t end up in the Gulf.”

 

Michael laughed. “Yep. Pass Christian is only a little more than an hour from here, so if you leave by ten you’ll be there by lunch. Aunt Angelina is a great cook and loves to entertain, so you don’t want to miss a meal.”

 

“We’re looking forward to it. I’ll text you with our ETA when we leave.”

 

We said our good-byes, and I watched as he got back on his bike and rode through the entrance to Audubon Place, waving to the guard.

 

“He’s so hot,” Sunny said as we walked away, with me pushing my bike. “It’s obvious that he’s really into you, but if that doesn’t work out, just let me know.”

 

I peered closely at her. “Is this your way to keep your friends close and your enemies closer?”

 

Sunny looked at me with genuine surprise. “I really don’t consider Michael and his family enemies.” She stopped in the middle of the sidewalk, causing me to stop, too. “There are so many open questions and so little proof that I’m seriously finding it hard to believe that this whole thing has gone on as long as it has. I mean, think about it, Nola. Why would a family with their kind of wealth and position steal a child for an illegal adoption?”

 

“You don’t watch a lot of true-crime shows, do you? Otherwise you’d know that there are motives other than money for kidnapping. Like revenge. It wasn’t a coincidence that you were taken from your family at the same time Charles threatened Antoine with exposing the truth about his daughter’s death. Sounds very much like an eye for an eye, which—interesting fact—was one of Antoine’s mottoes.”

 

“Have you considered that the Ryans might have it wrong? That it really is a coincidence?”

 

“There are no such things as—”

 

She cut me off. “I know. And I would usually agree. But the more I think about it, the more ridiculous it seems that a man as rich and powerful as Antoine Broussard would wait so long before exacting his revenge. It doesn’t make sense. Especially since the entire scenario is based on the supposed witness account of Antoine killing his own daughter that Mimi says a door told her. As much as I love Mimi, the whole account and connections seem more than improbable.”

 

“Then why had Antoine been looking for the door and any other evidence that might be related to Jeanne’s murder if he didn’t know the truth?”

 

“But that’s just it, don’t you see? First Mimi’s best friend is murdered, and then four decades later her granddaughter is abducted. The trauma of it all probably messed with her brain a little bit. That happens a lot in cases like this. It’s the brain’s way of making sense of a difficult situation.”

 

“So what you’re saying is that Mimi made it all up. To try to explain two tragedies four decades apart.”

 

Sunny gave me a sympathetic smile and even reached out to touch my arm. “We both know and love Mimi, and it’s hard to reconcile any sort of mental confusion with someone who is otherwise so strong and smart. But it happens.”

 

We started walking again. “Have you ever seen Mimi read an object?”

 

“A couple of times. At the shop. Why?”

 

“What did you think?”

 

She shrugged narrow shoulders. “Well, if I were desperate and needed to believe that someone could channel my loved one’s last moments by simply touching an object, I would definitely see the random observations as more specific than they actually are. Like fortune tellers. They make a guess and wait for the reaction before making the next guess.”

 

“Are you saying that Mimi is a liar?”

 

“Not at all,” Sunny said, looking insulted. “I’m just saying that if she believes in what she’s doing, and the person receiving the reading believes, it’s a match made in fantasy heaven. And what harm is done if Mimi can offer some kind of peace? I mean, even Beau doesn’t believe it’s real. I was listening to his archived podcasts the other day and I heard the one about psychometry. He debunked it right there on his show.”

 

Sunny stopped walking and I looked around, surprised that we’d already reached my apartment. I faced her again. “But how do you explain your kidnapping?”

 

“Well, I think it was simply a crime of convenience. Someone was driving by the house and spotted me alone in the driveway and saw an opportunity.”

 

“But it was a crime against you and your family. Don’t you want whoever was responsible punished?”

 

“Why? It was so long ago. I just want to live my life now. To move forward and not be forced to recall any of the awfulness that happened so long ago that I don’t even remember it. All I know is that I was raised by a loving mother and father and given a wonderful life. And now I have my real family back and I just want to be left alone to be a family again.”

 

I shook my head, feeling momentarily suspended, undecided as to which side of the fence I should fall on. “Unfortunately, I understand your position. But I also understand Beau’s. And even Mimi’s, which seems to be firmly planted between the two.” I blinked, trying to clear my head. “I’m going to spend the weekend with the Sabatiers and get to know them, and you will ask Mimi to invite them to her fund-raiser. Beyond that, I don’t have a clue. I hope Sam does, because I’m fresh out of ideas.”

 

Sunny helped me carry my bike through the door and lean it against the wall at the bottom of the stairs. “And don’t forget, if you discover anything—which I doubt you will—it needs to be shared with Sam and me and not Beau. Just make sure you practice first in a mirror before you lie to him. You have a pretty glaring ‘tell’ when you lie. Most people probably wouldn’t notice. But Beau would. He notices everything about you.”