“That’s a good thing, right?” I asked, just to make sure.
“Right and tight,” she muttered, and closed her eyes. She looked happy, but the fountain experience had exhausted her. I just hoped we wouldn’t have to call the paramedics.
I gathered my tools and took off, hoping this particular fountain would keep her interest for more than a year, unlike the previous two. But then I figured, what did it matter? If having a gaudy new fountain brought her a little bit of happiness, who was I to pee on her parade?
*
That night, I finally reached Jane, who was excited about the idea of getting together with the girls at Emily’s apartment the following evening. I emphasized the fact that we were guaranteed a delicious meal prepared by Emily herself or her fabulous catering crew.
“Wonderful. I had tentative plans,” Jane said, “but I’ll cancel them. I’ll have much more fun with the girls.”
“Tentative plans? With someone I know?”
“It’s not important,” she said, and quickly changed the subject. “Hey, don’t forget my big gala is this weekend.”
“How could I forget? It promises to be the party of the year.”
“Of the decade,” she said, and laughed. “I’m so thrilled to be opening my doors at long last. Everything is ready. I’m just waiting for it all to begin.”
“You’ve worked really hard to make this happen and I’m so proud of you.”
“Now you’re going to make me cry.”
“Save your tears for Wednesday night with the girls.”
“Good idea. Maybe I can make everybody cry.”
“There’s a goal,” I said with a laugh, and ended the call a minute later. As soon as I did, I realized I hadn’t even mentioned the necklace to her. I’d completely forgotten. And I had hardly heckled her at all about her tentative plans. I was really falling down on the job of BFF.
Before I could call her back, though, I received a call from my second foreman, Carla. She had a lot to talk about, and by the time we finished the conversation, it was too late to call Jane back. I’d have to catch her before we got to Emily’s, and talk it through. One way or another, we had to spill the beans.
*
Of course, Jane and I played telephone tag all day, so Wednesday night, I got to Emily’s early to try to grab Jane. We had to discuss strategy. Would we tell our friends about the necklace? Would we tell them that Jesse had been murdered? And we absolutely had to tell Eric about the necklace. My hair was turning gray just worrying about what he would say.
But Jane didn’t show up until after everyone else had arrived. So we were going to have to wing it, but I was determined to tell them about the necklace.
“I know it’s only been a week or so,” Marigold said after giving me a warm hug, “but I feel like I haven’t seen you in months.”
“I said the exact same thing to Shannon,” Lizzie said. “I’ve been so busy with work.”
“And a few of her men have been busy at my place,” Emily said dramatically as she poured wine into five glasses.
“How’s that coming along?” Marigold asked.
“It’s fantastic,” Emily said. “I can’t wait for you all to see it.”
Even though I hadn’t been back to her place since we did the walk-through with Wade, he’d been keeping me apprised of the progress. It seemed that the ghost of Mrs. Rawley was still very interested in what was going on there.
Emily passed me a glass. “You’ll be happy to know that Wade and Douglas and the others have been doing amazing work.”
I smiled. “That’s why I pay them the big bucks.”
“And they deserve every penny,” Emily said, and turned to the others. “They have not only me to deal with, but an interfering ghost, as it turns out.”
Lizzie’s eyes widened. “The Rawley ghost. I’ve heard about it for years. Do you think it’s real? Have you seen it?”
“Let’s say I’ve felt her presence,” Emily said, swirling her wine.
It was more than just a presence, I thought, if my experience at age seven was any indication. And Wade had been filling me in on a few incidents that had happened since they started the job. Nothing too scary, he’d said, but still a little nerve-racking to work with a ghost in the house.
“That’s so fascinating,” Marigold whispered. “Is it scary? Do you feel cold air in spots?”
“Not at all,” Emily said. “I just feel she’s there, taking an interest in everything happening around her house. There hasn’t been much to occupy her for the last five years that it was on the market, so now she’s fairly active.”
“How can you tell?” Lizzie wondered.
“It’s an energy. Plus, you know, the lights going on and off by themselves.”
“Seriously?” Marigold’s mouth hung open.
“Yes,” I said. “And the guys assure me it’s not the wiring. The first time we walked through with Wade, he heard a yowling sound, like a cat.”
“Was it a cat?”