“Not that I’d make anybody pay for them anyway, since it’s my fault they got broken,” Jayne admitted. “I should have had them moved out of the house long before they started all the restoration work. It’s just . . . I don’t know. I don’t feel as if the house is mine, and I’m finding it really difficult to make these decisions because I still think of the house and everything in it as belonging to Button Pinckney.”
“That’s normal,” I said taking my shopping bag from Sultana. “If you work more closely with Sophie, she can help you put your personal stamp on things to make it feel more like yours. Well, assuming they’re historically accurate. She’s a little fanatical about that kind of stuff.” I smiled brightly. “Of course, I can help you work around them. I’m a real expert on that.” My smile faded as I remembered a few times when Sophie had discovered my subterfuge, my knees aching at the memory of me being forced to strip floors by hand after a contraband electric sander had been discovered in my possession. “As long as you don’t let her know.”
Jayne gave me a worried glance. “Okay. That’s good to know. But I still wouldn’t feel right. Maybe I’m holding out hope that Jack will discover some answers so I can move forward—mentally, anyway.” The air behind her shifted, the temperature dropping as if an air conditioner had been switched on behind us, and I watched her shiver. She reached up a hand and brushed at the back of her neck, as if something had touched her, and I was glad for the scarf I wore that hid the scabs from the scratches I’d received in Button’s bathroom. I met my mother’s gaze, her eyebrows rising in acknowledgment that we weren’t alone.
“Thank you, Ginette,” Jayne said as she took her bag. “This wasn’t necessary, but I do appreciate it. I had fun.”
“Me, too,” Ginette said, sneaking a glance behind us as she held open the door and we said good-bye to Sultana with promises to return.
Heavy clouds had been forming while we were inside, and a crack of thunder sounded above us as we made a dash down the street, trying to beat the rain. I turned my head to catch our reflection in the window, not surprised to see the pale form of a young girl in a white nightgown standing behind us, staring directly at me. Help me. Her lips didn’t move, but the words sounded loud in my ear. I turned and ran faster to catch up, the words reverberating over and over until I began to hum loudly to block them out.
CHAPTER 28
Isat at the vanity in front of my bathroom mirror, playing with the makeup we’d purchased the previous day, frowning at my reflection and thinking I looked more like Tammy Faye Bakker than the glamorous appearance I was going for.
Nola sat on the counter, studying me as I’d seen her do at museum exhibits. “Can I do the eyeliner? I’m good at the cat’s-eye look, and I don’t think I can watch you remove everything and start over one more time. You’re going to wear down your eyelid if you’re not careful, and then you’ll have to put makeup on your bare eyeball.”
“Can that really happen?” I asked, not completely sure she was joking.
Instead of answering she jumped off the counter and took the eyeliner from my hand. Relieved, I closed my eyes, happy to have her expertise. “What would I do without you, Nola?”
“Same thing I’d do without you, so I guess that makes us even.”
It took me a moment to realize that she’d just said something nice to me, most likely taking advantage of the fact that my eyes were closed and our positions made it difficult for me to hug her. “Thanks,” I said.
She responded with a grunt. After a moment, she said, “I wish you’d go talk to Jayne. She thinks her dress is too revealing and wants to bring a sweater to cover her shoulders and cleavage. I’m thinking it’s a pretty conservative dress and no sweater is needed. She’ll just look ridiculous.”
I remembered having the same conversation with my mother about the red dress she’d picked out for me for my fortieth birthday party. Jack had really liked it. I blushed a little at how much he’d liked it, sobering quickly when I remembered it had led to JJ and Sarah.
“If she feels more comfortable in a sweater, then she should bring it. It’s still a little chilly at night and she might need it.”
I felt Nola pull back. “Open,” she commanded. She examined me closely, a small frown on her face. “Close,” she said, then leaned toward me again with the eyeliner wand. “As soon as I’m done here, I’ll go pack my overnight bag. I just hope Alston and her mom don’t get here before Detective Riley. I want to be able to hear Jayne say hello to him.”
She pulled back again and I opened my eyes. “Awesome!” She closed the wand and placed it on the vanity. She paused for a moment and then said, “Lindsey is spending the night at Alston’s, too.”
Nola didn’t sound excited. “You like Lindsey, don’t you?” I asked.