Authors: Fern Michaels

Charming Lily (13 page)

BOOK: Charming Lily

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“Calumet Laroux did own it, but he passed away six or seven months ago. His three sons decided to keep the store. It's a nice little store, but sometimes I have to wonder how it supports three salaries. Of course none of the boys are married, so that might explain a few things. They inherited the family house, one of those old mansions on the hill, and they live there with Cal's old housekeeper. I think old Cal was well-off. His ancestors made tons of money when cotton was king way back when. The Laroux house is on the Pilgrimage tour in the spring and fall. It's worth going to see. The whole house is full of priceless antiques, as are most of the houses on the tour. This particular store is Natchez's answer to Radio Shack but with more inventory.”

Lily smiled. “I was just curious because it's closed, and there's a notice on the door about a death in the family.”

“You don't say. Now I wonder who that might be. Maybe a relative of old Cal's from up North. He had some cousins that lived in Syracuse. Saw them at the funeral parlor when old Cal passed on. I took my father so he could pay his respects. That's how I came by the information I just gave you. I imagine they'll be opening up the first of next week.”

“I'll see you in a few days, Mr. Sonner. Thanks again for your help.” Gracie continued to whine at the door. Buzz hugged her legs. “Shhh, it's okay, Gracie. We'll leave as soon as the rain lets up.” She bent down to hug Buzz, who hated thunder and lightning.

The moment the rain eased a bit, Lily ran for the truck, the dogs at her side. Gasping with the hard run, she shrugged out of her wet sweat jacket and tossed it into the cargo hold. It wasn't until she fumbled in her pocket for the car keys that she realized she hadn't looked at the slip of paper Sonner had given her.

Lily's jaw dropped when she stared down at the drawing showing the likeness to the pendant hanging around her neck. A chill washed over her. What did all this mean? She was tempted to rip the pendant from her neck, but she didn't. Somewhere deep inside she knew she was meant to wear it, to keep it safe. She didn't know where the thought came from, it was just there.

Warm air rushed from the Rover's heater. “We're going home, guys. It's too wet and cold to romp in the garden. Tomorrow is another day,” she said breathlessly. She could hardly wait to tell Sadie and Dennis her news.

The dogs bounded ahead of Lily to the apartment door that opened as though on command by Sadie. “I heard your truck door slam. Distinctive sound. Plus the dogs of course. Ah, Lily, Dennis has sort of . . . kind of ... taken over the living room with all his ...
stuff
. There are wires and cords everywhere. I have no clue what he's doing or how or why. It's Greek to me. You and I are sadly lacking where computers are concerned. I think we need to think of him as Tarzan and we're two Janes. Remember how dumb Jane was when she first met Tarzan? That's us. That's not to say we can't learn, at some point. He's almost hooked up and ready to boot up. Don't ask me what that means.”

Lily stared at her friend.
She's really pretty
, she thought.
More so now that she's interested in Dennis
. Sadie glowed, and there was a sparkle in her eyes that hadn't been there before Dennis came into the picture.

“Let's go into the kitchen. I have something to tell you. I don't feel much like going out to lunch, do you? I got soaked before. I don't feel like getting wet all over again.”

“I went grocery shopping while Dennis was doing whatever it is he's doing. We have all kinds of food. I can make up a salad and grilled cheese if that's okay.”

“That's more than okay. That's wonderful. Look at this, Sadie. Tell me what you think it is.”

“It looks like that junky necklace I found in the closet and gave to you. The one you're wearing. By the way, why are you still wearing it?”

“Because for some reason I can't make myself take it off. Every time I have one of those spells, I'm holding it in my hand. Now, I'm going to tell you what Mr. Sonner's father said about the Wish Keeper.” As she talked she watched Sadie's eyes widen until they almost popped from her head.

“What does it mean, Lily?”

“You're the one who said your mother stopped coming here, and you didn't know why. Is it possible she was next in line to be a Wish Keeper? Maybe it's more than we know. Maybe your mother didn't want the responsibility. Maybe she's the one who tossed the necklace into the back of the closet. You said you hated it here. Maybe you heard things or saw things when you were little along with maybe things your mother said to you. It's possible you forgot them, and it's possible I'm just talking to hear myself talk. I would like to know if anything happens when you put it around your neck. Grasp it in your hand and see if anything happens. You have to be the one to take it off my neck.”

“You're spooking me, Lily. What if nothing happens?”

“Then nothing happens. It's probably all hocus-pocus anyway. Come on now, take it off my neck and put it around your neck. Okay, now grasp it in your hand and wait.”

“Abracadabra! Holy Moley! Bubble, bubble, toil and trouble,” Sadie chanted. In spite of herself, Lily burst into laughter.

“Nothing's happening. I'm sorry, Lily. I was hoping it would work for us. It's just a junky necklace. Toss it out.” Sadie laid the necklace in the middle of the table. Both girls stared at it with unblinking intensity.

“You would have been next in line to ... to ... carry on, Sadie. But then if your mother didn't do it, maybe the ... what's the word, it all skipped a generation or something. Maybe whoever lives in the house is the one to be the Wish Keeper. You gave it to me, then all these weird things started happening. Remember me telling you this morning that I felt like I knew a lot of secrets? I don't feel like that now. I feel like a huge weight has been taken off my shoulders. Why don't we just put it away somewhere and forget about it.”

“That's a very good idea. Do you want to test your theory one more time first? Grab it and see if anything happens. Then when nothing happens, you can stop worrying about a brain tumor or having a stroke. You won't have to go to a shrink either,” Sadie said, her voice cracking with anxiety.

Lily reached out to pick up the amulet and then pulled her arm back.

“Maybe you're supposed to make a wish. I bet that's it, Lily. Wish for Matt to come back. Do it!”

Lily's arm snaked out a second time. Before she could change her mind she picked up the pendant and chain and closed her hand into a tight fist. Her eyes wide with fear, she waited for something to happen. She closed her eyes and made her wish. “Nothing.”

“Then I guess it's just a bunch of tomfoolery,” Sadie said.

“Guess so. Maybe it's different when you actually wear it. Maybe it has to be part of your person. I think we're both a couple of morons for even thinking this trinket could mean anything.” The words were no sooner out of her mouth when her body jerked forward, and her vision blurred. Her hands reached out to claw at the air around her. She heard Sadie scream for Dennis, felt the pendant slip from her hand to land at her feet. But it was Matt's voice that snapped her to attention. â
If you take my clothes
,
I'll freeze to death. If you leave me here to die, that will make all of you murderers. You son of a bitch! Take your fucking hands off me!'

Dennis reached for Lily's hands and held her steady. Lily heard the pendant slide across the tile floor. No one made a move to pick it up.

“I think we should sweep it up with the broom and a dustpan and dump it outside in the Dumpster,” Sadie said as she backed away from the spot where the necklace landed.

“We can't do that, Sadie. I have to put it back on. It's how I see Matt. What else do we have to go on? It's not as though it's hurting me. I think we proved there's nothing wrong with me health-wise. It's paranormal or otherworldly, extrasensory something or other. I wish I knew more about stuff like that.” Lily walked over to where the pendant lay, bent down, picked it up, and slipped it around her neck. She shrugged.

“While I'm making lunch, tell Dennis about your trip to Natchez Under-the-Hill,” Sadie said. “Let's hear what he has to say. By the way, are you all plugged in?”

“I'm good to go right after lunch. Nasty day out there. Cold, too,” Dennis said, his eyes on the pendant hanging around Lily's neck.

Lily carefully recited the morning's events. “Gracie kept whimpering and sniffing at the door of the electronics store. I looked in, and it's the same room I saw during one of those spells. At first I thought it had something to do with Matt, but you said you didn't have a room like that. This store looks like a Radio Shack. Later, if you want, we can go take a look. I have no idea what it means. But, if it means nothing, why would it be a vision? So far everything I've seen has to do with Matt. I think we need to make a plan and actively start to search for him.”

“Where? I'm all for anything that gets this show on the road, but where do we start?”

“That store. It's better than nothing,” Lily said, craning her neck to stare into the living room at the computers and printers Dennis had lined up. “What do you hope to learn with all that stuff?” she asked, pointing to the living room.

“I won't know till I check things out. I'm going to phone the office now. Call me when lunch is ready.” Lily nodded.

Sadie turned to stare at Lily. “He's cute, isn't he?”

“I guess so,” Lily said absentmindedly.

“How do you suppose he'd be in bed?” Sadie whispered.

Lily's head jerked upward. “Don't you think the question should be, how do
you
think he'd be in bed?”

“I bet he'd be
spectacular!”
Sadie said dreamily, tears dripping down her cheeks from the onion she was peeling.

“Spectacular is good. But you can't go to bed with Dennis. You just met him.”

“I'm not talking about now. Maybe . . . sometime. I get all warm and fuzzy when I'm close to him. Isn't that strange, Lily?”

“Rub your hands under water with a stainless-steel spoon or spatula and the onion smell will go away. You can do that if you cut up garlic, too. I saw that on Martha Stewart,” Lily said, eyeing the cucumber in Sadie's hands. “Rub some garlic on the sides of the bowl.” Seeing Sadie's surprised look, she said, “I watched the show a few times when I was in my nesting mode. I even watched the Emeril Lagasse and Bobby Flay shows. You're making that salad all wrong. You're supposed to rip the lettuce, not slice it and you score the cucumbers and radishes. Carrots should not be in chunks, they should be thinly sliced or shredded. People don't like to chomp on carrots. Green peppers should be added sparingly because they're gassy.”

“Yes, ma'am,” Sadie said smartly. “I'll gladly turn this over to you if you want to do it yourself.”

“No thank you

” Lily said sweetly as she leaned farther back in her chair so she could hear Dennis talking on the phone. She brought her finger to her lips to warn Sadie to be quiet.

“Well where the hell is he, Meredith? You're his private secretary. You're supposed to know where your boss is at all times. Page him. Now!”

“Ooohhh, I love it when a man growls,” Sadie whispered. Lily rolled her eyes.

“What do you mean he's not answering the page? It's almost noon. When he does show up, ask him how he'd like to move to Oregon in the morning instead of in April,” Dennis snapped irritably. “He has my number.”

“Well Marcus isn't in the office. That's so unheard of it's suspicious. He never goes out to lunch for fear he'll miss something. He's always in by the crack of dawn. I have to assume nothing in the way of a ransom note has come in. He'd call me if that happened. At least I think he would. Do you get a news station here at noon?”

Lily shrugged. “I have no idea. I don't watch television during the day. Try CNN. Channel 31. Why?”

“Just a bad feeling I have.”

BOOK: Charming Lily

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