Page 34 of January (New Orleans #1)

“A re you sure you want me here?” Melinda asked.

“Yes. You don’t have to be if you don’t want to be, though,” Kyle replied.

“No, I want to be. It just seems like a family thing.”

“Since we’re already on our way, it kind of feels like a moot point, doesn’t it?” Jolie reasoned.

“When do you go home?” Kyle asked as she leaned forward and turned to Jolie.

“In two hours. You know that. Walk faster,” Jolie replied.

Melinda was holding Kyle’s hand as they walked through the massive cemetery outside of the city. The mausoleums with their concrete angels and crosses rose up around them. Melinda had always been fascinated with the cemeteries in Louisiana. Due to being below sea level, people weren’t really buried. They got mausoleums that sometimes held other members of their family. It was yet another way to indicate how much money a person or a family had had. It wasn’t supposed to be the size that counted, but some of the mausoleums were massive while others were much smaller. Some had little to no decoration, while others had massive saints and ornate stone carvings.

They’d driven to the cemetery in Bridgette’s car, had gone into the office together to ask where their grandmother was buried, and had been given a map with a circle on it. Now, they were walking along the path to that section of the cemetery. Kyle had asked her to go with them, and Melinda wanted to be supportive, but she also didn’t want to get in the way of her and Jolie saying their goodbyes.

When Kyle stopped, Melinda looked ahead.

“We’re here,” Jolie said.

Melinda let go of Kyle’s hand, expecting the two women to walk ahead a few more steps and leave her behind. Instead, Kyle looked down at their now-unconnected hands and reconnected them, entwining their fingers and giving Melinda a smile that said that she wanted her to be there, too. Melinda nodded, and they walked a few more steps toward the mausoleum, which held not only Kyle’s grandmother but also her grandfather. There were two doors and an angel on either side, along with stone-carved vines and a cross atop the mausoleum.

“So, I don’t know what to say,” Jolie began after a long moment of silence. “I wanted to say goodbye, but it’s really more of a hello, huh?”

“Yeah, kind of,” Kyle replied.

They didn’t say anything else for another minute, so Melinda thought they might need some help.

“Um… Hi. I’m Kyle’s girlfriend, Melinda.”

Kyle turned to her, looking surprised.

“Did you not want to be out with her? Maybe I should have said friend,” Melinda added.

Kyle laughed and replied, “I’m holding your hand, so I think she knows.”

“ They ,” Jolie corrected. “Grandpa’s in there, too.” She pointed.

“Well, hello. It’s nice to meet you,” Melinda said.

Jolie laughed and said, “It’s weird. We’re talking to a headstone.”

“We’re just telling them that we’re here and that we’re good,” Kyle said. “So that they know.”

“But it’s either you believe that they’re watching over us, so they know already, or you don’t, in which case, we’re just talking to stone,” Jolie replied.

“ You wanted to come here,” Kyle said.

“I thought Mom would come.”

“Oh, Jolie,” Kyle said, patting her sister on the shoulder. “We made some progress, but you can’t expect her to want to move three steps right away. We were lucky to get her to agree to take steps, period. ”

“I know.” Jolie looked around. “Can I have a minute? I just want to walk around for a bit. Then, we can go.”

“Yeah, of course,” Kyle replied.

Jolie began walking in the direction of the office, but she walked slowly, taking in the other mausoleums as she went.

“Think she’s okay?”

“Talking to Mom like that took a lot out of her, I think. She really laid in. It was pretty epic.”

“I’m glad. Is that wrong?”

“No,” Kyle said.

“I just didn’t want her to lay everything on you.” Melinda leaned into Kyle’s side.

“I know. She didn’t. I thought I’d have to lead the whole thing, but she took it and ran with it. My mom might actually consider seeing a therapist. It’s not likely, but she said she’d think about it, and she bought us pancakes.”

“That’s good, babe,” Melinda replied.

Kyle turned back to the mausoleum and said, “Grandma and Grandpa, this is Melinda. She is my girlfriend. We haven’t known each other all that long, but it’s real, and I’m crazy about her. I never got the chance to come out to you when you were alive, so… Surprise, I guess? I’m gay. I’m also going to move here and into the house. I thought you should know that, too. Melinda and I might end up making it a home one day. I wish I would’ve gotten a chance to meet you both. Maybe I should’ve defied Mom years ago. I don’t know. I do know that things haven’t ever been easy where she’s concerned, and I hope you two aren’t up there thinking any of that is your fault. I think it’s just her. I hope she tries, but after years and years, I’ve finally decided to try myself; try to have a new life here, in the place you loved and called home. So, I guess I just wanted you to know that. Thank you for… everything.”

Melinda rested her head on Kyle’s shoulder, wanting to be there for her the best way that she knew how. Jolie stood by the car and waited for them, and when Kyle was done, they drove, mostly in silence, to the airport. Melinda waited in the car while Kyle said goodbye to her sister. Then, Kyle climbed back inside, and Melinda drove them out of the airport and onto the highway.

“So, what are your plans for the evening?” she asked.

“Whatever you’re doing,” Kyle replied.

“Dropping the car off at Bridgette’s and taking you back to my place.”

“That’s it?” Kyle checked. “You don’t want to hit the town?”

“Hit the town? Who are you?” Melinda laughed.

“I just meant go out. You don’t want to go out?”

“No, I want to stay in with you,” Melinda said, taking Kyle’s hand and entwining their fingers.

“Okay,” Kyle replied.

She turned to look out the side window, and Melinda wondered if it really was okay.

“Ky?”

Kyle turned back without saying anything.

“Do you want to go out tonight?”

“I don’t know. I was just thinking it might be fun. My mom is gone. Jolie is about to board. And I made some big decisions recently. I thought we could go out and unwind.”

“We can go out. Where do you want to go?”

“Now, I feel like you want to stay in.”

“It’s not that, Kyle. This place has a way of sucking people into it. I don’t usually go out a lot. You just met me at a time when Bridgette was hunting for a new lady love, and she’s not a huge fan of online dating.”

“So, you’re saying I shouldn’t get used to us going out every night and partying all the time?”

“Yeah, that’s what I’m saying. I’m more of a homebody than you know, probably.”

“You’re getting nervous now, aren’t you?” Kyle asked.

“Nervous? About what?”

“Now, it’s real: I’m here.”

“I’m confused. Were you somewhere else before?” she joked off .

“I mean that before, I was leaving at some point, and this was new and fun. We know by now that it’s real and can be something more than fun, but I was still going back home, and we would’ve been figuring out how to do long-distance. Now, I’m moving here, and you think I’ll find you boring or something.”

“I am not nervous,” she said as she pulled them off the highway.

“No?”

“No. I just want to make sure you know that I’m pretty boring.”

Kyle laughed and said, “You are anything but boring.”

“I really am, though. I give tours, and I go home. I read and drink coffee and go out when my friends need me there to wingwoman, but that’s about it, Ky.”

“Babe, you literally took me on a helicopter ride.”

“Because I was wooing you. I’ve wooed. You’re here. We’re together.”

Kyle laughed wildly and asked, “So, the wooing is already done?”

“Some of it, at least. I mean, I’ll give you a foot rub every now and then, maybe,” she teased.

“Well, I do love a good foot rub,” Kyle replied.

“Okay… I’m a little worried, yeah,” Melinda admitted. “It just kind of hit me when we dropped Jolie off: you’re staying here.”

“I am.”

“And we’re together.”

“Yes, we are.”

“And it’s been a whirlwind, but that’ll change now that things are settled between you and your mom, and we’re not worried about our end date because you’re not leaving.”

“So, does that mean we’ll have sex less since we’re not trying to have as much as possible before I go?”

“What? No,” Melinda said seriously.

“Okay. Well, as long as we’re clear about that.”

They drove the rest of the way in silence. Kyle picked up their joined hands and kissed the back of Melinda’s palm when they arrived at Bridgette’s place to drop off the car. Melinda gave Bridgette the keys, and she and Kyle walked.

“This is all I need,” Kyle told her.

“What?” she asked.

“Walking around the city with you, having those nights in where we hold each other, read, and drink that coffee you mentioned before.”

“That’s all?”

“I’ve never had that.” Kyle shrugged a shoulder.

“Never?”

“My previous relationships were chaotic, at best. I don’t want to go out every night. I don’t need that. I need this; you and me, strolling around the city we both love, talking about our days and our plans.”

“And you won’t get bored with me?”

“I can’t see how,” Kyle replied.

They walked with no place in mind until they realized they’d ended up in Jackson Square just as the sun was setting. Melinda wasn’t sure if they should keep walking or head to her place. She was tired, but there was something about this night that held her attention and told her not to just go home and cuddle with Kyle.

“Well, hello.”

Melinda looked down at the woman who was busy setting up her table.

“Oh. Hi,” Kyle said to the fortune teller they’d met before.

“How are you two doing?” the woman asked.

“Great. You?” Kyle replied.

“Just setting up for the evening. How did it go with your mother?”

“How did you–” Melinda cut herself off, staring at the woman in disbelief.

The woman just winked at her.

“Good, I think,” Kyle said as if this woman was her best friend and had every reason to know about Kyle’s family issues .

“That’s good,” the woman said. “And the house?”

“The house? You know about that, too?” Kyle asked.

“I assume you’re staying.”

“Jesus,” Melinda said. “You should charge a lot more for what you do.”

The woman laughed and replied, “I do this because I have a gift, not to get rich.”

“But you could,” Kyle added. “And I’m moving in.”

“Congratulations,” the woman said, sounding sincere. Then, she pointed to Melinda’s stomach. “And to you, too. One day.” She shrugged and smirked.

“I’m sorry; did you just point at my stomach and tell me congratulations?”

“Yes, I did. One day.” The fortune teller nodded.

“How do you…”

“I hear M names are in fashion,” the woman said when Melinda faded out.

“Holy shit,” Kyle replied.

“Yeah, holy shit,” Melinda said. “Can I bring my tour groups here to have readings with you? They’d love this. We can work out some kind of a deal or something.”

“I prefer to keep myself open,” the woman replied. “I come out here when something calls to me. I sit and wait until someone like you approaches and I have something to offer.”

“An M name?” Kyle asked softly.

“A couple of them, yes.”

Melinda looked over at Kyle, who smiled wide at her. Then, she moved her head to Kyle’s shoulder and smiled, too.

“But don’t get ahead of yourselves just yet. You have some furniture to pick out first, I believe.”

“Yeah, we do,” Kyle said. “For the garden.”

“Then, the bedroom,” Melinda offered.

“Stop by and see me sometime,” the woman said.

“We will,” Kyle replied. “And thank you.”

The fortune teller sat down in her folding chair, gave them both a sweet smile, and they walked on, saying nothing until they were in front of Melinda’s building .

“I think dinner and a bath,” Kyle said.

“Bath?”

“Yes, we have all that stuff I bought. We could relax tonight.”

“That sounds amazing,” Melinda replied.

“And maybe tomorrow, we can go pick out that furniture,” Kyle suggested as they made their way up the stairs.

“Do I have to put it together?”

“No.” Kyle laughed.

“Can you put it together, and I watch? I’m thinking only a sports bra and a little sweat on your brow. If you have a tool belt, that’s extra points.”

“Oh, it is, huh?” Kyle tickled Melinda’s sides when they walked into the apartment, closing the door behind Melinda and pressing her against it.

“Yes, it is.”

Kyle sobered and asked, “Does it scare you, what she said out there?”

She shook her head no and asked, “You?”

Kyle shook her head as well and said, “No. I think I’m too happy to be scared.”

“What happens when the happiness wears off?”

“I’m kind of hoping I never find out,” Kyle replied.

Melinda cupped her cheeks and said, “I hope so, too, babe.”

Kyle leaned in and captured her lips. They kissed, standing against the door for a long time, until Melinda’s hands moved to Kyle’s sides and gave her a gentle shove. Kyle ended up on the sofa, and Melinda climbed on top of her, looking down into Kyle’s gorgeous green eyes.

“I’m ordering us a pizza.”

“Okay,” Kyle agreed.

“And we’re having a boring night in.”

“Perfect,” Kyle replied before she wrapped her arms around Melinda’s waist and pulled her down. “But first…”

“Say something to me in French.”

“What? Not what I had in mind.” Kyle chuckled .

She reached for the hem of Melinda’s shirt and pulled it off her, letting it fall to the floor next to the sofa.

“You’ve managed to get out of it so far, but I need proof that you actually speak the language now.” Melinda smiled at Kyle, showing that she was just teasing.

“Okay,” Kyle said seriously. “Je t’aime.” She cupped Melinda’s cheek and asked. “Do you know what that means?”

Melinda didn’t know a lot of French, but growing up in New Orleans, she knew enough to know what Kyle had just said to her.

“Yeah, I do,” she replied. She placed a gentle kiss on Kyle’s lips and added, “I love you, too.”