Page 61 of The House on Prytania

“I know. I’ve already had a bad experience.”

“Maybe Beau can help? I wish I could do more, but I know just from standing here that I’m not strong enough. Yet. I’m only here aweek, and I don’t think that will be long enough.” Her eyes traveled to the closet door, and we both watched as it slowly opened.

I took Sarah’s arm and pulled her away from the stairs and into the kitchen. “Are you still on board with coming with Jolene and me to Michael’s beach house? Like I said, I have no idea what to expect, but Michael and his family are all related to Antoine Broussard.”

“At least we have an escape hatch, since Jolene’s driving, and we can leave if things get a little crazy.”

“Yes—and I’ll make sure people know where we are.”

“In case we go missing?”

“That’s not going to happen, Sarah. I just thought it would be in our best interest if people knew where we were—for any reason.”

“Like if King Kong suddenly appeared to destroy New Orleans and we needed saving?”

“Has anyone ever told you that you think too much like Dad?”

She grinned up at me. “Mom does all the time.”

“Okay, everyone,” Melanie announced from the middle of the living room, “according to Nola’s schedule, it’s time for us to leave if we’re going to make it to the swamp tour in time. Everybody outside!”

I was the last to leave, Thibaut and Jorge having already left after their show, and I went around the house turning off lights and making sure the doors and windows were locked. As I reached the front door, I noticed a large purple ribbon on the floor, strands of blond hair stuck in the knot. Figuring it was Sunny’s hair bow, I shoved it into my jeans pocket since I needed both hands to close and lock the door.

It took almost fifteen minutes to situate everyone in the available vehicles to drive us all to Ponchatoula for the swamp tour. Sam said it was ridiculous for Cooper to drive, since there was room in the backseat of Beau’s truck for Cooper and me. Sunny would sit up front between her brother and Sam. Jolene, Melanie, and Jaxson would ride in Bubba’s front seat, and JJ and Sarah would ride in the back. That left Jack, who instead of riding with Melanie chose the middle of thebackseat in Beau’s truck. When I strongly suggested that he might be more comfortable in Jolene’s car, he just smiled and said he was looking forward to spending the time catching up with Cooper.

“It’s not like I’m going to get pregnant sitting next to him,” I hissed.

“I have three kids, Nola. I know what backseats can do to a levelheaded male.”

“You do know that I’m an adult, right? Not to mention that there will be three other people in the front seat.”

“Just saying,” he said with that infuriating grin that Melanie found so inexplicably attractive. Which just went to show that love truly was blind.

I realized that Sarah was still standing on the sidewalk, looking at the house. I called out to her, “Come on, Sarah. Let’s go. I’m riding in Beau’s truck, so you don’t have to sit on the hump.”

She didn’t appear to have heard me, so I moved closer. “We’re ready to leave.”

Sarah bit her lip but kept her gaze focused on the house. “Is Thibaut’s wife dead?”

I would have been surprised to hear that question from anyone but her. “Yes.” I didn’t elaborate.

“She loves him. She wants him to know that.”

“Okay. I’ll tell him. I think that will help him.”

She nodded. “He doesn’t look it, but he’s very sad. He misses her.”

When she didn’t say any more, I took a step toward the car.

“He didn’t kill her.” Sarah was looking at me now, her expression earnest.

I paused. “Is that what his wife said?”

“Yes.” Her gaze traveled back to the door through which Thibaut and Jorge had disappeared.

“Did she say who did?”

After a long moment, Sarah faced me. “No. She didn’t want to talk about when she was killed. Just that she loved her husband.”