Page 93 of January
“I’m going to call Mr. Beaufort, my grandma’s attorney, and tell him that she’s here, asking for everything, to get his advice on what to do.”
“That’s probably smart,” Melinda said, rubbing Kyle’s leg over her jeans. “But lunch?”
“If you’re free,” Kyle replied.
“From noon to one. And you really can hang out here. Take a nap, Ky. We stayed up late, and you woke up early.”
“I’m okay. I promise,” she replied, sitting up and taking Melinda’s hand. “Are you busy tonight? I don’t know what’s going to happen with my mom, but I want to see you.”
“I’m supposed to go out with Bridgette tonight.”
“Oh. Okay.”
“Come with us,” Melinda suggested. “I’ll invite Jill, too, if she’s free. The four of us can hang out.”
“Will Bridgette be okay with that? I’ve been taking up a lot of your time lately. I don’t want her to be upset with me about that.”
“I’ll text her to check, but I’m sure it’ll be okay,” Melinda said and kissed her. “Now, I’ve got to go to work.”
When she stood, Kyle did the same, and they walked down the steps together before Melinda unlocked the door to the office. Kyle then said goodbye to her, went out the back,and walked around the alley to the street. It was an odd quiet this early in the morning. Most businesses were still closed, save a few restaurants she saw on her walk that were open for breakfast. She stopped in one just for a cup of coffee and continued on her walk.
Kyle wasn’t ready to go back to either of the houses yet, even though she did have work to get to and needed to check in with Myra. Walking around this city was now becoming one of her favorite things, though, and she ended up on Canal Street, where she saw several businesses opening their gates and doors. She realized that, despite how long she’d been here already, she still hadn’t done any tourist gift-shopping. That was likely becauseJoliehad been here with her, and Kyle didn’t have anyone else to buy gifts for. Walking into one shop felt like walking into every shop – they all sold the same wares, for the most part – but Kyle walked into one and back out and then into another one all the same.
As she wandered through each, the only person she thought to buy anything for was Melinda, but Melinda lived here and would probably laugh at anything Kyle tried to give her from one of these places. Then, she remembered two things at the same time. One, she had money coming her way, so she could spend a little now, and Melinda had mentioned wanting to soak in a bathtub. Kyle left the shop she’d just walked into and looked up and down the street. Everything seemed to be open now, and she noticed what looked like a candle shop. That would be her best bet.
Inside, Kyle found what she’d been hoping for, so she bought several tea candles along with a few larger ones in relaxing scents and found complimentary scents of bubble bath, shower gel, and some facial scrub thing that was supposed to exfoliate. She’d give it all to Melinda, and maybe they’d use some of it together. With her bag in hand, Kyle walked on for a bit, passing the chain restaurant that now she’d only associate with her sister, and headed into the Garden District past Commander’s Palace, which reminded her of Melinda and always would.
Kyle smiled because she had memories here now. She had places she knew she liked. There was that restaurant she’d been to for breakfast a few times, the gallery she’d stopped by at least twice now, still trying to figure out what she wanted to buy, the French Quarter, which now felt so familiar to her, the NOLA Guides office, which she’d frequented thanks to Melinda, and even Jackson Square, where she’d walked and wandered and sat down on a bench by the water the other day.
She stopped in front of the house, which was locked up tight and currently empty. Kyle unlocked it and headed straight back toward the garden. She had memories of dancing with Melinda in the parlor and making love with her in this backyard that, even in the day, seemed magical to her. Kyle didn’t want to leave. She knew that for sure now. She also understood that it was more than just this new thing with Melinda that had her wanting to stick around. It was more than the work she still had to do on the houses. It was this place. She loved it here and didn’t want to go home because ‘home’ didn’t feel like home to her at all. New Orleans felt like home. Her mother might be here now, but she’d leave soon, and then she’d be waiting for Kyle to return, visit the trailer, and give her money because she’d wasted all of her own. Jolie would be there, yes, but Jolie had her own life. She liked her job and had turned it into a good career. She had friends and a decent apartment. Soon enough, she’d meet someone, settle down, and start having those kids she’d always wanted. It wouldn’t just be the two of them against the world anymore.
When her phone buzzed, Kyle pulled it out of her back pocket, setting her bag down on the patio to check the screen. Maybe italreadywasn’t the two of them against the world. She replied to Melinda’s message and thought about how she had Melinda now. Hopefully, she’d have her for a long time.
Melinda Andrews: Sorry, I had to pick up a 12:30 tour for Lacey because she called in sick. I’ll only have time to grab something quick. Still on for tonight?
Kyle had replied that they were definitely still on for tonight and sat down on the patio, staring out at the green and the other bright colors that still looked so vibrant despite it technically being winter. That, too, was different than back home. For six months of the year there, it was a cold, icy mess with sludge, scraping windshields, and warming up cars with freezing hands. Down here, it was as if winter couldn’t even touch it.
“Home,” she said to herself. “I think I might be home.”
CHAPTER 26
“Hey, are you ready?” Bridgette asked as she walked into the office.
“Yeah, I just need to change. Want to come up?”
“Sure. Wait. Is Kyle up there naked, waiting for you?”
“If she were, would I be inviting you up?”
“I don’t know. You two might be into that,” Bridgette teased.
“We’re not.” Melinda glared playfully at her.
“Bummer. She’s hot.”
“Hey, that’s my–” Melinda stopped. “Well, I don’t know what she is because we haven’t had that talk yet, but we’re dating, at least.”
“Will you have that talkbeforeshe leaves?” Bridgette asked as they walked up the back stairs to Melinda’s place.