Hallowed Bones (42 page)

The shimmer swept through her, highlighting her chocolate eyes. "Whichever one you had chosen," she said. "That would have been your reality."

She was gone. I sipped my drink and felt Sweetie Pie begin to wiggle. She was doing her company's-a-comin' hound-dog dance. Looking down the drive, I didn't recognize the car that came toward me at breakneck speed, scattering dead leaves behind it like a small tornado. It was silver, sleek, and expensive-looking. For a moment my heart flipped. It was exactly the kind of car
Hamilton
might drive.

I stood up as the car pulled near the steps. The tinted glass shielded the occupants, but when the driver's door swung open and a long leg encased in black leather stepped out, I knew it wasn't
Hamilton
.

Cece was behind the wheel and Tinkie got out on the passenger side, Chablis in her arms. She put the little fluff of fur down so that Chablis could properly greet Sweetie, who slurped her once, picked her up in her mouth, and trotted off with her.

"We decided that it was pointless to stay mad with you," Tinkie said. "Besides, I wanted to show Cece the terrific office you set up for us."

"Yes, dahling, if you choose to trash your life over and over again, we aren't going to punish you." Cece took my drink from my hand, sniffed it, and made a face.

"Tinkie, what did the doctor say?" I'd been on pins and needles for days, wondering how her appointment had gone.

"I didn't go," Tinkie said. Her blue gaze was serene. "There was no need. I'm perfectly fine."

"You promised," I said, a flush of anger rising in my face. Deep down I'd been afraid something like this would happen.

"The lump is gone," Tinkie said. "I'm positive of it. There's no need for a biopsy."

Cece put her hand on my shoulder and squeezed lightly. "It's her decision to make," she said softly. "Just like we had to let you make your own decision about
Hamilton
." She turned me slightly so that I was looking at her car.

"How do you like it, dahling?"

"It's a Jaguar. A new one." Not the most brilliant deduction, but I was still trying to get over being angry at Tinkie.

Cece preened. "Yes, I bought it today."

I arched an eyebrow. "You got an advance for your big story on Ellisea?"

"I decided not to do the story on Ellisea."

I took the glass from her hand and took a long swallow. "Say that again," I requested.

"I'm not doing the story."

I looked at Tinkie, who nodded. "Why not?" I asked.

Cece cocked one hip and rolled her eyes. "I suppose it's because--"

"She thought what it would be like if someone wrote that kind of story about her," Tinkie said.

"But Cece was wise enough not to hide her past," I said.

"LeMont told me a little about Ellisea's family," Cece said. "I decided not to write it. It's not a story that helps anyone or illuminates anything. It would only bring heartache."

"So how can you afford a Jag?" I asked.

"I have a job offer from the
Times-Picayune."
Cece ran her hand over the car's fender. "It's about the largest newspaper in the South, and they want me to be society editor! Can you imagine? After all those years when no one would give me a job! Do you know how long I wanted to work at that paper and live in
New Orleans
? It's going to be a big pay raise, too."

"That's great, Cece." I forced a big smile. Damn! Cece wasn't afraid to grasp a fantasy and make it real.

"I've dreamed about this for half my life," Cece said. "I just never believed I'd have the chance."

"I don't like it one bit," Tinkie said. "What will we do without Cece?"

Now that was a good question. What would we do?

"Dahling,
New Orleans
isn't that far away." She lightly gripped my elbow. "Aren't you going to invite us in for a drink? I feel like celebrating."

"Absolutely," I said, leading the way to the front parlor, where I poured generous amounts of liquor into my mother's beautiful highball glasses. "Let me get some ice. Tinkie, why don't you show Cece the office?"

"I heard from
Hamilton
," Tinkie said.

That stopped me in my tracks. I turned back to face her. "What did he say?"

"You broke his heart, Sarah Booth."

I couldn't tell if she was teasing me or not. "Really, Tinkie, what did he say?"

"He said that if he ever doubted that a fantasy could be real, he'd think of you."

"Did you tell him about... Coleman?"

"Yes. I told him that Coleman had taken his wife to
Arizona
."

I waited, wondering what it was that I hoped to hear.

"He said he hoped Connie got well and that Coleman left her."

"Did you tell him it wouldn't matter to me?" I held her gaze. In the past couple of days, I'd given it a lot of thought. It was true that I'd made a decision when I left
Hamilton
at the airport and came home to Zinnia. It was just as true that Coleman had made his choice, too.

"I won't lie to him, Sarah Booth. Besides, he wouldn't believe me. You made a choice."

"So did Coleman. So did
Hamilton
when he didn't come after me. We've all made choices in our lives, but that doesn't mean we don't regret some of them."

Tinkie walked over to me, her five-inch heels tap-tapping on the hardwood floor. "I know that better than most," she said, taking my hand. "
Hamilton
is hurt now. Badly hurt. Give him time."

I wanted to tell her that I was hurt, too. But instead I gave her a quick hug and stepped through the door into the dining room. I picked up the ice bucket and went into the kitchen. I heard them both heading toward the new office. In a moment I heard Cece's squeal of approval.

I glanced out the kitchen window and saw Sweetie Pie and Chablis running through the pasture where Reveler grazed.

Sweetie was loping, but Chablis was giving it everything she had to keep up. They ran past the horse and into the small family cemetery where everyone I'd ever loved was buried.

Coleman and Hamilton were gone. My reality was the view from my kitchen window and the sounds of my friends in the office, probably talking about me.

"Time is the biggest illusion of all, Sarah Booth."

I saw Jitty's wavering reflection in the sheen of the refrigerator door and turned around to face her. "Time heals all wounds," I said, remembering Aunt LouLane's favorite, and most foolish, adage. "I wish that were true."

Jitty's laugh was soft and easy. "You suffer from the biggest delusion of all, Sarah Booth. You think things come to an end." She stepped closer to me. "There is no end. Not to what you feel for people, or what they feel for you. Have faith, Sarah Booth."

"Sarah Booth, are you going to talk to yourself or bring us some ice?" Tinkie called. I heard her footsteps fast approaching.

"Faith in what?" I asked Jitty, reaching out to hold her before she vanished. I grasped only air.

Her smile was enigmatic. "In your own ability to love," she said just before she disappeared.

"Who in the world are you talking to?" Tinkie said as she pushed through the swinging door. She glanced around the kitchen.

"Do you believe I'll ever find real love?" I asked Tinkie.

She didn't hesitate. She put her arm around me and gave a squeeze. "You already have, Sarah Booth. You have me. And all the rest of your friends."