Kiss And Dwell (4 page)
“
I
’
m counting on it,
”
she said.
“
We need to eventually get started on the
structural repairs, and we
’
ll never get to it if we keep having to bail water
out of the attic and patch the third floor
’
s ceilings. The roof is definitely
our first priority now. It
’
s no fun going to sleep at night wondering if I
’
m
going to get an impromptu shower.
”
She surveyed the edges of the plastic, tucked beneath the outer edge of the roof
tiles.
“
You know, if Grandma Adeline hadn
’
t decided that she had to have slate
tiles on this roof, the Landmark Society in New Orleans would have
tarped
this
thing for us.
”
“
Yep,
”
Dax
agreed, then shrugged.
“
But she liked the tiles.
”
“
I know,
”
“
Obviously she didn
’
t realize that the groups offering roof
aid after Katrina would only provide help for soft roofs. Soft roofs. Why would
you want plain old shingles when you can have slate tiles?
”
“
Sounds like you
’
re agreeing with
GrandmaAdeline
,
”
Dax
mused.
“
Even if she is
causing us to have to fix our own roof.
”
“
Yeah.
”
blue plastic.
“
They do add to the house
’
s appeal, even if they didn
’
t stand the
test of the hurricane.
”
“
It hit land at category four. Not much of anything stood that test, and we
’
re
getting things cleaned up.
”
He stopped cutting his cane reed, an afternoon treat
he
’
d snatched from their fields.
“
You want me to do something else tonight? I
mean, it is my day off, so I probably shouldn
’
t have called it quits on the roof
so soon.
”
“
Am I that bad?
”
She shook her head.
“
No, I don
’
t want you to do anything else.
You and Gage worked all day on that tarp. Gage didn
’
t even get to rest before
heading to the hospital, so no, I don
’
t want you doing anything else but
relaxing tonight. And I think you
’
re right, anyway, the tarp will hold against a
regular storm.
”
“
Good, cause I really wasn
’
t looking forward to getting back on that ladder in
the dark,
”
he said, chewing on the end of the sweet reed.
But his comment caused
darker and more ominous by the minute. Where was Monique?
“
Besides,
”
Dax
continued,
“
I
’
ll probably get a personal note from Grandma
Adeline tonight or tomorrow, judging from the kids I
’
ve heard today.
”
“
You
’
ve heard children today?
”
Dax
’
s
next assignment
.
She
’
d been two weeks without helping with a crossing and was probably due one
herself, but she hadn
’
t heard any thunder lately, other than the real rumbles
currently joining blinding white flashes of lightning above the levee.
“
I
’
m hearing girls,
”
Dax
said.
“
They
’
re laughing and talking, but I can
’
t tell
what they
’
re saying. I
’
m sure I
’
ll figure it out after I get my letter. I
checked the sitting room earlier, just in case, but there wasn
’
t anything on the
platter.
”
“
Well, there is now,
”
Nanette said,
“
And it
’
s got Monique
’
s name on it.
”
A
single raindrop plopped on her head, and she stepped back up on the porch to
move beneath the shelter of its canopy.
“
I bet her skin has been burning all
day, but has she come home? No indeed.
”
Dax
merely shook his head.
“
She hasn
’
t ever liked what we do, Nanette. And it
isn
’
t as though she had a choice in the matter. None of us did. We were simply
born into it. I don
’
t mind it, and neither do you, but helping the spirits
really isn
’
t her thing. I
’
d say she damn near hates it. If I were you, I
’
d cut
my sister some slack. She told me she hasn
’
t been with a man in six months, said
Granny won
’
t let her,
”
he added, chuckling,
“
and that
’
s a long time for
Monique.
”
“
I haven
’
t been with one in two years,
”
“
and I
’
m doing okay.
”
“
I
’
d say that depends on who
’
s doing the judging.
”
Dax
’
s
mouth curled in a
knowing grin.
“
You seem rather stressed.
”
“
I agree,
”
Jenee
said, slamming the screen door behind her as she entered the
porch. She moved a black elastic band off her wrist and quickly pulled her long
brown mane up in a high ponytail before plopping into the rocker next to
Dax
.
The picture of a college student in the summer,
Jenee
wore a pale-pink T-shirt
that showed a small section of tan midriff and a pair of tiny khaki shorts that
showcased long
Vicknair
legs. No doubt about it, the family did okay in the
genes arena, even if those genes did include an uncanny ability to communicate
with ghosts.
“
You
’
re always stressed,
”
Jenee
continued.
“
You really should
lighten up.
”
Jenee
, the absolute youngest of the bunch at twenty-one, was constantly on
aromatherapy that she could find last Christmas.
Nanette had not been amused.
“
Listen, the entire reason I tried so hard to get Monique to move back in the
house was so she
’
d actually show up when she received Grandma Adeline
’
s call,
but it doesn
’
t matter. She still takes her sweet time, like always, even though
I know her skin must be on fire. Granny doesn
’
t take well to being put on hold
.
That time she needed me in the middle of giving my ninth graders their final
exam, I heard more than mere thunder. A full-blown tornado took over my head,
complete with hurled cars, uprooted trees and toppled houses.
”
She shot another
look at the driveway, as though she could magically force Monique
’
s flaming-red
convertible Mustang to streak down the lane.
“
But if I can get home when Grandma
Adeline calls, I do. Unlike Monique.
”
“
At least she
’
s living here now,
”
Jenee
said.
“
You have to admit she
’
s gotten
better about showing up since she gave up her
back.
”
“
I actually think it
’
d be better if we all lived here, particularly while we
’
re
working to save the house,
”
Nanette said.
“
The more
Vicknair
presence we show to
the Historical Society, the better.
”
“
You know Tristan can
’
t live here.
”
Jenee
was quick to defend her brother
’
s
choice of living in nearby
“
He has to be near the fire station.
”
Resignedly, Nanette nodded.
“
I know, but there
’
s no excuse for Gage not being
here now, while we
’
re trying to prove our case for saving the house.
”
“
You think Gage, traipsing in and out with a different girl on his arm every
night, would actually be an asset to the way the house is presented?
”
Dax
asked
.
“
Come on. He likes his freedom, and we
’
ll all get more sleep around here if he
’
s
living in his bachelor pad. Besides, he
’
s constantly getting called to the
hospital, and he needs to be close enough to get there in an emergency. You
’
ve
got four out of six of us. Seems that
’
d be enough to convince that demolition
bunch that the
Vicknairs
are here to stay.
”
“
Well, it sure hasn
’
t convinced them yet,
”
“
And we only have two
weeks before Charles
Roussel
sends them out here to re-evaluate the house and
make sure it
’
s not a hazard to the parish. I told them we
’
d have the roof fixed
by then since we
’
re supposed to do that anyway for the Historical Society, so we
have to get it fixed. We can
’
t let them tear this place down. This is where the
spirits come for help. They need the house. They need us. And personally, I
’
d
say it
’
s a definite conflict of interest for the Parish President to be on the
historical board, since he
’
s also heading up the committee determining which
houses are hazardous post-hurricane. It
’
s a sad excuse for local government, if
you ask me.
”
She shot another despairing look down the drive.
“
You know what
’
s
really sad? Monique is the only one who currently has an assignment, and she
’
s
ignoring it.
”
“
Don
’
t worry,
”
Dax
said.
“
Like I said, I can feel one coming.
”
Jenee
’
s
rocker creaked as she propped her bare feet on the porch rail, closed
her eyes and leaned back. Her neck rested on the highest wooden slat and her
long ponytail draped over the back like a silky light-brown veil.
“
Not me,
”
she
said.
“
I haven
’
t had a dream about spirits in nearly a month. I guess Granny
hasn
’
t needed me lately. If I had known, I would
’
ve headed to the beach for a
long vacation during my summer break.
”
“
As opposed to staying here and helping us get the house ready for inspection?
”
Jenee
’
s
face reddened slightly. She eased one brown eye open and flashed an
impish grin at
“
No, I wouldn
’
t really have gone, but you have to admit, the
timing would
’
ve been right, given I
’
ve had a month of no ghosts.
”
“
Yeah,
”
Dax
agreed.
“
You
’
ve been a while. Maybe Grandma Adeline is giving you a
chance to read that stack of psycho books in your room.
”