Total pages in book: 104
Estimated words: 101466 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 507(@200wpm)___ 406(@250wpm)___ 338(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 101466 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 507(@200wpm)___ 406(@250wpm)___ 338(@300wpm)
“Okay.”
I peered into the pot. “Oh God, onion gravy. You made me roast?”
“Yes.”
“Your reward will be great. Huge. Long. Pleasurable,” I promised.
“I’d expect nothing less.” She shimmied in my arms. “Go set the table.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
We ate at the table, her across from me, Miller sitting close, hopeful for treats, and Barney ignoring us all but sitting on my shoulder, enjoying the view the vantage point gave him of the backyard. I tried putting him down twice, then gave up.
I was rewarded with extra onion gravy on the crispy potatoes Casey had added to the menu.
I was slowly but surely building up a favorite list.
“So the dress was in the totes from the garage?” I asked. “Anything else interesting?”
“Oh my God. Wait until I show you.”
“Can I have a hint?”
“More clothes, a journal, love letters, and an incredible story.”
“Oh yeah?” I asked, biting into a crunchy potato.
“She had a passionate affair with an older man and married him! His family owned this house, and he left it to her.”
“Wow.”
“He died when Lou was still fairly young,” she added, looking sad. “She never remarried.”
“I didn’t even know she was married once.”
“I don’t think she ever talked about it. My mom knew, and she never breathed a word.”
“Why?” I wondered.
She looked at me, her eyes wide. “Lou never stopped loving him. She couldn’t even talk about him.”
“Oh. Ah…” I wasn’t sure how to respond to that.
“You have to read her journal. And I have to get Sims to help me get her ashes. We need to scatter them out back.”
“Out back?” I asked. “In the yard?”
“No. The woods. She even drew a little picture where in her journal on the last page.”
“Why?”
She frowned then met my gaze, hers serious and firm.
“Because he’s waiting for her, Thorne.”
Chapter Twenty-Six
JESSE
We finished dinner, and I helped with dishes, not that there were many. Casey was one of those people who cleaned as she went, so there was never much to do later.
I followed her to her side, going through the closet and leaving the doors all open.
“Might as well now,” I murmured. “You can shut them if you get mad at me again.”
“Easy fix to that,” she replied. “Don’t be an asshole.”
I had to laugh. “Easier said than done at times.”
I stopped at the entrance to her living room. There were a few small piles of clothing on the sofa. Shoes, hats, and scarves. She pushed me into her chair and handed me the photo album. “Look.”
I opened the cover, instantly recognizing the dress Casey had worn earlier, but not the vixen in the photo. “That’s Lou?” I asked. “Wow. She was a stunner.”
“I know, right? And did you know her full name was Luella Francis? She hated it and liked Lou. Gerard called her Lulu in his letters.” She sighed. “Lulu, my love, usually.”
“I did, actually. I found out when her will was read. I admit I always assumed it was Louise.”
“I did too. Sims never said her full name to me, and I never read the will. It hurt too much. But I know now. I think Luella is pretty.”
“It is,” I agreed, flipping the pages slowly. Casey hung over my shoulder, pointing out things and, every so often, stood and held up an article of clothing Lou was wearing in the photographs. One in particular caught my eye as she showed it to me. Pretty and floaty, it was a pale yellow with flowers embroidered on it in gold.
“She married him in this,” Casey said, running her hand down the fabric. “It’s pure silk.”
“I’m shocked they’ve survived.”
“She had them well wrapped and in sealed bags. And, until she died, in the house.”
“If I had known, I would have kept them there,” I admitted. “I’m glad you found them before they got damp or ruined.”
She smiled, still holding the dress.
“You would look beautiful in that.”
She shook her head. “I doubt I would ever have an occasion to wear it. I ordered some more bags to store it in. I might donate it to a museum or something.”
“You should keep it for a while.”
“I will.” She pulled out a pair of short plaid pants with a wide grin. “These pedal pushers are awesome. I am going to try them on later.”
“What about the shoes?”
She shook her head. “Lou wore an eight and a half. I take a six. The leather hasn’t held up as well as the clothing. It’s dried out badly. And I can’t wear heels.” She showed me one to demonstrate.
“I can’t imagine the Lou I knew in any of these clothes.”
“They were part of a different life for her,” Casey murmured as she carefully refolded the dress.
“I’m glad we have pictures,” I mused.
“I know. I want to get some blown up.”
“That’s a great idea.”
“This one, for sure.” She handed me one of Lou and a man. I studied it. “The famous Gerard, I assume?”