Mommy smiled. 'You have found a very sensible young man, Pearl,' she said.
I looked at Jack and smiled. 'I know.'
Mommy's eyes were filled with awareness when I looked at her. She turned from me to Jack and then to me again. Then she nodded softly, closed her eyes, and lowered her head to the pillow. A few moments later she was in a deep sleep. I rose from the sofa and Jack came over to put his arm around me as we gazed down at her.
'I think the worst is over for her,' he said. 'The past is finally buried.'
'But what about the future, Jack?'
'I don't know. No one does. You will just do the best you can and hope,' he said.
I lowered my head to his shoulder. 'I couldn't have done this without you. Thank you.'
He kissed the tip of my nose, and I opened my eyes to gaze into his.
'You don't need to thank me,' he said. 'Let's go back to sleep so we can be of some use tomorrow.'
After I made sure Mommy was comfortable and snug, Jack and I returned to bed, and I snuggled up in his arms.
'Jack,' I said after a long, quiet moment.
'Yes?'
'Do you believe in the things my mother believes in? Do you think she heard my great-grandmere's voice at her grave?'
'I know I risk your thinking less of me,' he replied, 'but yes, I do.'
I thought for a moment. 'I don't think less of you, Jack.'
'That's good. And I don't think less of you if you don't,' he added. I laughed.
Then I thought about it and said, 'I wouldn't be happy if you did.' He held me tighter.
We didn't have to say anymore. Our bodies and our minds spoke silently to each other. I closed my eyes, upset that I wouldn't be secure in his arms again tomorrow and fearful of what the next day in New Orleans would bring.
I doubted that the worst was over.
16
The Real Thing
Despite her fatigue, Mommy rose before either Jack or I did. We heard her moving about, and then I heard her call for me. I got up quickly and rushed out to her. She wore a distraught and confused expression.
'It all seems like one long nightmare,' she said and then, like one who had woken from more than just a night's sleep, she firmly added, 'We must get home.'
'Good morning, Madame Andreas,' Jack said, emerging from the bedroom. Mommy glanced at me oddly for a moment.
'You remember Jack, Mommy.'
'Yes. I'm sorry. I'm just so mixed up this morning. Good morning,' she said.
'Did you sleep all right on that sofa? It's very comfortable. I've fallen asleep on it often,' he said, smiling.
Mommy's lips relaxed. 'I slept in places a lot less comfortable in the last few days,' she said.
'How about some breakfast? I'll make coffee,' Jack suggested.
'We've got to go,' Mommy said, almost in a whisper to me.
'First, put something in your stomach, Madame Andreas. You'll need your strength,' Jack insisted. 'Yes,' Mommy said. 'We will.'
She was very quiet while we drank coffee and ate fruit and toast, but her eyes kept shifting from Jack to me. She watched his every move and seemed to have her eyes on us whenever Jack and I gazed at each other.
'Shouldn't we call Daddy and tell him you're on the way home, Mommy?' I asked.
'What? Oh, yes, of course,' she said, still acting a bit dazed. 'I'm just not thinking too straight yet. My head feels stuffed with clouds.'
I called home. Aubrey got Daddy on the phone immediately when he heard I had Mommy waiting to speak to him.
'You found her!' Daddy cried. 'Oh, thank God. And thank
I handed Mommy the phone.
'Hello, Beau. . . . I'm fine now. We'll soon be on our way home.' She listened and then started to cry softly. 'I'm sorry,' she said in a cracked voice. 'I'm very sorry.' She couldn't say another word. Instead, she shook her head and handed me the phone.
'Ruby, Ruby?' Daddy was calling.
