“It was...difficult.”
Dessie winced. “I don’t know how you get something like that out of your head. Still, as awful as it was for you, it’s been a comfort to me, knowing you were there with him. I knew you’d see to it that he was treated with the proper respect.”
Nikki swallowed hard. “He was.”
“I never doubted it for a second.”
Nikki chose her next words carefully. “Actually, I did drop by last evening to see you. The lights were out. I thought perhaps you’d gone to stay with your sister.”
Was that bewilderment or fear that flared in the woman’s eyes? “Last evening, you say? What time?”
“Twilight. I walked over from my house.”
“Did you ring the bell?”
“No. The lights in your apartment were off, too, so I figured if you were home, you were resting, and I didn’t want to disturb you,” Nikki lied.
Dessie paused as if to think back. “I may have been out by the pool. On hot evenings, I sometimes sit with my feet in the water and watch the sunset. I probably wouldn’t have heard you come up if I had the radio on. But it really doesn’t matter anyway. I’m glad you’re here now.”
Nikki managed a smile. Why she didn’t just come right out and ask Dessie about her companion, she wasn’t sure, but something warned her to proceed with caution. Finesse, remember? Let her do the talking.
It seemed wrong to manipulate a woman who had never treated Nikki with anything other than kindness, but she couldn’t ignore what she’d seen and overheard. Dr. Patience Wingate wasn’t the only person in Dr. Nance’s life who had something to hide.
As if sensing Nikki’s discomfort, Dessie squeezed her hand. “We’re not going to get maudlin, you hear me? Dr. Nance would hate that. He’d want us to remember the happy times.”
“I know. And I do have so many good memories of him here.”
“I was just thinking earlier how the two of you used to sit out here as soon as it got dark, watching for lightning bugs. That was the start to every summer, seeing who could spot one first.”
“You’d bring us sweet tea and gingersnaps. Sometimes you’d put on a record album from his old collection. I can still remember the sound of music drifting out through the open windows.”
“After a while, he’d get to talking about his medical school days. Some of those stories would curl your hair. Like the time someone put a skeleton in his bed.” She shook her head and chuckled. “I could just picture his face.”
“He was a great storyteller,” Nikki said. “And a very great man.”
“Amen.”
Dessie’s smile turned reflective as she gazed out at the street, seemingly lost in the past. Nikki used the opportunity for a stealthy observation. Dessie was still dressed for church in a simple navy dress cinched at her narrow waist with a white belt. Her lips and eyes were subtly enhanced and she’d pinned back her thick curls with a mother-of-pearl comb. Nikki had always admired Dessie’s gentle beauty. She wore her age well. Though she was in her fifties, her skin was still supple, her figure still trim, and only a few silver strands glinted in her hair. It was hard to reconcile the pretty, unassuming woman Nikki had known her whole life with the sultry siren she’d glimpsed poolside last evening.
She must have stared too long and too intently because Dessie’s hand crept to her throat. “Goodness, Nikki. The way you’re looking at me...is something wrong?”
Nikki caught herself. “What? No! I’m sorry. I was just thinking how pretty you look today.”
Dessie’s sad smile flickered again. “You’ve always been such a sweet girl. I never understood how your mama and daddy could take off and leave you the way they did.”
“Apparently they needed more out of life than being my parents.”
“Foolish, selfish people. But we won’t waste another breath on that worthless pair.” She took Nikki’s arm and urged her toward the door. “Come on. Let’s go inside, where it’s cool. We’ve got a lot to talk about and there’s fresh lemonade in the refrigerator. Plenty to eat, too, if you’re hungry. We had a crowd after church, but everyone’s gone, so we have the house to ourselves. Well, almost.”
“You must have had your fill of company by now,” Nikki said. “Are you sure you’re up for another visit?”
“You’re not company. You’re family.” Dessie pushed open the door, took a glance inside and then turned back to Nikki. “I should warn you that Dr. Nance’s attorney is still here. He brought over some paperwork. Nothing to worry about. Just a little matter he’s taking care of for me.” Her fingers slipped again to her neckline as her gaze seemed to falter. “We’re finished now and he was just leaving.”
“I don’t want to interrupt,” Nikki said as she followed Dessie inside. She paused in the foyer. “I could come back later.”
“You’ll do no such thing. He’ll want to say hello anyway. Dr. Nance always spoke so highly of you.”
“Well, in that case...”
As always, the house was cool and spotless, a welcome refuge from the intense Texas heat. The furnishings were plush and comfortable, and the artwork covering the walls ranged from watercolors by local artists to framed snapshots of the surrounding countryside. Books were stacked neatly on shelves and on the coffee table. Nikki wanted to take a closer look to see if any of the titles stood out, but Dessie was already propelling her toward the kitchen.
“Talk about memories,” Nikki murmured. “I’ve always adored this house. I used to think of it as my happy place.”
Dessie squeezed her arm. “Dr. Nance would have been so pleased to hear you say that. It’s a pity he and Miss Audrey were never able to fill it with the children they both wanted. Then losing her to cancer when she was still a
