She looked concerned. “You are having money problems?”
“Just not enough of it to pay the rent and live. I’m sure something will come up.” I started to pick up my purse so I could leave. I’d had enough revelations for the day.
“You know, I was thinking that maybe I could help with the money issue,” Orielle said as she strolled over and crossed her arms across her chest. “If you were to move in here, we could work together more easily and possibly make more progress. I am sure Gavin would not mind. There is enough room for you and your amazing cat.”
I blinked. Move in with her? Sure, she was staying here at Gavin’s indefinitely, but would it be kosher for me to move in also? Did I want to do it? I’d just turned down Ferris and didn’t the same reasons, apart from the romantic part, apply here? Catching my thoughts, I answered, “Wow, thank you for the offer. I don’t know. I need to think about it.”
“Of course.” She flashed a gentle-looking smile as if she knew it was odd. “You can let me know if you decide to do it. The house is free and clear so there would be no rent to pay, and I have to cover the utilities anyway. It would be beneficial to us both. In the meantime, work on your contacts. I fear we are going to need them soon.”
With a final nod, I headed out the door and to my Jeep. Work on my contacts... yeah, I’d do that. I felt worse for knowing the truth. If this were a chess game, would I be a rook or a pawn?
BACK AT HOME, I DECIDED I should check on my contacts. I hadn’t even logged into my computer since Sunday morning, so I found a few emails from friends offering condolences and one from Digby saying only, “Tell me it isn’t true.”
I knew Ferris had told him about Janna’s death, but why would he question it? Maybe it was just his reaction of denial, hoping I would say Ferris was wrong. I decided I’d answer later and moved on down the list.
EllyJ wanted to know if I’d received the package she’d sent yet. I wrote a quick message back. ::Lots has happened here. I’ll tell you later, but so far, no package.::
For all the upset and drama on my end, I found that the group chat had been surprisingly quiet. Mostly checking in to say nothing had occurred and how-was-everyone type of messages. Nothing to follow up on with that, but I felt I needed to issue a warning. I wasn’t ready to go into detail, but I didn’t want any of my potential allies to get killed by the yiaiwa before we even began to fight them.
::Give any shades you encounter a wide berth. Don’t try to talk to them or battle with them. They are extremely dangerous. Had a serious and deadly occurrence this weekend. Will tell you more later.::
As I wrote, it occurred to me that I hadn’t even told them about Gavin. Some things were too painful to put into words. Maybe in a week or so, I would relate the whole story.
Next, I called my agent and told her I needed work desperately. “Honestly, Cate, my income is on a downward slide. It’s looking pretty bleak around here. Pretty soon both Nygard and I will be eating cat food.”
“I know, sweetie. I am looking for something, but there isn’t much around here that doesn’t involve personal appearances although...” Her voice trailed off as I heard the tappity-tap of the computer keyboard. She sucked in her breath then said, “You up to being a clown for a kid’s party?”
Clown? No way, not now. Mouth dry, I asked, “When?”
“Um, this coming weekend, Sunday.”
“No, I can’t. That’s too soon...the funeral...” I barely managed to say it.
Cate was silent a couple of moments, then said, “I heard, sweetie. I am so sorry.” After a sigh of breath, she continued, “If you want, I’ll find out more information. Are you willing to act in commercials? I can look at those as well. None of them pay like doing them for a national company, of course, but it can give you a few hundred bucks now and then.”
“Yes to commercials. No one can throw things or attack me while I’m doing a commercial,” I said hoping it was a true statement. Would a yiaiwa attempt to get at me while I was working on a commercial?
I heard her half-hearted chuckle as she said she’d get on it and let me know what she found out.
As I ended the call, I felt a little hopeful that something might work out to give me enough money to keep up with the rent. I wished that Heeni hadn’t given me the rest of the week off. I was actually doing better today and was only getting a little emotional now and then when I stopped to think about what happened. I needed to keep busy to avoid it.
I picked up a notepad and pencil and sat on my bed to run some figures. Nygard saw his opportunity and jumped onto the bed beside me, curling up next to my hip and purring in contentment. Not a care in the world. I ran my fingers through his silky fur and felt the gentle rumble from him.
While my cat slept, I worked on my budget... rent, Jeep payment, insurance, gasoline, utilities. By the time I got to food, I was almost in the red. How much food could you buy for $38? Not enough for me, but I could feed Nygard. Taking away the money I was losing this week by not working made it more depressing. I probably couldn’t make it up in the next couple of weeks so it would be impossible to make the rent unless I got a gig or something that paid a few hundred dollars.
Failing that, I had two offers to move in with people. I turned to a new page on my notepad and drew a line down the middle of the page. On one side I wrote Ferris; I put Orielle on the other. Then I began listing the pros and cons of each.
On the plus side for Ferris, I loved him and would like to be with him as much as I could. The negative side was that it might be too much togetherness when we weren’t ready for it. He had a big house and enough bedrooms for me to have my own room and a music room. We were compatible and had the same interests. Nygard adored him. That should be the selling point right there. As much as I loved Ferris, I still had that huge blockade of fear riding on living with him this soon into our dating relationship.
Looking at Orielle, I didn’t know her that well, but she was interesting, and we had the hunt for the destruction of the yiaiwa in common. We would be staying in Gavin’s house for an unknown length of time. If he came out of the coma, he would be coming home; if he didn’t, then what? Big question there. The house had plenty of room, enough bedrooms for me to have one and probably a music room as well. Nygard had never met her. I didn’t even know if she liked cats. That could be a major drawback.
I hoped I wouldn’t have to make the decision at all. I was quite content in this little house. I didn’t want to leave it. I scratched Nygard’s chin and smiled at the look of pleasure on his little feline face. This was our home.
Chapter 8
AFTER HE GOT OFF WORK, Ferris picked me up to take us to the mortuary for the viewing. As I slipped into his van, I set a small bag of items on the floor and settled back in my seat breathing deeply to prepare myself for what was to come. He cast a curious gaze at the cloth bag and lifted his eyebrows in question.
“Insurance,” I said, not elaborating.
“Okay. Are you expecting trouble?” He put the van in reverse and starting back out.
I shrugged. “I don’t know what to expect, but anything can happen. I just want to be prepared.”
“Dare I ask with what?”
“Nothing dangerous to humans,” I assured him as I glanced back at my little house and frowned. I’d placed my wards, so it should be secure, but—? Was that a shadow on the rooftop or a shade? It wiggled in the wind, and I let out a breath I hadn’t realized I was holding. A shadow. Now, I jumped at anything that might be a yiaiwa. In my gut, I knew they planned something and would strike if I let my guard down for an instant.
Ferris gave his head a shake like he couldn’t quite believe I was doing this, but he didn’t say anything else. Still wearing his work clothes, he looked suave in a dark blue shirt with a sweater vest in black and blue plaid. I’d worn a long navy dress with a sweeping hemline, the most somber thing I had in my closet. I’d likely wear it for the funeral as well.
Tension built in me as we nea
red the mortuary, and I fidgeted with my fingernails, picking at the polish. When I became aware I was doing it, I mentally slapped my hands telling myself to stop. Tomorrow would be worse.
As Ferris parked the van, I slid out with my bag and hurried to the entrance. There, I paused and pulled out a vial of incense and a candle in a plate holder. I touched the oiled scent to my fingers and ran them along each side of the door, then put the candle right in front of it. I pressed my hands together and mumbled a protection prayer asking for the safety of everyone who passed through the door against all evil. I repeated it three times becoming peripherally aware of Ferris standing a couple of feet away with a couple of other people watching this ritual.
Just add to your growing reputation as a weird person, why don’t you? I hoped Gayle Trumbull wasn’t attending. Finishing the prayer with an offer of thanks, I snuffed out the candle and stepped aside to allow the people to enter.
“Protection spell?” Ferris asked as he came even with me.
I nodded and stuffed the candle back into my cloth bag.
“You think there might be a problem here?”
“I don’t know. I don’t want to take any risks. If they’re out to get me or to hurt me, then no one may be safe. Think about it. Anyone could try to come in here hosting a yiaiwa. The spell will prevent them from coming through the door. Now, I need to go around and do any other doors opening into the building.”
“Lead on,” he said indicating he planned to follow me.
Luckily, we found only two other doors, one of them in the garage housing the hearses. Within a short time, I had cast the wards on those, saying the words Gavin had taught me to get the best protection. Then we went inside.
Janna’s mother perched on a bench near the front talking to a man who was a family friend, I thought. He looked familiar, but I couldn’t place him. We waited until he went into the viewing room, then I went to hug her as she rose to greet us.
“I still can’t believe it, Mom-too,” I said using the name I called her when I was twelve and spent more of my time at their house than mine.
She nodded, swallowing a lump of emotion. “I know. My little girl... It’s just not right.”
“No, it’s not. I wish I could do something to unmake it,” I said with a strained-sounding voice.
Ferris leaned in behind me. “I am so, so sorry, Mrs. Lewis.”
“Ferris, thank you for coming. Will you be there tomorrow?”
He embraced her with care. “I will.”
“There’ll be a wake at the house afterward. You’ll both come, won’t you?”
“Of course,” I said kicking myself for not thinking that they would have a memorial wake afterward. “What can I bring?” Apart from the protection spells, but I kept that to myself.
“Nothing, dear. It’s taken care of, I believe. Our neighbors have done all the planning.”
Someone pushed in behind us, so I told her I’d see her the next day and stepped into the viewing room. Since the casket would be moved to the church for the service, it rested on a plain wooden platform and opened to reveal Janna’s beautiful face.
In my mind, I recalled the image I’d last seen of her, and I hesitated to move forward. Ferris took my elbow to ease me up to the mahogany box that would be her final bed. I steeled myself, repeating she’s not here over and over again as I took those steps to come even with the open lid. Then I looked down at her and caught my breath sharply.
As beautiful as ever, her golden hair draped over her shoulders, Janna looked like she was sleeping peacefully. No sign of the bloody hole in her chest on the pristine-looking ecru gown she wore. I trembled a little, the absolute reality setting in. She wouldn’t be getting up and smiling or laughing with me. We wouldn’t go running along the lake path together anymore. I fought against the tears that threatened to fall again.
“Janna, I’m here,” I whispered. “I’ll find you, hunny.” I stared at her, willing her eyes to open and acknowledge my presence. I wanted to see her spirit right then just to know she was still close.
But nothing happened. I felt Ferris’s hand on my shoulder as he eased me forward a little. I glanced back to see him gazing at her, sorrow on his face and in his eyes as they bubbled with unshed tears. They’d been good friends even after they quit dating, so this hit him hard as well.
Ferris looped his left arm through my right one and led me away from the platform. Toward the back, we sat in the chairs set up in the room and gazed around. A cluster of five young women came in and tearfully made their way to the front. Colleagues from her work, I thought as I looked at them.
“It seems calm,” Ferris said.
“Yes.” I gazed around the room looking for any breach points, but I didn’t spot anything. “I think it’s clear. I feel like we’re in a war zone though.”
“Maybe,” he answered and pulled me closer to him.
As everything seemed calm, we didn’t stay much longer. I figured my leaving would considerably reduce the odds of any yiaiwa striking the chapel.
LATER, I SAT AT THE piano in my music room and tried to nail down the song I wanted to sing for the funeral. Nothing seemed right. I wanted this to be special and so personal, yet everything I tried felt wrong. None of it was saying what I wanted to say.
I plinked on the keys with two fingers, my mind drifting to the happy memories I held of Janna. A sad smile touched my mouth as I recalled the time we decided to make a cake to celebrate her mother’s birthday. We made a royal mess of it, but we laughed so hard. Then there was the fraternity party we’d gone to and both gotten so drunk that we could barely walk. We stumbled into each other all the way back to our dorm room, giggling all the way. Even the more recent things like the trip to the vineyard and hunting for blues bars in Memphis.
Unbidden, sadness crept in, and tears welled in my eyes. I wiped my free hand across them as the other one continued rotating through the piano keys. What was I going to do without her?
Gradually, the plinking and plunking of the keys began to coalesce into a sad melody that caught my attention. I added chords to the melody line my right hand was playing and listened to the sweetly sad sound. I changed it to an a-minor key and adjusted the tempo a little. Turning on my recorder, I played it again and again. As I listened, words began to fill my mind just as the memories had and gradually, “Janna’s Song” emerged. It was poignantly beautiful with all the heartbreaking power of an Irish ballad, and it overflowed with the fiery pain tearing at my soul.
After a few times through it, I took a break and wiped the tear streaks from my face. I went to the kitchen to feed Nygard and grabbed a yogurt cup for myself to go with my tea. I wanted to sing it for her if I could manage it without bursting out into tears and choking up. So far, it had been a struggle.
Ferris had stayed for a short while after he’d brought me home, but I wasn’t the best company at the time. Bless him, he’d tried to offer support, but there’s only so much he could do or say. Finally, I’d told him to go. I wanted the time alone to think and prepare for the service.
To be honest, I was disappointed I didn’t even sense her spirit near her body even though I knew it was a long shot that she’d make contact there. Tomorrow would be the time for that. I felt certain she would still be in the transitional cemetery, and I would be able to speak to her then.
I finished my yogurt and took the rest of my tea into the music room to run through “Janna’s Song” a few more times to cement it in my mind and fingers.
TAKING THE JEEP THIS time, I insisted on arriving early for the funeral so I would have time to prepare the space before the mourners and Janna’s family started arriving. Ferris and I beat Astrid there by about five minutes. I had begun to examine the main entrance to the church’s chapel when she came in.
For only the second time, I saw her dressed in regular clothes, a black pantsuit this time, instead of the fortuneteller outfit she wore at the office. Setting down the tote bag she carried, she pulled out three
different incense candles, a bowl, assorted plant blossoms, and a wind chime. I blinked at her when she held up the chime.
“Advance warning,” she explained. “We’ll put it in an alcove on the side where no one will be disturbed. If any dark spirit tries to enter, it will chime to alert us. I’ve already done the necessary spells on it.”
I looked at Ferris and nodded at the chime, “Think you can find a way to hang it that won’t cause any damage or upset the priest?”
With a shrug of his shoulder, he said, “Sure, I think so.” Astrid handed the chime to him, and he went into the chapel to complete his task.
While Ferris did that, Astrid slipped into the alcove to borrow a little water from the baptismal basin for the bowl. “Holy water,” she mouthed at me with a sheepish grin. Next, the two of us set about placing the wards on the chapel door, the priest’s entrance to the chapel, the emergency exit, and the two main doors to the church.
After we finished, we linked hands and set a protection ward over the whole building, then I added Gavin’s magic phrase. Astrid’s left eyebrow tweaked up a little, but she didn’t say anything.
“What do we do about the graveside service?” I asked. We couldn’t cast a protection ward over the cemetery.
“Burn the incense-infused candles. We’ll each hold one and stay vigilant. I may not have a blast power like yours, but I can summon some bits of magic and possibly some spirit help.” She began tucking the items back into her tote.
“I thought evil spirits stayed away from consecrated ground,” I said.
“Usually, they do,” she answered as she gazed over the chapel door as if she could see the ward placed there. “But it’s not a firm rule. It may be uncomfortable for evil to enter, but it doesn’t stop it. These wards should hold back any yiaiwa who’ve borrowed a body. Their spirit forms won’t pass through either. The only one I’d worry about is the demon.”
A Song of Redemption Page 8
