“Mrs. Costello, thank you for returning my call. I’m sorry for your family’s loss.”
“Yes. Thank you for that. I don’t understand it but thank you. The kids are obviously struggling but we’re seeing a family counselor and doing all the right things, I think.”
“Mrs. Costello -.”
“Tamara.”
“Tamara. We understand that you met with your husband at a diner across the street from a lumber yard where he was interviewing. Can you tell us anything about that exchange?”
“Y-yes,” she stammered. “I’m sorry, it’s still very emotional for me. Casimir called and said he had a promising interview and he wanted to take me and the kids to lunch. We were in town because we were moving permanently out of the city and I had some things to tie up. I also wanted the children to see their father before we left. I didn’t have the heart to tell him on the phone so I agreed.”
“Tell him what on the phone?” asked Hex.
“That I was determined to proceed with the divorce and the kids and I would be moving to Ohio to be closer to family.”
“I see. I’m sorry about that.”
“It’s not your fault. In many ways, it wasn’t Casimir’s fault. He just couldn’t seem to get his feet beneath him. Every time he started a new job, it never lasted. He was working hard, doing what they asked but it was never enough. I know I shouldn’t have judged him for that but we needed an income coming into the house and he refused to allow me to work outside the home. He was a very proud man but pride doesn’t pay the bills. Plus, he’d go to work for a company, get moving and feeling good and there would be massive layoffs. It just wasn’t fair and it wasn’t his fault. It’s the economy.”
“I understand,” said Hex. “So, when he told you that he had the job, it didn’t matter to you?”
“It mattered. He’d be able to help with the kids and come and visit them. I told him that. I just couldn’t do the up and down any longer. He said it was a good job, a great job, but I’d heard that before.”
“Did he say anything else?” asked Hex.
“He said he had other good news for me and that I should stick around for a while, hold off on going to Ohio. But I couldn’t. Our things were packed and we were headed out.”
“I’m sorry about all of this,” said Hex. He couldn’t blame her and he didn’t know how to blame anyone. Yet something was holding Casimir to this place. “Do you and the children need any help?”
“Thank you, but we’re fine. We’re staying with my parents until I can find something.”
“Alright. Well, I wish you the best,” said Hex.
When the call was done, he looked toward the small shack, now standing straight with a new metal roof and a fresh coat of paint going on it. Hovering to the right was the ghost of Casimir Costello not looking any happier than he had the last time they saw him.
“This fucking sucks,” said Torro. “How do we make this right for him?”
“Brother, I’m not sure but I’m not about to give up.”
With darkness settling in, they returned to Belle Fleur for the evening. They’d return to the small house, no longer a shack, the next day and try to make it a beautiful little home for someone.
“What’s that?” asked Eric.
“Costello’s bible,” said Hex setting it on the table. “It was hidden under the sink.”
“Hidden? A man doesn’t hide a bible unless there’s something of value inside it.”
Hex turned the bible upside down, shaking the spine, the pages flipping to and fro. When a slip of paper fell out, they all gasped.
“Is that…” whispered Hex.
“Yep. A fucking lottery ticket. Check the date and winning numbers,” he said handing it to AJ. It took AJ only seconds. He held the ticket up, his hands shaking.
“It’s a winner. Seven million dollars.”
The image of Casimir Costello appeared in front of them. Suddenly, his silent cries were loud and floating through the trees. They could hear his heart cracking with the information now known, said aloud.
“It’s alright, Casimir. We’ll make sure that your wife gets the money. Your children will be taken care of. They won’t have to worry about anything,” said Hex.
