“You convinced yet?” Maggie says, sounding pleased.
Instead of answering, I call Leah Billings at my folks’ old place.
“What’s wrong?” Leah asks right away.
“Nothing, just calling to see how y’all are doing.”
She exhales. “Oh, thank God. I was afraid there was a problem.” I can hear the sporadic buzz of a saw in the background. “I’m on bed rest now, so us renting your place was the best thing that could’ve ever happened. Can you imagine me stuck in bed in Tommy’s mom’s house? Lord, she’d be hollering at me day and night to stop being lazy and get up and dust her fans. This is like a vacation, Rhea. And Tommy loves working on things. He’s happy as a pig. Got the roof patched up, and now he’s fixing the soft spots in the ceilings. Did you know you can scrape the popcorn off? This place is a dream come true for us!”
Hearing that, I instantly know I can’t ask Leah and Tommy to move out so I can go home. Tommy’s mom is the devil, which I’ve known since she was my third-grade teacher and pluckedJames and the Giant Peachout of my hands to keep me from becoming a communist. I honestly don’t think she knows what a communist is, but let’s just say that I was careful to read my Marxist literature in private after that. Leah and I were in school together all twelve years, and she always gave me discounts at the grocery store, and I know how big and tired she is right now. The house I grew up in, my parents’ house, my house—it has a newlife, and that life does not involve me any further than a monthly rent check.
“I’m glad it’s going so well,” I tell her, meaning every word. “It’s nice to know y’all are looking after things.”
“Did you need something, Rhea? Did you forget something?”
The saw buzzes behind her, and I can imagine her in my big queen bed, cozied up in a nest of pillows while Tommy waits on her hand and foot and she doesn’t have to dread every waking moment.
“Nope. Just wanted to check in.”
“Well, the house is in great hands, and you’re an angel for letting us have it for the year. If things keep going like this, maybe we can stay here even longer? It’s a great place to raise a family, as I reckon you know.”
I all but fall onto the couch, feeling defeated by reality itself.
“Of course. Take care of yourself and that baby, Leah. I’m so happy for you guys.”
“You take care, too, Rhea. Hope you’re as happy where you are!”
We hang up, and Maggie does a triumphant little cockatoo jig.
“See? The world is conspiring to keep you here. This is exactly where you’re supposed to be, and as long as you’re here, things are gonna go real well for you, I promise.”
“What aren’t you telling me—”
I’m startled by a loud knock.
“Someone’s at the door,” Maggie observes.
“Is that normal?”
I can’t forget the weird warnings about folks with a grudge against my grandmother, and as far as I’m aware, only five people in town even know I’m here. Most of the buildings around me are empty, and I doubt Abraham down in the video store wouldhear me screaming bloody murder if I was bisected with a chainsaw right over his head.
I am not sure I want to answer the door.
Maggie shakes herself and stands. “It was normal when Diana was alive. Now? I don’t know what’s been going on, or even how long I’ve been dead. I almost felt like I was drifting around up here, all restless, but I reckon that’s a problem for another day. Just answer the door.”
I offer my wrist to Maggie, and she steps up and settles down. I almost ask her where she kept the knives as I approach the kitchen door, but honestly, a scared parrot is probably just as lethal. I don’t even know what I’m worried about.
“Let me see out,” she says.
“Manners,” I whisper.
With a small snort, she mutters, “Please.”
I hold her up to the peephole, and she angles her head to get her bright little eye right up against the glass.
“Well, that is unexpected.”
15.
