Sloan pulls on her hand, so I let her go, even though I don’t want to.
Story of my life.
She and Phyllis sit at a table while Tally, Tim, and I sit at the one beside theirs. I choose the seat nearest to Sloan, and she turns to look at me. “You sure you want to stay for this? I asked you to come inside to eat, not watch the crazy one work.”
I know it’s meant as a dig, but I just smile. “Nowhere I’d rather be.”
She nods and turns again, facing Phyllis. “Okay, let’s do this,” she says, taking a deep breath.
Tally whispers to Tim and me, “The fact that we can witness this, see her do that… it’s mind-blowing.”
Tim nods, and I get a glimpse of how the guys and I should have acted around her and how we should have reacted when she told us what she can do.
Not doubt.
Not mistrust.
Awe.
“Robert tells me you’re still not sure about this, that you asked for a sign, so you know he’s really here,” Sloan starts, her voice soft.
Phyllis’s eyes go wide. “I did!”
Watching her do that, Tally is right. It’s impressive.
Sloan bites her lip before she replies, “He says he has no sign for you, but he knows why you want to speak to him, and he’s not pleased.”
Huh?
Phyllis’s eyes go wide, and she starts to sputter, “N-not pleased? Bob, don’t you m-miss me?”
Sloan is silent again, seemingly listening to what Bob is saying. My eyes fix on her beautiful face, studying every little expression that washes over her.
“He says that he misses you very much, but you’re not here for him. You’re here for something that does not belong to you, and he can’t help you with it,” Sloan answers, and I watch as she pulls her hands to her lap, wringing them.
She’s nervous.
And Ihave a bad feeling about this.
“Why are you talking in riddles? What are you even saying? Are you trying to make a fool out of me?” Phyllis accuses, and I tense up.
I never liked this bitch.
Sloan lets out a long breath, squaring her shoulders. “Okay, fine, let me tell you how it is. Robert rented a bank deposit box when Tally was born since he’s her godfather, and he started toput money in it over the years. He wanted to gift the box to Tally at her wedding, but he died shortly before and couldn’t tell her that the box was for her. And for ten years now, you’ve been searching for the key to that box to get the money that’s not yours.”
Tally gasps before silence falls over us.
Holy shit.
Phyllis shakes her head, her voice tinged with frustration. “I don’t know what game you’re playing, girl, but this is absurd. That box was ours, and the money inside is rightfully mine. Yes, I wanted to know where the key is since I can’t find it, but it was never intended for Tallulah. That wasoursavings box.”
Sloan is silent again while Phyllis curses under her breath, grabbing the purse she put on the chair beside her.
“Then why did he give the key to her as an engagement gift?” Sloan counters, and all our heads turn to Tally.
“What? Wait, the key ring pendant?” She pulls out her key ring, full of keys, but there is an antique-looking, pretty key on a little chain. “He said it was a lucky charm, the key to a successful marriage.”
Tim laughs. “I thought that thing was part of why this marriage works so well.” Tally pushes her elbow into his ribs, but he just chuckles.
