‘And I want you to calm down.’
The steady patience on her face took on a hint of displeasure as she sharpened the edges of her words. ‘This is a very difficult time for both of us and confusing for you, I know. We’re both grieving our loss, Emily, and right now, I would ask you to give your daddy some grace. With that in mind, would you prefer hot or sweet tea?’
‘I need to use the restroom,’ I said, curling my hands into tight fists. I didn’t care if she was right, it all hurt too muchand just the thought of drinking tea, my dad’s answer to everything, made my stomach curdle.
She nodded and I stood up too quickly, my head spinning as I barrelled out of the library and pinballed down the hall to the powder room. How could he have done this? It was such a betrayal. Worse, it was a violation. My father had taken something away from me and as far as I could tell, he’d had no intention of ever giving it back.
The creak of footsteps on floorboards stopped me in my tracks as I reached the powder room but when I turned to see who was behind me, there was no one there. Instead, I watched as the door to Catherine’s craft room inched itself open, daring me to come inside.
‘Hello?’ I called out. ‘Ashley, is that you?’
No response.
The pale green wallpaper that covered the hallway walls seemed to shimmer as I moved closer to the open door, a trick of the light on the hand-painted fabric, and icy gusts of air blasted down on me even though the AC vents were a ways down the hall. I was right on the threshold of Catherine’s craft room, fingertips grazing the sky-blue painted wood, when I heard footsteps again, this time coming from the opposite direction. I pulled the door closed and scrunched my eyes shut. Toddler logic. If I couldn’t see them, they couldn’t see me. Pressing myself against the wall, I waited for whoever it was to pass me but they didn’t make it that far. Halfway down the hall, the footsteps stopped. Right in front of the library.
‘Ashley, honey. Perfect timing. Could you be a sweetheart and bring us some tea?’ I heard Catherine call, and in response, Ashley laughed.
‘What is it that’s so funny?’ my grandmother asked. Holding my breath, I peered around the corner just in time to see Ashley disappear into the library.
‘I was about to ask what your last servant died of. What do you think, too soon?’
There was a pause and I slid silently around the corner, keeping close to the walls.
‘Did you tell her?’ Ashley asked, her voice lowered. ‘Does she know?’
‘No and we’re not discussing this now,’ Catherine replied airily as though the question didn’t dignify a response. ‘Besides, I can’t be sure she has it.’
‘Really? Because I’m sure. Don’t tell me you don’t feel it.’
A loud tut.
‘Regardless of your expert opinion, I say it’s not the right time. She’s been through a lot already, any more would be too much.’
The frigid air blasted down, chilling me to the bone, but the walls of Bell House were oddly warm to the touch. Right time for what?
‘There’s no such thing as the right time,’ Ashley countered. She sounded frustrated. ‘You should tell her tonight, I’m sick of lying.’
A harsh laugh split the air.
‘I find that hard to believe,’ Catherine replied. ‘You’re so good at it.’
I moved down the hallway until I could see through the crack between the wall and the door. Ashley loomed over the desk from where Catherine returned her attention with a dark glare.
‘Emily has suffered too much to be burdened with this right away,’ my grandmother said, pushing back her chair with a decisive screech. ‘The truth would kill her.’
‘If she doesn’t kill us first.’
I bit my lip to keep myself silent, the heat of the walls burning up through my clothes while the cold air froze in my lungs.
‘No one is going to die,’ Catherine declared as my legswobbled underneath me and my vision blurred. ‘I will find a way to save her. To save all of us.’
It was the last thing I heard before the darkness took over and I crumpled into a heap on the floor.
Chapter Seven
‘How do you feel now?’
‘Like I’m being choked to death?’
