“Hi, sorry about that! I just got done with a run and was showering,” she said in one breath, cheeks flushed. It took a moment for her brain to catch up with her eyes. “Etienne?”
There he was, leaning against her Mawmaw’s porch railing in jeans and a crisp navy T-shirt. His sculpted arms were folded across his broad chest, and those rumpled brown curls were placed in haphazard perfection. She could feel her cheeks burning as her eyes bounced from Etienne to the older man in a fedora and Mawmaw.
“Ophelia?” Etienne looked just as confused. Ophelia regarded him, waiting for an explanation, and suddenly realization flickered across his face. “Of course, you’re Ophelia’s granddaughter. Of course.” Etienne shook his head as if he’d been ridiculous not to recognize it before. He pushed off the porch ledge and walked toward her as if his presence wasn’t wrecking her. Both of his arms opened for a hug.
She was so flustered that she gave him a bizarre side hug where she leaned the right side of her body into his front, forcing him to awkwardly drop his right arm that would have wrapped inappropriately around the front of her chest. Instead, he went for a solid pat on the back.
“I should have put all of this together sooner,” said Etienne, stepping back from her. “Especially after Delphine’s funeral.”
“Wait, do y’all know each other?” Ophelia asked, looking between Etienne and her Mawmaw.
Etienne laughed. “No, we just met today, but those two have been friends forever,” he said, gesturing to her grandmother and the older man sitting on a rocker. “I never put together that y’all were related.”
“Oh. Okay. Sorry, I’m still trying to catch up here. You’re a Traiteur?”
Etienne smiled with a nod.
“Right. Makes sense. You’re a doctor, so yeah…”Shut up, Ophelia. “Must be useful.” Ophelia caught her grandmother’s eyes, and the old broad was smiling like a maniac.Jesus fucking Christ.
“Oooh,” cooed Mawmaw. “I didn’t know you two knew each other! How exciting andsexy.” Ophelia shot her grandmother with a scathing glare. “Brutus, did you know?” Mawmaw turned to the old man, who kept a straight face that said he was not interested in where this was going. Brutus looked like an old man who could still beat up a couple of guys at once. He had thick knuckled fingers and tanned crepey skin that Ophelia was sure was once as smooth as leather.
“I didn’t. Nice to meet you, Ophelia.” Brutus started to stand from the rocking chair, and Etienne smoothly grabbed his arm to support him. She walked toward him to save him the trouble and shook his large hand.
“Nice to meet you, too,” she said sincerely. Ophelia found his fedora adorable. His face sagged with age, but his features held onto a sense of pride and self-assuredness. Brutus gave Ophelia a slight smile, and she wondered if Etienne would look like him when he was old and gray. Stately and calm. She thought of him like that now.
“Wonderful,” said Mawmaw, clapping her hands. “Glad we are all so well acquainted. Now, let’s get the show on the road.”
The realization slammed into her. Etienne was going to witness her Passing. Ophelia prayed that she didn’t shit her pants or barf in front of him.
The group stoodin the treating parlor. As usual, the lights were off, curtains drawn.
“Ophelia, please light the candles,” asked Mawmaw more politely now that they were in the presence of company.
The room slowly glowed brighter with each lit candle. Mawmaw and Brutus moved through the room slowly, setting up some oil and cloths while Etienne followed them around to ensure no one fell. After the candles were lit, Ophelia feltawkward and unsure of herself as she stood in the room watching the others complete their tasks. She had asked Mawmaw several times about the details of the process, but she just blew her off and said not to worry. But Opheliacraveddetails. She wanted to anticipate what would occur, and all she knew was that there would be pain and aftershocks.
Brutus shuffled to the altar, pulling out white linen hand towels and folding them into precise rectangles. Etienne stood observing with his arms crossed.
“Want me to bring in more chairs?” Etienne asked Brutus and Mawmaw.
“Oh yes, hon, that would be great,” said Mawmaw. Etienne motioned for Ophelia to follow him out of the parlor.
“Does she have any folding chairs? Or should I bring in the kitchen chairs?”
“Kitchen chairs are fine,” Ophelia responded and walked towards the kitchen with Etienne on her heels. She came to a stop in front of the kitchen table and chairs.
“So, you nervous?” asked Etienne.
She considered faking confidence for a minute, but she couldn’t muster such a falsehood in her state. “Very. How was your Passing?”
“I fainted and hit my nose on a table. There was a lot of blood.”
“Great. Great.” There was an awkward pause between the pair. “So how long have you been treating?”
“I started right after college, so I’ve been at it for a while.” Etienne reached out and placed a hand on her shoulder. “You’re going to be okay. I promise.” His warm brown eyes were sincere, and she wanted to believe that he was right. “I’ve never helped with a Passing, but I treat regularly and will help take away as much pain as possible.”
Ophelia breathed in deeply through her nose and let out a calming breath through her mouth. “Okay,” she said, and nodded at him.
Etienne grabbed two chairs, and Ophelia followed him backto the parlor. He set the chairs down in the treating parlor. Seconds ticked by. They were all acting so normal, and Ophelia couldn’t take it anymore.
