need to get that taken care of before someone else gets hurt.”
“Will do.”
When our excruciating phone call was over, I hung up, got out my purse, and turned to Norman, who had also neatened his desk and looked as though he was ready to leave. He was insisting that I let him come home with me, for safety’s sake, and then also give me a ride to the airport. Knowing I needed help, I put up only a minor fuss but I didn’t refuse.
We headed out, my car leading the way, and were at the beach house within twenty minutes.
As we parked our cars and walked to the door, it struck me that once Kiki understood the details of the situation, she might ask me to move out. I couldn’t imagine what the impact of that would be for my life. Besides the fact that she was a great housemate—easygoing and fun and nonintrusive—I literally couldn’t afford to live anywhere else. Except for this house and a small pension from her late husband, Kiki was as poor as I was, but she rented me one of the spare bedrooms for a pittance, and I made up the difference by doing most of the cooking and cleaning—an arrangement that had worked out well for both of us. Without that deal, I would be sunk for sure.
Trying not to think about that for now, I unlocked the front door and we stepped inside, though Norman insisted on going first. His posture rigid and ready, he checked out every room in the house, including the pantry and all closets. At his age, I doubted he could fend off a criminal if one popped up, but it was very sweet of him to look, nonetheless. When he spotted the bullet hole in the wall in my room, he let out a low whistle. I wasn’t bothered by the bullet hole nearly as much as I was by the big bloodstain on the floor. Once Norman went downstairs, I quickly used bleach and rags to clean it as best I could.
I didn’t have any idea how long I would be in Pennsylvania, so I threw together one suitcase’s worth of clothes and shoes, toiletries, and a blow-dryer. I also packed up my laptop, taking the time to print a few pictures of Bobby first.
When I got downstairs, Norman was on the phone. After he hung up, he explained that his son would be here first thing Saturday to fix the back porch, fill in the bullet hole upstairs, and replace the wood flooring in my bedroom that had been ruined by Kiki’s blood. Before I could figure out how I was going to afford all that, Norman added that the labor would be free—though we could reimburse them for the supplies later, once Kiki’s insurance claim went through, if we wanted to.
I thanked him profusely as I locked up the house and we carried my bags to the car. Driving toward the airport, Norman at the wheel, I tried calling Kiki at the hospital. I got her mother, who said that the CAT scan had come back normal except for a concussion, as expected, and that Kiki would be staying with her for a while after she got out of the hospital.
When I was finished with the call, I tucked away my phone and asked Norman to check on Kiki while I was gone and tell her about the house repairs.
Traffic was light, so the trip to the airport went smoothly. Norman and I said our farewells at the curb, and then I was on my own, checking my bags and making my way through security. By the time I reached the gate, I had an hour and a half to kill, which was good as there were a few things I needed to take care of before takeoff.
EIGHT
S TEPHANIE
November 21, 1828
My Dearest Son,
I do not understand your reaction to the letter I sent to you. How can you refuse to participate in what is to be your absolute destiny? Royal blood flows through your veins, my child! It is your duty to put down your farm implements and take up the scepter very soon. Enclosed is another piece from the Beauharnais Rubies, this time the Coronet, as yet more proof of my devotion to the cause of restoring you to your rightful place.
You cannot know what was sacrificed for this moment! To impress this upon you, I
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