Page 53 of Madam Temptress
Magnolia gapes at me like I’m crazy. “I thought that was too dangerous. Do we really want to go down that road?”
“We’re all ready for this to be over. Aren’t you?” The question comes from Jules, and carries more attitude than it should. If I could reach him, I’d smack him upside the head.
“Hey.Everyone. Chill the fuck out. We’re getting stir crazy and we all want this over, but we gotta work with what we have.” I look into Magnolia’s eyes. “I’ll talk it all over with Mount. If we can find a different way, we will. But I’m not letting our lives sit on hold much longer. We’re going to finish this, one way or another, so we can all move on.”
Her lips press together, and she nods. “Okay. Whatever we have to do to make that happen.” She starts to pull away from me as the phone in her hand vibrates.
Magnolia’s attention drops to the screen, and I read the name at the same time she does.Norma.
“It’s been one interesting morning so far. Let’s hope this is uneventful.”
As soon as she says that, something twists in the pit of my stomach, but I have absolutely no idea why. As much as I want to keep my arm wrapped around Magnolia, I let her go so she can step away and answer the call.
Trey’s fingers fly over his keyboard as Magnolia greets her great-aunt’s caretaker with a smile in her voice.
It doesn’t last long, though.
Five seconds after she says hello, Magnolia spins around to stare at me, her expression stricken. “She’s ... she’s dead?”
Fresh tears spill from her eyes and streak down her face as I close the distance between us, wrapping my arms around her and pulling her against my chest. The phone tumbles from her grip, but I squat down to grab it and put it on speakerphone.
Norma’s voice comes over the line. “I’m so sorry, Magnolia. You two had your issues, but she loved you.”
A sob escapes from my woman, and her fingers dig into my shirt. “How?” she asks in a broken whisper.
“We’re not sure yet, but knowing your aunt Bernie like I did, she passed in her sleep just like she planned.”
I clear my throat and speak up. “Hello, Norma. It’s Moses. You’re sure it was natural causes? No sign that anyone else has been there or broken in? Nothing disturbed?”
“Oh ... hello there, Moses. Um ... no, I didn’t see anything out of the ordinary. The house was all locked up tight when I got here. It doesn’t look like anyone could’ve gotten in. Why would you ask that, anyway?”
Magnolia drags a hand over her face to wipe away the tears. “No reason, Norma. He’s just thinking of all the possibilities. She was in her bed when you found her?”
“She sure was. She looked just as peaceful as could be. Angelic, almost, if you’d believe that.” Norma lets out a gusty laugh. “Not that you probably will. But don’t be sad. Bernie was ready. She’d been waiting for her time to be called up. She was tired. I think she really was having strokes, and she knew it. Something was affecting her, even though she said she was fine. It was her time.”
Magnolia shakes against me, and I wish I could absorb her grief.Jesus Christ,this woman has been through too fucking much.
“Th-thank you for saying that. I know she was ready. She said it all the time.”
“Yeah, she did. She was a stubborn soul, so I’m not surprised she got to go out on her own terms before her quality of life suffered too much,” Norma adds.
“Did you ... did you call someone?” Magnolia asks. “Are they on their way?”
“Yes. I called 9-1-1 first, just like they say to, and then my nephew, he’s with the fire department. Everyone should be here shortly. If you want to see her, though, before they ...”
Magnolia shakes her head. “I ... I don’t know if I want to see her like that. I need to remember her spitting fire and telling me everything I’ve done wrong in my life. If it’s all the same to you.”
I squeeze Magnolia tighter as Norma replies.
“Oh, honey. You keep your memories just where they are. Old Norma will handle everything. And just so you know, Bernie sensed it was coming. Just yesterday, she had me find the book with all her requests on the funeral. She changed a hymn and told me to keep it out because I’d be needing it myself soon.”
A tremor ripples through Magnolia’s body, and it takes a second before the quiet chuckle follows. “Of course she did. Controlling it all, to the very end.”
Norma’s voice seems to lighten. “That was old Bernie. Bless her. I’m to give the book to the funeral home and tell them to make a copy for the pastor. She was adamant that she didnotwant a jazz funeral, no matter what you say.”
Magnolia’s shoulders shake. “Like I would force that on her.”
“You know, honey, I think she secretly hopes you’ll do it anyway. She always said it was too much revelry on a somber occasion, but I think it’s exactly what an occasion like this calls for. Even if it’s just a few of us in attendance.”
