Mischief in Mudbug (Ghost-in-Law, #2)(3)

Sabine sank into the chair next to Maryse, her head beginning to swim. If Helena was appearing now…or doing a voice-over, however you wanted to look at it, Sabine knew it couldn’t possibly be a coincidence. She rubbed her fingers on her temples and silently willed her head to stop throbbing.

Maryse laid her hand on Sabine’s arm. “What is it? What are you not telling me?”

Sabine stared at her friend, hoping her voice wouldn’t sound as shaky as she felt. “I have an appointment with Dr. Breaux in an hour to discuss my biopsy results.”


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Maryse reached for Sabine’s hand and gave it a squeeze. Sabine closed her eyes and focused on breathing. Any moment, Dr. Breaux would walk through his office door, sit down at the desk across from them, and give her the news. After Helena’s appearance at her shop, Sabine hoped she was ready for what Dr. Breaux would say.

When the abnormalities had appeared four times before, Dr. Breaux had always called her with the good news. The fact that he’d asked her to see him in person coupled with her new ability to hear Helena Henry had the acid in her stomach working overtime. If more people could see or hear the shameless specter, antacid company profits—or alcohol sales, depending on preference—would shoot through the roof.

Sabine hadn’t even thought about Helena being the Angel of Death, until Maryse had pointed out the timing of Helena’s appearance and Maryse’s run for her life. Even though Sabine had always wanted to have a paranormal experience, if Helena Henry was the only option, she’d just pass altogether. A nice, boring job at the bank posting deposits and counting pennies would be preferable.

“It’s going to be fine,” Maryse said, and Sabine knew her friend was trying as hard to convince herself as she was Sabine.

“Uh huh.” Sabine opened her eyes and took a deep breath, not at all convinced. “And what about the Helena factor?”

“It’s just a coincidence…a fluke. Luc hasn’t been able to see or hear her since that night she sent him to save me.”

“Really? I didn’t know that.”

“We didn’t know it, either, until she showed up at the café this morning while we were having breakfast and Luc never noticed her, not even when I pointed her out. Probably you’ll never hear her again, much less ever see her.”

“And if I do?”

Maryse sighed. “I’ll pray for you. I mean really pray…down on my knees, begging for mercy sort of praying. I’ll even do it in church and wear a dress.”

Sabine smiled. She would almost pay to see the very skeptical and comfort-loving Maryse begging God for relief, wearing a dress and heels—if it didn’t require Helena Henry appearing to prompt the action.

“Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that,” Sabine said.

Maryse was about to reply when Dr. Breaux walked into the office. He gave both of them a nod and took a seat behind his desk. “I wanted this meeting with you to discuss the results of your latest tests.” He looked at Maryse, then back at Sabine. “I’m afraid the news is not good.”

Sabine sucked in a breath, unable to ask the question that raced through her mind.

“I’m so sorry to tell you, Sabine…you have acute myeloid leukemia. Now, as far as leukemia goes, this is the best one to have. Seventy percent or more of patients go into remission after treatment, and unless the leukemia returns, they go on to have long, productive lives.”

Sabine blew out the breath she’d been holding, and her eyes blurred as she was overcome with dizziness. This can’t be happening. She leaned all the way forward, trying to breathe, as the room began to spin. She felt Maryse’s hand on her back, but somehow the touch seemed surreal, as if in a dream. It’s astral projection. I don’t have a paranormal ounce of blood in my veins and yet today I’ve heard a ghost and projected my spirit out of my body. She dragged in a deep breath and tried to focus. You’re losing it, Sabine.

“Sabine,” Maryse’s voice cut into her labored breathing. “Do you need me to get you something…a cup of water…?”

Sabine lifted back up to a reasonable position, her head still spinning. “No, I’ll be fine. At least, I think I will.”

“Of course you will!” Maryse’s hand tightened on hers and her friend leaned forward in her chair, an intent look on her face. “Do we know what caused this?”

Dr. Breaux shook his head. “I don’t have any way of knowing for sure. It could be a result of the chemical dumping you discovered going on in the bayou, or it could be completely unrelated.”

Unbelievable. Sabine wanted to scream with the injustice of it all. All her life, she’d been so careful—no coffee, no substitute sweeteners, no diet sodas, no smoking…all the things that might cause cancer. Aside from her occasional glass of wine, she didn’t have any vices to speak of. And now there was a chance she’d contracted the horrible disease from picking flowers on the bayou.

Sabine looked over at Maryse and saw the fright on her friend’s face, plain as day. Oh, she was trying to hide it, but Sabine knew better. Inside, Maryse was on the verge of a heart attack. Sabine drew in a deep breath and looked at Dr. Breaux. “And the treatment?”

Dr. Breaux sat back in his chair and sighed. “Begins with chemotherapy. If we don’t achieve the desired effect, we add radiation therapy to prevent the disease from moving into the brain and central nervous system.”