The Book of Lost Friends(59)

“Nathan gave me a key,” I blurt, but I can feel the steam building next to me. Sarge is like a pressure cooker, about to blow.

“Put that stuff back where you got it.”

“I’m looking for books for my classroom. Nathan said to take whatever I could use, but I don’t think he has any idea what’s in that house. The library closets are full. Half of the bookshelves are double stacked. Behind the first row of new books, there are old books, rare books. Things like those.” I nod toward the seat.

“This is the project with LaJuna?” Sarge demands. “I don’t care if she messes around in the gardens over there, but I told her to stay out of that house.”

“She showed up the first day.” I can feel my relationship with LaJuna potentially being shredded. First I invade her secret place, now I’m getting her in trouble with her aunt. “She knows a lot about the place. Its history. The stories. She spent quite a bit of time with the judge while she was with her aunt…or great-aunt…your Aunt Dicey. There’s an old hatch in the floor under the—”

“Stop. Don’t. Not interested.” If I didn’t before, now I fully understand that I am into something much bigger than I can grasp. “Put that stuff back. Don’t let LaJuna in that house again, either. If Will and Manford Gossett or their wives find out she’s involved in this, Tiff won’t be clinging to that new job at Gossett Industries, she’ll be out. You get on their wrong side, you better start packing your boxes and rent yourself a moving van. Trust me.”

“I can’t just quit. I need the books, and they’re sitting there going to rot.”

“Don’t think you’re safe because you don’t work for Gossett Industries, either. Manford’s little blond trophy wife is on the school board.”

“My understanding is that the house and land are Nathan’s, though.”

“Look, before Nathan’s sister died, things might’ve been different.” Shaking her head, she focuses on the pavement as if she’s sorting her thoughts. “When Robin inherited that house from the judge, she stood guard over it. She cared about it. It was hers and she wasn’t about to let her uncles steal it out from under her. But she’s gone, and, yes, technically the house passed on to her brother, but the only reason Nathan hasn’t sold it is out of respect for his sister—because Robin fought Will and Manford for it until her dying day.”

“Oh…” I murmur.

“It’s a mess,” Aunt Sarge says. “Stay away from the Gossetts. Stay away from the house. Don’t take those books around town with you, and, whatever you do, don’t show them to anyone at the football stadium. Put that stuff back where you found it. I’ll try to get LaJuna straightened around about school, but you keep her away from Goswood.”

I meet Sarge’s gaze. A lot goes unsaid between us in that quick look before I climb into the car. “Thanks for the help with LaJuna.”

“It’ll depend on what’s up with her mom.” She rests a hand on the open window. “I know that story about the starfish. I get what you think you’re trying to do. But around here, the tide’s pretty strong.”

“Point taken.” Driving away, I lift my chin and set my jaw. I can’t stay out of Goswood Grove House. I won’t. I need a tide wall, that’s all, and I’m going to build it with books.

I do heed Sarge’s advice and cover the books in my car while I sell tickets at the fundraiser. I park where I can keep an eye on the Bug, because the door lock on the passenger side doesn’t work.

Unfortunately, gate duty turns out to be more involved than I’d expected. I’m not just in charge of taking ticket money, I have to run around under the bleachers, flushing out teenagers who are wrapped around each other like twist ties. I’m pretty sure I cause permanent damage to a few potential romances.

Kids have changed a lot since I was one. It’s a scary world in the hidden realms of the football stadium.

I am more than relieved when I get back to the Bug, and the books are safely where I left them. I plan to stay up late, ignore my prep work for school tomorrow, study these materials and take notes. I want every minute I can get with them, just in case tomorrow’s planned conversation with Nathan Gossett doesn’t go well.

I’m not the least bit prepared to find Sarge pacing back and forth on my porch when I pull into my driveway.





CHAPTER 15


HANNIE GOSSETT—LOUISIANA, 1875

“We got to leave, Juneau Jane.” Ain’t ever spoken to a white person that way in my life, but Juneau Jane ain’t white, ain’t colored. I don’t know what to call her. No matter right now, because she could be the Queen of Sheba in a new pink dress and we’d still have to get from this place before things go bad. “Need you to help me push Missy Lavinia up on that horse, and we’ll make our way back to the road. Won’t be much longer before that old woman figures either we’re dead or we told a lie about having the fever.”

Four more days now, we been holed up here in this church in the wood. Four days of nursing, and feeding, cleaning the waste from feverish bodies and praying. Four days of leaving coins in the tree at the edge of the clearing, and hollering to the woman what I need for her to bring me. She’s kindly, merciful and good. Even took the dog home with her so’s to care for it proper. She’ll be good to that dog, I know, and I’m happy for that, but the woman gets more nervous every time she sees us still here. Word must’ve spread about the fever, and folks’ll be wondering, Should they burn this place to the ground to save their family from the sickness?