Page 113 of Heidi Lucy Loses Her Mind
I remember.
I remember.
* * *
I head outsideto water my plants, watering can in hand. I smile at the feel of the spring breeze, let it play with my hair; I listen to the sounds of the warm night. Then I get started on my flower beds.
I work silently, enjoying the faint wafts of floral that drift up toward me until a sound makes its way to my ears.
“I know what you did.”
I freeze, standing up straight. At first I wonder if I’m hearing things, but then I hear the voice again.
“I know what you put in the cookies I ate,” it says, “and I’ll make sure you burn for it.”
My eyes widen and my hands clench tighter around the handle of my watering can. I walk silently down my row of flowers and toward the side of the shop, where the voice seems to be coming from.
I don’t round the corner; I just stand there and listen.
I’m not normally an eavesdropper. I’m really not. What you talk about is your business. But there’s something about this conversation that sends icy fingers down my spine, even though I’ve barely heard anything.
“Don’t lie,” the voice snaps—it’s familiar, somehow, female and decidedly aged. “Those cookies weren’t from her. She would never. They were from you. But I want you to know…” There’s a shuddering breath, and then the voice continues. “That I don’t have anything left to live for. So I’m letting myself die—and I will haunt you for the rest of your miserable life, you little brat.” The woman’s voice breaks, a vulnerable, heart-wrenching sound. She’s quiet for long enough that I can tell the person on the other end must be speaking, but then her voice talks again.
“I know that.” Her voice cracks once more, and she pauses. “I know no one will miss me.” She sniffles. “They used to love me, you know. They used to beg for my photo. But it’s a fickle world out there, you fool, and if you think they won’t forget you just as swiftly as they forgot me…you’re delusional.” And these words are spoken with such coldness, such bitterness, that I shiver.
It’s only when I feel my nails digging into my palms that I realize I’m holding onto the watering can so tightly it might break. My heart is thundering as my mind races, trying to make contextual sense of what I’m hearing.
Because it sounds like this old woman is speaking to someone who’s trying to kill her.
But there’s no way. There’s just…no way.
Right?
This is Sunshine Springs. Things like murder don’t happen here.
But what if they do?a little voice whispers in my mind.What if this woman is going to die?
I bite my lip as I listen. She said she would let herself die. She said no one would miss her. So I crane my neck, listening harder—
And my blood freezes in my veins at the next thing she says.
I reel back, stunned. How can this be?
And how can I help?
I have to help. I need to help.
Inside,I think.I can invite her inside and make her something to eat. Maybe she’ll talk to me.
But panic wells up in my chest as I turn on my heel and hurry back to the shop’s door. I can’t handle this alone. I don’t know the first thing about talking someone down from death. I need help.
I go inside and set the watering can haphazardly to the side, rushing back through the shelves. I think my phone is on the book desk—yes. There it is.
I grab it, and before I can even question why, I’m pulling up Soren Mackenzie’s contact information.
Soren knows things. He’s smart and calm and steady and I need that. I need that right now—so why isn’t he answering his stupid phone?
I begin speaking as soon as I hear the beep, only barely paying attention to the words as they rush out of me. “Soren, I think I just learned a really scary secret, and now I don’t know what to do, and I’m freaking out, so come to the bookshop as soon as possible. Please hurry.” I rush back through the bookshelves as I talk, that frantic feeling growing.
