Chapter 4
We whipped up Hummingbird Rd. and I actually got a little lump in my throat when Merlotte's came into view even though I'd only been away for two weeks. I quickly realized that the overwhelming feelings of nostalgia weren't so much because I had been away, but more because I had moved on. You never really look at a place when you see it every day. But if you go away for a while and come back, you see things with fresh eyes. This place had been my second home for five years and I never really saw how beautiful it was. The bar sat in the middle of it all. Cedar siding and a tin roof, classic southern architecture, the building was surrounded by dozens of tall pines. Off to one side was Sam's double wide, and on the other side, set back just a bit was the huge pole barn that had come with the property when Sam bought it. He mostly used it as a warehouse but it also doubled as a great party space.
We parked in front where the customers park – that was weird for me. I got out of the car and took a deep breath. Burgers. Onion rings. Pine forest. I loved the smell of the woods surrounding Merlotte's. The woods were quiet today - almost an eerie calm. I noticed the streams of sunlight flickering down through the trees, making the whole scene look almost mystical.
I snapped out of my silent reverie and followed Amelia into this place I loved so well.
We seated ourselves in a booth in my old section and Sam came over as soon as he saw us. He gave me a friendly hug and asked what he could get for us.
"Sam, I've been dreaming of a Lafayette burger for days, but you know what would make it even better? "
"What's that, cher?"
"If you make one up for yourself and sit down and have lunch with us."
"Well I'll check with the boss and see if that can be arranged." He winked and took off for the kitchen.
Amelia and I chit chatted about The Bachelor and American Idol - we married Jason off, and discussed that beotch Deanna, then we agreed that we loved David Cook and would make no apologies for it. In no time at all (I've always said the service at Merlotte's is the best!) Sam was back with the three burgers. He set the baskets down and slid into the booth beside Amelia. We all reached for the ketchup at the same time, which started a three-way round of teasing along the lines of, "Me first" "Don't be a ketchup hog" and "C'mon hurry up". My heart kind of welled up with joy just by hanging out with two of my best friends. Sam joined our discussion about Simon, Paula, Randy and the new judge Kara, until we had talked it all out and were ready to move on to actually catching up with one another. I asked both of them if anything new was going on in their lives. Amelia's giddy mood changed a bit.
"Actually, Sookie, there IS something serious I wanted to discuss with you. Sam I'm glad you're here too – you should hear this"
Sam and I exchanged glances and then we both looked at Amelia.
I wasn't sure I liked what I was sensing from her – she was desperately trying to block her thoughts so I would have no idea what was in her head until she was ready to speak.
"What's going on?"
Amelia was playing with her hands. "The short answer is, I don't really know. But there's been a lot of talk among the witches of Louisiana – you know we all keep up with each other through a few invitation only internet forums and private chat rooms – and everyone is of the opinion that something major is brewing in the supe world. Forces are gathering. Magick is in the air. Something is imminent."
I looked at Sam. "OK so apparently the witches feel something's going to happen. Have any of your two-natured friends mentioned anything similar?"
Sam set his burger down and looked at me with his puppy dog eyes. "Well, I haven't heard anything like what Amelia's witchy friends have been talking about, but I have to admit, now that she's mentioned it, I've had a kind of a sense of foreboding that I wasn't able to even recognize until just now. Hearing what Amelia said kind of put a name on this weird sense I've had lately. I'm gonna log into some of my shifter websites and see if anyone mentions anything similar. If I come up with anything I'll let you know."
I guess there was nothing more to be said or done for the time being on that subject, so we moved on to more Bachelor and Big Love talk and finished our burgers. When it was time to head back home I gave Sam another hug and promised we'd keep in touch regularly.
We shot back down the road and were back to the house in ten minutes. Every time I drove up that beautiful gravel drive (that Eric had given me for no other reason than he saw my need and he fulfilled it) I couldn't help but count it as one of the many examples of why I loved my Viking. Then I remembered the other reason for my return to my old house and put the car in park.
"Amelia – listen do you mind if I come in for just a minute? I want to run up to the attic and look for some of my important papers. I know Gran kept a file cabinet up there and I think that's where some of my stuff is."
"First of all, Sookie, it's your house and you can come in any time you want to."
I started to tell her she was my tenant and I respected her privacy but she headed me off with a raised hand and continued.
"Secondly, are you looking for anything in particular?"
"Yes – my birth certificate and school records – stuff like that. Shreveport is my home now and I just want to keep all my important papers near in case I need them for any reason."
She nodded as we walked through the front door. I set my purse and keys down and walked up the stairs to the second floor landing. At the end of the hall was a narrow door through which a set of steep steps led to the small attic. The attic was above the original part of the house, and years ago one of my Stackhouse ancestors had laid some oak flooring down so it became the repository for generations of Stackhouse stuff. I didn't go up there much. Gran had preferred for us to play outside rather than in the attic. Plus I always thought it was kind of creepy up there. But today I was on a quest so I swallowed my fear and made my way up. I remembered Gran mentioning that she kept our important family papers in the attic so I was pretty sure I'd find what I was looking for.
There must be a universal design for attics. They're all pretty much the same. Roof joists. Musty smell. Cobwebs. Oh my. I let my eyes adjust to the reduced light up there – there was only one non-working window shaped like a half-moon. I saw the typical things you would expect to see. A couple of old lamps. Christmas decorations. An antique high chair. A portable wardrobe closet that had a zipper up the middle. I unzipped it just out of curiosity and found my old prom dress and some of Gran's outdated church suits and dresses. There were some hat and shoe boxes stacked over to the side. And lots and lots of cardboard boxes that looked like they held everything from books to picture frames to old toasters and coffee pots. Gran would never have thrown those things away if she thought someone could find a use for them someday.
Towards the back of the attic I saw the filing cabinet and walked over to it. Thankfully it wasn't locked – that would have been another issue to deal with. I opened the top drawer and saw that it was neatly organized with alphabetical folders with labels like DGD (Descendents of the Glorious Dead – the club for civil war descendents my Gran had been so involved with), electricians, and furnace warranty. I opened the second drawer and saw more folders – one was named Jason and had his important documents in it. OK I was on the right track. I opened the third drawer and – Eureka! There was the Sookie folder. I took a quick glance inside and saw my birth certificate right on top – SUCCESS! I removed the folder and let out a breath, relieved that I had accomplished what I set out to do and could be on my lead-footed way back home. Home to Shreveport. I loved the way that sounded.
I turned to head back down the stairs, but out of the corner of my eye I saw an old trunk with a metal latch. Of course curiosity got the best of me again so I made my way over to it and pushed the lid up. Like the wardrobe, it was filled with some of Gran's old clothes – they looked like they were from fifty years ago. She must have been a young woman then. I held up a little sundress and marveled at how small it was. And it was so cute – the little blue flowers on it were still vibrant. I tried to visualize what she would have looked like and realized I had never seen a picture of her as a young woman. I sifted through the folded aprons and dresses and felt something rigid. I moved the clothes aside and saw what looked like an old photo album, about eight by ten inches, and bound in dark leather hand tooled with a forest scene. Great! Maybe there were some pictures of Gran in here – and my Grandpa Mitch. As I scanned the cover, my blood ran cold. In the lower right hand corner, stamped in gold leaf, was a monogram.
F B A
The initials were laid out in the kind of monogram that couples use, the center letter being larger than the ones to the right and left. I started shaking - my mind started racing but I wasn't able to hold onto any thoughts. I think I knew what this book meant, and what I would find, as soon as I saw it. But first I had to sort through everything logically. My thoughts went to the night I formally met my great-grandfather Niall Brigant. (The first time I saw him was at the Bellefleur double wedding, but that didn't count because I hadn't known who he was then). I was trying to remember everything Niall told me. My grandmother had been loved by his son.
Fintan Brigant Adele.
I couldn't do this. Not here. But in this book were the answers to my life. I pulled it to my chest and walked out of the attic, down the stairs and into the living room. Amelia was in the kitchen. I called out to her that I was leaving.
"Did you find everything you were looking for?"
"Yeah – thanks hon. I'll call you soon. Love you"
"Bye Sooks," she yelled.
I was so relieved that she couldn't see my face – I felt like I was still in a bit of shock and she would have noticed and drawn everything out of me. It would have forced me to open the book and I wasn't ready to.
I headed back to my home, to my beloved, and tried to gather my strength for what was coming.
TBC
