Adele and I didn't talk about Bartlett after that. He did leave his estate to her. It wasn't much; she set most of it aside for Hadley's therapy.
My work with Sookie was coming along well. By the six month deadline I had given myself, she was able to block out the thoughts of a large number of people. We spent quite a few evenings at Bon Temps High – band concerts, plays, basketball games… Where else could we go for an "evening out" in such a small town? I wasn't taking a six year old to a bar.
I arrived at the farm house one night to find Sookie at the kitchen table drawing a picture.
"What are you drawing Sookie?"
"Don't look! Wait until I'm finished." She tried to cover the paper with her arm. I zipped around the other side of her and caught a glimpse of yellow. "Eric!" Then she busted out laughing.
"What is so funny?"
"Gran is thinking she is not sure which one of us is the kid." More laughing, at my expense. I gave Adele a sour look. She just shrugged and went back to mixing up a batch of cookies.
"Who are you two spying on tonight?" Adele asked.
"The high school jazz band has a concert tonight," I answered.
"If Caroline Bellefluer is in attendance and happens to think about the ingredients to her chocolate cake….
"We'll be sure to write down the recipe," Sookie and I finished in unison. How many times had Adele told us that? Surely the cake wasn't THAT good.
"Just be gone, the both of you," Adele said smiling and shooing us out.
"Ready Sookie?"
"Yes. This is for you, Eric." She handed me the picture she had been working on. It was a little blonde girl holding hands with a large blonde man.
"I know this handsome guy is me, but who is the little squirt?" Sookie laughed. I would add this to my collection. I had quite a few hanging on the walls of my day time chamber.
The band was tuning up in the auditorium when we arrived (snuck in). We found a cozy spot back stage. Sookie held my hand, closed her eyes, and very soon a smile spread over her face. As the audience began to arrive, her smile faded.
"It's ok, Sookie. You know once the concert starts, everyone's thoughts will be more focused and it will be easier for you."
The concert began and I could tell she was able to control her shields. "Sookie, can you focus on the band and tell me what they are thinking?"
"A, C, Bflat"
"What about the woman in the audience wearing the red dress?"
"She wishes her daughter would practice more so she could be first chair. What does first chair mean?"
"I have no idea."
"Is Caroline Bellefluer here?" Sookie giggled.
"No."
"How about the elderly man with the cane?"
"He is thinking about dancing with a beautiful young woman."
"Would you like to dance, Sookie?" I flew us to the roof and we took a few turns accompanied by the Bon Temps Jazz Band. Had I had any fun before I met Sookie and Adele? I hadn't realized how very lonely I had been.
"Do you know where Caroline Bellefluer lives? Maybe she will be thinking about her cake recipe." Sookie giggled.
"Are you serious? She lives at Belle Rive, a big mansion."
We sat in Mrs. Bellefluer's tree for half an hour before Sookie was overcome with giggles and we had to leave. "Maybe we shouldn't tell your gran about this particular spying mission."
Sookie nodded solemnly. "She might ground us."
Note: I felt like writing something light after dealing with Uncle Bartlett. Thanks again for all of the reviews!