When LaShaun arrived back home two cars were in the driveway. She parked on the grass so as not to block them in and let herself in the front door. Following the sound of voices LaShaun went to Momon Odette’s bedroom. The home health aid was there with a stocky young man. Both of them turned around when they heard LaShaun’s footsteps. Dori, the home health aid, spoke first.
“Hey, LaShaun,” Dori said. “This is Ken, one of our nurses.”
“Nice to meet you, ma’am.” Ken smiled and gave a short nod then kept writing. “I’m checking Mrs. Rousselle’s vital signs. Her pulse rate is a little high. Has she been short of breath?”
“Just cause my granddaughter is here don’t mean I can’t talk,” Momon Odette snipped. “I’m old as water. Mais yeah I’m gone be short of breath.”
Dori stifled a giggle. Ken stuck to his serious professional nurse demeanor. “Yes, ma’am. Any chest pains when you take a breath?” he asked.
“No.” Odette fussed with her chenille bed jacket.
“I see she’s taken her medications as prescribed. Excellent.” Ken nodded at LaShaun. “I know she’s been resistant to following doctor’s orders.”
“She’s being good,” LaShaun replied.
She knew what her grandmother’s reaction would be but couldn’t resist. A stream of Creole French muttered in a dangerous tone flowed from Monmon Odette’s lips. Ken continued to write, still just as efficient and sober in his duties. Dori had to put a hand over her mouth to keep from laughing. Once Ken was gone Dori followed him to the kitchen for a wrap up and to sign forms.
“You young people think you’re so smart. Orderin’ me around like I’m a child,” Momon Odette grumbled finally in English.
“We’re just looking out for your health, sweet mother.” LaShaun fluffed her pillows and checked around the room. As usual the home health staff had done a good job.
“Well that Dori got the most sense of all of ‘em,” Momon Odette grudgingly admitted. She’d fought the idea of outside help, but relented when LaShaun explained she couldn’t depend on Rita anymore. The rest of the family only showed up when they wanted something from Momon Odette.
“All the Med-Staff folks have been nice,” LaShaun replied and frowned at Momon Odette. “So don’t you try any more tricks to scare them.”
“Cher, an old lady stuck in the house got to have some fun.” Momon Odette’s dark eyes twinkled with mischief.
LaShaun let out a long suffering sigh. “Is it any wonder you got that terrible reputation?”
Momon Odette gave a small laugh that turned into a coughing fit. LaShaun hurriedly poured a glass of water from a small pitcher on the nightstand. Momon Odette drank slowly then sank against the pillows again.
“Don’t look so scared. I ain’t gonna die today,” Momon Odette said after a few minutes.
LaShaun’s hand shook as she poured more water into the glass spilling enough to form a small puddle. “Yeah, you’re not through scaring poor nurse’s aides.”
Momon Odette smiled. Then her smile faded. “So you went to see Rita.”
“Momon, I don’t know how to tell you this or even if I should— ”
“I always know anyway so lyin' to me is pointless. I signed them papers Rita brought me, cher. Knew just what I was doin’.” Momon Odette nodded slowly as she gazed back at LaShaun.
“The money, land, none of it means much to me,” LaShaun said. “Which of course you know.”
“Just like I know Rita has always felt like she was second best. I can’t lie. Francine was my favorite child and you my favorite grandchild. A parent ain’t supposed to show it, but.” Momon Odette rested her knarled hands on her stomach and sighed. “I made my mistakes raising you children. Leah and Albert, well you see how they turned out.”
“They’re grown, Momon. They’re responsible for what they do now.” LaShaun sat in the rocker next to the bed.
“But I shaped them into people they are now. And Leo, when I took him from my cousin Eva he was so neglected. That girl cared more about men and wine than that boy. I tried to make Albert and Leah not be so jealous hearted but, well they was already feelin' like Francine had most of my heart. Guess they felt like there was too little left for them as it was.”
Momon Odette gazed at the array of framed family photos on her dresser. “Little Rita kinda took to them in a way. Cause they all felt slighted I supposed. So when she brought me them papers I figured, well at least let her have what she wants.”
“Why did you act like she was fooling you?” LaShaun studied the photos, too, as they talked.
“She’s a Rousselle down to the bone, cher. We like being tricksters when we get the upper hand. I didn’t wanna deprive her of the satisfaction.” Momon Odette grinned as though remembering her own escapades.
“You shouldn’t encourage your kin to act like rascals,” LaShaun quipped.
“Sugar, they don’t need no help from me,” Momon Odette wisecracked. Then she grew serious again. “Don’t hold it against Ree, cher. Her mama played favorites with her other children after she got married again. I tried to give little Ree much love as I could.”
“I had time to think on the drive home, Momon. I ain’t mad at Ree. She just better watch her step with Azalei and— “ LaShaun stopped short of being a tattletale about Azalei and Quentin Trosclair. As usual her grandmother was on her game.
“That Azalei got no style of her own. She always got to copycat you. Silly child takin’ up with your sorry leftovers.” Momon Odette let out a stream of Creole French expressing scorn. “That Quentin ain’t nothin’ but high class trash. Smartest thing you did was to use him and throw him away.”
LaShaun let out a yelp of surprise then burst out laughing so loud and hard that Dori poked her head in the bedroom door.
“Y’all okay in here?” Dori grinned despite not knowing the joke.
LaShaun could only nod. Momon Odette smiled, too. She shook her head at LaShaun then glanced at Dori.
“We just fine, baby.” Momon Odette gestured that she could go back to her work.
Finally LaShaun recovered enough to speak. “Momon, I love being home only because of you.”
Her grandmother reached out a hand and LaShaun leaned forward to grab it. They held onto each other for a long time. They giggled like two little girls conspiring to be naughty. Momon Odette recalled some of her more colorful antics. LaShaun listened to stories she’d never heard before. After two hours Momon Odette finally seemed to tire.
“Oh, cher. That was fun talking old times with you. Nobody else wants to listen to this old woman’s stories.” Momon Odette smiled at LaShaun fondly.
“I have every story up here,” LaShaun said and pointed to her head then placed a hand over her heart. “And here.”
“Thank you, sweet baby. Now back to your cousin Rita.”
“I mean it, Momon. I’m not angry with Rita. She can have whatever she wants.”
“She’s gonna outsmart Azalei, Leah and that whole crew anyway. I gave her a few tips.” Momon Odette winked, the twinkle back in her eyes.
“What have you been up to?” LaShaun tugged her grandmother’s hand. “Give it up, you rascal.”
“Just don’t be surprised when the rest of ‘em find out Rita ain’t nobody’s fool.”
LaShaun smiled. “What fun. I’m going to help Ree celebrate.”
“ Now go on and let me rest.” Momon Odette’s energy seemed to have drained from her body. She was once again the frail elderly woman. Her face looked ashen and her breath came in rasps.
“Yes, ma’am,” LaShaun replied softly.
She kissed Momon Odette’s hand and watched her drift off to sleep. After a few moments she gently placed her grandmother’s hand on top of the quilt and patted it. She was tiptoeing toward the bedroom door when Momon Odette’s voice stopped her. LaShaun turned around. Her grandmother spoke with great effort.
“Cher, I wasn’t pretending all the time. My mind is failing me. Look after Rita, protect the legacy. As for that other one, that loa. Search the scrolls.”
“What do you mean? I don’t understand. Tell me, Momon. Tell me where that spirit, that loa came from.” LaShaun went to the bed and knelt next to it. “And how long has he inhabited our woods?”
Momon Odette tried to speak again but let out a wheezing moan instead. LaShaun grabbed her hand. The tips of her fingers had grown cold just that quickly.
“Dori, come quick. Get that nurse in here. Dori!” LaShaun rubbed her grandmother’s hands trying to push the creep of death from them. “No, no. Please give us more time.”
Dori rushed in. “Let me, baby. Come on now.”
Moments later the nurse strode in. He lifted Momon Odette’s eyelids then used the stethoscope around his neck to listen t her heart, then her breathing.
He turned to Dori. “Call 911.”
Ten minutes felt like ten years to LaShaun. Ken explained in stark detail that Momon Odette’s blood pressure had risen very high then dropped. He and Dori continued to monitor her pulse and heart rate. Finally sirens whined close. LaShaun ran to the front door and let them in. The next two hours blurred from frantic activity to waiting in the uncomfortable hospital chairs. Finally the doctor came out. Her expression said it all. LaShaun started crying in a way she hadn’t since Francine had died.
“We got her blood pressure stabilized, but.” She sat down next to LaShaun. “You need to call the rest of the family.”
LaShaun could only nod. The young Asian female doctor gave her a pat of sympathy on the shoulder then left as LaShaun punched in her uncle’s number into her cell phone. Five minutes later Deputy Broussard walked into the lobby. LaShaun looked at him but kept talking. Uncle Albert promised to assemble the rest of the family then hung up. LaShaun closed the flip phone. Deputy Broussard sat down in one of the plastic and vinyl chairs in the row facing LaShaun.
“News travels fast. You must have asked the 911 operators to let you know, right? Any calls to Rousselle Lane and they ding you ASAP.”
“I’m not here about your grandmother.” Deputy Broussard clasped his hands together.
“So you, all of you, want to make sure she’s dead. Well I’m happy to disappoint you. She’s not. And even when she is I’ll be here.” LaShaun leaned toward him until their faces were only inches apart.
“Ms. Rousselle, LaShaun— ”
“My family hasn’t lasted this long in Vermillion Parish because of luck,” LaShaun said, her voice a low hiss of scorn.
“Your family has big problems. Fighting over Miz Odette’s money, scheming on each other. You’re right. The Rousselle family is going to need more than luck from now on.” Deputy Broussard spoke in a quiet voice.
“Maybe. But don’t be too quick to throw a victory party.” LaShaun glared at him, her breathing fast and hard.
“LaShaun, I’m not your enemy. I— ”
Broussard lifted one hand. He lightly brushed his fingers against LaShaun’s left cheek. The sound of footsteps made him jerk back. When Sheriff Triche strode in Broussard stood up abruptly and moved away from LaShaun. Another deputy with dark blonde hair stood next to the sheriff.
“Hello, LaShaun. Sorry about all this.” Sheriff Triche looked at Deputy Broussard with a frown.
The deputy next to him stared at Broussard hard. “You don’t have a call here. In fact you went off duty thirty minutes ago.”
LaShaun saw the look of that passed between the two men. She felt it. They were competitive; no there was more. Animosity crackled in the air between them like contained lightening.
“Nice to meet you, Deputy Gautreaux.” LaShaun smiled when he jumped.
Gautreaux recovered quickly. He strode to LaShaun and stood over her. “You’re under arrest. Ma’am.”
“Here we go again. You can’t prove I killed Claude Trosclair. Why? Because I didn’t.” LaShaun gave a bored sigh.
“We’ll get you for that one, too. But first things first,” Gautreaux barked.
Deputy Broussard stepped in front of him. “Planning on taking over as sheriff before the election, huh? Bet you’ve got your press conference speech all written. Super cop Gautreaux of Vermillion Parish,” Broussard’s word shot out like bullets.
“Time somebody did real police work around here,” Gautreaux snarled.
“You two shut up,” Sheriff Triche roared. “Now!”
The two men scowled at each other like battling professional wrestlers. The sudden silence expanded like a sponge. LaShaun was shaken, but tried not to show it. Finally she stood up on rubbery legs.
“Well, this was entertaining, but unless you have real business with me.” LaShaun faced Sheriff Triche. “I’m going to be with my grandmother.”
Sheriff Triche looked at her then at his deputies. “Get out here. And since you both seemed to have forgotten I’m still in charge, I’m gonna remind you. Be in my office tomorrow morning at eight AM sharp.”
The two men marched out in opposite directions without speaking. Triche turned back to LaShaun. The doctor came through double doors at the same time.
“Miss Rousselle, you can visit with your grandmother for one hour only. We have to limit visit time in the critical care unit.” The doctor glanced at the sheriff then left.
“Are we done here?” LaShaun said.
Sheriff Triche grunted as though in pain. “I’m sorry, but we got to talk. We found your cousin Rita. LaShaun, she’s dead.”
LaShaun gasped. The floor shifted beneath her feet. The walls seemed to sag in on her and she felt sick to her stomach. Swirling darkness closed over her as she slumped to the floor.
Episode 12
