“Court?” Julia walked to the adjoining door and knocked.
“Hey.” Courtney opened the door, her smile sheepish. Her hair was messy, and she had on the same clothes as yesterday. “Before you ask, I didn’t sleep with him.”
“I didn’t ask, and we have bigger problems. Notice anything about your room? I put it back together.”
Courtney scanned the room, frowning. “It’s different. What happened?”
“I’ll tell you while you get dressed.” Julia launched into the storywhile Courtney showered and changed into a black pantsuit and a white silk blouse with a pussycat bow. Courtney listened with increasing anger, and by the time Julia had finished, they were both worked up.
“You’re right, it’s harassment, it’s payback for going to Samuel’s.” Courtney ranted, fussing with her bow in the mirror. “Meanwhile does Glushenko call me about the stalker photos? No. Does Kowalski? No. They searchourrooms! Not only do theynotdo their job, they harass us when we try to do it. We should sue these assholes.” Courtney redid the bow, squinting at her reflection. “Alex is going to Samuel’s house today to see if he’s back. If Samuel’s not, then I think he’s on the run. You heard those state troopers. You can hide forever in these woods. If Samuel killed my grandmother, I want him brought to justice.” Courtney straightened the knot on the bow, then undid it again. “They call these pussycat bows because only pussies wear them.”
Julia let her vent, knowing it was easier for Courtney to deal with anger rather than grief.
“I still can’t believe Paul’s not coming to the funeral. That’s crossing a line, and it comes at the worst time, with me seeing Alex. I didn’t sleep with him, but if you ask me, I cheated.”
“What happened?”
“We talked all night, about everything. Grandma Kay, old times, my job, Buckley cops, racism, the environment, even Paul.” Courtney’s eyes welled up, her bow trailing loose ends. “Alex understood what I was saying, he always did, hegotme. He listened to me in a way Paul hasn’t in years.” She wiped a tear away. “Did we make out? Yes, totally. Do I regret it? Yes, but whatever, I stopped myself from going further even though I felt all the feels. All the love, it came back.”
“Oh no,” Julia blurted out.
“Oh yes. Hell, yes.” Courtney whirled around, her wet gaze newly intense. “He’s a great guy, I admire him. He’s committed to the community and the environment. HeformedShenandoah Preservation all by himself. He bought that house that they have their office in with his own savings. He’s fixing it up, also using his own money. I respect him, and I didn’t realize it before, but respect matters. It’s hard to really love someone you don’t respect.”
“You respect Paul, don’t you?”
“I don’t know, I don’t know if I do anymore.” Courtney shook her head, bewildered. “Last night I felt all that love for Alex. I never stopped loving him. He made me happier in one night than I can remember. Paul’s not coming to the funeral might be the last straw.”
“Really?” Julia swallowed hard.
“I don’t know, I can’t tell. Do I want a divorce? Maybe I do?” Courtney threw up her arms, flustered. “Oh, guess what, Paul texted me that he’s driving in. He expected me to see it as some big sacrifice, but he does that all the time. So now he has to drive here and he thinks I’m going to kiss his ass, when all I can think is, why’d you miss the flight? Can’t you read a watch? Leave earlier, dude. It’s not rocket science.” Courtney shook her head. “You know what? You live with a bad marriage and you think it’s normal. Then one day, you realize you’ve been on your own so long, it’s like you’re not married. And you say to yourself, it can’t get worse, so I need a divorce.”
Julia could see Courtney was getting more upset. “Take a breath. Now’s not the time to make big decisions.”
Courtney puckered her lower lip. “You want me to stay with Paul.”
“That could be true, but you’re in fresh mourning and that’s hardenough. Plus the cops tore your room apart, your husband let you down, and your old boyfriend came back. Your emotions are all over the place.”
Courtney blinked, her eyes glistening.
“Whatever you want, I want for you. But right now, let’s focus on what’s ahead. We have to go to the funeral home.” Julia felt a familiar wrench in her chest, remembering the morning of Mike’s funeral. “You say your final goodbye, and we honor the life of your amazing grandmother.”
“Right, good point. I need to get it together.”
“You got this. One foot in front of the other.”
“It’s going to be a beautiful ceremony.” Courtney wiped her eyes, straightening, and her troubled gaze met Julia’s.
“Everything’s going to be okay, honey.”
“Is it?”
Maybe.“Yes.” Julia managed a smile. “Now let me fix your bow, you pussy.”
24
The morning sky had clouded over by the time they reached the funeral home, a neatly kept Victorian of white clapboard with black trim, situated in an open field outside Buckley. The two friends had been silent on the ride, which wasn’t like either of them.
“Court, how are you doing?” Julia asked, driving.