The Devil Makes Three by Lucy Blue

Author:Lucy Blue [Blue, Lucy]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Falstaff Books
Published: 2021-10-13T22:00:00+00:00

26

Carol Ann and Frank Sweatt’s white brick Georgian mansion was lit up like a Christmas-themed casino. “Hang on,” Serena said, catching Jacob’s arm and stopping him on the sidewalk. “I want to get Rooster a picture.”

“It is quite a sight,” Jacob agreed. His own new house was less than a block down First Street, so they had walked down for the party. Other guests hadn’t been so sensible; cars lined both sides of the street. “I didn’t realize this was such a big event.”

“Oh yeah,” Serena said, snapping pictures with her phone. “This is the big dress-up occasion of the holidays for the White folks. Carol Ann makes sure of it. It’s her annual ‘fuck all y’all’ to the town.” She looked stunning in a chic but opulent gold dress with sky-high heels. “She’s not from Saxonville, and Frank didn’t grow up here. They moved here from Atlanta about ten years ago when Frank’s great-aunt Louella died and left Frank this house. She had been living in it by herself since the forties, and it had just fallen to pieces; it looked like a haunted house.” She put her phone back in her purse and slipped her arm through his.

“Aren’t you freezing?” He wore an overcoat, but she didn’t even have sleeves. “Not that I’m complaining, mind you.”

“I’m fine,” she said, snuggling close. A group of people he didn’t recognize walked by and stared at them then hurried on.

He kissed the top of her head. “Now tell me quick before we go inside, what about Carol Ann and her big, ugly house?”

“It’s the oldest surviving private dwelling in Saxon County. It’s probably fifty years or more older than Briarwood.” More people passed in pairs and groups down the sidewalk. Some of them spoke and smiled, but most just hurried on without making eye contact. “When Carol Ann said she intended to restore it to its former glory, all the old cats in the historical society were just over the moon. Then she started ripping out walls and cutting down hundred-year-old magnolia trees, and they all fell out in a faint. I wasn’t living here yet, but Tom says when she put in a swimming pool out back, they just about had a riot in the street.”

“Oh dear,” Jacob said.

“But of course, since Frank Sweatt can buy and sell pretty much everybody in this town who isn’t named Flynn or Benson, the old guard eventually had to shut up and pretend to get over it.”

As if on cue, a black town car pulled up to the curb beside them. A young White man in a blue blazer hopped out and helped an old White woman in an ancient-looking mink coat climb out of the back seat. “Serena,” she said, pushing her escort aside with her cane to fold Serena in a hug. “Don’t you look pretty?”

“Hey, Miz Kennedy,” Serena said with a smile that barely reached her eyes. “Have you met Jacob McGinnas?”

“So nice to meet you,” the old woman said, barely giving him a glance.

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