The Strangers on Montagu Street by Karen White

Author:Karen White
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
ISBN: 9781101545812
Publisher: PENGUIN GROUP
Published: 2011-11-01T05:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 18

I spotted Jack’s black Porsche at the curb on the opposite side of the street as soon as I stepped out onto the front porch of the Manigault house. He hopped out and opened the passenger side as I approached. I felt the telltale pricking of the skin at the back of my neck as I slid into the car, deliberately keeping my head turned away from the turret window.

As I buckled my seat belt, the scent of Rebecca’s perfume assaulted me, followed quickly by the thick aroma of food. I looked at the small ledge that passed for a backseat and spotted the bags from Brent’s on Broad. Trying to keep the disappointment from my voice, I said, “I thought we were going out for lunch.”

“We are,” Jack said as he pulled away from the curb. “Thought we’d dine al fresco at White Point Gardens. The weather is still mild so I figured we should take advantage of it while we can.” He slid his sunglasses on, but not before I noticed the dark circles under his eyes. “How did it go in there with Nola?”

“She handled it surprisingly well, thanks to my mother. You owe her for that, by the way. Personally, I don’t think you needed to bribe Nola with an iPhone. I sincerely believe that she would have gone anyway.”

“How do you figure?” He cut a sharp right on Meeting Street from Broad, nearly hitting a large man standing in the middle of the road snapping a picture of St. Michael’s. Jack swerved around him, the man oblivious as he pointed the lens up toward the most recognized steeple in the Holy City.

“I think Nola sees this as an opportunity to not only become serious about her talent, but also to prove her mother wrong, to show Bonnie what she’s missing.”

“You think? That sounds so . . . wrong. They’re mother and daughter, after all.”

“Trust me. The mother-daughter relationship is something you will never be able to understand, Jack, so don’t even try. Makes finding the cure for cancer seem easy.”

“And you would know.”

“Absolutely.” I pointed to a Volvo station wagon with a Porter-Gaud window sticker pulling away from the curb on East Battery.

As Jack sped toward the available parking spot, he said, “Do you happen to know Nola’s shoe size?”

“She’s a six and a half narrow. Why?”

He parallel parked, the car sliding perfectly into the spot the first time. I wouldn’t have expected anything less. “I’m just preparing myself for the part where we tell Nola she’ll have to wear a uniform at Ashley Hall. For their dress days when they have to wear the school blazer, they can wear black or purple closed-toe shoes. I was thinking a pair of purple Converses might work.”

I wasn’t sure the administrators at the school would approve, but the gesture wouldn’t be lost on Nola—or me, judging by the way my blood was going all slushy in my head. I reached behind me and grabbed the to-go bags as Jack walked around the car to open my door.

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