Evangeline of the Bayou by Jan Eldredge

Author:Jan Eldredge
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HarperCollins
Published: 2018-03-06T00:00:00+00:00

“You and I,” Gran said, “will go back home, and with the help of the council, we’ll figure something out.”

Three knocks sounded, and Evangeline jumped.

The nurse stepped into the room. As she replaced the nearly empty IV bag with a fresh one, she fixed her firm gaze on Evangeline. “I’m afraid visiting time’s over. Doctor’s orders.” She patted Gran’s arm. “Mrs. Holyfield’s going to take a nap now.”

“I’m not tired.”

“You will be,” the nurse looked at her watch, “in ten seconds.”

Gran glanced at the IV bag, then glared at the nurse. “What did you put in there?”

The nurse smiled sweetly. “Doctor’s orders.”

Gran’s head slumped to the side, and one eye went droopy. “Evangeline. Promise me you’ll . . .”

“Gran!” Evangeline sprang up, her heart slamming inside her chest.

“It’s okay,” the nurse reassured her. “It’s just a harmless sedative. A little something to relax her before surgery.”

Gran’s one eye fell shut. The other stared out straight ahead. Frowning, the nurse reached over to close the eyelid, but Evangeline blocked her hand. “No. That’s the way she sleeps.”

“O-kay.” The nurse moved toward the door. “And now you really must leave.”

Evangeline looped the knotted cordon around Gran’s wrist, then leaned down and kissed her on her scarred cheek. “Don’t worry, Gran. Fader and I will get back home. And you’ll be safe here.” She went to give Gran’s talisman a reassuring pat, but it wasn’t there. She yanked down the thin blanket. There was no silver talisman lying against Gran’s hospital gown. She whirled around on the nurse. “Gran’s talisman! Where is it?”

“Now, don’t worry.” The nurse extended her hands in a just-simmer-down motion. “Per hospital policy, patients aren’t allowed to wear jewelry. We’ll keep her necklace safe until she’s discharged.”

“Oh.” Evangeline drew the blanket back up to Gran’s chin. “Okay . . . I guess.” But she did not like this hospital policy at all.

The nurse pulled the door open and motioned for her to leave.

Evangeline’s heart drooped like a wet rag that’d been squeezed and wrung out. She wanted to cry, but she did not. She straightened her back, held her head high, and left.

She stood in the cold hallway, the heaviness of Gran’s confession pressing down on her as though she were standing at the bottom of the ocean. Visitors and staff flowed past like schools of fish, but she’d never felt so alone in her life. Her mama was gone. Her sister was gone. Her hopes and self-worth, her future as a haunt huntress—vanished. And if the hateful grim had its way, Gran would be leaving her too. She forced her booted feet to move and made her way to the hospital’s tiny chapel.

Holy sanctuaries were her place of comfort, their quiet peacefulness always putting into perspective whatever was troubling her. She knelt before the altar scattered with flickering candles in glass jars. Willing herself to shut out her anguish, at least for the moment, she murmured a prayer for Gran’s safekeeping and for that of Mrs. Midsomer. She prayed for the strength to accept things as they were, then quieted her mind even further.

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