haunted

chapter 6: sweet disposition

Fatin nods. She looks down at the picture of Leah again and can't help but ask, "Where was this taken?"

A shadow falls over Maryann's face as she registers the photo. She examines it closely, lips pressed thin. "Angel's Island, 2012."

Fatin's body goes cold. "Cool," she replies, doing her best to keep her voice neutral. "I've never been."

"Leah and Emily loved it. The bumpy boat ride, hiking the trails, playing on the beach..." Maryann trails off offhandedly, staring at the picture. "We took them every summer. But we haven't been back since-" she cuts herself off, growing strangely still. "Nevermind that. Let's get you that refill."

Maryann turns away and Fatin places the frame back on the table, completely unnerved.

---

Fatin knocks on Leah's bedroom door twice, and waits.

"Come in."

Fatin opens the door slowly, and she's relieved to see Leah smiling again, petting Gideon's head from where he rests in her lap. "Feeling better?"

Leah looks up and shrugs. Her eyes are red-rimmed, but no longer watery. "I guess."

"Here." Fatin hands her a glass of water, and empties her pockets of tissues, tossing them on the bed. "And just in case."

Leah takes one to blow her nose and another to wipe away dried tear tracks on her face. She tosses them into the trash can next to the bed, and then she empties half the glass of water in one big gulp. She coughs hard to clear her throat, and Fatin reaches as if to pat her on the back, but falters when Leah stops.

"Thanks," Leah rubs a hand over her face, "I needed that."

"No prob." Fatin takes the glass from Leah and sets it on the floor, next to their forgotten drinks. "So... not to like, kill the mood but..."

Leah's smile fades. "We should probably talk."

"Yeah." Fatin is reluctant to start the conversation, but there's no more use in putting it off any longer. "Everything just got way more complicated."

"You don't even know half of it."

"Jesus, there's more?"

Leah gets up and grabs her laptop from the desk instead of answering. She sits down next to Fatin and shows her the screen.

The first thing Fatin registers is a group of middle aged white women standing together, dressed in formal wear. She frowns. "Is this like your family reunion or something?" Leah sighs and taps the screen. Fatin follows the movement, and her jaw drops.

Above the women hangs a pink banner that reads EDEN INAUGURAL DINNER in gold lettering. Leah enlarges the screen over a woman that looks vaguely familiar.

Fatin stares at the woman. Blonde hair is worn in loose curls around her shoulders and she wears a black floral dress. It takes a moment for Fatin to place her. Unlike the framed photo of Ms Wolfe displayed at her memorial, there's no gray hair and she's not wearing any glasses.

"What the fuck?"

"She was in on it," Leah says, tapping the screen again. "That's why she sent Jeanette to the retreat."

Fatin's stomach churns as she stares at the photo, reality sinking in. Ms Wolfe had been Jeanette's lifeline in the afterlife, and the one responsible for her death. Not wanting to believe it doesn't make it any less true. "Yeah, no fucking shit." She turns to Leah, unable to face the screen any longer. "You think Jeanette ever found out?"