An Inheritance

Chapter 23

Lauren could now barely breathe and was transfixed on Odilia’s story.  She heard every word, yet felt it was coming to her through a long tunnel.  Her entire body was heightened with a sense of familiarity. 

“A high school friend of hers, Mary Thomas, was seeing someone on the sly that her parents didn’t approve of.  Your mother pleaded with Mary to break it off, because she knew, absolutely knew, that he was going to hurt her.  But even though Mary recognized your mother’s talents, she refused to believe it.  One night your mother ‘saw’ this young man with a knife.  She knew what the end result would be.  But there was nothing she could do to prevent it.”

The hair on the back of Lauren’s neck prickled and tiny scenes flashed across her mind.  Her mouth was dry and her palms sweaty.  There was something nudging the corners of her mind; something she didn’t want to explore, didn’t want to acknowledge.  Pushing all of that away, she asked.  “So she ran away?  What good did that do?”

“Of course running away didn’t help anything.  But when they found Mary dead, your mother packed up some things and headed away from here before your grandmother was aware.  I know she left partially because of guilt, although misdirected, where she felt she should have been able to do something.   But most importantly, she hoped that by being away from the bayou, and your grandmother, that her senses would dull; she didn’t want the burden and responsibility anymore.  And from what I understand, they did … somewhat.”

Lauren felt a deep sadness.  If this was true,why hadn’t she told her and Danielle about this?  

“Your grandmother didn’t pursue her, but made your mother promise she would keep in constant contact.  She was afraid your mother would ignore all of her instincts, and that could have been worse than what frightened her here.” 

Odilia looked around the room, then back at Lauren.  “Your mother did everything she could to protect you, to let you see what being ‘normal’ would mean to you.  However, she also knew you were too strong, that eventually you would come down here and have to make a choice.  This is what she made your grandmother promise, that when the time came, you would be making your own mind up without any pressure or the influence of Grandmere Alma.”    

 “…she may be stronger than the two of us … “  Again she tried to shake her mother’s words away, but they just kept coming back.  “ … This scares me ... Conrad will be devastated …” .

“Did you know your mother came to visit your grandmother a little over a year ago?” Odilia said quietly.

Lauren slouched against the chair back.  “She would have told me.  Why wouldn’t she have told me?”  

“It had been the first time she’d come back to Slidell since she left at seventeen.  She needed to talk to your mother, she knew it would be the last chance she would have.  She made your grandmother promise not to get in contact with you after her death.” 

“So, my mother knew she was going to die?  Just like Grandmere Lebeaux.”

Odilia nodded her head sadly.  “I was there when they talked. So when your mother asked me to be the one to tell you, to help you in any way needed, I agreed.  But there was nothing your grandmother would have loved better than to be with you, to help you through this transition, if you should decide to stay.” 

“But why me?  Why did my grandmother want me to continue on?”

 “Because you’re an Alma, just like your mother, grandmother and many generations of women before you.  Haven’t you felt your senses heighten since you’ve been here?  Gotten sharper?  Even when you haven’t been aware, these powers, for no better word, have been strengthening in you.  By the look on your face, you know that this is true.