An Inheritance

Chapter 23

“Your mother named you Alma, because even while she carried you, she could tell you held these amazing gifts.  Calling you by your middle name was her, and your father’s, way of hoping that maybe you could somehow just lead a normal life.”

Abigail jumped down from Lauren’s lap and headed for the front door.  The first guests would be arriving soon.

Lauren glared at Odilia.  “I’m sorry I came down here.  I’m sorry I ever stepped foot on this land.  This is all so farfetched and crazy … you realize that, don’t you?”  Nodding towards the door, Lauren prodded her with sarcasm.  “These people tonight, are they all like my ancestors, just loaded with ‘gifts’?  Are you all part of a coven?”

“There was never a coven, just people with some of the same abilities who get together and help each other out.  And yes, there will be some here tonight who are just like us, but more are here just because they loved your grandmother.”  Odilia was starting to show some agitation with Lauren’s attitude. 

Any further discussion was cut off by the sound of cars turning into the gravel clearing. As doors slammed, the chatter of friends greeting each other reached the kitchen where Lauren and Odilia sat without talking.  Lauren rose to head into the living room, and Odilia followed.

Hoping the smile plastered on her face looked genuine, Lauren opened the door and greeted the people who had come to remember her grandmother.  They introduced themselves as they walked in  … Buford and Maude Fiset, Marie Major, Cezelia Moyse, Gaston Roach, Geraldine Nason, Kathleen Deveaux, Rosella Marcot … a running list of Cajun/Arcadian names and far too many to remember.  Sarah Young bustled in and gave Lauren a quick kiss on the cheek as she headed towards the kitchen with her contribution to tonight’s dinner grasped firmly in her hands.  Lauren was surprised to see Wanda from the bank, who smiled shyly and then hurried off to greet the others.  There were a few people that Lauren thought she had met at the Sunday concert but she wasn’t sure.  All in all, there were over thirty people milling around in the small cottage, and everyone seemed to know each other very well.    

Lauren walked into the kitchen where most of the people were congregating and watched as they placed their dishes on the table in logical order of salads, main dishes, sides and desserts; something obviously done many times before.  Although everyone was talking in low tones, the very number of them in such a small space made hearing very difficult unless you were standing near the person talking.

Lauren caught Sarah questioning Odilia with her eyes and Odilia nodding slightly.  Of course, Sarah would be another one who thinks she has these abilities that Odilia talked about.  Who else here is a part of that group?  Lauren scanned the people now talking in small groups.  They all looked both normal and questionable at the same time.  Which ones are they?        

Lauren kept the smile on her face and walked amongst the small groupings without actually paying attention to what was being said or what she said in turn.  The conversations around her had become a background hum of bees. 

Finding out her grandmother helped people with herbs and home remedies was one thing, but Odilia telling her that her grandmother and mother had ‘gifts’ and ‘powers’ was utterly ridiculous.  And Lauren herself having these ‘powers’?  Again absurd.

  “…she may be stronger than the two of us … “  “ … This scares me ... “.

Of course everyone has instincts and can sense some things without having real knowledge of it.  Right?  Lauren’s mind put her back to when she just knew Randy had been unfaithful.  She packed up some of her things and waited for him to come home.  When he came through the door she confronted him and he did confess but he swore it was the first time, and Lauren believed him.  But there hadn’t been anything between them for a long time, so without any regrets, Lauren walked out the door and filed for divorce the next day. 

“…she may be stronger than the two of us … “ 

Things started popping into Lauren’s mind; other coincidences.  While a student, she always seemed to know what was going to be on the tests and studied minute details that some teachers would throw in to see who really knew the material.  The job interviews where Lauren knew the schools would be interested and would call her back with an offer.  But that was just confidence … wasn’t it?  Knowing not to travel roads where bad accidents were about to happen … knowing who would be on the other end when a phone call came through … all quirks as far as Lauren was concerned.       

Boyfriends she knew would be trouble, girlfriends who would turn on her; Lauren had followed her  instincts in all relationships, except perhaps with Randy.  Sadness towards people she had just met where they themselves hadn’t known of impeding illnesses or tragedies; again, just coincidences? 

“... Conrad will be devastated …” .

And those dreams, always those dreams that Lauren sometimes remembered in bits and pieces.  Those bits and pieces would swirl around in her mind until they formed images of an event or tragedy that would, more often than not, eventually come true.  Trains not taken that derailed, gas stations not turned into that were robbed … images now confronted Lauren from all sides.  But she had always thought that she had massaged the dream to fit the event.  So, what was really the truth?  

She was leaning on the sink with eyes closed.  Lifting her head up, she looked out the window and watched the shadows play across the yard.  The bayou was settling in, and although it would be an hour or so before true darkness, there was a tranquility, a calm peacefulness that helped dispel  some of her shakiness.   

“ … This scares me ... “. 

Yes, Mom, this scares me too.  What am I to believe now?  You always told me to listen to what was inside me, to trust my instincts.  What were you really saying to me?  Were you saying I had these gifts that I should be paying attention to?  If this is all true, why didn’t you tell me?  Let me know now, what am I to believe?  With a start, Lauren realized she was looking straight at the old cypress tree, the same one her grandmother used to ‘talk’ to her ancestors.      

The rustling of concentrated movement caught her attention and she looked around.

As though on cue, the guests were filling their plates and heading towards the living room where Odilia had taken over.  “Please everyone, sit down.”  She called to the stragglers. 

Odilia waited as everyone found their seats; the older ones sat on the sofa or chairs, while the younger were satisfied on the floor, leaning against a piece of furniture.  Each seemed to know their place.  Lauren hastily filled her own plate, went in and sat at the desk. 

Let the séance begin.  Lauren bitterly muttered to herself.