If Catfish Had Nine Lives(55)

            “Gram,” I said as I turned around. “Jerome found Astin Reagal’s remains, back when Jerome was alive.”

            “Really? That’s pretty big news, I would think. Where are his remains?”

            “I’m not sure. I’ve been searching, but it’s been a long time.”

            “Where were you searching?”

            “Out by what used to be my property, on the way to Rolla, about a mile or two out of Broken Rope. At least, I’m almost certain that’s the area where I found his skeleton before.”

            “Did you tell anyone about it?”

            “I believe so. I think I told Elsa.”

            “Your lady?” Gram asked easily, as if asking about someone’s “lady” was a common question.

            “Yes.”

            “Jerome’s been remembering her this trip.”

            Gram’s head cocked slightly, and her mouth straightened into a tight line. “You’ve always had some memories of Elsa.”

            “It’s that I’m remembering . . .”

            “He’s remembering their connection better this time,” I continued for him.

            “Interesting. Perhaps it’s meant to be. You and Betts have been too squirrelly-eyed for each other. Maybe Jerome remembering how he felt about Elsa is good.”

            Jerome and I smiled at each other, more to share our humor over Gram’s observations than to flirt, but the gesture could have been misinterpreted.

            “Oh, for heaven’s sake,” Gram said at our continued “connection.” “Jerome, tell me more about Astin Reagal’s remains, if you remember the details.”

            “I think that’s why I came back this time—to help you all find them.”

            “Really? Okay, I guess I won’t analyze that idea too much but just go with it. So, how are you going to find him?”

            “Keep looking, I guess.”

            “Why didn’t you tell anyone besides Elsa?”

            “I can’t remember exactly. I died a week later, so that could have played a big part in my secrecy. I think that at that time she was the only person I trusted. I don’t think I was well thought of by then,” Jerome said as he scratched a spot above his ear, tilting his hat sideways again. “But I sense that there was a good reason. I remember a couple things from back then—there was the newspaper article that talked about Astin and how he’d been lost. I think Jake found that same article. Then, I remember having a strange sense of where he might be. What’s missing is the part that explains why or how I knew.”

            “You sensed it, like psychic-ly? Had impressions or something?” I said.

            The hat settled back into position as Jerome stopped scratching. “I don’t know what you mean, Isabelle.”

            I was about to offer a quick explanation, but Gram interrupted. “Isn’t that Orly coming in?

            I turned to see Orly push through the front door. He saw me immediately and waved, so I returned the greeting and he moved quickly toward us. Though I had questions for him and hadn’t been able to find him during the Dutch oven demonstrations, I kind of hoped he wouldn’t join us. I still hadn’t told Gram about Teddy, and my lie by omission was only going to seem bigger if he was the first one she heard the news from. However, some of the questions I had for Orly were specific to Teddy. Maybe I’d be okay if he did join us, but I’d have to do a quick job of giving Gram at least a heads-up about Teddy.