Sanctuary(158)

It's not finished. At least one other woman is dead now, so it's not over.

she nodded and held the door open for him. "We'll talk about that too."

Carla teased the southeast coast of Flon'da, giving Key Biscayne a quick and violent kiss before shimmying north. In her capricious way, she did a tango with Fort Lauderdale, scattered trailers and tourists and took a few lives. But she didn't seem inclined to stay.

Her eye was cold and wide, her breath fast and eager. she'd grown stronger, wilder since her birth in the warm waters of the West Indies.

Like a vengeful whore, she spun back out to sea, stomping her sharp heels over the narrow barrier islands in her path.

Lexy hurried into the guest room where Jo was just smoothing the spread on the walnut sleigh bed. The sun beamed hot and brilliant through the open balcony doors, highlighting the shadows under Jo's eyes that spoke of a restless night.

"Carla just hit St. Simons," Lexy said, a little breathless from her rush up two flights of stairs.

"St. Simons? I thought she was tracking west."

"she changed her mind. she's heading north, Jo. The last report said if she keeps to course and velocity, her leading edge will hit here before nightfall."

"How bad is she?"

"she's clawed her way up to category three."

"Winds of over a hundred miles an hour. We'll need to batten down."

"We're going to evacuate the tourists before the seas get too rough for ferry crossings. Kate wants you to help down at checkout. I'm going out with Gaff We'll start boarding up."

"All right, I'll be down. Let's hope she heads out to sea and gives us a pass."

"Daddy's on the radio getting updates. Brian went down to see that the boat's fueled and supplied in case we have to leave."

"Daddy won't leave. He'll ride it out if he has to tie himself to a tree."

,But you will." Lexy stepped closer. "I went by your room earlier, saw your suitcases open and nearly packed."

"There's more reason for me to go than to stay."

"You're wrong, Jo. There's more for staying, at least until we find the way to settle this for everyone. And we need to bury Mama."

"Oh, God, Lexy." Jo covered her face, then stood there with her fingers pressed to her eyes.

"Not her body. But we need to put a marker up in the cemetery, and we need to say good-bye. she loved us. All my life I thought she didn't, and that maybe it was because of me."

Alexy's voice broke, Jo dropped her hands. "Why would you think something like that?"

"I was the youngest. I thought she hadn't wanted another child, hadn't wanted me. So I spent most of my life trying so hard to make people love me, people want me. I'd be whatever I thought they'd like best. I'd be stupid or I'd be smart. I'd be helpless or I'd be clever. And I'd always make sure I left first."

she walked over, carefully shut the balcony doors. "I've done a lot of hateful things," she continued. "And it's likely I'll do plenty more. But knowing the truth's changed something inside me. I have to say good-bye to her. We all do."

"I'm ashamed I didn't think of it," Jo murmured. "If I go before it can all be arranged, I'll come back. I promise." she bent down to gather up the linens she'd stripped from the bed. "Despite everything, I'm glad I came back this time. I'm glad things have changed between us.

"So am I." Lexy aimed a sidelong smile. "So, now maybe you'll fancy up some of the pictures you took that I'm in, and take a few more.

I could use them for my portfolio. Casting directors ought to be pretty impressed with glossies taken by one of the top photographers in the country."

"If we shake loose of Carla, you and I will have a photo shoot that'll knock every casting director in New York on his ass."

"Really? Great." she scowled out at the sky. "Goddamn hurricane.

Something's always coming along to postpone the good stuff. Maybe we can do it in Savannah. You know, rent a real studio for a couple of days, and-"

"Lexy."

"Oh, all right." Lexy waved her hands. "But thinking about that's a lot more fun than thinking about nailing up sheets of plywood.

Of course, maybe Giff'll think I'm plain useless at it, and I can whisk back inside and check through my wardrobe for the right outfits. I want sexy shots, sexy and moody. We could get us a little wind ma chime for-"

"Lexy," Jo said again on an exasperated laugh.

"I'm going, I'm going. I've got this terrific evening gown I got wholesale in the garment district." she started toward the door. "Now, if I can just talk Kate into letting me borrow Grandma Pendleton's pearls.

Jo laughed again as Lexy's voice carried down the hallway. Things shouldn't change too quickly, she decided, or too much. Bundling the linens more securely, she carted them out to the laundry chute.