Thirty-Five and a Half Conspiracies
Page 60

“How do you not weigh five hundred pounds?” Neely Kate asked as we followed her into the kitchen. “You’ve always got so much good food.”
Maeve laughed. “I have plenty of people stopping by to eat it.” A smile lit up her face, but I saw the worry lurking in her eyes. “Moving to Henryetta was the best decision I ever made, save for marrying Mason’s father, of course.” She winked. “I’ve made more friends here than I ever could have imagined.”
“How could you not?” Neely Kate asked, smiling as she leaned over to look at the still-steaming coffee cake. “You’re the sweetest person I know, and you feed everyone you meet.”
“Well, thank you, Neely Kate.” Maeve patted her arm. “You know you are always welcome here.” Something in her voice let me know that she knew things weren’t right with my friend.
Neely Kate pulled her into a hug, not saying a word, and Maeve rubbed her back in small circles. After a moment, she pulled back and cupped Neely Kate’s cheek. They stared wordlessly into each other’s eyes for a long moment, some secret and meaningful exchange passing between them, and then Maeve dropped her hand.
“Would you girls like some coffee cake?”
“That’s got to be the silliest question I ever heard,” Neely Kate said.
“Well, then I’m putting you to work.” Maeve handed her a bowl of icing and a spatula. “You take care of that, and I’ll start the coffee.”
I sat at the table, basking in the warmth and love and acceptance I always felt when I walked into this house. It was the same way I always felt when I was with Mason.
Thinking about Mason made my stomach cramp with anxiety, and I was overcome with the familiar fear that I was going to lose him. One way or the other.
Maeve put a hand on my shoulder. “Rose, are you okay?”
I looked up at her, my mouth flapping like a fish out of water.
“Neely Kate, could you keep icing the cake while I show Rose a photo album I found the other day?” Maeve asked.
Neely Kate glanced over her shoulder. “Are there photos of Mason as a little kid? Bring them out. I want to see them too.”
“We’ll bring it right out. I just need some help getting it down from the shelf.”
I followed Maeve into her bedroom, and she shut the door behind her, the smile sliding off her face. “Have you had a vision?”
I pulled her over to the bed, and we both sat down. “I did, but I’m doing everything in my power to change it.”
The color fled from her face. “You saw him die?”
I grabbed her hand and squeezed. “No. When I got out of jail, I forced a vision of Mason three weeks into the future, hoping to see there was no trial. Instead, I saw absolutely nothin’ and this icy darkness started to spread through my body. Mason tried to blow it off, but I told him I knew he was dead.”
“What’s he doing to prevent it from happening?” she asked, her voice shaking.
“Nothing,” I said, guilt seeping through my blood. “He says he refuses to hide away and do nothing when there’s a chance I might be locked away for good. He’s in Little Rock right now at the secretary of state’s office, trying to get them involved. But I’m scared.” I squeezed her hand harder. “I want him to be more careful, but he won’t listen to me.”
She gave me a weak smile and cupped my cheek, just like she’d done minutes before with Neely Kate. “I know you do, sweet girl. He loves you. He’d move heaven and hell to save you. He wouldn’t dream of doing it any other way. And it would be wrong to force him to do otherwise.”
“I can’t let him get killed because of me.”
She shook her head. “No. I don’t think it’s because of you …” She looked down. “Do you know who the other person tied into this is?”
She was referring to the premonition she had told me about last week—how Mason and another man were in mortal danger.
“Yes.”
She nodded. “It’s dangerous.”
“Very.”
She looked up at me, unshed tears in her eyes. “It feels wrong to ask you to keep doing whatever you’re doing.”
“You haven’t asked me to do a thing I hadn’t already decided to do. If anything, your feeling has given me the confirmation I need to move forward, even if it feels a little nuts.” I struggled to catch my breath. “But I’m gonna lose him, Maeve. Either way, I’m gonna lose him.”
“Mason?” she asked in disbelief.
“Have you had a feeling about what will happen after I save him?”
She shook her head. “No, I’m sorry.”
I nodded. “Promise me something.”
She swept a few stray hairs away from my face. “Of course.”
Tears stung my eyes. “When he hates me, please tell him I did it all to save him. I’ve dug myself deeper and deeper into this hole to save him.” A tear rolled down my cheek, and I brushed it away with my fingertip. “When it’s over, please make sure he knows that.”
Confusion swept over her face. “Rose. Why would Mason hate you? What are you doing?”
I stood. “I’m sacrificing everything.”
I started for the door, but she stood and grabbed my hand, pulling me back. “Rose?”
I leaned over and kissed her cheek. “I’m gonna try really hard to keep it from him, but he’s a smart man. He’s gonna piece it all together. He’s already started. Just promise me you’ll tell him.” I started crying harder. I didn’t want to think about life without Mason.