Prepation. (Cassandra Project)
Cassie sat cross legged in the grass, a cup of coffee long gone cold in her hands. The young woman with the cello was laying beside the pool pretending to read a magazine. The courtyard was quiet since the lobby and restaurant were crammed with the guests that had abandoned their breakfasts in favor of listening to the mayor of New Orleans speak to a crowd of reporters.
She knew what he was going to say and how the crowd would react. Without looking, she knew Joshua was among them chewing on a bagel and trying to figure out what to do next.
Like clockwork, a roar of voices let her know the speech was over. As if summoned by her mind, Joshua came through the glass doors leading into the courtyard with a bagel in his hand. “Hey-“ He started to say.
She stopped him. “Before you say anything, when Calliope calls she will ask you two questions. The answer to both is yes.”
He stopped and settled beside her. “Gotcha. I heard from our landlady-“
“-who is selling her house to a real estate developer,” she finished for him. “Luck to her since that developer will fold before she sees any money.” She squinted at the sun. “Pretty day.”
“Yeah.” He chewed thoughtfully, staring at the sunbather. “That Angel?”
“Is that her name?” Cassie took the bagel from his hand, bit into it then gave it back. “I always forget.”
“Whatever.” He looked at his assaulted breakfast. “Why didn’t you go in?”
“You know I hate crowds.”
“I think you prefer to eat my food. This is a plot to put me on a diet.”
She glanced at his baggy clothes. “Fool. Get your phone out.”
He rolled his eyes and took his phone from his pocket in time for it to start ringing. He nodded and answered it. “Hey, Calli…Just fine, how’s life?“ He listened intently. “Not sure what I can do, but sure thing.” He frowned. “Yeah, sure.” He moved the phone from his mouth. “Calli says-“
“Tell her in two weeks.” Cassie poured her coffee on the ground.
He got back on the phone. “She says two weeks…Uh, not sure about that-“
Cassie grabbed the phone from him. “Yes, Calliope,” she said without any preamble. “Everything will be in order. I’ve someone in mind.” She smiled, listening. “See you then! Please be careful.” She ended the call and handed back the phone.
He put the phone back in his pocket. “You knew?”
“Well, yeah.” Cassie stood up. “Calli likes New Orleans. Her plan is to buy a costume shop and the house next door from a friend who is leaving the city. She needs help running the place.”
“Of course I’d want to help but she said she needed someone with retail experience.”
Cassie looked at Angel and handed him her bankcard. “Go in, buy a bagel and pay for two. Insist, since you stole that one.” He opened his mouth, closed it and went back into the lobby.
She walked toward the pool, enjoying the grass under her bare feet and wincing as she hit the warm cement. Angel smiled when she got close. “Miss Cassie! Hi!”
“Just Cassie, sweetie.” Cassie smiled back. “Out of curiosity, what are you planning on doing?”
Angel sat up, putting aside the magazine. “My parents want to move to South Carolina where my aunt and uncle live but I’d rather go back and finish my degree at Tulane.” She shrugged. “Not like I have a choice.”
“I’m here to offer you one.” Cassie sat on the lounge chair next to Angel’s. “How would you like a job?”
“Two weeks.” Joshua laid across one of the beds in their room. “What the hell are we going to do here for two weeks?”
“’We’ aren’t doing anything here.” Cassie said from the desk, not looking up from the notebook as she scribbled. “We’re heading out in the morning. Got to get a car and start making our way to the city. There’s a lot of things we need to do between here and there. Arrangements need to be made. I can’t expect you to remember everything and Angel won’t be in any shape to take care of things.”
“One day, I’d like to know exactly what you’re talking about,” he mumbled into his pillow.
She set down her pen. “Once I go into the city, I won’t come out. I’m making my funeral arrangements and taking care of my will.”
He snored in answer.
She smiled and went back to her writing.