The Sugar Queen (23 page)
Taking a deep breath, Josey tore the envelope in half, then in fourths, then eighths. She tossed the pieces into the wind, where they turned into paper birds that floated through the air, finally landing peacefully on the water.
Della Lee laughed, but no sound came out.
Josey smiled at her, then turned back to the water, satisfied that she'd made the right decision.
When she turned back again, Della Lee was gone.
She would never get used to that.
She went back to her seat and picked up her laptop.
We're slowly crossing the ocean toward you as I type. How do
you know our coming back to Bald Slope for a visit isn't just a
whim? Adam and I are all about whim. (I have to say that, you
know. I promised Jake. But I can't wait to see the ring!)
I don't understand what's going on between Mother and
Rawley. When I call, Marlena says she's happy. She says that
Rawley actually spends the night there sometimes, too, though no
one is supposed to know. Maybe I'll finally talk to Mother this
visit. Or maybe, like last time, she'll refuse to see me and I'll just
talk to her through the personal secretary I hired for her. I know
this has less to do with me personally and more to do with memories she won't share, memories of my father. But there's nothing I
can do about it.
Thank you for taking the flowers. Della Lee was a special
person. I'll tell you about her someday. I promise. In fact, there's a
lot I need to tell you.
And about the books, I don't think you're crazy. Not at all.
Josey looked up to the place Della Lee had stood.
In fact, I understand completely.
Love,
Sarah Addison Allen was born and raised in Asheville, North Carolina, where she is currently at work on her next novel, which Bantam will publish in 2009.
