I Should Die

asked.
    “No, only that one time after we arrived in Villefranche-sur-Mer. He must have spilled everything during that confession, because he hasn’t mentioned her since.”
    I threw my arm around Charlotte in a side hug as we approached my street.
    “But you know, Kate,” she said as we stopped in front of my door, “I’m doing okay about it. And I’m not just saying that flippantly. When I saw you and Vincent get together after he had been alone for so long . . . well, that gave me hope. And watching the way he treats you made me realize that maybe I had set my sights too low. After chasing someone who didn’t give me the time of day . . .”
    I raised my eyebrows.
    “Okay, that’s not exactly true,” Charlotte confessed. “Ambrose loves me . . . but like a sister. I just see how Vincent anticipates your every desire and tries to make it come true for you. How, when he sees you walk into a room, it’s like he’s transformed into this person who is bigger and better than the one he was just minutes before. I want to be that for someone. I think I deserve it. And I’m not going to pine away for a guy who feels that for someone else.”
    The weight in my chest and the razor-sharp pangs of sadness returned full force with Charlotte’s reminder of what things used to be like with Vincent. And could be again , I reminded myself. I couldn’t give up hope, especially now.
    “So until my own chivalrous knight shows up,” she continued. “I’ve decided to live a full life and be happy with my lot. Which is already pretty damn good: It’s not like every girl is granted immortality and charged with saving human lives.”
    She winked at me with this last comment, and I could tell that it wasn’t just bravado. She really meant it. I threw both arms around her and kissed her cheek. “Fate’s brought you this far, Charlotte. I don’t see why it wouldn’t end up giving you your heart’s desire.”

EIGHTEEN
    PAPY WAS SETTING THE TABLE WHEN I GOT HOME. Hearing me close the front door, he glanced up anxiously. “Oh, good, you’re home, princesse ,” he said.
    My grandmother popped her head out from the kitchen. “Has the healer discovered anything?” she asked. “Georgia caught us up on today’s goings-on.”
    “No,” I said, shaking my head. “Bran is studying his family records. It’s a lot of material, and he won’t let anyone else look at it.”
    “Understandable,” Papy said, nodding sagely to himself. “Are there still guards outside?” he asked.
    “Yep. There are two bardia sitting in the park across the street, watching the building,” I confirmed. “And Charlotte walked me home.”
    “It feels like we’re under lockdown,” Papy commented a bit begrudgingly. “A couple of them followed me home from work today, too. I’m not actually sure we need all of this security. You girls do, of course, but it’s not like they have any interest in me or your grandmother.”
    “Just be glad for it. With all of this strangeness, one can’t take too many precautions. And whatever is going on, we still have to eat,” said Mamie from the kitchen, before yelling, “Georgia. Your sister’s home. Time for dinner!” She appeared carrying a tray with a huge steaming puff pastry shaped like a fish. “ Saumon en croûte, served with carrots in curried butter,” she announced.
    “Mamie, that’s gorgeous! Did you make it?” I asked, the combined odors of the baked pastry and steaming salmon making me realize how hungry I was.
    Mamie made her tutting sound. “I worked all day, dear Katya. This was made by Monsieur Legrande,” she said, referring to the fine food boutique down the street. “But I’m sure he made it with love.” She winked.
    “I’d eat it even if he made it with lust,” announced Georgia as she entered the room, “although picturing a lustful Monsieur Legrande . . . ick.” She wrinkled her nose.
    Papy rolled his eyes. “ À table , everyone.”
    “Any word on the research, Katie-Bean?” Georgia asked as she sat down, but it was just a formality. She knew I would have phoned if anything important had happened.
    I shook my head.
    “Well, even though a solution hasn’t been found, you must be relieved that Vincent is free for a few days, at least,” Mamie said, setting the dish down and skirting around the table to wrap me in her arms. “And that healer seems to know a lot about the revenants. He’ll find a solution, I’m sure,” she said