The Thrashers(58)

“No, it’s female.”

Paige looked at Jodi with a question in her eyes. “And it’s not Emily?” Paige asked.

“No, it’s separate. Emily is still here, but this other person … Female. The letter H.”

Bette and Paige squinted at each other, thinking, before turning to Jodi. “Is it your mom, Jodi?”

A flash of frozen shock passed over her before she shook her head. “My mom’s name was Josephine.”

Nan continued, “Anyone else in your family who has passed?”

“My family, specifically?”

“Yeah, the energy is coming from you, Jodi.”

Jodi blinked at her. “Um … two grandparents. My—my father’s mother was named Helene.”

Paige and Bette swung their eyes to Nan expectantly.

“Hm. I’m getting younger than grandparent.”

“She died young. She died around thirty.”

Nan pursed her lips. “Was her death violent in any way?”

Jodi froze in her chair. “Violent?”

“Was it murder or a painful accident?”

Jodi shook her head dumbly. “I—I don’t know.”

Nan shook out her shoulders. “Okay. Let me see what else—” Nan cut herself off again, tilting her head like listening for rainstorms in the distance. “A bathroom?”

Paige drew in a shaking breath. “Yes. Emily died in a bathroom.”

Jodi felt like she was rooted to the chair. Was Emily upset that Jodi went into that very bathroom?

“Okay … Maybe we’re back to Emily. I’m getting…” Nan’s eyes flicked to Jodi. “I’m getting a similar message from the energies here. But let me parse it. What about flowers? Flowers at funerals? Flowers in a home?”

“Emily’s parents’ house is covered in floral patterns,” Jodi jumped in.

Paige nodded quickly. “We—we didn’t attend her funeral.”

Nan frowned, then reached up to rub her eyes. “Someone is holding out a rose. Do roses mean anything to either of you?”

They shook their heads.

“Is there a location associated with roses? Maybe a florist shop. Or a place you received roses? They are really pushing this idea of going to the roses.”

Jodi’s mind flashed to the corsage that Julian supposedly ordered for Emily, but that was odd. Why go to the florist?

Paige almost jumped out of her chair to answer, “The rose garden. In East Sac. We went there with Emily. We—we had a fun night.”

Nan nodded, following that string. “There’s a big energy here that believes that place—maybe the rose garden—is safe. It’s a safe place.”

Paige’s breath was quick, and Jodi could almost see the way her feet wanted to bolt there now. But Jodi didn’t get it. Was something in the rose garden? Something left behind that they needed?

“Okay, this is weird.” Nan rubbed her temples. “Emily’s energy is coming in fits and starts. It’s like … it’s like electricity.”

“What does that mean?” Paige whispered.

“It’s … I’ve never felt it like that before. She’s happy though. Emily is really pleased about something. It’s like there’s a bulb turning on and off.”

“That’s—” Jodi cut herself off, but Paige nodded for her to continue. “She might be trying to talk to us. I think she controls lights.”

Nan narrowed her eyes at Jodi, opening her mouth like she was going to deny the possibility of that, when suddenly her expression dropped, melting away. Her face was blank as she read something from the beyond.

“There’s another presence joining us, but…” Nan swallowed. “I don’t think we should talk to him yet.”

“Uncle Rich!” Bette yelled. “Go. Away!”

“No, we’re not going to talk to him yet,” Nan repeated, and Jodi had the faint impression that she wasn’t saying it to them. “Emily is very pleased about something. She thinks … things will be better.”

Paige’s breath rattled out of her. “Better?”

Nan was pale as she nodded. “Not everyone here agrees. But Emily thinks you’re better off now.”

Relief rolled off Paige in waves. She leaned back in her seat and ran a hand through her hair.

“You said there’s a new presence?” Jodi asked. “What do they want?”

Nan cleared her throat and stood. She grabbed two business cards from the plastic holder on the side table.

“I think … I think we need to stop for now.” She slid a business card to Jodi and one to Paige. “There’s something … We just need to stop.”

“Stop?”

“But if you’d like to speak with me this evening, or tomorrow, I will happily continue the conversation.”

Jodi looked down at the business card. Psychic Medium—Nan Herrington—Readings for $85. She wasn’t going to be able to afford to talk to her again.

“Thank you so much, Nan,” Bette said, like this was normal to stop a session after ten minutes. She stood and shook her hand. Paige did the same, chirping happily about what a wonderful experience this was—exactly what she wanted.