When the waitress left, Barrett leaned forward."What's going on, Cadie?"
"I went to my aunt's house this afternoon," she said, keeping her voice low."The attorney gave me the keys to collect personal items."
Barrett waited for her to continue, but the waitress appeared before she could say more.Cadie ordered wine and Barrett chose whiskey.
When the waitress explained the dinner specials, Cadie said, "Could you give us a few minutes with the drinks?We'll order dinner in a bit."
The waitress smiled."Of course, take your time."
The drinks arrived promptly, and Cadie took a couple of sips of her wine.Then she reached down for her book bag and pulled out the journal, setting it on the table between them."This is my aunt's personal journal," she said."I found it in a locked drawer in her desk."
Barrett looked at the journal.
"There's an entry from three months before she died."Cadie opened to the marked page."I think you should read it."
She slid the journal across the table.Barrett picked it up carefully, scanning the page.
Then, in a soft voice, he said, "Your aunt hadn't been feeling quite right."He looked up."She had trouble describing it, except that her energy was lower than usual and she needed more rest."He looked back at the entry."Even playing piano quickly tired her out."
Cadie watched Barrett's expression, seeing concern.
He took a swig of his whiskey."Your aunt notes that at eighty-one, she expected to feel her age."Then he put his finger on the page."And here she says Olivia told her that increased fatigue was normal, and the doctor also mentioned she should expect that."
Cadie leaned forward."Then she wrote that she still felt something was off, even though she trusted Olivia."
When Barrett finished reading, he said, "This is concerning."
Cadie nodded, relieved that he understood the significance.
"Did you read the other entries?"
"I flipped through them," she said."Some aren't related to the investigation, just daily life and thoughts about music and the conservatory.But I haven't had a chance to read it thoroughly."
Barrett closed the journal and handed it back."I'm sure you'll read the rest of it to see if there's anything else your aunt wrote that might be helpful."
The waitress returned to take their orders, interrupting the conversation.Barrett ordered a steak, and Cadie chose the salmon.
Then Barrett took a swig of his whiskey."Tell me about the house.What was it like?"
Cadie wrapped her hands around her wine glass."It was as though she just stepped out.Everything was still in place—her piano, her photographs, her sheet music.She had a picture of me from high school displayed on the mantel."
Her voice broke slightly on the last words.Barrett's expression softened.
"She kept track of you," he said gently."She cared about you."
"I should have stayed in touch," Cadie said, twirling the wine glass."She was alone with a caregiver, and I was in New Orleans living my life without giving her a thought."
"You were building your career and following your passion.I'm sure she understood that."
Cadie shook her head."That doesn't make it right.She was family, the only connection I had left to my father.And I just disappeared into my own life."
Barrett reached across the table and covered her hand with his.The contact sent warmth through her."You're here now.You're trying to find out what happened to her.That matters."
She looked down at their hands, his darker skin against her paler fingers.The simple touch felt significant, loaded with meaning beyond comfort.She should pull away, maintain distance—but she didn't want to.
The meals arrived, and Barrett withdrew his hand to make room for the plates.Cadie immediately missed the personal closeness.
For a few minutes, dinner proceeded in silence.The food was good, but Cadie barely tasted it.Her mind kept returning to her aunt's words.
