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“Thank you, Clara,” she smiled.
“You alright, sweetie?”
“Yes, ma’am. I’m good. Thank you.” Clara turned to head back inside, then stopped, feeling as though Sage was going to speak again. “Clara? Do you think they ever loved me?”
“You want me to be honest?” asked the old woman.
“I always want honesty,” she said. “Even if it hurts.”
“I’m not sure they knew how to love, Sage. They were both selfish, self-absorbed people who were in a lot of trouble. They didn’t know anything about raisin’ a child. You’re lucky you had your Granny. She’s done right by you.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Sage turned away, staring off toward the back corner of the yard where the gazebo was.
“Alright, then. If you need somethin’, you call me. Folks are startin’ to leave. Hang out here a while, and they’ll be gone soon.” She nodded at the older woman, glad that she was still around helping her grandmother. When the door opened a few moments later, she didn’t even open her eyes.
“Are they all gone?” she asked.
“Almost, child,” said the strange voice.
“Oh,” she said, standing abruptly. “I’m so sorry. I meant no offense. It’s just all very overwhelming.”
“You got nothin’ to be sorry about. It’s a difficult day for everyone. I’ve known your granny a long time,” smiled the woman.
She was short, very short, with white hair perfectly combed away from her face. She had a beautiful strand of pearls around her neck, with matching earrings. Her dress was a classic black dress, her low-heeled black pumps matching her stockings.
“I’m Sage,” she said, holding out her hand.
“Yes, baby, I know,” smiled the woman. She held her hand for a moment, tilting her head left and right. “You’ll be leavin’ for school soon.”
“Yes, ma’am. I hope Granny will be okay.”
“Oh, she’ll be fine,” laughed the woman. “Your granny is a strong woman. She’ll be alright. When you come back and help in the store, if you ever need anything you come and find me.”
“I’m sorry, I don’t know your name.”
“It’s Irene, baby. Irene Robicheaux. If you need somethin’, just come out to Belle Fleur and tell ‘em I sent you.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
The tiny woman hugged her, filling her with a warmth and emotion she didn’t know existed. Before she could say anything, she was gone. Leaving in a puff of vanilla and jasmine, she disappeared in the night.
Sage meant to ask her granny about the woman, but she never got the chance. After the funeral, it was sorting out things in her parents’ tiny apartment, then rewriting her granny’s will, then making sure everything was set for college.
“Granny, it looks like things have been moved around in here. Are we sure that nothing’s been stolen? I mean, it’s been a while since I was here, but everything looks different.” Sage stared at her parents’ apartment, looking at the indentations in the carpet and the scratch marks on the floor, as if something had been dragged.
“Well, you know how it is. You’re gone a while, and things don’t look the same. I promise, no one has been in here.” Sage wasn’t sure how her granny could be so sure of such a thing, but she just shrugged, helping to box up the photos. She expected there to be more. More of what, she wasn’t sure. The fact that there were only a few family photos and a couple of dishes seemed strange even to her.
Leaving her granny alone with the jewelry store wasn’t something that made her comfortable, but most of the staff had been there for years and were more than willing to help her. Feeling confident that her granny wasn’t alone, she headed to New York to attend school.
Living and working in New York City was a dream. The hustle and bustle of New York City was vastly different than the laid back vibe of New Orleans. Working part-time at one of the oldest jewelers in the diamond district, she was gaining valuable experience, while going to school and learning her craft.
Mr. Silverstein was an excellent boss and teacher, and Sage learned more from him than all of her professors combined. He even gave her a pair of pearl earrings when she left after graduation.
“You will always have a job here, Sage,” he smiled. “Good luck to you and your granny.”
Coming back to New Orleans was a wonderful feeling. No longer filled with anger and hate for her parents, she was able to start at Symphony with a new sense of purpose. What surprised her most was the declining health of her granny. Just a few months before, she’d seemed fit and ready to take down the world. Today, she looked weak and old.
“How long has she been like this?” Sage asked the salesclerk.
