The Perfect Neighbor Read Online Free Page B

Adelaide?”
    “Great-aunt.”
    “Grand lady.”
    Cybil snorted, drank. “Stuffy, irritating and cold as winter. The twins and I—my brother and sister—used to think she was a witch of the wicked sort.”
    “She has power, but it only comes from money and a name. Grandeau, eh? Who’s your mama?”
    “Genviève Grandeau Campbell, the artist.”
    “Miss Gennie.” Delta set her whiskey down so that she could rear back and thump a hand to her heart as she rocked with laughter. “Miss Gennie’s little girl comes into my place. Oh, the world is a wonderful thing.”
    “You know my mother?”
    “My mama cleaned house for your
grandmère
, little sister.”
    “Mazie? You’re Mazie’s daughter? Oh.” Instantly bonded, Cybil grabbed Delta’s hand. “My mother talked about Mazie all the time. We visited her once when I was a little girl. She gave us beignets, fresh and wonderful. We sat on the front porch and had lemonade, and my father did a sketch of her.”
    “She put it in her parlor and was very proud. I was in the city when your family came. I was working. My mama, she talked of that visit for weeks after. She had a place deep in her heart for Miss Gennie.”
    “Wait until I tell them I met you. How is your mother, Delta?”
    “She died last year.”
    “Oh.” Cybil laid her other hand over Delta’s, cupping it warmly. “I’m so sorry.”
    “She lived a good life, died sleeping, so died a good death. Your mama and your daddy, they came to the funeral. They sat in the church. They stood at the grave. You come from good people, young Cybil.”
    “Yes, I do. So do you.”
    * * *
    Preston didn’t know how to figure it. There was Delta, a woman he considered the most sane of anyone he knew, huddled together with the pretty crazy woman, apparently already the fastest of friends. Sharing whiskey, laughs. Holding hands the way women do.
    For more than an hour they sat together in the back of the room. Now and then, Cybil would begin what could only have been one of her chattering monologues, her hands gesturing, her face mobile. Delta would lean back and laugh, or lean forward, shaking her head in amazement.
    “Look at that, André.” Preston leaned on the piano.
    André wiggled his fingers loose, then lit a cigarette. “Like a couple of hens in the coop. That’s a pretty girl there, my man. Got sparkle to her.”
    “I hate sparkle,” Preston muttered, and no longer in the mood to play, tucked his sax in the case. “Catch you next time.”
    “I’ll be here.”
    He thought he should just walk out, but he was just a little irritated to have his good friend getting chummy with his lunatic. Besides, it would give him some satisfaction to let his nosy neighbor know he was onto her.
    But when he stopped by the table, Cybil only glanced up and smiled at him. “Hi. Aren’t you going to play anymore? It was wonderful.”
    “You followed me.”
    “I know. It was rude. But I’m so glad I did. I loved listening, and I might never have met Delta otherwise. We were just—”
    “Don’t do it again,” he said shortly, and stalked to the door.
    “Ooooh, he’s plenty pissed off,” Delta said with a chuckle. “Got that ice in his eyes, chills down to bone.”
    “I should apologize,” Cybil said as she bolted to her feet. “I don’t want him angry with you.”
    “Me? He’s—”
    “I’ll come back soon.” She dropped a kiss on Delta’s cheek, making the woman blink in surprise. “Don’t worry, I’ll smooth things over.”
    When she dashed out, Delta simply stared after her, then let out one of her long laughs. “Little sister, you got no idea what you’re in for. Then again,” she mused, “neither does sugar lips.”
    Outside, Cybil dashed down the sidewalk. “Hey!” she shouted at his retreating back, then cursed herself for not having the sense to ask Delta what the man’s name was. “Hey!” Risking a twisted ankle, she switched from jog to run and managed to catch up.
    “I’m