Pepper, the Highlander & the Dead Guy

I didn’t get a chance to tell her about Max and Aunt Effie’s love letters, but that was better left for another day.

Mo moseyed out of the bedroom with a yawn.

“How can you yawn when you’ve just had a nap?” I asked and he shook himself and walked to the door. I let him out and saw the gray sky promised a dreary day with rain possible. I cast a glance around for Roxie and not seeing her, I went to my office and sure enough she was sleeping on the papers on top of my desk. She raised her head, cast me a glance that warned me not to disturb her, and cuddled back into a ball.

I cleaned up the kitchen, disappointed the day started out with promise and went downhill fast. There was no way I could concentrate on work, and I was too eager to find whatever that key opened.

I let Mo in. “You’re on your own, pal. I’m going to be in the attic.” I heard the TV go on as I walked away.

I held the key in my hand and let my eyes scan the attic. I got a familiar feeling holding it and I struggled to search my memory. What was it that felt so familiar?

I walked over to the armoire, and I heard my aunt’s voice in my head.

All that is in here will be yours one day, I know you will care for it wisely. For now, it stays locked for it holds secrets.

It had been a brief moment in time that had disappeared along with other memories made when I was barely eight years old.

Where along the way the armoire had been unlocked, I didn’t know. All I knew was that it held all my aunt’s secrets, which meant the documents had to be in there somewhere and she had kept it under lock and key. I took the key that was found on Struthers and inserted it into the keyhole on the armoire door. It fit and clicked.

I shook my head. It was in front of me all this time, but Ian and I had been searching in the wrong place, never giving my place thought, but then we hadn’t known about Max and Effie.

I decided to read more letters, hoping somewhere in them I would find what I needed. My aunt’s life unfolded in front of me, and I was pleased to find letters my aunt had written to Max. Her life was a whirlwind of modeling, major events, and endless parties. She had met and dined with famous people but through it all she always ached for Skunk Hollow, her home.

Paris, my love, I have to go to Paris for a while. Even after all these years my heart continues to ache when I see you and I cannot rush into your arms, feel them close lovingly around me, rest my head on your chest, or taste the love in your kiss. I don’t know how long I will be gone, but know tu me manques, my love. Tu me manques.

My aunt had taught me those words, tu me manques. The French did not say I miss you. They said… you are missing from me.

My aunt had been in Paris for two weeks when she died in her sleep. I recalled my mom flying to Paris to take care of things and bring Aunt Effie home. I remember how most everyone from the town came out for her funeral and the long procession to the gravesite. Now I know why my mom had Max ride with her, my dad, and me in the limo. Tears rolled down Max’s face through the whole funeral and my dad had to help him back to the car.

After that, my dad was the one who suggested Max couldn’t stay by himself at the lodge any longer and my mom agreed. I remember the day my mom and I went to speak with him about moving and found him unconscious.

I grabbed my phone off the box where I had placed it and called my mom. “Hi, Mom, a question.”

“What is it, Pepper?” she asked. “I don’t have much time—I’m baking.”

“Whatever you’re baking save some for me,” I said.

“Then hurry and tell me so I don’t burn any,” she said with a chuckle.

I got right to it. “Was Aunt Effie aware that Max’s wife died?”

“No, I didn’t call and tell her. I was busy helping Max with arrangements to send Trudy home to Scotland for burial. He was going to accompany her, then he planned on stopping in Paris to see your aunt and let her know in person.”

“Max got to see Aunt Effie before she died?”

Mom hesitated for a moment then said, “Max was in bed with your aunt when she died. No one knows that but me. Max told me, worried I’d hear about it from the authorities.”