Rose and Helena Save Christmas: a novella

by Jana DeLeon

  Rose felt guilty questioning her credibility, but Taylor Beaumont had said she saw ghosts. But Rose knew that while Neely Kate was drawn to drama like a raccoon was to a campground Dumpster, she didn’t make things up and she’d never been prone to hallucinations. And even if Taylor had been making fun of her somehow for supposedly seeing a ghost, there was no denying the floating folder that shot out of the brick wall.

  So did that mean Neely Kate finally found a supernatural gift? Could she now see ghosts? Why hadn’t she seen them before? Maybe the psychic had been the real deal and shaken something loose in Neely Kate’s head.

  No matter, there was no denying Neely Kate was ecstatic at the news. She was currently humming “Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer.”

  “Neely Kate,” Rose murmured, worried about stealing her friend’s newfound joy. “Maybe I should call Joe.”

  Neely Kate narrowed her eyes. “Why would you call Joe? You promised no landscaping or nursery work while we’re here.”

  “This isn’t about work…well, at least my work.” She paused and steeled her shoulders. “It’s more in line with Joe’s work. As the chief deputy sheriff.”

  “Why?”

  “Why?” Rose rolled her eyes. “Because you’re a suspect in that poor woman’s murder and Taylor admitted that Detective Savoy is just as lazy as Officer Ernie, if not more so.” She heaved out a breath as she scowled. “And I didn’t think that was even possible.”

  “I didn’t do it, Rose. I didn’t kill her.”

  “Crappy doodles, I know that.” Rose shook her head, dismissing the statement as nonsense. “But the police here don’t seem to care about the truth, so it wouldn’t hurt to have a little backup waiting in the wings.”

  Neely Kate’s mouth pursed. “No. You’re not calling Joe.”

  “You have to get over your animosity toward him. He’s a permanent fixture in Fenton County now. And if he’s there, you might as well use him to your advantage. I think you need him now.”

  She shook her head. “He’s never gonna help me. He knows I can’t stand him.”

  Rose offered her a soft smile and tucked a strand of Neely Kate’s hair behind her ear. “Neely Kate, you can’t hold a grudge against him forever. He and I breakin’ up was for the best—I have Mason now.” She forced a smile, trying to ignore the pain and worry over the real reason they broke up, a secret even her best friend didn’t know. And the reason she suspected Mason was in Little Rock right now: digging up dirt on Joe’s father to get him to drop the fabricated blackmail information he had on Rose and held over Joe’s head. Mason asserted that as long as Joe Simmons cared the slightest bit about her, she would never be safe. She suspected he was right.

  “Don’t get me wrong, I’m thrilled you’re with Mason, but I can’t forgive Joe for tossing you to the side to run for that state senate seat. And I definitely can’t forgive him for hooking back up with the Wicked Witch of Southern Arkansas.”

  “Be that as it may, Joe would help you and you know it. Look how worried he was about Ronnie Junior when Tabitha tackled you to the ground.”

  Neely Kate didn’t protest, but she didn’t answer, either.

  A man approached the two women, wearing jeans and a black hooded sweatshirt. The hood hung low over his forehead and covered most of his face except for a short red beard. He grabbed the strap of Neely Kate’s white Gucci knockoff and started to pull it off her shoulder.

  But after dealing with all her rowdy cousins, Neely Kate had fast reflexes and a good center of gravity. She twisted the strap around her hand and jerked the bag out of his grasp. The man reached for it again, but Neely Kate swung the purse back and began to whack him over the head.

  He released several yelps and covered his head, taking several steps backward. But Neely Kate kept swinging her bag until he finally broke free and took off running away, shouting, “You’re crazy!”

  “Oh, my word, Neely Kate!” Rose cried out, trying to gather her wits about her. “Are you okay?”

  Neely Kate lowered her arm, her chest heaving from her exertion. “That man tried to steal my purse!”

  “You should have just let him have it. You could have gotten hurt.”

  “He’s the one who got hurt. I have three cans of Vienna sausages in here.”

  Rose started to ask her friend why she had Vienna sausages in her purse, then shook her head. “Never mind. Let’s go get you some lunch.”

  Both women held their purses closer until they reached the restaurant. They ordered their sandwiches and sat down.

  “I know it’s been a crazy day already,” Rose said. “But I was hoping to do some shopping this afternoon. I figured you’d need a nap before we go to see Wicked tonight.”

  “I can probably last a few hours. We can’t waste the opportunity, since we definitely don’t have shopping like this back home.” Neely Kate gave her a wry grin. “Anything in particular you’re looking for?”

  “A present for Mason.” She took a bite of her po’boy, avoiding eye contact.

  Neely Kate winked. “We passed a lingerie store. We’ll go back and you can find something special. Anything else?”

  Rose hesitated. “A dress to wear tonight…something black.”

  The blonde’s head jerked up. “Rose Gardner—”

  Rose’s phone rang and she snatched it out of her purse, hoping to avoid the lecture she knew was coming.

  “Hey, Mason,” she answered, raising her eyebrows in mock innocence at Neely Kate.

  “Are you girls having fun?”

  Rose considered telling Mason everything, but stopped herself. Neely Kate hadn’t been arrested. Taylor was a PI and she was looking for clues to solve the case. But she knew Mason well enough to know that he’d drop everything and drive down to New Orleans. She’d let him come if there was something he could do to help them. But for now, Taylor was their best bet. Besides, if Mason was doing what she suspected, he was of more use in Little Rock.

  “We’re great.” She flashed Neely Kate a big smile. “We’re in the middle of eating po’boys for an early lunch.”

  “Sounds delicious. What else have you girls been up to?”

  “Oh…shopping.”

  “Did Neely Kate get a chance to see that psychic she was dying to see?”

  Mason using the words dying and psychic in the same sentence made her want to confess. “She did see the psychic…” She drew the words out.

  Neely Kate’s eyes flew wide open and she mouthed, No. Don’t tell him!

  Are you sure? she mouthed back. It’s Mason.

  He can’t do anything. Let’s wait.

  Sometimes she and Neely Kate thought so much alike it was like they were twins separated at birth.

  But she’d hesitated long enough to get his attention. “Rose? Is everything okay?”

  “It’s fine. We’re fine.”

  His voice turned serious. “It doesn’t sound fine.”

  “Mason—”

  Neely Kate snatched the phone from Rose’s hand. “Mason? Are you having a good time in Little Rock?” There was a moment of silence. “Uh-huh. That’s great.” She shifted in her seat. “Rose and I are about to go shopping and I have inside information that she’s about to buy you a Christmas present. I think you’re really gonna want to see her wearing it under the Christmas tree on Christmas morning, if you know what I mean.” She flashed a wicked grin. “But we won’t have time to shop if she’s talking to you…uh-huh. I’ll tell her. Bye.”

  Neely Kate ended the call and handed Rose the phone.

  “What was that?” Rose snatched the phone from her.

  “It’s called distraction.” Neely Kate picked up her sandwich and laughed. “I’ve obviously failed you as a friend if you don’t know how to use it.”

  “I know how to distract him…” Rose blushed. “It’s just usually done in person.”

  “Before I forget, you’re supposed to call him after the play.”

  “Okay.”

  The girls fi
nished their lunch and started shopping. Several hours later, they returned to their hotel room, exhausted and looking forward to their naps.

  Rose started to open the door to their room while Neely Kate continued down the hall. “I’m gonna get a bottle of water from the vending machine. Do you want one?”

  “Yeah, thanks,” Rose said absently as the fumbled with the electronic key. But when she pushed the door open, she gasped.

  The room had been completely trashed. The dresser drawers were open and their clothing was scattered all over the room.

  “Neely Kate?” Rose called down the hall. “Do you still have Taylor’s phone number?”

  “Yeah, it’s in my phone. Why?”

  “We need to call her.” Rose took a deep breath. “We’ve been burgled.”

  Chapter Six

  “Oh my stars and garters!” Neely Kate exclaimed, looking over Rose’s shoulder. “You get broken into even when you’re not in Henryetta.”

  Rose’s back stiffened at the reminder. Her house had been broken into so many times that she’d lost count. “We need to call Taylor.”

  Taylor was concerned and told the girls that she’d be at the hotel within a half hour. In the meantime, she told them to go sit in the hotel bar and wait for her.

  “But I really need a nap,” Neely Kate protested into the phone. She must not have liked Taylor’s response, because she made a face before groaning. “Fine. See you soon.”

  “I take it she doesn’t want us to go into the room?” Rose asked, turning her attention back to the mess. It could have been some random break-in, but she suspected that was wishful thinking.

  It was a sad day when you hoped your room being broken into was random.

  They trekked back down to the bar and found a table. Rose ordered a glass of tea and Neely Kate ordered water. The blonde leaned the nape of her neck on the back of the upholstered chair and was asleep before the waitress returned. Rose used the time to call her sister Violet to check on her dog, Muffy.

  “We need to talk about Christmas, Rose,” Violet said. “We’ve always spent Christmas Day together. That’s not changing this year just because you’re with Mason, is it?”

  It suddenly occurred to Rose that Detective Savoy had told them not to leave town, but Christmas was only a few days away. What if Rose couldn’t go home for the holiday?

  She was looking forward to her first Christmas with Mason in the farmhouse. That might not happen now. Tears filled her eyes, and she saw a blurry Taylor walking through the hotel entrance. “Violet, I have to go. We’ll talk about it later.”

  She hung up the phone and patted her friend’s arm. “Neely Kate, Taylor’s here.”

  Rose blinked to dry her tears while Neely Kate stretched. “I had the best dream about fried chicken.”

  Taylor stood next to the table, shifting her weight.

  “Did you find out anything?” Neely Kate asked before taking a drink of her water.

  “Nothing I want to share at the moment.”

  Rose wasn’t very good at accepting those kinds of answers.

  Neely Kate looked up at an empty spot behind Taylor. “I like your new outfit. If you added some glittery fingernail polish and some sparkly eye shadow it would really pull the look together.”

  It took Rose a second before she realized Neely Kate was talking to the ghost.

  Taylor’s brow shot up in surprise as she looked over her shoulder. “Are you crazy? You think sparkles are going to fix that?” She waved her hand up and down while pointing to the empty space behind her.

  An indignant look washed over Neely Kate’s face. “Excuse me, but sparkles can fix just about anything.”

  Taylor shot Rose a look of disbelief, but Rose just shook her head.

  “It’s better not to ask.”

  Taylor must have agreed, because she gave a small shudder as if to compose herself and said, “Why don’t we go check out your room.”

  “Good idea,” Rose said.

  Neely Kate trailed behind the two of them, looking like a crazy woman who was having a conversation with herself. But Taylor’s mouth dropped open when she looked behind her. “Helena! You can’t hold those bags in public.”

  Sure enough, two paper shopping bags hung in midair.

  “I don’t care if she’s pregnant. You still can’t hold those bags!” Taylor snatched the bags away, but not before a couple with two kids walked by, their mouths gaping in shock.

  “We’re practicing a magic trick,” Taylor said with a forced smile. “It’s looking pretty good, don’t you think?”

  The family continued to the hotel entrance, and the elevator doors opened. Taylor shot inside, glaring at the empty corner as Rose and Neely Kate entered.

  The doors closed and Neely Kate stuck out her foot and crossed her arms, not an easy task with the bags she was still holding. “Helena was just being nice. You don’t have to be so mean about it.”

  Taylor stared at her in stunned silence, while Neely Kate turned to the empty corner. “I know just how you feel, Helena. My own family takes me for granted and doesn’t appreciate my efforts either.”

  “What are you talking about?” Rose asked, still unnerved that her friend was talking to an empty corner. “Your grandmother appreciates you every Tuesday night when you take her to bingo.”

  Taylor seemed to come out of her stupor. “Neely Kate, if you knew the trouble Helena brings with her, you might not feel the same way.”

  Neely Kate turned up her nose and looped her arm with…nothing. “Don’t you worry, Helena. You’ve got me now.”

  Taylor was back to the state of disbelief. “Now I’ve seen everything.”

  “And I don’t see a cotton-pickin’ thing,” Rose mumbled.

  The elevator doors opened and a maid pushed a food cart past the opening.

  Taylor jabbed her finger toward the corner. “Don’t even think about it.”

  Rose led the way to their room, with Taylor close behind. Neely Kate trailed several feet behind, talking in whispers.

  “Does…Helena hang out with you all the time?”

  “No, but she’s with me quite a bit. Her son lives here and he and his wife just had their first child, so she visits her grandbaby a lot. And she tends to get her feelings hurt when people tell her the truth. Then she leaves and pouts.”

  “Can the grandbaby see her?”

  Taylor nodded. “All her family members can see her. We all wondered if the ability would carry to the next generation, and it seems that it has.”

  Rose wanted to ask more questions, especially if Neely Kate really had uncovered a paranormal gift that involved ghostly visitors, but they had reached their room. She pulled the key card out of her pocket and pushed the door. “Here it is.”

  Taylor walked through the opening and looked around. “Did you go in or touch anything?”

  “No, I saw we’d been burgled and we didn’t go in. I had Neely Kate call you immediately.” When Taylor glanced up at her, Rose shrugged. “I have some experience with break-ins.”

  Taylor looked as if she wanted to ask, but instead continued her investigation. “Can you tell if anything is missing?”

  The two young women moved around the room for several minutes. “I don’t see anything missing,” Rose said, her eyes bugging when she saw a floating lacy pink bra.

  “I don’t think pink’s your color, Helena,” Neely Kate said, plucking the bra from thin air. “I think you’d look better in tangerine.”

  “More like she’d look like a tangerine,” Taylor mumbled.

  “Neely Kate,” Rose said, “if you’re done playin’ stylist to the dead, can you focus on the task at hand?”

  Neely Kate gave her a blank stare.

  “Do you see anything missing?”

  “Oh.” She gave a cursory glance. “No.”

  “So where does that leave us?” Rose asked Taylor.

  “Well, it was obvious they were looking for something, and the timing of Madame Serafine’s
death is too coincidental.”

  Rose gasped. “I just remembered that someone tried to steal Neely Kate’s purse when we were walkin’ from the police station to lunch.” Her brow lowered with concern. “I think you’re right. The police think Neely Kate may have killed Madame Serafine. In my vision, a guy held a gun to Serafine’s back, saying they needed to go inside. Madame Serafine said she didn’t have any cash, but the man said he wasn’t interested in money.”

  “And they weren’t interested in money here, either,” Taylor said. “There’s twenty dollars on the bathroom counter.”

  Taylor turned to Neely Kate, who stood at the end of the bed wearing a skirt on her head. “Helena. What are you doing?” She listened for a moment. “It’s bad enough I’m forced to endure your bad taste in clothing, but at least no one else is subjected to it. Please don’t take advantage of this poor girl’s misplaced excitement and turn her into a mini-me.”

  Neely Kate pulled the skirt off her head, giving Taylor a scowl. “Helena’s a free spirit and she needs to express herself. Clothing is her canvas. You’re stifling her creativity.”

  “What exactly does this ghost wear?” Rose asked, putting a hand on her hip.

  “Trust me,” Taylor said. “You don’t want to know.”

  Neely Kate swiveled to the side. “Don’t listen to her, honey. I think you look beautiful.”

  Taylor took a deep breath before blowing it out. “Neely Kate, Rose is right. You can play dress-up later. Did you buy anything at Serafine’s shop? Or take anything with you?”

  She shook her head, her blond curls bouncing. “I wasn’t there long enough to buy anything. She literally pushed us out the door.”

  Rose cringed, still feeling guilty that Neely Kate didn’t get the answers she wanted. But as Rose watched her friend, who seemed to be listening to nothing, she decided she did get an answer after all.