Coneflowers

Who's Louie?

In Bellingham, Carson and Hallie are lead through Lemon's house.

"When is the last time She had been home?" Carson asks.

"Probably right between UCONN and Buffalo. She had accepted the job but didn't have to start for a couple of months. She said she was going to take a vacation and get "some things" in order." Lily says

"Whatever that means?" Carson adds.

"Basically." Lily says with a frown.

"So she was always this quiet and mysterious and secretive." Hallie adds

"I'd say she started off just quiet and distant, but eventually it felt like we didn't know her at all."

"When was that?"

"When she was at Washington. Her grades fell after her injuries. Her father was terribly hard on her about soccer. She was only passing her English courses."

"She seems like the type to have been probably good at anything if she tried."

"That she was."

"But she never let her head out of her books."

"That hasn't changed." Carson giggles then suddenly frowns.. missing her.

"So she left Washington?" Hallie asks

"Yes, she came home for about a week, then said she was going to rent a place near UCONN, and enroll for the spring."

"Weren't you confused about why UCONN?" Hallie asks

"Slightly, but she said some of the best publishing sales jobs were close to there, as well as getting closer to Boston and Philadelphia." Lily says

"So she wanted to go into publishing?" Carson asks.

"That or an editor."

"Interesting."

Lemon's house was covered in lemons. Every table cloth or towel had at least one lemon. The drapes were yellow, the walls were white. Wood stained floors.

The countertops were white marble, the Cabinets in the kitchen black. Considering it was an old home, the entire middle of the house was opened up to make one big living room, and kitchen. There was a hallway with a bathroom and a bedroom, and one hallway that lead upstairs to a master bedroom that was completely open as well. It was made to truthfully only hold Lemon and maybe a guest there.

In the basement we're shelves upon shelves of books. There was one chair, a coffee table and a small bar in the corner.

Upstairs in Lemon's room laid wood stained framed white walls, tiny Lemons painted in each corner of each framing on the wall.

"Lemon painted all of these Lemons when she was in high school." Lily added.

"She lived here?"

"Yes, with her nanny."

"Did she have a lot of friends?"

"No, just her Nanny."

"Why?"

"She could barely talk to anyone. I had her in counseling but she was always always quiet, like her father."

"When did she stop having a nanny?" Hallie asked.

"Well her nanny was in a situation when Lemon was 15."

"Oh gosh. What happened?"

"Well her nanny was only about 19 when she started taking care of her when she was 15."

"Oh so she had several?"

"Only two, she had her first from age 2 till she was 12 then a tiny gap in which she had Louie when she was 15."

"Did she really need a nanny at 15?" Carson asks confused.

"No, but Louie needed a job, she was lost coming down from Canada. I basically paid her to house keep and cook for Lemon."

"So they were close?"

"Very. Very close."

"You don't sound happy about it,"

"No I'm not unhappy but it was Lemon's very first friend so I was thankful."

"Wait didn't you guys say Louie  was the name of lemon's first girlfriend." Hallie says confused.

"Yes, Louie was.." she hesitates

"it's why her father and I weren't all that excited about the situation of her being a Lesbian. However Lemon was very happy."

"What happened to Louie?" Carson asks. Waiting that conversation for another time.

"Louie disappeared."

"Did anyone know why?"

"We think she went back up to Canada. Her and Lemon were just getting serious, Lemon was 17, she was about to go to college."

"So Louie had just left?" Carson asks

"Yes, Lemon wouldn't leave her library in the attic, except for soccer and school."

It reminded Carson of her loft. Lemon was repetitive.

So anything else that would drive Lemon away from this place?

"Well there was this guy that worked at the stable that was overly curious of Lemon."

"Great." Carson says sarcastically.

"Louie was always way overprotective of Lemon and hated him. He was a football coach part time. he worked at Lemon's high school. He was several years older."

"What happened with him?"

"Well, Lemon went to College, then she came back and went to UCONN, he was still working here. Him and his friend Marcus were always seen Trying to torment Lemon."

Carson and Hallie are confused and scared but keep asking questions.

"So Marcus was younger?"

"So does this older boy work here anymore?" Carson asks

"No, actually, he just stopped showing up to work one day."

"Interesting" Carson and Lemon say.

"I'll be right back girls, it's almost time for Brandy."

"Okay."

"Hallie, this isn't a coincidence."

"No it's not." Hallie says in return.
" Potentially.." Carson says

"Holy shit Carson. Are they both stalking all of us?"

"I dunno, but did they kill Louie? These two weirdos? Is Louie dead? "Carson asks.

"Oh gosh." Hallie says.

"That's why she's protecting us." Carson says.