Kiss Me Undead

Chapter Twenty-Four || The Pie

Chapter Twenty-Four

The Pie

The next day, Reine stood in her bedroom at her Gran's house looking at herself in the full-length mirror. She could hear the guests' chatter that came from the main level of the house. Reine had to return home that morning for the wake. The previous night, she and Bill had gotten in late, so she was tired from the night's events.

Reine decided last night on the ride home she would ignore what Riven said. There had to be a rational explanation for what happened. There was no way what he said was true. However, once again, that left her with unanswered questions.

Perhaps the shadows were just a trick of light? Or a hallucination? Maybe she had some undiagnosed mental disorders that she didn't know about? A sigh escaped her lips as she straightened out her dress and ran her fingers through her red hair one last time, attempting to tame her soft curls. Pushing the worrying thoughts to the side, she made her way out of her room and down the stairs to the kitchen. She wasn't too surprised to see her sister sitting at the table when she went into the kitchen. "You okay, Sook?"

"Yeah, why wouldn't I be?" Sookie replied as she turned her attention to her sister.

"Well...you know-"

"I'm fine, Rae." Sook told her sister. She knew it was a lie, and she was pretty sure that Rae, along with everyone else in the house, knew as well. She just needed to get through today. The sound of heavy footsteps filled the kitchen. Sookie turned to greet the newest guest. It was Mrs. Fortenberry. Her dress was bright pink and her hair was styled in perfect waves that lay close to her head.. However, Sookie could tell that the humidity wasn't doing her hair any favors. That could be said for most of the visitors, though. The young woman's eyes traveled down from the older woman's hair to the covered dish that was tightly clutched in her hands. "Oh, uh...Mrs. Fortenberry, you shouldn't have."

"You poor girls." Mrs. Fortenberry said, somewhat melodramatically. "I am so sorry for your loss."

Reine gave the woman a sad smile. "That's very kind of you. Gran often spoke about you-" Rae was interrupted when Tara grabbed the dish from Mrs. Fortenberry. "Thank you." Reine quickly thanked the woman, hoping that the interruption would deter her from any further conversation. She wasn't exactly Rae's or Sookie's favorite person in town. However, both girls had known the woman all their lives. Reine spotted Lafayette joining them in the kitchen. As soon as she spotted him, a genuine smile formed on her lips. He had always had that effect on her. Whenever she was around him, he could always make her smile.

"If you would excuse me, Mrs. Fortenberry." Reine freed herself from the conversation. She didn't particularly feel like exchanging pleasantries with the older woman. As Reine joined Tara and Lafayette, she heard Tara comment about the food. "Yeah, 'cause nothin' says "I'm sorry" like a tuna cheese casserole."

"Another one?" Lafayette said, just before looking over his shoulder at the guests that flooded the living and dining room. "I ain't seen Jason, baby girl. Is he here yet?" Lafayette asked Reine.

Reine shrugged her shoulders. "I haven't seen him. Then again, I just came down the stairs." Before Reine could have any further conversation with Lafayette, the sound of a chair scooting across the linoleum floor filled the air. Rae's head turned toward the sound. "Excuse me?" Sookie said with a raised voice just before making her way out of the kitchen.

Rae drew her brows together. "What was that about?"

Tara shrugged her shoulders. "Hell if I know."

"Maybe she heard something she didn't like." Reine added the poor excuse for her sister's actions to the conversation. Rae spotted Mrs Fortenberry opening the refrigerator door. She didn't give the woman too much attention, however, when her sister started yelling, her eyes locked on the older woman. There she stood, holding her Gran's pie that she had made right before she died. "Maxine Fortenberry! You put that pie down right now!" Sookie shouted as she stormed into the kitchen and yanked the pie from Maxine's hands. "This is Gran's pie!"