Til' Death Do Us Part ✅

Chapter 7

Cole

It was the day of the funeral. She didn't come to me last night or the night before, but I had a feeling I needed to save her.

I put on my black suit and got ready. Since her parents had no say so, Greg did away with the embalming which I was glad for. After the service there would be a reading of her will.

Greg played the role of the grieving widower. The cops had questioned him but without real evidence they couldn't hold him.

Her family and friends wept as we all gathered by the restaurant where we would walk to the old cemetery. It was a beautiful day and I had learned earlier through conversation that Juliette had even planned her own funeral.

Her body was being carried in a horse drawn carriage driven down Bourbon Street with a New Orleans jazz processional. The band played the Somber Song which consisted of drums, trumpets and horns. The carriage passed by her restaurant where many people paid their respects. We all followed behind her coffin until we reached the cemetery.

The minister prayed and we got started. White doves were released into the sky showing her love for all creatures. New Orleans royalty including congressmen, chefs, and musicians  all crowded around the mausoleum. Everyone paid their respects as the service ended.

She laid there breathtaking in a white dress. They closed the glass casket and marched with her in tow to her resting place. They slid her in the crypt and locked the door. I needed to get the key so as the band played, When the Saints Go Marching In, I bumped into the man with the key. I apologized and stole it from his pocket and left.

An hour later we were at the attorney's office. Philip Goodier presided over the reading of the will. Greg, her parents, myself and a few friends were in attendance.

"She was taken too soon from this earth. My thoughts and prayers go out to you all. It seems like I just spoke to her a few days ago as if almost in a dream. I will miss her. Let us begin," Philip said putting his glasses on.

"To Thera I leave the restaurant on Canal Street. You were there since the doors opened and encouraged me to go for it. We have cooked together since the first day of culinary school and we have been thick as thieves ever since. You are my sista from another mother and I love you. I am entrusting my baby to you. My father will oversee the accounts and I want you to focus on your creations." I could see Thera crying.

Greg looked furious.

"To Cole, my best friend and the true light of my life, I leave my other baby, the restaurant on Bourbon and my unwavering love. One day we will see each other again.To my parents you have taught me to be humble and respect others.  I love you mommy and daddy so much that I'm asking you to please be there for Thera as you would be for me."

I couldn't see one dry eye in the room, except for Greg. His eyes were focused on Philip as if anticipating his inheritance.

"To Cole, this is for you," Philip said handing me an envelope.

"To my unloving husband Greg. The man I thought would love me forever I leave you this." Philip looked confused. He grabbed a box, opened it and inside was a knife, a key and a jump drive.

I saw Greg starting to sweat as his eyes bucked. Philip inserted the jump drive. It was the night Juliette was killed. She was in the bed as a dark figure came in and locked the door. It was Greg. They fought and she broke free. She ran to open the door but it was locked. As she turned back they fought again. She tried to get away but he stabbed her hand as she held on to the bedpost. She continued to fight until he pulled her head back and slit her throat where he stabbed her repeatedly.

"That's a lie! I would never kill Juliette. Someone is setting me up," he yelled. I saw Philip getting on the phone calling the police. Greg got up and ran out the office. Mr. St. Claude was trying his best to go after him. I stayed with Corrine trying to console her.

"I can't believe he killed my baby!" she yelled through tears.

Thera was crying and rocking back and forth. The scene playing out was like you would find in a bad horror movie. Needless to say, Greg got away.

The day had gone by fast. I was in my car and headed home. I needed to be at the cemetery for midnight. I only hoped that this was not a bad dream. I picked up the envelope that Philip gave me. Inside were several checkbooks with my name on them. The accounts were in the Cayman Islands, along with several bank statements. One had over ten million dollars, another one for five million and a few more with hundreds of thousands of dollars. She also had a trust set up in my name giving me full control. All together sixty million dollars was willed to me.

There was a note from Philip saying the insurance company was to pay out another ten million as a death benefit split between me and her parents. This was all too crazy. I got home and quickly changed. I put on some black jeans and a t-shirt. I waited until it was time for me to leave. Grabbing the key to the mausoleum, I looked at my watch and it was almost eleven.

I drove to the cemetery and headed straight for Juliette. When I got there the door to the mausoleum was already opened. I saw Greg sitting across from her crypt.

"You bitch! How did you know?" He said taking a swig of vodka, he was drunk. "You left me nothing. I fucking hate you. I'm glad I killed you."

Before I could get closer, Juliette appeared.

"How dare you curse the dead Gregory?" He looked up at her in disbelief and panic.

"You are not real! I watched you die. I killed you myself." He stood up staggering.

"You will pay for your sins Gregory Kramer. All you had to do was love me. I loved you and gave you everything."

She closed her eyes as I felt the trees swaying. Something was happening that I couldn't explain. Black smoke rose all around them.

"You have been sentenced to death," she said as her body hovered in the air. Her face contorted as her ghostly body grew larger. She picked him up throwing him all around the mausoleum. I watched in horror as he begged her to stop. She lifted him in the air and her spirit jumped into his body. The result was his body contorting in ways a body shouldn't. He screamed out in pain as the doors shut on me. I banged on them but they were locked. I heard Greg screaming for his life as loud noises echoed. The glass top of the mausoleum came shattering down as Greg's screams of horror came to an end.

The doors slowly opened and blood was everywhere along with carnage. I saw Juliette in the corner shivering drenched in blood with Greg's heart in her hand but there was no sign of him.

"Juliette?"

"Do... it... now..."

I unlocked her vault and glass coffin. I cut my finger, opened her mouth and let the blood drip down her throat. I leaned back and suddenly her eyes opened. I looked in the corner and her ghost was gone.

"Where am I, Cole?"

"You died Juliette."

"How?"

"Long story. Let's get you out of here."