fear that I will not recover from this sickness that has taken hold of my lungs. I cannot breathe without coughing, and I have weakened so drastically that I am unable to visit you as I wish to. I know there is a way to break this bargain you were tricked into. Please do not give up hope, my son. Remember the words the girl said to me, “Only a fool can be freed from the ground he keeps. Otherwise, should he cross the threshold, his soul will be given up for the next in line to live its life.” There will come a day those words will have meaning. Do not hesitate, when they do. Rush through the threshold without pause. I hope to see you on the other side when you finally find the answers that have eluded us. I shall leave this world with your face in my mind, your name on my lips, and love for you in my heart. Know that you have been my every happiness, Samuel.
All my love,
Your Maman, Evangeline.”
Samuel sat opposite Clarice on his side of the fence, sobbing as she read his mother’s letter to him.
Clarice sat quietly with him after she’d finished reading ‘Vangeline’s letter until she felt like a suitable amount of time had passed. Then she began speaking to him. “I’ve had my father’s remains removed from this crypt. I am ashamed to say that I didn’t think of it sooner. I am very sorry that you had to share this space with him. But, no more. He’s been moved to Potter’s Field. I have another crew scheduled to come this afternoon. They will change the name on the crypt to Dupont. I have arranged for your mother to be interred here as well. I hope that is acceptable to you.”
“Thank you, Clarice. Thank you,” he said over and over again, though he knew she couldn’t hear him.
After a while, Clarice stood, and Samuel got to his feet with her. She extended her arm through the bars of the gate so he could touch her if he wanted to. “I have to go now, but I’ll be back tomorrow for your mother’s service. And I’ll keep visiting afterward. Do not fear, Samuel. I will never leave you alone.”
Samuel caressed her arm like he always did, hoping she could feel his touch. But she pulled away and walked away from him, her head hanging low as she went, her sadness at the loss of his mother easily read in her mannerisms.
Chapter 5
The next morning ‘Vangeline Dupont was interred in the magnificent white marble crypt now bearing her family name. No other but Clarice knew that it also was home to Samuel Dupont.
Clarice walked just behind the priest that led the procession of followers, friends, and believers to the crypt. After the service was done, and Maman was interred, her fellow practitioners performed their own service to celebrate the life of Maman ‘Vangeline. They played music and burned incense. They left little gifts and offerings in her memory, and thanked Clarice for providing such a nice crypt for their priestess.
Clarice watched everything they did very respectfully, and remained beside the gate enclosing the crypt itself. From time to time she’d feel a slight breeze across her cheek and turned toward it with a smile. “I love you, Samuel,” she’d whisper. Then she’d receive another breeze across her cheek, letting her know he loved her, too.
Once everyone had said their goodbyes, Clarice stayed behind with Samuel. And there she sat until dusk, when she finally had to go.
“I’ll be back tomorrow,” she promised.
Samuel stood inside his gated prison, watching his love who was once a beautiful, young girl, with life ahead of her, wander away from him as a solitary, stoic, Catholic nun. His heart was broken anew for two reasons now: his mother had left this world for the next, leaving him behind, and his beloved Clarice was wasting her life away as she mourned what could have been with him.
~~~~~
Days turned into weeks, weeks turned into months, and months turned into years. Twice a week, without fail, Clarice came to visit Samuel. Some days she’d sit and read to him, others she’d clear away the offerings left behind by those faithful to Maman ‘Vangeline even in death. They left little gifts for her and prayers for whatever it was they desired scribbled onto little scraps of paper.
Clarice didn’t throw them away. She organized them and placed them inside the