Chapter 137

I’ve been staying with Granny Lucille for the last three days, and she finally dragged me outside today. Against the odds, I’m enjoying myself, and feeling the fall sunshine on my skin has done me good. The weather in Charleston is perfect at this time of year, and I almost forgot how beautiful it is. I suppose I almost forgot how beautiful anything is. Waterfront Park is a pretty place with stunning views of the river and the harbor. We strolled here from her house in the French Quarter, waved off by her friend Vivienne, who stopped by for a late lunch. Now we’re sitting by the pineapple fountain, watching the sunset. This park, and the crazy fountain that is literally in the shape of a pineapple, was built when I was a little girl. There was always a real sense of excitement coming here. I used to love splashing around in the water and clambering onto the wooden swings under the pier. I would dance and cartwheel over the grassy spaces like a human tumbleweed, and Granny would treat m