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"Ashes to ashes, dust to dust," another wo you to buy a really expensive coffin," a heavysetthat a major plus

"True," Brent told him "But death is never cheap--we all know that"

"There’s a fact," the big man said, and they moved on

Brent pointed out the many different surnames etched on the toripped the city soon after the cemetery’s establish out a nuood Confederates had found their final resting places, and also those tombs where soldiers who had remained loyal to the Union had come home to rest

At one point he talked about the fact that Lafayette Nu place for many who passed away

His eyes met Nikki’s across the crowd, and she felt a war her hair

As if they had so beyond the fact that she still felt, far too frequently, the urge to throw herself into his arms

For comfort, security…

For much, much more

She turned away His voice beca back

Cities of the dead

This particular city…

Rows and rows of els, sad as they lowered their heads in prayer

Her own fa before it, head lowered

She found herself sloalking away froroup, toward the beautiful Grecian-style ether now in death Ashes to ashes Dust to dust

And a wo there, her back to Nikki

Fear rose in Nikki’s throat She looked at the dark hair, the slump of the woman’s shoulders

She sed hard "Andy?" she whispered

The woman turned

It wasn’t Andy

She smiled at Nikki "Sorry, I’m Susan Marshall"

Nikki felt like a fool "No, I’ht you were soeous tomb"

"Thank you"

"It’s yours?"

"It’s my family’s to so historic, it must be wonderful," Susan Marshall said She shivered then "I

Nikki alulped back the sound and turned to see Julian standing behind her

"You scared ly

"I orried about you--you suddenly disappeared," he said, scowling

"This is Susan Marshall," she said quickly, to distract hi himself Nikki suddenly realized that Susan was very attractive

"You’re here by yourself?" he asked Susan

"I understand it’s safe here in the Garden District," Susan said

"It’s safer in a group Why don’t you join the tour?" he suggested

"Oh, well, I couldn’t do that, I didn’t pay--"

"We’re h Please, just join us," Nikki said She glanced at Julian He hardly seemed to notice she was there All his attention was on Susan

"Please, join us?" he said

"If you’re sure… "

"Absolutely," Julian said;

Nikki trailed slightly behind the in the sky Looking up, she saw that the stor we’re h," she murmured

Neither one of theht up to the rear of the tour Mitch flashed Nikki a questioning s sun, but the sky was darkening Nikki didn’t think that itto rise froround, which shouldn’t have happened until rain actually fell and the heat of the ground turned water to vapor

"What a day for this tour, huh?" Nathan, an arm around Patricia, whispered to Nikki "Even the weather couy has come up with bits of history I didn’t know myself!"

"I think he’s terrific," Patricia said