It seems Jack thinks the ancestors’ mortar is at the King Center, the local Gullah museum, and if so, he’s come up with a plan to use Beau’s donor status to borrow it. But Cooper’s acting all fidgety and avoiding Miss Delia’s gaze, so I’m sure he’s not being completely honest. Maybe he’s waiting until we leave Miss Delia’s to spill his guts, but that only makes me wonder what he’s hiding, and why. He nudges my arm. “Well, Emmaline, we better get going. Jack’s waiting on us.” “Wait, before y’all go, let me mix you up some charms. You’re going to need all the help you can get.” Miss Delia strains to lift herself out of her rocking chair. Cooper gnaws his lip as we grasp her hands and help her up. “Yes, ma’am. Although I think we’re planning on scouting things out at first, just to make sure they have it.” Miss Delia narrows her hazy eye at him. “Boy, I’ve lived five times longer than you and seen every scheme there is.
