Magic (Coeur du Bayou Trilogy Book 3)

by Lisa Coots

  “Eva? What are you doing here?” Ben stepped in front of Serena, blocking her view.

  “Reuben. Don’t be rude. Take my bag up to my room. This place is magnificent. If you have the proof you put in your report, I’ll have the camera crews here within the week.” Not giving Ben time to argue, she started up the staircase. Her heels clacking hard on the wooden stairs.

  “Serena… I didn’t invite her here.” Ben shook his head in disbelief as he turned to her.

  “Where do you think you’re going?” Serena stepped from behind Ben, her voice echoing up to the ceiling.

  “Oh…” Eva paused in mid-step obviously surprised to see Serena there. “You’re here too.” Her pointy nose wrinkled in distaste. “Ben, is that wise? Having her here after the last mess she made.”

  “What?” Serena could feel the thundering of the blood pounding through her veins. “Get out!”

  “No, I don’t think so. I’m not going to let you ruin this for everyone a second time. Mason may have fell for you…” Eva paused slightly, then waved the thought away. “I don’t care about that. The show is way more important.”

  “Get out of my house, now!” Serena’s voice rose, and she felt the floorboards vibrate beneath her bare feet.

  “Your house?” The stunned look returned to Eva’s face, her ankle wobbled in her Jimmy Choo’s and she grabbed the railing for support.

  “Eva,” Ben began in his calm voice, “I don’t know how you found us, but I think you should leave. I’ll carry your bag out for you.”

  “Yes, my house,” Serena said firmly. “You need to leave.”

  A door slammed upstairs startling Eva.

  “Where’s Mason?” Her eyes wandered to the upstairs floor waiting for him to appear.

  Mason woke to a door slamming overhead. Bolting upright in Serena’s daybed, he felt the air around him. Something was wrong. The faint smell of something burning had him on his feet. He felt anger and the raised voices from his dream came through the bookcase door. Springing the latch, he rushed through to the parlor.

  “I thought you didn’t care about Mason. I’ve asked you to leave. This is my house and I want you out,” Serena’s voice was filled with rage. Waves of red temporarily filled his vision.

  “Rena, what’s wrong?” He blinked away the redness.

  “We have an unexpected visitor. I’m sure she’s here to see you.” Her dark eyes flashed dangerously to the staircase.

  Following her gaze, he was shocked to find his ex-fiancé standing on the staircase glaring at Serena.

  “Eva? What on earth are you doing here?” Mason blinked again.

  “I came to help.” Dusting off her white capris, Eva’s voice was filled with purpose.

  “I didn’t ask her to come.” Ben moved to pick up her bag.

  “Help? Help with what?” Mason narrowed his eyes on Eva.

  “The hauntings, what else? Ben’s report is phenomenal. I can have a crew here by next week, ready to shoot.” Her pale blue eyes gleamed with excitement.

  Mason knew that calculated look. Somehow she had gotten a hold of Ben’s report and figured she could just bully her way into calling the shots.

  “No.” His voice void of any emotion, Mason cursed the day he met the manipulative creature before him.

  “What do you mean, no? What’s going on here? You know what this could mean for us?” Her normal authoritative tone, had the slightest tinge of desperation.

  “There is no us, and Serena has asked you to leave. Please leave.” He motioned towards the door.

  Eva’s thin lips opened to argue as another door slammed upstairs. Mason watched as Eva pitched forward. Her face a mask of shock as she tumbled down the stairs sending a shoe flying.

  “Eva, are you ok?” Ben dropped the bag and moved to help her up.

  Mason reached her first, grabbing an arm.

  “Who did that?” Red faced, she glared up the staircase as if looking for the culprit.

  “What are you talking about?” Mason watched her curiously as he pulled her off of the floor.

  “Someone pushed me,” she spat.

  “Are you hurt?” Ben grabbed her other arm gently.

  “I’m fine.” Pushing their hands away, Eva glared at Serena. “Just what are you up to here?”

  “I don’t know what you’re implying.” Serena folded her arms in front of her then continued, “All I know is this is my house. What happens here is none of your business.”

  “Someone pushed me. Who else is here? That little shit, Sebastian?” Eva glanced around suspiciously, then hollered up the staircase. “Sebastian!”

  “No, Sebastian is not here. I have no idea where he is, and no one else is in the house.” Becoming impatient, Mason opened the door and held it.

  “Eva, there’s no one else here. If you’re ok, I think you should go.” Ben retrieved her shoe and handed it back to her.

  “Yes,” Mason agreed with Ben.

  “This is not over. You’re not moving ahead with the show without me.” Unattractive blotches had formed on Eva's face as she hopped on one foot to put her shoe back on.

  Ben picked up her case and ushered her out the door. Her grumbling and threats continued as the door closed behind them.

  Mason could feel the anger still rolling off of Serena. Her dark eyes set on the closed door. “Are you alright, love?”

  “Why is she here, Mason?”

  “I don’t know. Gabe told me she had been showing up at the office. Maybe she got the report that way.” Mason tried to play it off, but the fact that Eva had ended up with information his brothers didn't even have wasn't sitting well with him.

  “There’s not going be a show.” Her anger had calmed somewhat, but Serena’s voice was firm.

  “I know. Rena, I have no intention of ever doing that again.” Damn Eva for showing up and stirring that pot. Mason had enough guilt to last him several lifetimes. The stupid TV show was of little consequence to him.

  Ben came back through the door, a worried frown on his face. “She’s threatening to call the police.”

  “For what?” Mason turned on Ben. That blasted woman was determined to cause trouble for him.

  “She says someone pushed her. There was no one there.” Ben looked from Mason to Serena then back to Mason, “Right?”

  “I didn’t see anyone,” Serena confirmed.

  “I smelled something burning. The house woke me,” Mason admitted worriedly, not liking where his thoughts were taking him.

  “You think it was the house?” Ben’s eyes were huge as he gazed back up the stairs.

  Serena shook her head. “No, why would Anna do that? She doesn't know Eva. Eva has nothing to do with this. Richie maybe?”

  “Wait. Richie wouldn’t know her either.” Ben shook his head.

  “No, but Richie thinks I pushed him down the stairs the night he died. Maybe he pushed her.” Using her hands, Serena explained her thinking.

  “No.” Mason felt the around him. “It wasn’t Richie.”

  “Are you sure?” Hands now on her hips, Serena arched an eyebrow at him.

  “Yes, it wasn’t him. I didn’t feel him,” Mason struggled to explain, “There's a lot of sadness here, and some anger. Richie is different. There's a sense of danger and malice.”

  “Hold on. Are you saying the house pushed her?” Serena’s face was uncertain as she thought it over.

  “The house. Or Anna.” Mason knew the burnt smell was attached to them somehow. The trouble was disconnecting one from the other.

  “The house…” Ben rubbed a hand behind his head. “What if the house pushed Richie? Listen, the house protected you from Richie. The house warns you. You said it.”

  “I don’t know.” Now hugging herself, Serena looked to Mason for answers.

  “The house warns you about Richie because he doesn’t belong here,” Mason reasoned with her. “Eva doesn’t either.”

  “But how would it know?” Shaking her head again, Serena shrugged
.

  “I felt anger.” Mason grabbed her shoulders softly and looked into her eyes. “But mostly from you. You didn’t want her here.”

  “Are you saying it’s my fault she fell down the stairs?” Serena stepped away from him and his accusation.

  “No, I think the house knew you didn’t want her here,” Mason said simply.

  CHAPTER 24

  The wicked late summer heat had driven most people indoors. Noticing the empty streets, Serena wandered into the diner cautiously. Claire sounded upset on the phone, but refused to give any details. She had been adamant that Serena needed to come down to the diner to meet with her and Faith. Obviously in a lull between lunch and dinner, the tables were emptied and cleared.

  “Claire, what’s wrong?”

  Turning in her stool to greet Serena, Claire gave her an apologetic smile. “Faith’s upset. She doesn’t understand why Jake didn't remember everything?”

  Serena frowned as she took a seat next to her friend. The owner and head cook, Gil, peeked through the order window and gave a little wave.

  “She told you about that?” Serena lowered her voice.

  “Yes, why? Was it another secret?” Claire pouted.

  “Not from you. From Evan. We don’t want to spook him anymore than he already is.”

  “Why doesn't Jake remember?” Claire whispered looking over her shoulder towards the kitchen.

  “But he did remember.” Serena knew the session with Jake had upset Faith, but she figured Jake had smoothed it over.

  “That’s not what Faith said.” Claire shook her head confused.

  “She wanted him to remember everything as vividly as she did. But it’s different for everybody.” Serena tried to phrase her words carefully. She didn’t want to spook Claire either and she wasn’t sure how to tell Faith about their suspicions about Anna.

  “Oh, so it did work?” Claire sat up straighter on her stool.

  “Of course it worked.” Serena smiled at Claire hoping that would be the end of the conversation.

  “Then why is she so upset?” Claire persisted.

  “Hey. What’s up?” Faith asked fishing her order pad out of her apron.

  “Claire thought we could use a visit. I haven’t really had a chance to talk to you since Jake’s session.”

  Faith’s eye narrowed on Claire. “You called her?”

  “No.” Claire’s big blue eyes blinked rapidly, then closed. “Oh, ok. Yes, I did. I think maybe she can explain what happened.”

  “I was there,” Faith snapped, pointing to herself. “I saw what happened. He didn’t remember me.”

  “You?” Claire asked confused.

  “Faith, he remembered a life before. It’s not always clear. We’re lucky it worked at all. He did remember Anna and gave us some details we didn’t have before.” Serena wasn’t sure how else to make Faith understand.

  “Really? Like what.” Claire sat forward, elbows on the counter.

  “His name.” Intent on showing some kind of progress, Serena decided to add Ben’s news. “And Ben has been doing some research. He also found Anna’s grave.”

  “What?” Faith froze, the pad slipping from her fingers.

  “Yes, it’s back there in the graveyard. The mausoleum was for her parents.”

  “The baby? Is the baby there, too?” Faith’s hands moved protectively over her stomach.

  “No, nothing so far on the baby.” Serena looked down at the counter, wishing Ben could be here to explain things.

  “Then what good is that? I don’t see how that will help any.” Faith bent down to pick up the pad.

  “We have names. That can lead to more info. If there is a baby there’s bound to be a record of it somewhere,” Serena explained patiently, looking to Claire for help.

  “There was a baby. I don’t know why he didn't remember, but there was a baby,” Faith’s voice rose in desperation as she stood back up.

  “Faith, you ok?” Gil called from the kitchen.

  “Yeah, I’m fine. Just girl stuff.” Faith smiled at him as he popped his shaggy blonde head through the order window.

  “Hmmm, yeah, ok.” Gill rolled his eyes at Faith then groaned loudly as something caught his eye outside. “Oh, no. Not again. Tell her we’re closed.”

  They followed his gaze through the plate glass window to see Eva getting out of a dark SUV. She turned back to speak to the driver for a moment, then slammed the door shut.

  “Maybe she won’t come in,” Faith said hopefully then groaned as Eva reached her car then turned back towards the diner, obviously deciding whether or not to go in.

  “I thought she left,” Serena muttered miserably.

  “You know her?” Faith whispered.

  “Oh yeah, unfortunately. She’s Mason’s ex.”

  “She’s a cunt. That’s what she is,” Gil declared loudly.

  “Gil!” Claire exclaimed with a giggle then covered her mouth with her hand.

  “She complained about my meatball stew. That’s one of my best selling plates.” Ready to defend his prowess in the kitchen, Gil brandished a spatula and shook it at the window.

  Serena laughed at Gil’s performance, then turned back towards the window. Eva took another step towards the door then stopped when she noticed Serena watching her. Not wanting to drag her friends into the drama, Serena headed out the door to meet her.

  “What are you still doing here?” Not bothering with a greeting, Serena got right to the point.

  “Aren’t you going to invite me in for coffee?” Eva smirked at the window.

  “Sorry, they’re closed.” Hand on hip, Serena nodded to her friends through the diner window then turned back to the redhead whose pale skin was already turning a sickly shade of pink. “The only reason I can imagine you’re still hanging around is my house. You’re not welcome there. I don’t think I can make it any more clear.”

  Pursing out her lips, Eva thought a moment. “Really? Well, I think you’ve left out a few details that the others may find interesting. This time Mason will have to believe me.”

  “What do you mean ‘this time’?”

  “You’ll see. Mason is blind where you are concerned. He’ll soon see you for what you are.” She pointed a red tipped nail in Serena’s face.

  Taking a step closer to Eva, Serena demanded, “What am I?”

  “Ladies…” Evan’s voice followed by his footsteps on the pavement broke the tension. “Serena, what’s going on?”

  Eva backed away from Serena quickly, smiling at Evan. “Just catching up, Officer.” With one last smirk in Serena’s direction, Eva climbed in her car and drove away.

  “Something tells me she’s not a friend.” Evan watched the taillights of the sporty white Cadillac until it turned off the main street.

  “She’s not. She’s just trying to make trouble.”

  “What kind of trouble?” Evan frowned down the empty street.

  “Evan, it doesn’t concern you.” Serena started to turn away. The last thing she needed was Evan asking questions.

  “Wait a minute.” Evan grabbed her arm. “Who is she?”

  “Mason’s ex.” She shrugged.

  “Really?” He dropped his hand and looked back down the street.

  “What? Not impressed?” Laughing at his expression, she felt a little lighter.

  “No, not impressed. Actually a little disappointed in Mason. She’s kind of a…” Evan tilted his head as if trying to formulate an appropriate word.

  “Cunt?” She supplied for him.

  He coughed in surprise. “Hey now. I was going to use a different word, but yeah.”

  “Gil’s word, but it fits.”

  Evan chuckled, “Well, now I know who’s been teaching my sister that foul language. I’ll have to talk to him. You ok?”

  “I’m fine.”

  “Should I be worried?” Evan was studying her closely.

  “About?”

  “About what you and the other two in there are up to?” He jerk
ed a thumb in the direction of Claire and Faith watching them through the window. “And now I’m not so sure about Gil.”

  “Just wedding plans, I promise.” Holding up her hands, she smiled sweetly at him. “So you’re here to meet Claire?”

  “I saw the cars so I thought I’d stop. Then I saw you about to do something stupid, so I figured I’d interrupt.”

  Serena frowned up into his stern face. “I wasn’t going to do anything stupid.”

  “I’ve seen that look before. You were about to blow.” He folded his arms over his chest knowingly.

  “Wait, did you see who dropped her off? Was it someone from here?” Serena wiped at the sweat forming on her brow.

  “I didn’t recognize either vehicle.”

  “Where would she stay?” Serena asked as she stared down main street.

  “Are you asking me?”

  “No, I mean… there’s nowhere to stay in town. She had to stay somewhere.” Serena narrowed her eyes as she thought it over.

  “The nearest hotel is about twenty miles. Am I gonna have to tell you not to leave town?”

  “Hmmm…” She turned back to see Evan watching her suspiciously. “Oh, no, brother dear.” Using Faith’s term of endearment, she took his arm then added, “But don’t search my car. You might find a shovel or bolt cutters.”

  Evan chuckled as they walked to the door of the diner together. When she stopped outside the door, he asked, “Aren’t you coming in?”

  “No, tell Faith and Claire I’ll talk to them later.”

  Driving back through town, Serena kept an eye out for the SUV and Eva’s Cadillac. Cypress Point wasn’t very big, so her search didn’t last long. Aside from her house and her interest in Mason, Serena couldn’t imagine why Eva was still in town. Eva’s threats didn’t mean much to Serena. She hadn’t been the one to sabotage the investigation or steal the money, but obviously someone wanted Mason to believe she had. Eva's little slip up had Serena betting it was her. What better way to get back at her and Mason for ending their engagement?

  Pulling into the long drive way of Coeur du Bayou, the house demanded her attention. She was drawn to it. This was her home. She had lovingly and painstakingly restored it from shambles to its stately nature. She belonged here.