by Lisa Coots
“What did you see?” Ben asked from the corner, adjusting the camera on Mason.
“The lumber yard on fire. The burnt smell. That’s why I kept smelling it. Her father was there when she started the fire.” He exhaled fully, sitting back against the chair obviously drained.
“Oh, wow. Yeah. I saw something about that. Hang on.” Ben pulled out the file again and flipped through the pages.
“Mason, drink some water,” Gabe ordered, shoving a water bottle in his face.
“I’m fine.” Mason pushed it away and rubbed his face.
“You don’t look fine.” His brother dropped the bottle in Mason’s lap.
“I’m just tired.” Mason rubbed his face again.
“We should have waited.” Serena was at a loss for words. Anna had seemed so innocent, but Serena knew love made people do crazy things.
“Here it is,” Ben spoke up. “The lumber mill burned in 1905. It nearly took out the whole town. The owner Leland Fox perished in the fire, presumably trying to put it out.”
“But she knew he was there.” Faith looked to Mason. “Right?”
“Yes, she knew.” The sadness in Mason’s green-gold eyes was unbearable.
“I’ve got to go.” Letting go of Serena, Faith pushed herself up off of the bed.
“Should I call Jake or drive you home?” Worried about her friend, Serena hated to let her go off alone.
“No,” Faith snapped. “Maybe he shouldn't be here.”
Bewildered by the change in Faith’s attitude, Serena watched her closely. Faith took one last look around the yellow room then quickly turned on her heel exiting the room with a flip of her ponytail.
“Gabe, please help Mason to his room. I’ll walk Faith out,” Serena said before hurrying out of the room after Faith. “You sure you’re ok?”
“Yeah, I’m tired and just a little freaked out.” Faith never stopped moving.
Serena followed her down the stairs. “Is there anything else you remember that might help?”
“No, just the baby. I don't think we’ll ever find out what happened to it.” Stopping briefly on the last step, she answered then headed for the door.
“What makes you think that?” Serena grabbed her arm before she could swing the door open. Faith turned to face Serena, her eyes glistening with tears.
“The room she had it in. It was so dark and it was hot. I couldn't really see anything else before but today… The people in the room with her... It was nuns in the room. He sent her to a convent. If they gave it up for adoption, there might not be any record of it. You know back in those days things were different.”
Standing at the door to Coeur du Bayou, Serena listened to the house. The sadness was still there, but lessened somehow. Her thoughts raced and the house warmed the chill that ran through her. She heard her grandmother’s voice as clear as day, “Careful what you wish for, girl.”
“Oh, Faith…” Eyes huge, she grabbed for her friend’s hand. “I know...”
“What?”
“Listen to me. I have to make sure I’m right, but it’s going to be ok.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Everything. Tell Claire to send out the invitations.”
The smell of gardenias enveloped them and Faith smiled.
CHAPTER 30
“Where is she?” Mason demanded. The sick feeling had returned. A dreadful panic clawed at his gut as he gripped the railing of the staircase. The episode yesterday with Faith had drained him more than he let on. Succumbing to the sleep that his body obviously needed, he had slept through the night and most of the next day. He knew immediately upon waking that she was gone.
“Mace, calm down. She said she’d be back.” Ben rushed to help him down the staircase.
“Why didn't she tell me she was leaving?” He gave in, leaning on Ben to speed his progress.
“You were exhausted and finally sleeping. Even Gabe said to let you rest.” Ben groaned under his weight as they descended.
“Gabe. Where is he?” The final cursed step loomed before him. Mason held his breath and pushed forward dragging Ben with him.
“I’m down here. What’s all the grumbling?” Gabe called from the parlor.
“Where is she?” Mason demanded again letting go of Ben at the parlor entrance. His momentum made his step unsure and his leg threatened to give.
“Sit down before you fall,” Gabriel spoke from an arm chair, book in hand. Taking charge and making himself at home as was his way.
“I’m fine.” Mason steadied himself.
“No, you are not fine. Sit.”
“Fine.” Mason stumbled to the love seat letting gravity pull him down to the softness of the fabric. So like Serena, the colors and fabric. There was so much of her in this house. The panic clawed at him again. “Someone please tell me where she is.”
“Umm… She didn’t exactly say, but I know she’ll be back.” Ben rubbed his back and stretched.
“You let her leave without asking where she was going?” Mason marveled at Ben’s reluctance to get information, when that was something he prided himself on.
“She asked for the info I had on Anna and said there was something she needed to check on.”
“What?” He tried to imagine what could have made her leave without saying goodbye. Visions of his blood soaked hand gripping the handle of a blade danced before him.
“I don’t know.”
“Call Faith,” Mason demanded. “Does she know?”
“Faith is in the kitchen, and she doesn’t know,” Gabriel informed him, his patience wearing thin.
“Faith!” Mason hollered struggling to lift himself from the soft cushion of the loveseat.
“Sit down,” his brother barked at him.
“What’s going on?” Faith rushed into the room wiping her discolored fingers on a towel, oblivious to the matching smears of blue on her cheek and arm.
“Where did she go?” Mason gave up and relaxed back into the overstuffed settee.
“Oh. I don’t know. She told me everything’s going to be fine. And it will.” Nodding her head at Mason, she smiled. There was something different about her. Her nervousness was gone.
“That’s it?” Mason narrowed his eyes at her, needing more information.
“No, when she said it, I felt it. Like before with the gardenias. Anna is going to make it alright.”
Mason looked to his brother for help deciphering Faith’s declaration.
“I don’t understand it either, but I’m sure everything will be fine.” Gabriel rose from his chair to pace.
“I’ll call my P.I.” Patience was never his thing. Mason hated waiting and he couldn’t bear for her to disappear again. He had to fix this.
Gabe howled with laughter. “No, you won’t. He couldn’t find her in three years. I’ve let him go.”
“What?” Stunned at his brother's arrogance, Mason blinked rapidly, trying to focus.
“He’s stealing your money and he’s not reliable. I’ve done some digging of my own.”
“Gabriel. You had no right. You always have to takeover. This isn’t about you.” Angry now, Mason gave in to the long buried resentments of his youth.
“Mason.” His brother tried to stop his tirade.
“You don’t know everything.” The dreadful memory rose before him and his soul grieved.
“I know more than you think. For example, here. What’s this?” Pointing to the mantle, Gabe drew their attention to the photo of Serena and Evan. It leaned against the candlestick innocently.
“Where did you get that?”
“I found it on the floor the night I got here. When the deputy was the first one on the scene I was suspicious so I just held on to it.”
“That’s my brother.” Faith’s ponytail slashed the air as she turned her dark eyes on Gabriel.
“Yes, I know that now.”
“Who took that?” Faith demanded, the smear on her arm had grown with her futile attempts to wipe i
t away.
“Mason’s P.I.”
“What? You were spying on Serena?” Faith now turned to Mason. The sting of betrayal in her voice matched the expression on Ben’s face.
“No,” he denied the accusation.
“Exactly my point. You weren’t paying him to follow Serena, so why did he take the picture?”
“Ugh. Eva.”
“Yep. She obviously wanted you to think Serena and the deputy were involved.” Taking the picture from the mantle, Gabe held it up as evidence.
“No, that’s ridiculous.” Faith shook her head as she wiped again at the coloring on her arm. “Evan was coming to meet Claire at the diner. We were inside watching through the window.”
“Yes, I know.”
“Then why…” Mason ran his hands through his hair, his frustration building.
“Eva thought she could get rid of Serena to get back with you and revive the show plans.” Ben put the pieces together.
“That…” Still in a fog of misery, Mason struggled for words.
“Cunt!” Faith supplied for him.
Gabriel cut in, “Don’t worry about her. I’ve taken care of it. You weren’t exactly in any shape to handle things. I called our lawyer. He made a call to their family lawyer. So daddy’s been alerted to the trouble she’s been causing. Theft and trespassing would definitely cause some talk.”
“Oh.” Mason regarded his brother again. This time with admiration. “Thank you.”
“She didn’t get the files from me,” Ben said solemnly.
“We know, Ben.”
“And there's nothing going on between Serena and Evan,” Faith snorted.
“We know that too. And if we pursue any investigation it won’t be through that bumbling idiot. I’ve gotten everything he was working on for you, but if you want my opinion on what’s going on with Serena, you should just ask her,” Gabriel admonished, then added, “When she gets back of course.”
“That doesn't help me right now.” The clawing sensation returned.
“Look, she said for Claire to send out the invitations. The wedding is next month. And she was fine when we talked.”
“Are you sure?” Mason wished again he had seen Serena before she left. They never talked about the memory and he had no idea how she felt about it. She hadn’t seemed frightened of him, but had clearly kept her distance.
“Yes.” Faith snorted impatiently, still rubbing at the blue coloring on her arm.
“What happened between you two that night?” Through narrowed eyes, his brother watched him.
“Nothing.” Damn him. He had no intention of ever telling anyone about that horrible memory.
“Ahh… the picture.” Looking at the photo in his hand, Gabe grinned. “You were already in quite a state about Graham when you left home that morning.”
“Graham?” Ben’s surprised reaction told Mason she had kept that secret from them all.
“She’s been working for him since she left us,” Mason admitted. The words still burned and he hung his head in shame.
“Oh man, you didn’t?” Ben groaned. Mason knew Ben was referring to his uncontrollable jealousy where Serena was concerned.
“I’ve apologized. We’re ok. At least I hope so.”
“Don’t worry. She’ll come back. This is her home.” Blue smear still on her cheek, Faith gave a snort and stated the obvious.
Coeur du Bayou was her home. She might not come back to him, but she would come back here.
CHAPTER 31
The road stretched out before Serena. The yellow lines whizzing past her headlights had a strange calming effect on her. Reminded of her earlier travels, she thought it ironic how all of those years searching brought her right back down these roads. This time she knew she was on the road home.
Her trip had been successful but emotional. She had no one to tell. Yes, she did. And they were all waiting for her at home. Her smile widened as she chanted the word ‘home’.
Coeur du Bayou. She wanted to tell Mason privately but their conversation could wait a little longer. Even he had played a part in the unraveling of the meaning of it all. They all had: Ben, Jake, Faith. Even Claire and Evan. Her family.
Family. Home. Those words were a magic balm that lifted her spirit and made the miles fly by.
Before turning onto the driveway, she stopped the car to gaze at her home, Coeur du Bayou. Jake had said it was named because of the shape of the two waterways meeting. The bayou wrapped around the property. The house, as well as the people inside it, had wrapped around her heart. The warm glow of lights in the windows told her they were there waiting. She had called Ben to ask that they all be there waiting for her. She knew Ben could be counted on not to ask too many questions, until she was ready to explain.
Admiring the lights as she parked her car, she noticed how impressive a spectacle it made. She wondered if Claire and Evan should have opted for an evening wedding. If the reception lasted long enough, the guests would see this view when departing. There would be other weddings. Many, if she had her way. Anna didn’t have the wedding she wanted but she could watch over every other wedding that took place at Coeur du Bayou.
Pausing at the heavy door, she savored the moment. The expansive front porch felt solid underfoot. The large white columns stood proud and the door in front of her was strong. She knew it would always open for her.
Making her way through it, she heard voices from the parlor. Mainly Claire chattering away about the wedding plans.
“Did she say what time?” Mason’s agitated voice broke into Claire’s description of the crab cakes she was having catered.
“She’ll be here. Stop worrying.” Ben’s short answer showed he was more interested in the food discussion.
She heard Mason’s gasp, sensing her right before she stepped into the room. “I’m here.”
“Rena.” Mason stood immediately and went to her, his arms wrapping around her tightly. “Are you ok?”
“Worried about me?” She smiled slyly at him, giving him a wink.
He kissed her passionately and she couldn't help but respond. Their fire still burned brightly.
“Ok, break it up. We're here. What’s going on?” Jake sat tensely on the edge of his seat next to Faith.
“Jake.” Faith snorted slapping him on the knee.
“No, he’s right. We’re all here.” Evan frowned in Gabe’s direction. “What’s going on?”
“It’s about the wedding, right?” Claire asked excitedly. “Everything's ok?”
“The wedding will be magnificent. I promise.”
“Then what?”
Serena took a deep breath, wondering how to start. Her heart filled with emotion, she began, “Umm. Everyone knows about Anna and the things that have been going on here, right?” She glanced at Gabe and Evan. “I know some of you don’t want to believe. We’ve been trying to figure out what Anna wanted.”
“The baby,” Faith blurted out. “Did you find it?”
“I know what happened to it.” Her dark curls bounced as she nodded to Faith. “Her father made her give it up. An orphanage ran by nuns in New Orleans. They didn’t keep very accurate records of unwed mothers from wealthy families.”
“Oh, what did you find?”
“My great grandmother was raised in an orphanage, given up at birth. I had some digging to do but the dates match, and it was her.”
Mason’s hand tightened on hers, she felt his warmth and love. Holding her breath, she waited for their reactions.
Claire moved first, her blue eyes dancing with excitement as she jumped from her seat to hug Serena. “Wow! That’s amazing! Right Faith?”
“My grandmother told me stories about her mother growing up at the orphanage but I never gave it much thought. It was so long ago and it really didn’t effect me.”
“So Anna was your great great grandmother? That’s insane.” Ben whistled with appreciation.
“So you have come home!” Claire beamed.
“Yes,
I have dreamed of this house all of my life and now I know why.”
Ben coughed nervously. “Umm.. That’s unexpected news. Weird thing though….” He ran a hand nervously through his hair. “I talked to Margaret like you asked.”
“Mom?” Faith blinked at them still stunned at the news.
“What does she have to do with this?” Evan demanded.
“I just needed some family info.” Ben held out his hands, not ready to take on Faith and Evan at once.
“Why?” Evan asked suspiciously, narrowing his eyes at Ben.
“Anna did marry after she gave up the baby and the lumber mill burned. She married Harold Bertrand, and they had two children together.”
“No!” Faith stood.
“One son, named after his father, Harold. Great grandfather to your dad, Edward,” Ben continued.
Evan let out a groan as he pushed his dark bangs from his forehead. “We’re related, kind of?”
“Yes, it would seem so.” Serena smiled at the news.
“Yes!” Claire jumped up and down. “We are family, see?”
Climbing in Evans’s lap she beamed happily. “And we get to be married here where it all started.”
“Faith? Are you ok?” Serena noticed Faith’s lack of reaction and worried she had been disappointed by the news.
“Yeah, this is weird.” Her voice barely a whisper, Faith stared at the floor in shock.
“Babe, what’s wrong?” Jake pulled her back down to the love seat next to him.
“I don’t know. I’m just not sure what this means. For us.”
“What are you talking about? That has nothing to do with us.” Jake squeezed her hand.
“How can you say that? After everything. The song. The memories.”
“Those memories I had are just that. It didn’t even feel like me having them.” Jake shrugged shaking his head at Faith.
“But…”
“No, listen to me, Faith.” Taking her face in his hands, Jake made her look into his eyes. “I fell in love with you. You. Back in high school. You and me. It had nothing to do with this house. I don’t know how to explain it. I’m not sure I’ll ever understand any of it. But I think Anna used us to let Serena know what happened here with her baby. That’s all.”