The Sugar Hill Collection

by M. L. Bullock

  “I don’t know. A dress? I can’t wear pants. Oh, God, Reed! What could have happened to her? Summer says she disappeared…and I had a dream about her. I dreamed she was at Sugar Hill, but not with us, with Dominick and Annalee. And Summer said Jessica wanted to be with Dominick—that she’d gone back in time or something…”

  I broke down, and Reed knelt in front of me, hugging me. “Hey, what did you just tell Summer? Don’t think the worst. Not yet. We’ll find her sleeping in the gazebo or wandering in the woods. She used to walk in them all the time with Handsome. That’s probably what happened. She went for a walk and got lost. I think that medication is kicking your butt. You sure you’re up to flying home?”

  “If I have to crawl home, I’m going back to Sugar Hill.”

  “And I’ll crawl with you if necessary, but for now let’s plan on taking the plane.” He gave me a soft smile. “Tell you what, Avery. Let me pack while you rest, and then I’ll help you get dressed. How’s that?”

  I felt so sleepy I could hardly argue with him. “All right, but just a few minutes. I don’t want to miss that plane.”

  “If I have to carry you in your pajamas, we’re going home.”

  He covered me with a blanket, and I reached for him. “I know why Handsome came to see me now, Reed. He wanted me to know. I should have known.”

  “No, Avery. You couldn’t know Jessica would disappear. You can’t see the future. None of us can.”

  I felt my eyelids get heavier and then gave up the struggle. Sleep overtook me quickly, and unfortunately it was a dreamless sleep. Wherever Jessica was, she was on her own. I couldn’t find her or come to her.

  Jessica… Can you hear me?

  She didn’t answer, but I heard a song play softly somewhere. A familiar song and a familiar voice.

  “Handsome! Is that you?”

  He didn’t answer but continued singing his song.

  Sunday is gloomy

  My hours are slumberless.

  Dearest, the shadows

  I live with are numberless.

  Little white flowers

  Will never awaken you.

  Not where the black coach

  Of sorrow has taken you.

  Angels have no thoughts

  Of ever returning you.

  Would they be angry

  If I thought of joining you?

  “Handsome? I can’t find Jessica. Help me,” I cried in my sleep.

  Soon there’ll be candles

  And prayers that are said, I know.

  Let them not weep.

  Let them know that I’m glad to go.

  Death is no dream,

  For in death I’m caressin’ you.

  With the last breath of my soul,

  I’ll be blessin’ you.

  When Reed woke me for the flight, I already knew how this would end. Still, I owed it to Jessica to try. Yes, we owed her at least that much.

  Chapter Eighteen – Jessica

  My heart skipped a beat as I realized I’d done it—I’d made it back to Dominick. I wanted to cry, smile and shout for joy, but there was no time for such jubilation. There he was now—Dominick, talking to Emilio Sota and his father. I waved at him, and he smiled back questioningly. I shook my head but couldn’t stop smiling. Yes, I loved this man with all my heart. But what about his real wife?

  Yes, what about Ophelia? What would happen if I managed to take her place? Would I consign her to death? Where was she now that I was here?

  I heard a sob behind me and spun around to see Annalee swiftly departing the ballroom. My anger rose as I watched Champion grin at her back and turn to give his wife an innocent look. The woman was a fool if she believed that dimpled smile. Why did he torment Annalee so? Yes, now was the time. Time to end this. I would confront him here, while there were people about and there was no danger to myself.

  “Brother-in-law, we haven’t danced yet.”

  He peered down at me, his wild dark eyes examining my own. “Forgive me for my oversight, sister-in-law. May I now have the pleasure of your company for a turn or two around the room?” I heard whispers around me, but I put out my hand and formally accepted Champion’s offer. A springtime waltz rose from the tiny orchestra’s strings, and we sailed about the room in broad sweeps. Dominick watched us furiously, but I carefully avoided eye contact. It was now or never—I had to play the hand I was dealt.

  “We seem to be causing quite a stir, Mrs. Dufresne. I hope your reputation will survive this dance. Heaven knows my own wife looks extremely unhappy. I’m sure she’ll never forgive me. She’s a very jealous woman.”

  I didn’t play along. The song would end soon, and I would never have another chance like this. “I’m not who you think I am, Champion.” That wiped the smirk off his face.

  “What could you possibly mean? How very mysterious. Are you trying to enchant me, Ophelia?”

  “I’m not Ophelia Dufresne. My name is…well, that’s not important.”

  He pulled me close as the row of dancers turned together; this was a complicated dance and I was failing miserably at it, but I had to keep dancing. His arm was around my waist, and I could hear him breathing in my ear. He smelled of tobacco and brandy and something else, something spicy.

  “Yes, that’s very tempting, but your husband is watching.”

  He spun me again, and this time we were face to face. “I know about you, Champion. I know what’s happening at Thorn Hill. I’ve been there. It’s a place that has a special kind of power and is home to a very dangerous spirit.”

  I thought he would stop our dance, but he continued to carry me around the room. His clamped jaw and tightened grip betrayed his anger. “What do you mean?”

  “You know it isn’t Annalee that’s tormenting you, Champion. It’s Ambrose, and that’s his house. Thorn Hill is his house.”

  “I see my brother has been filling your head with nonsense.”

  Then the truth became clear to me. He knew about Ambrose already! He knew more than anyone realized. In fact, I suspected he had dealings with Ambrose himself. I could feel it; I knew it from the touch of my skin on his. Yes, touch always betrayed betrayers. But treachery demanded a price, and he wasn’t immune from tragedy. In fact, it would hit him, and it would hit him hard. Unless he was willing to listen. This might be the way!

  “You have to listen to me, Champion. Your wife and your son…Devon, right? He will die—they will both die if you don’t listen to me. You can’t make deals with the devil. He will demand a price—a high price. They don’t have to die. You can save them! I can help you.”

  I gasped as he spun me around one more time. The song was about to end.

  No, please! Just a little longer!

  “You don’t know what you’re talking about,” Champion said vehemently. “You are mad, Ophelia.”

  “You must believe me, Champion. I know what will happen—I have…seen it. Please don’t kill Dominick. Break the cycle—break the curse. You can be your own man with your own mind. Stop what you’re doing! If you don’t, you will lose everything you love. Please, don’t kill Dominick. Don’t kill my husband.”

  As the song finished, Champion released me. The room quieted, except for the sailing violins. Everyone watched us as he threw my hands down like they were two hot stones.

  Dominick rushed toward me and pulled me close. “What are you doing, Ophelia?” he whispered in my ear. I stared at Champion’s back as he walked away from us.

  “I had to try. I had to make him see that he could change course. He could stop this if he wanted to.”

  Dominick’s grim expression surprised me. “You don’t have the right to do such a thing. Stay out of this. He’s caused enough damage to the people I love. Ah, here is Emilio ready for a dance.”

  “Do you need any assistance, Dominick? I know your brother to be a rude man. I’m quite surprised to see him here.” Emilio sipped on his punch and then handed the empty glass to a servant who walked past with a silver tray.


  “No, Emilio. Thank you. I haven’t seen you two dance yet, my friend. Let us celebrate my wife’s birthday with a waltz! She does love her waltzes.”

  I had no time to object. Dominick was out of the room now, heading to the French doors that opened onto the porch below and the garden beyond. I saw Emilio’s father attending him; he was carrying a case, a case I knew! That was my husband’s pistol case! Oh, God! What was he doing?

  “Emilio, let me go! I have to stop this!”

  “Don’t interfere, Ophelia! He has to do this for Annalee! It’s the only way she can regain her honor. Please, listen to me!”

  “No!” I screamed, bringing the festivities to a halt. I ran out the door while Emilio told the orchestra to continue playing. If I’d had any sense about me, I would have found the sheriff and begged him to make them stop. But that was foolish—the sheriff knew all about this. He knew and approved; that’s why he was here. In this era, many personal affronts were settled with duels. This would be one of those times. I ran past the servants who’d lined up in the hallway to watch their master die at the hands of his brother.

  “Move! Out of the way,” I shouted at every face that got in front of me. By the time I made it outside and down to the garden, the two men were pacing off with guns in hand.

  “No! Dominick! You can’t do this! Champion, stop!” Olive grabbed my arms and held me. “Annalee! Where are you?” I called around me but didn’t see or hear her.

  9…8…7…6…

  Oh, God! They were counting down…and then what happened? They would shoot at one another, of course. This couldn’t be happening!

  Suddenly, my sister-in-law’s voice rang out from the top floor. She shouted at Dominick to stop, but he pretended not to hear.

  I wrenched away from Olive and fell to the ground.

  5…4…3…

  I picked myself up, and my hands were bleeding from where I fell on the pavement. I ran toward Dominick, my back to Champion. My arms were outstretched, and my hands reached for my husband. A look of horror crossed his face as time seemed to slow to an agonizing crawl. Had time frozen all of us?

  “No! Ophelia!”

  Then I heard the gunshot and felt the fire burn through my back. The force of the shot sent me falling forward into Dominick’s arms. Immediately, he dropped his guns and held me, crying. “Ophelia! Ophelia! Please! Someone get a doctor! Don’t die, Ophelia! Don’t die, please, my love!”

  I tried to promise him that I wouldn’t. That I would always be with him. That I’d traveled through time to find him…but the words wouldn’t come. I lost myself in his eyes. His beautiful eyes. I’d found him at last. I was with him finally.

  And then his lovely face faded away.

  Chapter Nineteen – Annalee

  Last night’s events seemed like a dream. I woke up this morning and began to pack my things. There had been enough sadness in my life. It was time to leave Sugar Hill forever. I would take Ida and go see the world. I had plenty of money, thanks to my brother, and I’d always wanted to take the steamboat somewhere. But first, I had something to do.

  I had to say goodbye.

  It was misting rain outside, which seemed appropriate. I walked to the pond, climbed into the boat and sailed out to the gazebo. The place had seen better days. Maybe Dominick should tear it down. Just raze it and let the ground take it back, let it finally die.

  I pulled the boat up on the shore and walked into the gazebo, half expecting to see Mother on one of the benches. Perhaps I would find her hiding in the greenery along with the faces of the concrete statues of children.

  “Mother, I can’t see you, but I know you hear me. I know you are there. I’m leaving Sugar Hill, Mother. I’m taking the baby and leaving, and I can’t tell you where because he’ll know. But Mother, if you can, why don’t you come with us? Watch over us? I love you, Mother, and I have done all I can for Dominick. He’ll have to do the rest on his own.”

  I sat on the bench and waited to hear something, but I heard nothing except for the scratching of some squirrels and the fussing of blue jays. Finally, I got up to leave and heard her laughter. It was soft, pretty and happy. She approved of my decision, and that was enough. I didn’t turn around. I didn’t need to see her. I heard her, and it filled my heart with joy.

  This would probably be the last time I heard her before I saw her in glory, if either of us made it, but it was enough.

  Yes, it was all right to leave. Ambrose had been hovering near Ida, just waiting to pounce on her innocence like a spider. Like Champion had pounced on me in my foolishness…and God only knew how many others. I would leave Dominick to his own fate now. He’d done all he could do to help me. I spoke to him early this morning about my trip. He was awake but had not slept much. He did not argue with me, asking only that I take a decent traveling companion and that I write to him occasionally. He couldn’t look me in the eye. He’d failed in his mission to kill Champion and had suffered himself in ways he couldn’t even imagine. I had to live with that.

  I chose Emilio as my travel partner, and I had decided to marry him. Life was too precious and too short to live it alone. Today, I didn’t dress in black but wore a smart traveling dress of purple linen. I hoped it suited me. I’d had it for such a long time that I feared it might be out of style by now. But I had always loved purple.

  When Emilio arrived, I could see that I worried for nothing. I was beautiful again to someone. And to myself. At least in that, Dominick had succeeded. I had my honor back.

  “Good morning, Emilio. Are you ready for an adventure?”

  He smiled so big that I thought his face would crack, and it filled me with joy. I laughed aloud. That was a strange sound indeed, but I liked it.

  Yes, traveling with Emilio would be exciting. Maybe I should change.

  What did one wear for an elopement?

  Chapter Twenty – Summer

  I woke up with an urge to stretch my legs. Spring had arrived early in Belle Fontaine. I’d spotted a few deer from the second-story window and loved the sight of those gentle animals making themselves at home here. And I saw something else too. I saw Aunt Anne. She was wearing her pink suit and white heels and carrying her old-fashioned clutch purse. She waved at me as if I were late for one of her early morning teas. I had forgotten about that tradition of ours. How I missed it.

  Aunt Anne wasn’t waiting, and I ran down the stairs and went straight outside to go find her. Naturally, she’d want me to come see her at the Rose Cottage. She had spent many years at Sugar Hill, but she finally said enough was enough, moved out and left all this behind. She loved her Rose Cottage, and I did too.

  I followed her down the path until she disappeared, but I wasn’t disturbed by that. She would be at the cottage. I walked up to the Creole-style home and reached for the front doorknob. The door opened as if Aunt Anne had opened it herself.

  The place was vacant now. Mitchell and Angie had left Belle Fontaine for good and bought a beach house in Pensacola. My brother loved life with Angie and had even managed to lose a few pounds. I’d talked to him just this morning, and we’d had our long-awaited heart-to-heart. I hadn’t planned on asking for forgiveness, but it just kind of came out. Soon, he was crying, I was crying and life was good again.

  But Aunt Anne…I hadn’t dreamed I’d have the opportunity to really make it right with her. I mean, I did wear her dress to Avery’s wedding and had done a few other things to honor her, but this?

  “Aunt Anne? I’m here. It’s me, Summer. I want you to know I’m leaving Sugar Hill. I resigned my position as matrone. You were right about me. I’m not cut out for that kind of work. I think it’s time to move on.”

  Then I heard the clinking of china behind me. “I never said you weren’t up for the job. You said that,” Aunt Anne’s voice said quietly. I looked over my shoulder, surprised to see my great-aunt pouring a cup of tea for me. She pointed at the seat but said nothing else.

  “I always felt that way. I never measured up to you
r standards, Aunt Anne. I know it. I was a disappointment. That really hurt me because all I wanted to do was please you. Why was I never enough?”

  “Have you always made the right decisions, Summer?”

  “No, I haven’t,” I said as I stared at her lovely face. How was it that she was more beautiful now than when she was alive?

  “Neither have I. I saw a different future for you, and I wanted to keep you from it. But you, dear, clever girl, you figured out the secret. You saved Avery, and you saved us all. You broke the curse. Now have a rest and enjoy your family.”

  It was impolite to laugh at a ghost, but I had a good chuckle at that. I looked at her, prepared to argue about it like we always did, but she was gone. Even the tea tray was gone. I had no teacup here. No sugar cubes, no lemon.

  And no Aunt Anne.

  “I love you, Aunt Anne. I love you so much. Thank you for everything.”

  I heard nothing else, so I walked back to the house and allowed Matthew to load my bags for me. Avery would be home this evening; she was cutting her trip short, but not by much. It couldn’t be helped. Now was the time. I had to go. I had to make peace with what happened.

  Oh, Jessica. I failed you, my sweet friend.

  But where? Where should I go?

  You go to Georgia, that’s where.

  Eric lived in Georgia. I’d text him now and ask about his plans for this evening. If he wasn’t available or didn’t want to see me, I’d keep moving. Maybe I’d go to New England. I’d always wanted to go see the sights up there. Why not? Yes, it was time to move on.

  Goodbye, ghosts of my past. And you too, Sugar Hill.

  Maybe I’ll see you again, but not too soon.

  Epilogue – Arnold Lee

  Arnold Lee liked this song. He snapped his fingers to the rhythm and bobbed his head up and down. This was the kind of song that put pep in his step, as his grandpa would’ve said. It was much livelier than some of the other songs Miss Billie sang in his ear.