Jacques drifted to the door, trying to go beyond it. He looked back, shaking his head.
“We’ll try this one then.” Jessie dug out the Levi’s from the bottom drawer and placed the box inside, stuffing the pants around it. She shut it, looking back at him. He disappeared for a second and then walked back into the room.
“Only as far as the hallway.”
“Maybe it’s the type of wood or the thickness,” Jessie said, pulling the box back out.
Jacques was immediately by her side. He grinned, nodding in agreement.
“Any ideas?”
“Non.” He shrugged. “But there is an old trunk in the attic.”
“Jessie?” her mother called. “Did you take Aunt Katie’s stash?”
“Crap!” Jacques used Jessie’s word of the day as she ran across the room with the evidence, dragging him in tow.
Chapter 9
“Jessica Anne Phelps.” Jessie heard her mother use her full name from her childhood as she started up the stairs. How easy it is to be transported back to being twelve again she thought as she did the two-step and ran back the other way. She darted into the bathroom and locked the door.
“What now?” Jacques asked with a flick of his wrist.
The sink was a pedestal and the towel cabinet was open to the room. Jessie looked around frantically. There wasn’t a place to hide anything in here. She could hear her mother open the door to the bedroom.
“Jessie?” her mother called again.
Jessie tip-toed while her mother marched across the floor. Jessie opened up the back of the toilet and immersed the box inside the tank. “I hope that’s waterproof,” she whispered as her mother knocked on the door. Jacques stood beside her, looking like she had just flushed his dreams down the toilet.
“Jessie.” her mother said. “Open this door this instant.”
Jessie replaced the lid, washed and dried her hands, and calmly opened the door to her mother. “What is it?” Jessie asked innocently.
Her mother peeked past her, stepping in to sniff the air. She managed to look behind the door and under the towels inconspicuously before coming into the bedroom to look around. “Why are your clothes all over the floor?”
“I was trying to decide what to wear,” Jessie said. “Mom, I’m not on drugs. I’m a grown woman . . . and I think it’s time for you to start treating me like an adult.”
Her mother looked wounded by her words but said stoically, “And I’m your mother, and no matter how old you get, I will always care because I love you.”
“I know, Mom, and I love you for it,” Jessie said. “Aunt Katie asked me to watch over that specifically.” Which wasn’t a lie, really. Aunt Katie had asked her to look after her home, and by that she now knew she meant Jacques. “I think someone broke into the house to steal that box, so I moved it to keep it safe.”
“I’ve been here all day, Jessie,” her mother sighed. “I think I would have noticed.”
“I’m not so sure, Mom,” Jessie said. “Maybe you should go back home where it’s safe.”
Her mother’s eyes clouded with tears. “You don’t want me here?”
“No, Mom,” Jessie said, walking toward her. “It’s not that at all. Of course I want you here. I’m just afraid for your safety.”
Her mother sat on the edge of the bed and wiped a tear from her eye. “Jessie, I think you should know something.”
Considering her list of things to know had increased significantly, Jessie had no idea what to expect. “What is it?”
“I have nowhere else to go.” She sighed heavily. “I have left your father.”
“You what?” Jessie asked, dumbfounded. “Why?” At her mother’s crestfallen expression, Jessie sat beside her and wrapped her arms around her. “Are you okay?”
“Yes,” her mother sniffed.
“What happened?” Jessie asked.
“Nothing happened, dear.” Her mom wiped a tear from her eye. Jessie stood to get a tissue from the box on the nightstand. “Nothing ever does. He hardly notices me,” Gloria said as she took the tissue and blew. “I doubt he even knows I’m gone. All he ever does is stay down in that basement with his research.”
“Mom, don’t say that.” Jessie sat next to her on the bed. “I’m sure when he gets back from—”
Her mother shook her head sadly. “He’s not at a seminar, Jessie.” Her mother took in another troubled breath. “He just doesn’t care. It’s been something that was always there, but now it has become too much for me to bear.”
“Mom, I’m so sorry that I didn’t notice.”
Her mother patted her knee. “Don’t you feel guilty now. You’ve had a lot on your plate, and in many ways you have been an inspiration.”
Great! Jessie thought. “I inspired you to leave Dad?”
“No,” Gloria said. “I don’t want you to think for a moment that you are responsible for my choices.” She looked at her daughter and smiled. “I realized that part of the reason you chose Steve was because of what I had shown you.”
“Mom, you aren’t responsible for that.” Jessie thought college aged hormones had done that. . . . Not that she was going to share that info with her mother.
“In a way, yes, I am.” Gloria nodded regretfully. “I never showed you a healthy relationship. How could you know or recognize what love really is if you’ve never seen a healthy example?” A tear slipped down her mother’s cheek.
“Mom,” Jessie said. Her heart was breaking for the guilt and grief her mother had bottled up inside her.
“It’s all right.” Her mother smiled. “I’m a big girl too.” She nodded. “I realize that being someone’s doormat is not a healthy role model. I didn’t stick up for myself, and I showed you in many ways that it is acceptable to be with a man who doesn’t love you.”
“I’m sure Dad loves you.” Jessie smiled back at her with tears in her eyes. Her mother’s shoulders sagged all the more. “I’m sorry, Mom.”
“Me too.” Gloria sighed. “Now, on to the matter of this box.”
“Mom,” Jessie groaned, thinking they were back to that.
“If it’s not safe here, I don’t want you here either.” Her mother held up her hand. “Yes, I know you’re an adult, but that is the way it is. If you’re staying, I’m staying. We’re in this together.”
“Mom,” Jessie said, surprised that her mother hadn’t gone back to the matter of Aunt Katie’s missing stash. “I love you.” She hugged her.
“Good!” Gloria squeezed her daughter tightly, “because you are stuck with me, young lady, whether you want me or not.”
“I want you.” Jessie squeezed her mom back and then released her. She couldn’t very well tell her mother about Jacques, but she couldn’t risk her mother’s safety either. “Will you keep your cellphone handy?” Jessie asked instead, knowing her mother’s dislike for carrying it everywhere.
“Yes.”
“If anything suspicious happens, will you call me or the police immediately?”
“Absolutely.” She crossed her heart
“Well,” Jessie looked at the clock, “I guess the only thing left to do is get ready for dinner with the neighbors.”
“Oh, would you look at the time?” her mom asked. “We’d better hurry.”
“Uh-don’t wear your best shoes,” Jessie warned.
“Why?” Gloria asked as she stood up.
“That little doggie of hers is very bad!” Jessie smiled.
“Duke, the dachshund?” her mom asked, disbelieving. “He seemed pretty harmless to me.”
“He is death to shoes,” Jessie said as she watched her cross the room. “His nick name is Lucifer.”
“Who would call that little dog that?” her mom asked before she left the room.
“Who indeed?” Jessie said to herself as she crossed to the door, closed it, and turned back to the room. “Jacques?” she whispered. When he didn’t answer, she ran to the bathroom. He was nowhere to be seen. She did the only thing she
could think of. . . . She flushed.
“You summoned me?” Jacques asked, sitting on the commode a second later, like a genie in a bottle.
Jessie grinned. “It worked.”
“So it seems,” Jacques said, somewhat disgruntled. “When the water goes whoosh, there I will be.”
“Which leads me to wonder where you’ve been,” Jessie said.
“In the yard,” he said, elated.
“Were you here when my mother was?”
“Non.” Jacques shook his head. “Why? Did I miss something?”
“No,” Jessie said, not sure if she was happy about the fact he had absconded, leaving her to face the consequences of the stolen box by herself, or not. “Jacques, I have to go to dinner soon,” she said. “Are you–is this,” she indicated the toilet, “going to be okay?”
“I will guard this throne as though my life depended on it,” Jacques pledged.
Jessie sighed, rolling her eyes. “I’m being serious. I’m at a loss here. Someone stole that key.” She sat on the tub. “How could they have known it was in there?”
Jacques ran his hand through his hair. “This has bothered me too.”
“Could they be a ghost spy or something?” Jessie asked.
He smiled, amused by the notion. “Non, that, I think I would sense.” He watched her a moment before standing up. “Do not worry. Whoever it was, they will not be able to do it again. That, I promise.”
There was something in his voice that made her believe him, but she couldn’t quite shake the feelings from all that had happened in the last two days, her divorce, a mind blowing experience with the supernatural, the break-in, her mom’s break-up. She felt a little overwhelmed by it all. She stood up and went into the bedroom.
“What is it?” Jacques asked as he played with the hound dog she had purchased. Elvis’s voice started to sing, “I’ll-ha-have a-huh-bl-u-u-u-u- Christmas without you-u-u-u-u.”
“Ah,” he nodded, “it’s good, oui?”
“Oui.” Jessie nodded, knowing it to be the truth. She would be blue without him. This, barely there man, had changed her world. She couldn’t even remember when she had last thought of Steve. She smiled when he started singing along. “I’m going to go get freshened up for dinner.”
“Just don’t flush unless you want my undivided attention.” He chuckled.
~*~
“Come on in,” Mavis said, stepping back from the doorway in order to allow Jessie and her mom to walk past her. “I just pulled out the pot roast.”
“It smells heavenly,” Gloria said, inhaling the aromas coming from the kitchen. “I can already tell I’m going to want that recipe.”
“It’s been in the family for generations.” Mavis beamed at the compliment.
Jessie’s mouth watered at the smell of it. She was almost glad even, until Lucifer greeted her feet, and Mavis said that her son would be right down.
“He was a little late getting home from work,” Mavis said.
I’ll just bet he was! Jessie again thought of the woman she’d seen in his arms. The image of the busy bee and Mavis sitting down together at the same table came to mind once again. I’d actually pay money to see that one, Jessie thought. She just wished she wasn’t the one having to fill the spot and sit here tonight. Jessie glanced toward her mother, grateful she wasn’t alone.
“Oh, here he is now.” Mavis beamed with motherly pride.
Jessie turned to see the man come down the stairs freshly showered and dressed in a black pair of cargo pants and a black T-shirt. His blonde hair was still wet where it curled against his collar. She had to admit he’d make one heck of a Thor.
“Gloria,” Mavis said, “this is my son, Jonathan.”
“How do you do?” Jonathan extended his hand to her mother. “I can see where Jessie gets her looks from.” He grinned.
What a con man! Jessie thought as she watched him work his charm on her mother.
“I’m so l glad to finally meet you,” her mom said. “I’ve heard so much about you.”
“All good I hope.” He smiled broadly. “Hi, Jessie, you look sensational!”
“Thanks,” Jessie said.
Her mother gave her a smile of motherly approval when he turned away, as if saying, now there is a catch or a match made in heaven. Jessie suddenly wanted to run.
“How about a drinky-poo?” Mavis asked. “I have a bottle of wine. Shall we open it?”
“I’d love a glass,” Gloria said.
“Jessie, would you like one?” Mavis asked.
“Yes, please.”
“Jonathan, would you be a dear and open it? I am going to put the finishing touches on our dinner,” his mother said.
“Sure thing.”
Yep, everything was a sure thing to this guy. Jessie couldn’t help but wonder if Jacques wasn’t rubbing off on her.
“Can I help?” Gloria asked.
“Why, yes,” Mavis said.
When Jessie realized that would leave her alone with Thor, she started to follow the women to the kitchen. “May I help too?”
“I’ve all the help I need,” Mavis said. “You know what they say about too many hands in the pie.”
Jessie didn’t and wished she’d just followed without asking. She turned back to face Jonathan. One word came to mind. Awkward! “How is the bump on your noggin?” she asked as he smiled at her.
“Fine,” he said. “At least I don’t think it’s affected-affected me.” He twitched his shoulder like maybe it had.
“I’m sure you’re fine.” Jessie smiled, turning her attention to the many photos and trophies that lined the bookshelf. One in particular caught her attention. It was a photo of the football hero himself surrounded by the cheerleading squad. Jessie had no problems identifying the one with the big pom-poms.
Apparently, Mister MVP and the busy bee go way back, Jessie thought as she noticed the framed certificate next to it on the shelf. “Voted most likely to succeed, I see.”
“Yeah.” He chuckled as he opened the bottle his mother had set out.
She went to the next shelf and was greeted by a photo of him in uniform with a shaved head. “You were in the service?”
“I wanted to learn how to fly jets.” He grinned. “Turns out I was too big for the cockpit.”
She wondered if he was just trying to flatter himself as he laughed.
“That’s actually what made me late,” he whispered conspiratorially. “I just finished up taking my pilot’s test. I have a plane I’m refurbishing, but don’t say anything.” He threw his glance toward the kitchen. “It’s a surprise.”
“Mums the word.” Jessie zipped her mouth as she watched him pour the drinks. I just bet it was a surprise! Mavis would probably blow a gasket if she knew.
Jessie came to the end of the bookshelf with nothing left to do except watch Thor. “Where is the little girl’s room?” Jessie asked.
“Just down the hall.” He pointed.
Jessie didn’t need to go. She just desperately needed to get away. As soon as she shut the door, Jacques appeared behind her. “Augh,” she gasped. “What are you doing here?”
“I thought I would check on you.” He smiled. “I thought you would last a little longer before you had to escape.”
“You shouldn’t be here,” she whispered. “What about the house?”
“Do not worry so.” Jacques smiled. “I can watch both.”
“Uh, this is not a good idea,” Jessie said, rubbing her temple.
“You do not believe me?” Jacques asked. He disappeared momentarily, then he was back. “See? I checked. It’s fine. Besides, I barricaded the door to your room.”
“You did what?” Jessie started then asked, “With what?”
“The bed.” He shrugged.
“You’ve been rearranging the furniture?” Jessie asked, her whispered voice a little high.
“Among other things.” Jacques grinned.
“What other things?” Jessie asked in alarm.
Jessie noticed the mischievous glint in his eye and could just imagine the ghostly version of the movie Home Alone going on next door.
“Just make sure you have it straight when my mother gets back!” Jessie warned him.
“Ruff-ruff!”
The bathroom door was suddenly attacked from the other side. Duke scratched on it, his little brown paws poking in from the space under the door. “You need to go,” Jessie turned to say, but he was already gone.
“Duke!” Mavis scolded from the other side of the door. “You come away from there this instant.”
Jessie watched as the little paws disappeared immediately–not because he minded her, but because Mavis had no doubt scooped him up.
“Why must you do that?” Jessie heard Mavis scold him from the hall. Jessie flushed the toilet and washed her hands for effect before opening the door.
“Oh, dear, I’m so sorry for that.” Mavis looked truly horrified. “He is a bad dog.”
Jonathan handed her a glass of wine when she returned to the party.
She took a sip, “Hmm, thanks.”
“Sure thing.”
Seriously, would it kill him to learn a new phrase? She looked over to see both their mothers watching from where they sat on the sofa, visions of grandchildren bouncing on their laps. Like sugar plums and foregone conclusions. . . . Jessie wanted to roll her eyes.
“Your home is lovely, Mavis,” her mother said, taking some of the attention off of her. “And I love how you’ve decorated your Christmas tree.
“Some of those ornaments go back generations,” Mavis said. “Sadly, this home is not as old as the Bancroft Mansion.” Mavis sighed as though she had lost the, who has the oldest house contest and bingo prize. “This one was built sometime after, in 1881.”
Jessie realized then that the evening might not be a complete bust. She had all kinds of questions regarding the past. “I have to tell you, I’ve become very curious about the history of the house and your great-great-great-great grandfather,” Jessie said. She was almost sure she heard a slight groan from Mister MVP slash most likely to succeed, who was still standing close to her. “What can you tell me about him?” Jessie smiled. . . . Revenge was hers!
Treasure of the Jaguar Warrior - Mystery of the Mayan Calendar Page 9