Blue Autumn in the Bayou (Gumbo Love)

by Clay, Ann

  No more than fifteen minutes later, Mer Drace heard a knock at her door. She knew it was one of two people, her daughter, Maree, or her grandson, Tempest. She slowly came to her feet and went to the door. Without looking, she pushed back the locks and released the front door. “Mer Drace.” A worried Maree hugged her mother.

  CHAPTER 23

  Travis stirred for a minute, and then reached for Autumn. She was not there. His body still ached from the fall earlier, so he rolled to the end of the bed and headed to the bathroom. His heart nearly stopped when he heard her crying. “Autumn.” With help from the dim light on the digital clock, he could see her balled up on the floor.

  He walked over and bent down. “Autumn. Baby, what’s wrong?” He pulled her up to a sitting position. She still didn’t answer. “Come on, sweetheart. Get up.”

  “I’m sorry; I didn’t mean to wake you.” She sniffled.

  “Baby, what’s wrong?”

  “I was so scared today, Travis.”

  “I shouldn’t have done the bungee jump, Autumn. It was selfish of me. I knew that.” He rubbed his hands down her arms.

  “This was my fault, Travis. This wouldn’t have happened if it weren’t for me.”

  He frowned. “What? That makes no sense, Autumn. This had nothing to do with you. What happened was an accident.” He pulled her up by her arms and drew her into his embrace. “It’s okay, sweetheart. I shouldn’t have scared you. Come on.” He reached for a face cloth, dampened it and helped Autumn clean her face.

  Travis helped her back to the bedroom. He placed her gently on the bed and climbed in next to her. “Listen to me.” After he flipped on the lamp near the bed, he cradled her close to his chest and rested his chin on top of her head. She trembled in his embrace. “If there’s one thing I know for sure, I’m absolutely, positively, certain that what happened today had nothing, absolutely nothing to do with anything that happened to your grandfather, or your grandmother, or anyone else.”

  He dropped his face close enough that their noses almost touched. “We’re going to have a good life together because we have something special. I think our life together will be whatever we make it.”

  Autumn sought comfort against his body. She felt safe with him. Still a small lingering voice, the voice of fear grabbed her. She wanted to believe Travis. Not just for the moment, but forever. She finally settled on putting her fears aside like she did the night before when she found out about Savannah, and trusted her heart. The effort was proving challenging, to say the least. Autumn responded by moving closer into his embrace. She pushed him onto his back. “I don’t want to lose you.” She whispered.

  Travis frowned. “You’re not going to lose me. Where is this coming from? I’m not going anywhere. Are you?”

  Autumn moved from him and slid across the bed to the other side of the room. She walked to the French doors and stopped. She stood with the same grace and elegance she always did no matter where she was or what she was doing.

  “Autumn.” She didn’t respond. “Autumn.” He called to her again, this time with more censure. She turned toward him but still said nothing.

  Travis tried to not let his anger flare. He understood how these beliefs of hers had been planted into her since she was a child, essentially her whole life. And he knew the whole Savannah drama was more his fault that anything else, but Autumn wasn’t a child anymore. He moved from the bed and stood behind her without touching her. The moment he moved behind Autumn, they spoke the words only exchanged by lovers.

  The energy was so strong that Autumn could barely breathe. She closed her eyes hoping it would calm her rattled nerves. Travis affected her in ways she didn’t have words to explain. If he looked at her or stood close to her without even touching her, she couldn’t concentrate on anything.

  Unconsciously, she leaned back leaving only a sliver of space between them. The hot air from his nostrils whipped against her neck forcing a sea of goose bump down her entire body. She swayed slightly in response to his call. They didn’t need words.

  “Baby, I’m trying to understand.” His sultry voice reached deep into her spirit. She turned to meet him and saw a plea in his gaze. He willingly came down to her level to show her just how much he cared for her. The least she could do was meet him halfway.

  “I love you, Travis.”

  “I love you.”

  “Yes, I know. I’m not going anywhere.”

  Relief washed over his features. He braced his hands against the door, essentially caging her in a cocoon with his body. He leaned down and kissed her left brow. When she placed her hand flat against his chest, he trailed kisses down her face until he captured her lips lightly. “Good decision, because I would have to hunt you down.” He whispered into her ear.

  Autumn couldn’t help but to smile. Travis had a way of changing the mood. He did it with cat-like ease. “My daddy is six-foot-four and three hundred and sixty pounds.” She grinned up at him.

  “Yeah, but he’s old. Look at this.” He flexed his arms and chest. “Young. A buck. Can pick you up like you’re a feather.” He snatched her up and headed for the bed. His soreness forgotten, he dropped her, covered her body, and kissed her like it was to last forever. He lifted his head. “Can your old daddy do that?”

  Autumn giggled. “No. I guess not.” She tried to roll out of Travis’s strong hold but couldn’t. “Bully!” she pouted.

  “Yep!”

  * * * *

  Travis and Autumn spent Sunday alone. They decided not to join his family at the usual Sunday dinner. Autumn fixed brunch and they ate out on the patio, overlooking the manmade lake in the back of Travis’s house.

  Travis didn’t give her an opportunity to sulk about the day at the fairgrounds. They took a walk to the far end of his property where he finally introduced her to his neighbor Scott Bourgeois. “It’s nice to meet you, darling.” He drawled. “Did Travis here tell you we might be related? The Boudreaux’s and Bourgeois are kin, you know.” The old man reached for her hand and instead of shaking it, kissed the back of it lightly. “What did you say your last name was?”

  “Thibodaux.” Autumn answered.

  Scott picked up where he left off. “No, I don’t think I’m related to you. Thibodaux’s are not in our family tree.” Travis observed the move closely. The last thing he needed was the old man trying to move in on his territory. When he was done, he winked at Autumn before leaving them at the path between their properties. “She’s something special.”

  Travis wrapped his arms around Autumn and hugged her snugly. “I’ll especially keep her away from you, old geezer.” He whispered into Autumn’s hair.

  Autumn frowned as she looked up at Travis. “Really?”

  Travis’s eyes darkened. “Really.” He kissed her after he turned her completely in his arms.

  * * * *

  Later that evening, Autumn checked her phone, something she hadn’t done since she called Travis the day before. She looked at her missed-call notifications before she hit the call button, and waited for her mother’s voice on the other end. “Mom.”

  “Thank God, Autumn Makela. Where in the world are you child, and why didn’t you call me back?”

  “Mom, I’m sorry. It was crazy yesterday and I haven’t checked my phone since…”

  “Are you okay, Autumn? We were worried sick, little girl,” her mother interrupted.

  “Yes ma’am, I’m okay. I’m sorry I didn’t call.” Autumn scooted back on to the window bench and curled her legs beneath her.

  She instantly changed the subject. She wasn’t ready to tell her mother what happened to Travis for fear of what she might say. She promised Travis that she would give their love a chance. She intended to. “Are you coming for my show in two weeks? I want you and Mer Drace to come.”

  “Now, you know Mer Drace is not coming to New York, Autumn.”

  “Why not? She should. I want her to. Could you please ask her again for me, Mom? Please!”

  “I’ll try Aut
umn, but you know how she is. She hasn’t left this island since your first recital.”

  Smiling, Autumn gazed out of the bay window. She’d successfully diverted her mother’s attention from the earlier question. Now that the topic had changed, she wouldn’t have to lie. The upcoming show played tribute to women. She choreographed a segment, in honor of her mother and grandmother. She hoped Maree and Mer Drace would see the opening show, but she also wanted to tell them about Travis. It was time.

  “I know you don’t want to tell me what happened yesterday, little one, but I know you will in your time.” Her mother didn’t pry but knew Autumn was avoiding her original question.

  “Yes ma’am. I’ll call you later this week and we can talk about you coming if Mer Drace still decides not to accompany you.”

  “Okay, sugah. I’ll talk to you later. Love you.”

  “I love you, Momma.”

  * * * *

  Autumn danced from side to side in the airport security area. Her momma was in New York. For the first time since she was a little girl, she couldn’t remember being so excited to see her. Maree was in her city to spend almost a whole week with her. Her week would have been tight if Travis were there as well. But he suggested she spend that time with her mother.

  She squealed with delight when she saw her ageless mother walk through the waiting area. Autumn rushed toward her and hugged her tightly. “Momma. I’m so glad you’re here.”

  “Oh sweetheart, I’m happy to be here with you. Your daddy and your brother send their love. And of course you know I couldn’t come here without Mer Drace’s blessings. She sent you a little something.” She hugged Autumn and planted a kiss on her cheek. She held her face in her hands and stared at her daughter. Maree sighed with relief when she saw that Autumn no longer hid her beautiful blue eyes.

  The first two days together Maree allowed Autumn to drag her from one place to the next. “Oh, honey, that Statue of Liberty is something to see. My, it’s huge. I see what all the fuss is about.” She held her hand to her chest. “It’s a little fast pace for my taste.” She referred to New York. “But I can see how you don’t have time to call your mother more often.”

  “Mom.” Autumn rolled her eyes. “I call you every week, lady.”

  “Yeah, but you have yet to tell me about this boy you’re all starry eyed over. You have yet to tell me what’s going on with you, Autumn. And you better not tell me some off-the-wall crap, Autumn Makela Thibodaux.”

  Autumn studied the defiant look on her mother’s face. “His name is Travis Brooks.”

  Maree frowned. “Brooks? I think we know some Brooks families.”

  “Yes, Brooks. They are from New Orleans. Reggie married his brother. Remember I told you about the wedding?” She watched her mother take a seat on one of the park benches. “He’s really a nice guy, Mom. He’s a good man.”

  “Autumn, honey, you have to be careful.”

  Autumn moved to the bench and sat next to her mother. “I am careful, Mom. He knows me. He’s been good to me.”

  “And exactly what does that mean, child? Is that why you finally took those things out of your eyes? I would say it’s time but you know what—”

  Autumn didn’t give her mother the opportunity to finish. “Mom, it’s superstition, old tales. Nobody believes any of that stuff anymore. Surely you can’t expect me to believe that what happened to Mer Drace has anything to do with you or with me. You and Dad chose to live your lives the way you do. There’s nothing wrong with Travis and me.”

  Something happened between her mother and father. Maree and some of her craziness interfered with her marriage, but Gator didn’t scare easily. He refused to leave even though he would have been justified to do so. He vowed to never leave her or his children, so he stayed. After some time, they grew back together, and essentially, co-existed as husband and wife. Autumn couldn’t remember the last time she saw her parents embrace or kiss. “Just cause you don’t see it now, don’t mean it won’t happen.”

  “Mom, please! People at home live in a world closed off to the rest of it. They repeat stuff without proof or evidence. It’s been said for so long that people believe it’s true. Think about the people from all over the world who visit Grand Isle to get a piece of what life is like there. But when they leave, and return home, they continue on with their lives the same as before.” Autumn dropped her hand on top of her mother’s, and looked at her for understanding.

  She told Travis everything about her family’s seemingly tarnished fate, which really had nothing to do with fate at all. She and Travis were just two people who fell in love, and needed to learn their lot in life, preferably on their own. She loved her family. After the incident with Travis, she decided not to chance losing him again.

  Travis planned a trip to New York for right after her mother left. With her mind made up, she planned to pursue him. She refused to let him be tempted by the likes of Savannah, and this trip, she intended to have her way with him. There were no reasons to hold back any longer. He would always have her heart.

  “What about your career? Your travels take you all over the world. You plan to give that up?” Maree asked.

  “No, ma’am. I don’t. I’ve not been asked to make that kind of choice. That’s what I mean, Mom. I’m getting more than I give. He hasn’t asked me to give up anything or do anything that I don’t want to.”

  “Give it time. Promise me you’ll give it some more time.”

  “Will you wait until you meet him before you make up your mind, please? Mer Drace is already okay with this.”

  Maree still worried about Autumn, but today she saw a different side of her, a side she liked. She wanted to enjoy the rest of her visit with her daughter, and choose to wait for another time to finish talking about Travis Brooks. “When are you coming home so you can bring him to meet your father?”

  “Very soon.” Autumn smiled and hugged her neck. “Now, are you ready to see my show?”

  “Why yes, yes indeed.”

  “Then let’s go get you all dolled up, shall we?” She and Maree went shopping and purchased a new dress to wear especially for the show that night.

  CHAPTER 24

  Travis looked at his clock and it was three in the morning. Autumn was heavy on his mind, so he called her. Her sleepy voice broke the line. “Hello?”

  “Hi baby. I can’t stop thinking about you.”

  “Are you okay?”

  “No.”

  Autumn heard something disturbing in his voice. She sat straight up. “What’s wrong?”

  “I want you. Nothing else is important anymore. I can’t imagine my life with anyone else.”

  “I am yours, Travis. But, baby, I think you know that.”

  “Yes. I just want to make sure you know that my heart belongs to you. I never really thought I would want to settle down, and be with one person. After the lake, it made me stop to rethink my life.”

  “Well, I think we have time. When I see you in a few days we can talk about it some more.”

  “How did the show go tonight? What did your mom think?”

  “It was fabulous! Very touching and very fulfilling at the same time. Oh, I wish you were here.”

  “I would have loved to have been there, you know this. I’m just happy your mother had a chance to come.”

  “Yes. We’ve been having a good time. You should be here.”

  “No, sweetheart. I don’t think so. Your mother might have a little more to say about me sleeping in your bed. And I doubt she’d be able to withstand me kissing you until you melted in my arms.”

  Hearing him say those things, and thinking about how much she would enjoy them, made her want to pull him through the phone. “You’re right. I can’t wait to see you.”

  “Oh, but you’ll have to, sweetheart. Good night. I love you.”

  “Good night, babe.”

  * * * *

  Everything male about Travis radiated like a high-beam headlight. He rotated the blue velvet box he
picked up from the jeweler before heading to the airport between his fingers. Jasper had been their family jeweler for decades. He instantly recognized the diamond ring the moment he opened the worn box when Travis had dropped it off. Jasper replaced the box with the same signature case he was known for, the same color blue on the outside, and gold lettering on the inside flap. “She must be special, Travis. Your grandmother was very fond of this ring.”

  “Yes and yes,” Travis responded when he took the open box. He removed the ring and read the inscription before replacing it back in the box. It sparkled ten times more than it had when he’d dropped it off. He remembered the day his grandmother gave it to him like it was yesterday. “Thanks, Jasper.”

  “Good luck.” The old-timer shook his hand.

  “Thanks.” Travis wore dark, tailored slacks with a salmon cotton button-down shirt. His initials were embroidered on the front collar, and the starched garment was tucked neatly in his pants. His musk cologne was noticeably fresh and drew a lot of attention. Every female he passed turned for a second look. And although he garnered attention, his focus bent toward the woman pacing the waiting area in LaGuardia International Airport. He could taste her sweet lips just thinking about her.

  He carried the single garment bag with his dinner jacket and shirt in it, and a small carrying bag with a change of clothing, his toiletries, and sneakers. He and Autumn planned to head to the theater straight from the airport to her last performance for the week. She’d made plans for his entire visit, and he didn’t flinch at her non-stop chatter about what they would do for the following four days. Travis didn’t much care, as long as they spent their time together.

  He scheduled a second meeting with Jacob for a couple of hours on Sunday afternoon. He had yet to tell that part to Autumn. She understood him like no else, other than his brothers, of course. He worked hard, but when he was with her, he put work aside. He took pride in the success of their family’s import/export business and shared with her all of his plans, his visions for the business, and how he and his brothers intended to make sure the legacy their father started would continue.