Blue Autumn in the Bayou (Gumbo Love)

by Clay, Ann

  By early evening, all the Brooks children were in the house. They ate their usual Sunday meal prepared by Diane. After dinner, the kids kicked Diane out of the kitchen and picked up the leftovers and cleaned the kitchen. Diane and Alvin retreated to the family room to watch a movie.

  Everyone except Autumn had to work the next day. So shortly after everything was put away, they all left and headed home. Travis spent an hour in his home office before he showered and joined Autumn in bed. He pulled her into his embrace and kissed her cheek. “Good night, sweetheart. We’ll talk tomorrow. I promise.”

  Travis knew she wanted to talk. She seemed distracted all evening. He didn’t give her a chance to discuss what was on her mind. He knew their conversation would need more time and attention than they would have tonight. He wanted to make sure they had plenty of time for a complete and thorough discussion about their future.

  Autumn snuggled closely to Travis and drifted off to sleep. When she awoke, she was no longer in the warm comforts of Travis’s arms. She sat up and looked around the semi-dark room.

  Moving to the edge of the bed, she padded off to the connecting bathroom. Heat and steam filled the room as Travis moved around in the stone shower stall. Just as he turned, he caught a glimpse of her and beckoned her into the shower.

  Autumn moved toward the shower door, but made no attempt to shed her clothes or step in when Travis opened the door. “No, babe. You know the first thing Bishop Landry is going to ask when we see him tomorrow.” She focused on his handsome face because she knew if she looked beyond that, she would end up in the shower stall with her husband.

  Travis frowned. Water dripped down his body. He was instantly aroused when he saw Autumn. Just thinking about being in her made him hard. He wanted to dismiss the promise to not make love to her again for a few days. And even though he’d promised Leo Crochet a meeting first thing that morning, he would gladly renege for a morning interlude with his beautiful and irresistible wife. “Since when do we care what Bishop Landry says or thinks, darling? We are husband and wife.” Even though Travis knew they needed the bishop’s approval, he still felt strongly about the vows they made in their civic ceremony.

  “I know.” She reached in and touched his wet face. “But let’s just stick with the plan until we’re remarried in the church, okay?” She couldn’t believe her own ears. Every ounce of her being wanted to step into that shower. Autumn watched the disapproval in his face, but held her ground. “I want this to be right, okay?”

  Travis thought twice about pulling her in, and damning what happened afterward. However, he decided to not make things more difficult than they were. After all, he did it last night when she wanted so desperately to talk about their future. “Okay, for now. But you are still my wife, Autumn. I don’t want my mother or anyone else to be confused about that fact. I took those vows to heart, seriously. And I meant them.”

  “I know. I did too. The only thing that matters to me is you, Travis. I do want to respect your mother’s wishes, but not if it means being at odds with you.”

  “You don’t need to worry about that, not ever; now out so I can finish my shower without looking at you because you know what you do to me.”

  Autumn smiled and backed away without another word. All the things she worried about last night she decided to toss aside. If she knew one thing, and one thing only about Travis, she was sure he would do whatever it took to make things work. It was a part of his DNA. For now all she needed to do was be his wife. She used the bathroom down the hall and then went to start breakfast for her husband.

  Travis smelled the strong aroma of chicory coffee and the sweet fragrance of beignets. He was no stranger to cooking; still he could really get used to someone else cooking for him. “Darling, something smells delicious in here.”

  Autumn handed him a strong cup of coffee. “Good morning. I hope you have a minute for something to eat.”

  “You’re kidding, right?” He kissed her strongly on the mouth. “I always have time to eat. I just don’t have a lot of time to linger over eating, even though I would like to this morning.” He sat at the bar and Autumn placed a plate of hot beignets and fresh fruit in front of him.

  * * * *

  Travis hugged her for a long moment before he walked through the door leading to the garage. As he pushed the garage door opener to release the door, he said, “I’ll be home early. We can talk then.”

  “I’ll be here. I love you. Have a good day.”

  “Thank you, beautiful. I’ll call you a little later.”

  “Okay.” Autumn waited until he pulled out of the garage and the door began to move down before she moved back into the house.

  Travis came home to a home-cooked meal. He and Autumn talked about their plans for the first three months. “We don’t have to try and figure out everything right now, baby.” He held her hand. “We have time to figure out what to do, and where we will live. For now, I’ll travel to New York if that will make things easier.”

  “I don’t want what’s easy for me, Travis. We’re in this together,” she countered.

  Travis liked committing a plan to paper, so he sketched on paper while they talked. Seeing him in this mode, made Autumn realize how keen of a businessman he was, and understood why he was so successful. He included her input because they were in this together.

  CHAPTER 34

  The following morning, they left the house together to meet Bishop Landry at his church office. Travis placed his hand at the small of her back as they climbed the stairs to the Bishop’s office. They’d both talked to the priest on separate occasions, prior to this appointment. And needless to say the padre’s stern reprimand led them to believe he planned to bless their marriage, but not until they’d suffered his long lecture on the Catholic martial law.

  They also knew he would demand they attend mass every week. Both he and Autumn attended mass regularly, which worked favorably in their request for convalidation. Nonetheless, they expected the Bishop to be hard on them because they were practicing the faith.

  Travis moved ahead of Autumn and opened the door. He followed her through the small reception area, where they met Monica. “He’s waiting for you.” She waved them to his office door.

  “Thank you.” Travis nodded and followed Autumn to the door. He lightly tapped on the large oak frame before pushing it open, and entering the room walled with tall oak bookshelves and cabinets. “Bless you, Bishop.” They both greeted him with their heads slightly bowed.

  “Please, come in.” The Bishop waved them towards two opened chairs. “Travis, Autumn, please take a seat.”

  Travis held the chair for Autumn and waited until she was settled before he took his own chair next to her. Two hours later, Bishop Landry continued his lesson on the Code of Canon Law. They sat through the discussion, nodded, and said the appropriate things. They knew the law well; and they also knew they had to sit through this lesson and pretend they were as interested in the proclamation of the law. And like good students, they gave the Bishop their undivided attention.

  When he was finally done, he prayed over them and gave them specific instructions. “You must reframe from consummation until this marriage is validated.”

  “Yes, Bishop.” They both submitted. Both knew they would receive those instructions, so they weren’t surprised. Travis didn’t like the idea of not being able to make love to his wife, but he would obey to bring their marriage in line with their church.

  “See Monica. She will schedule a date for renewal of consent.”

  “Yes, Bishop.” Travis stood. He handed the priest an envelope, one of three donations he would make for the convalidation. He would give another one at mass, and then another at repast.

  “Bless you, son; and you, my daughter.” Autumn stood when the priest touched her forehead. “God be with you.”

  “And also with you, Bishop.” They both left his office and stopped by the secretary’s desk to find out when the first available date was open to do
the ceremony.

  Monica smiled. “You’re truly favored because it just so happens that we have Friday open. Is that too soon?”

  “No!” they both said in unison, and then looked at each other smiling. They didn’t expect to get in so soon. Autumn expected to have to come back for the ceremony at a later date. They’d discussed it the night before. As it stood, they would be able to get it done while she was still in the city. She just hoped her family would be able to come on such short notice. With the cleanup and all, from the storm, she couldn’t be certain that they could get away.

  “Friday will be great,” Travis beamed. “Thank you.”

  Monica couldn’t help but smile back at the young couple. “Well, okay. Here are the papers you need to fill out and bring back before Friday. Mass will begin at 2:00 p.m. You need to be here at least an hour before for confession. Any questions?”

  “No. Thank you again.”

  “You’re welcome. God Bless you both.”

  “Thank you.” They left hand in hand. When they reached the car he pulled her into his embrace. “I love you, you know that?”

  “Yes. And I love you.”

  “Call your parents. See if they can come for the ceremony on Friday. I’ll send a car for them if you’d like.” He squeezed her tight. “I want Mer Drace here, even if no one else can come.”

  Autumn eased from his embrace. “That may not happen, Travis. You understand that, right?”

  “Yes. She said she wouldn’t come back to this city, but that was before her granddaughter met me, and was pledged to have her wedding blessed in church. I think she knows how important this is to you.”

  “I can’t say she’ll defy her pledge to never set foot in New Orleans again, even for me.” She glanced away.

  “We’ll see. Let’s hope for the best.” He pulled her gaze back to his. “I want you to be happy.”

  Autumn searched his face. She loved the concern she showed for her. “I am happy, Travis. You make me happy.” She knew deep in her heart that Mer Drace was not coming to New Orleans, but she didn’t say that to him.

  * * * *

  All the running around to get things ready was more taxing than the three weeks of getting Reggie ready for her wedding. However, Diane had a knack for pulling last-minute events together. She managed to secure one of her friend’s clubhouses for the reception, intended for close family and friends.

  Maree, Gator, and Tempest were scheduled to arrive midmorning. Mer Drace had flat out refused to come. “I love you, Autumn, girl, and you have my blessing, but I’m not coming, honey.” Autumn expected the answer but was sad that her grandmother would not be there.

  Travis’s heart broke as he consoled her with warm kisses. “I’m sorry, sweetheart.”

  * * * *

  Autumn and Travis met with the Bishop in his study before mass was to begin. They each separately made confession in the confessional. Travis went first. He talked to the Bishop for a long while. When he was done, Autumn went next. Afterward, Travis handed the papers to Monica, and then he and Autumn joined their families for the ceremony. He felt the tremble in her hand, looked down at her, and squeezed it. “I love you.”

  Autumn gazed up at this beautiful, strong man, and couldn’t believe how lucky she was to be his wife. He exemplified everything a man should be, strong, committed, loving, and gentle all rolled into one. He was that and so much more. She smiled. “I love you with all of my heart, Travis.”

  The Bishop joined them at the door. “Are you ready?”

  “Yes, sir.” They acknowledged together.

  They entered the sanctuary with the Bishop and everyone stood. Autumn smiled and nodded at glances she caught as they made their way to the altar. She nearly lost her balance when she looked over and saw her mother, father, brother, and there in plain sight, stood her grandmother. Tears welled in her eyes as she set sights on this special woman who meant so much to her.

  Travis guided her past her family, as she hesitated—stunned and happy—to the altar. Autumn wanted to linger a moment but followed Travis’s lead. He reached into his breast pocket and handed her his handkerchief for the tears streaming down her face.

  The Bishop gave her a moment to gather herself before he continued with the ceremony. When the last prayer was offered just before communion, he said. “If anyone comes to me, I want to lead them to Him. May you have a successful, happy, and life-long union. God be with you.”

  “And also with you.” Everyone responded.

  When the ceremony concluded, they all exchanged lots of hugs and kisses. Autumn hugged Mer Drace so tight and for so long, she had to ask Autumn to release her. “Are going to squeeze me to death, child?” Autumn squeezed her even tighter. “Now hush. You didn’t think I’d miss my only living granddaughter’s renewal did you, Autumn? I may be stubborn, but nothing in this world means more to me than my children.”

  “I’m so full, Mer Drace.”

  “And you’re ruining that beautiful face of yours. Now put a smile there, little one.”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  Travis gave Mer Drace a hug of his own. “Okay, not you too.”

  “I don’t know how to thank you, Mer Drace. This meant the world to Autumn, and me too.” He held tight to his new grandmother.

  “Well, you can start by giving me some great-grandbabies. You might be my only hope. Tempest here is just not getting on board.” Everyone including Tempest laughed.

  After the reception, Travis and Autumn made sure her family got settled at their house. She and Travis were spending a night at the Loews New Orleans Hotel in the Riverfront District. “We’ll see you in the morning, Mom. Call us if you need anything.” They’d stocked the house earlier that day.

  “Don’t worry, honey. You and Travis enjoy yourselves,” Maree told them.

  “And make me some grandbabies while you’re at it,” Mer Drace added. She’d never thought she would set foot in New Orleans again, but here she was, and it didn’t stir the unhappy feelings she’d left there so many years ago.

  Autumn kissed her cheek. “Mer Drace, I don’t know what I’m going to do with you.”

  “Good night.” Travis kissed her cheek and they left the house.

  Later that evening Mer Drace sat up straight in her bed. A cool chill ran up her spine. She rubbed her hands up and down her arms to ward off the feeling. After a few minutes she got up, put on a robe, and went to the kitchen. She fumbled through Travis’s refrigerator and cabinets until she found all the things she needed.

  CHAPTER 35

  Mer Drace liked Travis’s big fancy kitchen. It had gadgets galore, and the three ovens sent her to heaven and back. Hours later, she placed loaves of freshly made yeast bread into one of the ovens, and two different kinds of quiches into the other. Gator emerged first. Where there was food, there was Gator and generally Tempest right behind him.

  “Morning, Mer Drace. You’ve got it smelling good in here.”

  “Morning son, coffee is over there. Help yourself. Breakfast should be ready in a few.”

  By midmorning, Travis and Autumn came up for air after a night of fierce lovemaking. “We have to be back to get your parents on their way home.”

  “I know.” She kissed him. “I want them to stay another day, or two, or three,” she whined.

  “It was hard to leave them at the house, but you know you wouldn’t have gotten the thorough loving you did if we were at home.”

  She smiled. The sinister lift of her kiss-swollen lips made her even sexier. “Hmm, hm.” She kissed him again.

  “Let’s go, Mrs. Brooks. Our folks are waiting on us.”

  Traces of Mer Drace’s cooking assaulted them the moment they walked into the house. They spent time talking before they left to join Travis’s family at his parents’ house. When the hired car finally pulled up, everyone shared goodbyes. Autumn lingered at Mer Drace’s side almost the entire afternoon, and helped her into the car after one final hug. “I love you so much.”

>   “I love you too.” She looked into eyes that mirrored her own, and she shouldn’t have. Autumn caught a glance of something in her grandmother’s gaze that she couldn’t hide.

  “What’s wrong, Mer Drace?” she quickly asked.

  Mer Drace shook her head. “Nothing for you to worry about. Enjoy your new life. I know you will be happy, my sweet child.”

  Autumn studied her face for a moment before pulling away. “I will. Love you.” Mer Drace waved at them as the car pulled away. Travis stood behind her with his arms wrapped protectively around Autumn. She glanced up at him and smiled.

  The next day Travis and Autumn went to early morning mass. The days were flying by. She cringed when she thought about her flight back to New York on Wednesday. Mona and Erica came up for the day. And surprisingly, so did Rykard. They were supposed to show up for the ceremony on Friday, but Erica had to work. The house was buzzing with conversations, laughter, and music. She wasn’t sure how many people Travis had invited over, but it looked like at least thirty people.

  Autumn was in the kitchen adding freshly chopped tomatoes to her homemade salsa when the doorbell rang. She turned off the blender and wiped her hand when the doorbell rang again, and no one from the other room came up to answer the door.

  She hummed quietly to the music blasting from the den. She sashayed from the kitchen to the foyer, and without checking to see who it was, she opened the door. Her brilliant smile faltered and her clear blue eyes narrowed. Her frown showed her displeasure, and her icy query clarified what she was feeling. “What are you doing here?” All she could think about at that moment was what Travis told her about Savannah’s sudden return to New Orleans. Autumn narrowed her gaze even further. She wanted to slap the taste out of her mouth.

  “Honey, I came to see Travis. Where is he?” Savannah looked past Autumn and into the foyer.