Sweet Mystery

by Emery, Lynn

  Rae felt a pounding in her head at his words. “But Daddy was so sure…”

  Could it be that their grandfather had been so selfish that he’d left his family to face poverty and persecution? Had they been defending him all this time when he’d cared nothing for the pain he left behind?

  Andrew looked at her with eyes clouded with pain and anger, caused by a man whom neither of them had ever known. “I think maybe he did exactly what they say he did, Rae. Our grandfather was a lyin’, wife-stealin’ thief.”

  Chapter 10

  Rae sat down hard. “Maybe you misunderstood. Maybe he just–”

  “See for yourself.” Andrew went into a small bedroom he used as a combination den and office. He came back with a big, metal box.

  Rae read through the letters, which left no doubt in her mind that their grandfather and Estelle had been lovers for almost a year. Finally, she came to one cryptic note. Pawpaw Vincent wrote that he would meet Estelle to talk one evening. Rae was puzzled.

  “Why would Daddy keep these and not tell us? He was defending the man right up until he died.” Rae stared at the faded ink on yellowing paper.

  “I’m pretty sure he didn’t know. They were sewed into the linin’ of an old trunk from Monmon Marie’s house. I wouldn’t have found ‘em, except I tore the lining when I reached down to take out a bunch of old clothes.“

  “She knew and never said anything?” Rae said in a soft voice.

  “Looks like. Why you think she never told?”

  Rae grunted. “And make things worse on herself? Bad enough he left her with seven children. Remember Monmon Marie was a proud person. She probably didn’t want to admit to the world another woman took her husband.”

  “You right, cher. She was that, maybe too proud. No wonder she was always in a sour mood.”

  “I just wonder how she got a hold of letters Pawpaw wrote to Estelle.” Rae saw one mystery being replaced by another.

  Andrew shrugged. “I don’t know. Maybe Mr. Henry gave ‘em to her out of spite when she kept defendin’ Pawpaw.”

  “Why didn’t he show them to the world as proof? Henry Jove hated Pawpaw. I can’t see him missing a chance to show the world that Pawpaw’s own words made him out a thief.”

  “Like you said about Monmon Marie, maybe he didn’t want everybody to know she was makin’ a fool outta him.” Andrew’s eyebrows went up. “Some of them letters are pretty hot.”

  Rae waved a couple of the letters in the air. “You know what this means, Andy?”

  Andrew squinted at her. “What?”

  “That it’s even more important we find out the whole story. I’m gonna call LaMar. He needs to see these.” Rae sorted the letters in her lap.

  “You done lost your mind. We don’t need to pay him to tell us even worse garbage!” Andrew looked disgusted. “Bad enough knowin’ what we do.”

  “Too many questions are left unanswered.” Rae sat deep in thought for several seconds. “For instance, why didn’t they track Pawpaw down? With this information, Henry Jove could have maybe helped the authorities find them.”

  “Hmm. Maybe he did tell ‘em and, like Tante Ina said, the sheriff didn’t care to follow the man to another country.” Andrew took a deep drink of his crème soda. “Maybe they tried and lost the trail.”

  “Maybe, maybe, maybe… Don’t you think something’s strange? Like it’s a puzzle with a lot of missing pieces?”

  Andrew put the now empty soda bottle down. “Now that you mention it, seems awful peculiar that none of this has ever been mentioned. I mean, there’s always been a lot of talk how Pawpaw and Estelle run off. I’ve never heard anybody say just what the sheriff did to find ‘em.”

  “Right!” Rae was getting really fascinated with all the loose ends. “Even racism doesn’t explain such a weak attempt to search.”

  “Of course, he could have just been stupid or incompetent. Sheriff Thibaut was a bigot and dim as an old light bulb, from what folks say.” Andrew chuckled.

  “Either way, I want to keep looking. And I can tell you do too.” Rae poked her brother on the arm. “It’s written all over your face.”

  “Okay, so maybe I do. Just be prepared. Simon might not be so lovey-dovey when you get the whole story.” Andrew gazed at her. “Yeah, you never thought about that.”

  “Simon isn’t a snob, Andy.” Rae knew she sounded defensive.

  “The St. Cyrs and Joves have always been stuck up. What with bein’ descendants of French governors sent to Louisiana. He might say all that don’t matter to him now but…”

  “He cares about me and don’t you forget it. When you get to know him, you’ll see that you’re wrong.” Rae put as much conviction into her voice as she could. After the hours spent with him, she could not imagine such a reaction from Simon.

  Andrew did appear to be reassured. “I hope you’re right, little sister. I really do.”

  Rae pushed any budding doubts from her mind. “I am. Now help me put these in some kind of order.”

  “Okay, but I got a lot more still in the box.” Andrew dug out another stack of papers, tied together with twine.

  “Good gracious. Well let’s get started. I want to call LaMar today.”

  Rae and Andrew got down to the task of separating the letters from other documents. After an hour of coming up with a system by date and content, they had three neat bundles. Rae took the papers home with her, and was still reading them when Simon knocked on her door.

  “Hello, beautiful.” Simon kissed her. “Looks like you’ve got a term paper due.” He pointed to the papers stacked up on the sofa.

  “More like a research project.” Rae glanced at the letters and old receipts.

  “What exactly are you doing?” Simon sat down in a chair opposite the sofa, so as not to disturb her work.

  “Digging myself into a hole,” Rae said as she sat down.. She leaned back into the sofa.

  “You don’t look the least bit dirty to me,” Simon teased. “Come on now, tell me about it.” He touched her knee.

  “The way things look right now, my grandfather probably stole the money and took Estelle Jove with him.” Rae threw down one of the love letters. She was angry at Pawpaw Vincent for betraying her father. Lucien and the rest of the family had deserved better than what he did to them.

  “You’ve found proof after all this time?”

  “He was having an affair with her. Add that to his telling her that he would have the money to take care of them both…” Rae sat up. “You figure it out.”

  “It’s still only circumstantial.” Simon tried to sound encouraging.

  “Nice try.” Rae brought his hand to her face.

  “Maybe this is a good reason to let go of it.” Simon carefully moved the stacks of old papers to the coffee table. “We’ve got each other now, baby. I don’t care about the past.” He pulled her into his strong arms.

  “Your family cares, Simon. When they find out about us–”

  “My parents aren’t that narrow-minded. Dad never bought into the old family feud. My mother is from Lafayette. I doubt she’d care.”

  Rae looked at him. “What about my reputation? I haven’t exactly been a sweet debutante type.” For the first time in her life, Rae worried what someone might think of her youthful antics.

  “I can’t believe this! Show me that old Rae Dalcour rebel spirit,” Simon said, pinching her chin.

  “I’ve never cared much what anybody in this town thought, at least that’s what I tried to tell myself. But some of the things people said did hurt.” Rae rested her head against his chest. It felt wonderful to feel so at ease, so secure. “Guess my reaction when I got to be a teenager was to just break out. A lot of what I did was out of anger.”

  Simon cuddled her close. “I never realized how tough it was for you.”

  “Lucien was in a lot of pain, I realize that now. But at the time all I knew was that nobody seemed to understand. So when Mama, Daddy and my teachers tried to give me rules, I bro
ke ‘em.” Rae remembered herself fighting for a place in the world, trying to make sense of who she should be. “This sounds so cliché, but I was trying to find myself.”

  Simon did not answer, except to rock her gently in his embrace. Rae wondered at how instinctive it had been to tell him what she’d shared with no one else before. She had poured it into her music. Yet she’d never admitted that the slights and snubs she suffered during childhood had stayed with her. The biggest wonder of all was that far from feeling exposed, she felt comforted.

  “Thanks, baby,” Simon whispered. “Thanks for sharing a special part of you with me.”

  Rae looked into his dark brown eyes. He understood. She could see it in his face. A yearning for him flared up like a wild fire in her body. They kissed long and deep, trying to satisfy a hunger, but only making it grow.

  “I want you so much,” Simon murmured, his lips against hers.

  “Yes,” was all she answered.

  Without another word, Rae led him into her bedroom. She’d had it redone with the furniture from her apartment. Only the soft light from an antique lamp played across the soft cream, blue and lavender colors in the room. The curtains and bedspread had an abstract floral pattern.

  Simon kissed Rae again once they reached the bed. “It’s lovely, Rae. I didn’t expect…”

  “You thought I’d have music posters on the walls and a bare mattress,” she whispered while taking off his shirt. “I like to surround myself with beauty. Like right now.”

  With one quick motion, she removed her blouse. Simon brushed her fingers away, insisting that he complete the process. He slowly removed her bra. Throwing it aside, he buried his face in the soft flesh with a small moan of satisfaction. His hands tugged at her panties. Soon both of them were naked and breathless, savoring the sensation of pressing their bodies together while kissing.

  Rae pulled Simon down onto the bed with her. She was instantly lost in a world of delight as they explored each other with their hands and lips. Both reveled in raising the anticipation to fever pitch. Rae could not stand to be separate from him any longer. After a time, the caresses were not enough. She needed to be part of him.

  “Now, Simon. Now.”

  Rae watched him put on the condom and then touched it with the tips of her fingers. Simon gazed into her eyes as he slowly entered her. Their hips pressed together for a brief, sweet moment before they started to move in long strokes. All the desires to love and be love exploded within her. Sex with him was a magnificent combination of physical and emotional ecstasy.

  Simon alternated between taking his time and moving fast. His tongue brushed Rae’s face, neck and breasts. She cried out, over and over, until Simon joined her in a frantic need to calm the raging lust that was welling up. The short, tiny stabs of joy became a blinding light flooding her mind. The orgasm that shook her brought Simon over the edge. He clutched her hips while thrusting hard again and again until both lay shuddering, clinging to one another.

  “I love you so much,” Simon said in a hoarse whisper. He was still inside her, still holding her. “I love you.”

  “I love you, too,” Rae whispered back.

  They lay together, arms around each other, talking for hours. The night sounds of crickets and frogs lulled them to sleep sometime in the early hours of the next day.

  *

  “This is crazy!” Papa Joe stared at his grandson as though he’d just announced he was going to the moon. “You’ve lost your mind.”

  “We love each other.” Simon was sat in his grandfather’s living room. He hated sounding like a little boy caught stealing from the cookie jar.

  Papa Joe turned to his wife for help. “Olivia, will you say something to this boy?” “Cher, are you certain about how you feel? I know she’s attractive and exciting now. But…” Olivia let her voice trail off. One dark eyebrow came up and her head inclined to one side. Her silver hair, swept up in a soft French twist, gave her a regal look.

  Simon felt frustrated. “Grandmother, I’m no ten-year-old with a crush. Don’t tell me you’re willing to judge Rae based on hearsay? You taught me better than that.”

  “Don’t get smart with us, young man – telling me what I taught you,” Papa Joe muttered.

  “Joe, calm down. You were nice to Lucien more than once. Not that he appreciated it, but still you were.” Olivia turned to Simon. “Of course, we’re not passing judgment.”

  “Humph.” Papa Joe’s expression told a different story.

  “Hush, Joe.” Olivia gave him a warning glance. “But let’s be realistic. What have you got in common? You’re from very different backgrounds.”

  “Papa Joe went into business with Mr. Vincent. The Dalcours were good enough back then,” Simon put in.

  “Yeah, and look how that turned out,” Papa Joe retorted.

  “Joe,” Olivia said in a sharp voice.

  “If he did take the money, it has nothing to do with Rae.” Simon wore a look of justification at his own argument.

  Papa Joe shook his head. “She’s pulled some crazy stunts herself. I tell you–”

  Simon folded his arms. “I can’t believe my own grandparents are snobs. That sure isn’t what you taught me.”

  “We’re talking about facts here, Simon. Hard facts!” Papa Joe shot back. “Fact, Vincent disappeared with ten thousand dollars and another man’s wife.”

  “Never proven.” Simon waved a hand as though brushing his words aside. “And, again, Rae can’t be held responsible for what he might have done twenty years before she was born.”

  Papa Joe huffed in silence for a few minutes. “Well she was a rowdy teenager. No telling what kind of life she’s been leading since, roaming all over creation with a group of musicians. Male blues musicians at that.”

  Simon scowled at him. “So what?”

  “Everybody knows how those people live – drugs, staying up all night… Smokin’ Dan was a pal of mine back in my days.”

  “Joe, you can’t compare Smokin’ Dan to Rae. Besides, don’t forget some of the things you did right along with him.” Olivia patted his shoulder. “Now be quiet.”

  “I’m telling you, Olivia–”

  “Hush, dear. I’m talking.” Olivia was one of two people who could say such things to Joe St. Cyr. His mother had been the other. “So you’re that serious about Rae Dalcour?”

  “She’s a wonderful, kind person. Yes, I’m that serious about her.” Simon squinted at Papa Joe. “And she’s not the female version of Smokin’ Dan.”

  Papa Joe leaned forward. “I don’t want you getting mixed up in anything that might hurt you, son.”

  “I appreciate your concern, but–”

  Papa Joe held up a palm. “I know, I know. Stay out of your business.”

  Olivia looked at her grandson. “I hear Rae is looking into her grandfather’s disappearance. She could find out some unpleasant truths about Vincent after all.”

  “We’ll deal with that when and if it happens,” Simon said. “Actually, I have this strange feeling that maybe there could be another explanation.”

  “What? She’s really got you brainwashed!” Papa Joe threw up both hands.

  Simon did not want to reveal that Rae was having her own doubts about Vincent’s innocence. He could not explain why he’d begun to think that the popular explanation for those long-ago events did not add up. But, as he’d talked to Rae about the contents of the letters and papers, there were gaps that puzzled him.

  “Papa Joe, could you tell me everything you remember about back then? You know, how y’all got into business together. Stuff like that. Right up until Mr. Vincent and Miss Estelle left.”

  Papa Joe crossed his arms. “First you say the past doesn’t matter and now you want story hour! Uh-uh, I know what you’re up to, Simon Joseph.”

  “Haven’t you always been curious about how Vincent and Estelle pulled it off? You told me once that Vincent was fun-loving, but you never thought he’d do something like steal.” Simon prodd
ed at his grandfather’s love for solving puzzles.

  “Yeah, well, that Estelle was one good-looking gal.” Papa Joe cleared his throat and squirmed at the look Olivia gave him. “Not near as pretty as my Livvy, naturally.”

  “Humph!” was Olivia’s eloquent reply.

  “There now, sweetness.” Papa Joe winked at her. “Anyways, losing his head over a woman can make a man do strange things. You oughta know.” He shot a meaningful glance at his grandson.

  “Just tell me the story.”

  “No.” Papa Joe looked stubborn.

  “Come on, please.” Simon tapped his knee. “A wonderful woman can also make life sweet. That’s something you always told me about being married to Grandmother.”

  “Well I…” Papa Joe wavered.

  Olivia seemed mollified by Simon’s testimony on Papa Joe’s behalf. Her look of annoyance melted away. “Go on, honey. Besides, you always loved telling Simon about the old days.”

  “You’d want to help Grandmother if she were in Rae’s position. Please?” Simon placed his ace: Papa Joe’s weakness for Olivia was legendary.

  He was hooked. “Well, all right.”

  For the next hour, Papa Joe told Simon how he, Henry Jove and Vincent had grown up together. Despite the differences in social status, the three boys became fast friends from an early age. Add to that, the Great Depression had left even the old Creole families in financial dire straits. The old class boundaries relaxed as a result.

  “We were part of the modern times,” Olivia put in. “We made fun of our parents’ haughty attitudes.” She smiled in fond memory of her youth.

  “Anyway, we were going to go in on a canning outfit. Our plan to get rich.” Papa Joe chuckled. “Wasn’t a bad idea either. Old Mr. Isidore, Henry’s daddy, had a nice farm. We were going to can tomatoes, okra and such. Later we planned to expand to seafood. But our parents said we had to come up with the money ourselves. They didn’t believe in handing you everything on a silver platter.”

  “Mr. Isidore and your father would have given you the help, and you know it,” Olivia added.