Lulu's Cafe: A Novel

by T. I. Lowe

  “You didn’t let her die, did you?” Crowley gave his best attempt at a smile.

  “I did my best, but I’m sure she lost part of her soul that night.” She rose and Crowley followed. “Mr. Mason, do you have time to let me show you something I had promised Leah I would do for her? I’d like for you to be able to share it with her.”

  “Yes, and please call me Crowley.”

  The world had been one cruel place to Leah and had abused her in ways ungodly. He was so grateful this woman had been on Leah’s side. God knows she needed it.

  Twenty minutes later, Mona parked her minivan in front of her church. She led Crowley over to a well-kept cemetery just off from the front of the church. She stopped in front of a pink granite headstone. Delicate angel wings were engraved above the inscription. A date was engraved below the inscription—October 22.

  “The next day when she regained consciousness, she went into hysterics. I tried to comfort her. Even climbed in the bed and held her while she sobbed.” Mona brushed off a few fallen leaves from the headstone. “She kept begging me to not let the hospital throw her baby away. She had me take ten thousand dollars from her purse to take care of the expenses.”

  Crowley knelt by the small headstone and ran his fingers over the inscription—Our Precious Angel Spread Her Wings and Flew Home to Heaven. He took in all of the small gifts left for the baby. A wind chime with stained glass and scrolling metalwork lightly sang in the warm breeze. Off to the right side of the headstone dangled a glass butterfly suncatcher that sent sparkles cascading along the pink granite. Both lovely gifts dangled from silver stakes. A small bouquet of daisies sat in front of the headstone.

  He stood and studied a small bench at the foot of the petite grave. It was also pink granite. “You’ve taken really good care of her baby. I know Leah will find comfort in that.”

  “The community was so moved by this tragedy that everyone came together to take care of the costs of the funeral. I had our little Angel dressed in a handmade white gown with ruffles upon ruffles. She truly looked like an angel. The funeral home provided a powder-pink baby casket and donated their services. The local florist donated lovely pink and white arrangements for the service. She still places small arrangements on the grave for the changing seasons. The church was packed that day with mourners. Please let her know that.”

  Crowley nodded his head, not able to speak. Grief had overtaken him. He felt he had lost a loved one at the murderous hands of Brent Sadler, too. A little girl he could have loved…

  “I couldn’t find Gab...Leah to return the money. My church took the ten grand and began a charity in honor of Gabriella and Angel. It’s called the Angel Fund, and it helps support local programs that fight against domestic violence and child abuse. I’ll make sure the paperwork is revised to change her name to Leah.”

  “So you have information about the charity?” Crowley whispered hoarsely as he stared at the small grave.

  “Yes. We have packets in the church that explains it all. Would you like one?”

  Crowley nodded, finding it too difficult to speak.

  “Let me go grab one. I’ll be right back.” She quickly walked over to a side entrance of the church and disappeared inside.

  Crowley eased down on the bench. He pulled his phone out and snapped several pictures of the gravesite. By the time he whispered a prayer to God to help him and Leah get through this together, Mona had returned with the information.

  Mona graciously dropped Crowley off at the airport afterwards. He was desperately homesick for Leah and boarded the first available flight to start the trek home. On his first flight, the events of the past few days weighed on his mind. He dashed to the restroom to vomit up the only thing on his stomach—coffee and bile. Never had his grief for someone cause him physical sickness as it did for Leah.

  A flight attendant served him ginger ale to help calm his stomach. After a while, he felt up to opening up the packet on the Angel Fund and reviewing it. During his layover in Atlanta, Crowley phoned Jake and gave him the basic information of the fund.

  “Will you take care of the required paperwork and donate a half-million dollars, anonymously, from my personal account?” he asked his friend who handled his finances.

  “I’ll take care of it, man,” Jake said.

  “Oh yeah. I got a problem I need you to take care of too. My name has been put on some stupid eligible millionaire bachelor list. How do you suppose that happened?”

  “I’ll see what I can find out.” Jake laughed.

  “It ain’t funny. Make sure it gets removed.” He hung up as the broadcast to board his flight was announced.

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  Home sweet home. Crowley sighed when he pulled up to the café on that late Wednesday evening. He had only been gone for two days, but felt like he had aged by years in that span of time.

  A light was still on in the kitchen, so he slid his key in the door and made his way in. He was surprised to find Lulu and not Leah. He grabbed the little lady up in a fierce hug and lifted her off the floor.

  “I’ve missed you, old lady,” he said as he breathed in the comforting scent of spices that perfumed Lulu.

  “Me too, my boy.”

  Crowley set Lulu down and looked around. “Where’s Leah?”

  Lulu turned a burner off under a pot of soup and turned back to stare up at him. “She’s gone, Crowley. Has been since Monday night. Her Jeep is outside packed with all of her luggage, but she just abandoned it. I’ve been staying here in hopes she’ll return for her belongings and I can talk some sense into her.”

  “Don’t worry. I know where she’s at,” Crowley said as he grabbed an empty canvas bag Lulu kept on a hook. He began filling it with bottles of Gatorade, juice, a few wrapped sandwiches and premade salads. “Can you get me a couple containers of that soup? I got a feeling she’s not eaten since Sunday.”

  “It’s actually her favorite vegetable soup,” Lulu said as she pulled two containers from under the kitchen work table and filled them with the steaming soup. “Where is she?”

  “The river cabin. I checked the cameras while I was gone and saw the light on,” he said as he packed the soup and some wheat crackers in another canvas bag.

  “I rode out there but didn’t see any sign of her. How’d the trip go?”

  Crowley gathered the bags and shook his head despairingly. “The monster died of a heart attack—not by Leah.”

  “That’s such a relief.” Lulu sighed.

  “She lost a baby, Lulu,” he whispered in anguish as he rubbed the back of his neck.

  Lulu nodded.

  “You knew?”

  “I put the signs and symptoms together when she arrived last November.”

  “Why didn’t you tell me?”

  “Her story ain’t mine to tell, my boy. You know that. Plus, would you really have wanted to know that then? No.” Lulu reached to place her hand on his forearm. “Now go take care of our girl.”

  Crowley leaned down and placed a kiss on her cheek. He walked towards the door and said over his shoulder. “Leah’s right. Ana is the only person in this town who believes in gossip.”

  ****

  Leah lay bundled under the covers in the same spot where she had been since late Monday night. Crowley hadn’t come to find her, and she was thankful to have the seclusion. The pain she had been holding in since last fall had bubbled out with such intensity it had scared her.

  The dark sky had just opened up outside and was mourning in a roaring downpour. The sheets of rain pricked the tin roof in a somber melody.

  Leah was dozing when she felt a presence by the bed. Trembling, she peeked from the edge of the blanket.

  “What are you doing here?” she asked in a hoarse voice as she lay there frozen in fear.

  “It’s my cabin. What are you doing here?” he whispered.

  “Hiding. Waiting on the cops to show up. Are they with you?”

  “No. Just me.” Crowley turned to leave
the room. “I’ve brought food and Gatorade. I’ll be in the kitchen when you’re ready to join me.” He stopped at the doorway. “Leah, Brent died of a massive heart attack. Not by anything you did.” He left her so the news could sink in.

  ****

  Crowley sat at the dining room table, where he had eaten his container of soup, a salad, a sandwich, and half a dozen peanut butter cookies before he heard Leah stir in the guest bathroom. She shuffled into the kitchen moments later, squinting at the flood of light. Her red eyes were rimmed with dark circles. Her curly hair hung in a dull tangle, and she was still in the clothes he last saw her wearing on Monday. Crowley thought she looked pale and maybe a bit dehydrated.

  Leah sat opposite of him and accepted a bottle of Gatorade he had waiting for her. She drank the entire bottle. He walked over to the microwave. “Lulu made your favorite vegetable soup. I was hoping for chili, but I guess we can see who her favorite really is,” he said with a smile, but she didn’t respond. He placed the warmed soup in front of her and handed her a spoon.

  Leah only took a few bites and pushed the container away. She grabbed another bottle of sports drink and headed to the covered porch. She sat in a rocking chair and watched the rain dance off the top of the dark river. She didn’t know quite how she felt in that moment. Shock and relief mixed about as well as oil and vinegar as she tried to grasp hold of it all. The nightmare with the death of Brent was over, but it had come with a great cost. She now knew she wasn’t responsible for his death, but she still felt the weight of guilt for losing her baby girl.

  Crowley joined her. He tucked a quilt over her before turning on a small lamp beside her rocking chair. He knelt in front of her and waited until she met his gaze. “I love you, Leah.”

  He watched as she shook her head in short jerks as a tear trickled down her face. He stood and took the rocking chair beside her, and he reached over to hold her shaky hand. They sat in silence, listening to the rhythm of the rain as it cried over the bank and river.

  He glanced over to her and ached at the broken woman sitting beside him. He reluctantly reached into his pocket to pull out his phone. He knew he had to break her even more before they could start to heal. He pulled up the photos and handed her the phone.

  Leah gazed in confusion, then understanding, at the image on his phone. So he found out everything. That means he’s been to Nebraska sometime in the past two days.

  “I went straight to Washington on Tuesday morning. Then I spent most of today in Nebraska with your nurse, Mona.” He paused, waiting for a reaction. “She took good care of your baby, as she promised.”

  “Mona.” Leah repeated. “I couldn’t remember her name.”

  Crowley watched cautiously as she dropped the phone in her lap and seemed to implode. Her entire body trembled as she sobbed. Her pain was so raw that it sliced right through him.

  He couldn’t take it any longer. He gathered her in his arms, tucked the quilt back around her, and rocked her in his lap. Feeling helpless, Crowley cried and mourned along with her. She quieted a bit at some point when the rain finally decided to subside. Crowley took that moment to explain the fund set up in honor of her and the baby, sending her into another wave of sobbing, soaking through the shoulder of his shirt.

  Leah cried herself out and fell into a restless sleep around midnight. Crowley carried her to his bed and cradled her in his arms. As he brushed his fingers through her tangled hair, he thanked God for allowing Leah to weather the storm her life had served. Clutching her protectively, he begged God to bless her with a healing. As Crowley prayed, a calm washed over him, and he felt for the first time in days that he could breathe.

  ****

  Leah awoke around four in the morning with her bladder screaming from the two bottles of Gatorade. She untwined her body from Crowley’s and quietly made her way into his bathroom.

  After taking care of business, she glimpsed at her reflection and sighed. She had more business to take care of and couldn’t put it off any longer. A thorough shower followed. She had found everything she needed under his cabinet, including a new disposable razor and an unopened toothbrush.

  After about an hour of grooming, Leah stared down at her only set of clothes, which had already been worn past clean. She tiptoed back into the bedroom and rummaged through a chest of drawers, relieved to find a fresh pair of soft cotton boxer shorts and a T-shirt. Standing in the dark room, Leah let the damp towel fall away, and she slipped the oversized clothes on.

  She tiptoed back to the bed. Crawley was sprawled on his stomach with his face turned towards her. His bottom lip wasn’t poking out as it did when he slept, so she knew he was awake before he even opened his eyes. She climbed onto the bed and planted a kiss in the middle of his bare shoulder blades. She heard a muffled groan escape from him.

  Crowley smiled up at her. “I sure am glad this place has more than one bathroom. I was beginning to think I was going to have to go in there after you,” he said in a husky voice full of sleep. He turned over, pulling Leah with him until she was snuggled against his chest. He ran his hand through her damp hair. “You have no idea how sexy my boxer shorts look on your body.”

  He pulled her up and kissed her slowly, gradually letting all of his anguish and relief pour out passionately. His desire for this woman was almost excruciating. He trembled with the ferocity of it.

  Leah felt it and pulled away from his lips. She brushed her nose along the edge of his neck up to his ear. “I love you too,” she whispered against his earlobe.

  He devoured her with kisses so sweet it made her ache, just as their first kiss had. He ran his hands along her sides and growled in aggravation.

  Self-consciously, Leah froze as his hands cradled her sides. “What’s wrong?”

  “I can feel your ribs,” He sat up and pulled her onto his lap. “I’ve got to feed you.”

  “I’m not hungry,” Leah said, but her stomach betrayed her by letting out a noisy rumble.

  Crowley laughed. “What was that you said?”

  He kissed her one last time before scooting her off his lap so he could get up.

  “Where are you going?”

  “To take a cold shower, then I’m going to go grab some breakfast for us,” he said in a strained voice as he shut the bathroom door.

  Later that morning, after the two had devoured a hearty breakfast, Crowley told Leah to go sit out on the cabin porch and keep her eyes closed.

  “Are they closed?” he asked before joining her.

  “Yes, but what am I waiting on?” She heard Crowley walk near her and then felt something slender leaning against her arm.

  “Open your eyes.”

  Leah laughed at the obvious fishing pole. “Did you have this tucked away here just for me, or do you keep spare presents around for all your guests?”

  Crowley grinned, happy to see her happy. “Nope, you’re special. Actually I had forgotten that I had ordered it for you. The store gave me a reminder call while I was grabbing your suitcase out of your Jeep. I picked it up and swung by the townhouse to wrap it.”

  Leah giggled as she ran her hands along the gift, still wrapped. “I still can’t believe someone snuck a Christmas tree in my apartment without me knowing.”

  “That…was no easy feat,” Crowley said between sips of coffee. “Lulu told me to sneak the gifts in and put them under your tree, but when I got up there, you had no tree. I snuck back out and hauled my tree from the townhouse over and hid it behind the café. I waited until you headed over to the park so I could drag it upstairs.” He laughed. “I had a trail of tinsel and tree needles everywhere and had to hustle to get it cleaned up. I was nearly late for the caroling.”

  He waited for Leah to tease him. Instead she laid the gift down and sat in his lap, wrapping her arms around his neck. She kissed him thoroughly until he was breathless. “You gave me my very own first Christmas tree, Crowley Mason. I spent the night camped out under that tree, mesmerized by it.” She kissed him again. “Thank you.�
��

  He rubbed her back tenderly. “I want to give you the world, Leah Allen.”

  Leah heard the determination in his voice. She doubted him none that he would give that promise his all. She hopped up out of his lap and unwrapped the gift, revealing a glittery hot pink and vibrant turquoise rod and reel. “Can we go try it out?” she asked excitedly.

  The couple spent the afternoon lazing on the end of the dock, fishing as their feet dangled in the cool water.

  Leah had just pulled in a hand-sized fish as Crowley watched. She unhooked the fish and slowly released it back into the water. Then she placed another cricket on her hook and cast it out to tempt another fish.

  Crowley nudged her with his foot. “That right there has got to be the sexiest thing I’ve ever seen,” he said with a grin. His own pole came to life, so he reeled in a fish double the size of the one Leah had just caught. He pulled his off the hook and let it go too.

  Leah looked over and rolled her eyes. “Show off.”

  He grinned and recast his line. “I toured the New Hope Children’s Home on Tuesday. You did a remarkable job.”

  It amazed Leah that he had walked through her old life in such a short amount of time.

  “Everyone was relieved to find out you are okay.” He smiled at her encouragingly.

  “I bet I could name a handful that was probably a bit disappointed.” She smirked as the hateful women’s faces flashed through her head.

  “You talking about that bunch of hens aren’t you?” Crowley asked.

  “You met them?” Leah asked, and Crowley nodded his head yes. “That’s what I’ve always secretly referred to them as… a bunch of hens clucking.” They both laughed.