by Sable Hunter
Once she was in her cottage, she locked the door and gently placed Mirage on the dining table. Actually, she’d intended to leave the painting in the gallery, but she’d moved through her shop in a daze, her mind so full of all that had happened that she wasn’t thinking clearly. The first thing she did was remove her phone from her purse and put it on to charge. There were no messages from Blade and it had been almost twenty-four hours since she’d left him with his promise that he’d be right behind her. Could something have happened?
She went up the stairs, then on to the balcony that overlooked the French Quarter. The night was still, even the ever-present revelers she could usually hear from neighboring Bourbon Street seemed subdued. From her vantage point, she could see the lights from barges and boats on the river and the dark spire of the St. Louis Cathedral in Jackson Square rising in the distance. The sound of a jazz trumpet provided a suitable soundtrack for the sadness filling her heart. Lily eased down on a bench and held onto the lacy wrought iron railing with both hands, peering down into the street below. If she stared long enough and hard enough, maybe she could conjure Blade Jensen to appear.
For long moments, she sat mesmerized by her thoughts and the wispy clouds flying past the moon. Unbidden, tears began to run down her cheeks. “Where are you? Why didn’t you come?” For the thousandth time, she kicked herself for not getting his phone number. She’d given him hers, why hadn’t she had enough sense to ask for his? “I just thought you’d be right there with me. What happened?”
Standing up, she returned indoors and made her way to her bedroom. Lily didn’t know if she could sleep, but she needed to try. As she readied herself for bed, her mind wandered to her time with Blade. How different her trip had turned out to be from what she’d expected. Meeting the man of her dreams hadn’t been the plan, but she’d be grateful for the miracle until her dying day.
Her dying day.
“Dammit, what do I do?” She crawled between the covers and turned on her side, wishing Blade was here to hold her in his arms. After all this time, she would’ve thought the idea of her demise would be easier for her to contemplate. Meeting Blade had changed her. She wanted more time. With him. “God, I want a guarantee!” she whispered. What if the clinical trial failed for her and she lost the last few months of her life? What if she made the wrong decision and the clinical trial would have saved her? “What if? What if? What if?” Lily rolled on her back and pulled the pillow over her head. “Blade, where are you?”
“No wallet. No ID. The car was rented to some holding company that we haven’t been able to reach and his face is so swollen and bruised, the poor bloke’s mother wouldn’t recognize him.”
“At least he’s alive,” the ER nurse muttered to the attending physician. “I’m sure the police will be able to find some answers, all we can do is treat his injuries. What’s his prognosis?”
The doctor studied John Doe’s chart. “Broken ribs, a concussion, a punctured lung, and a badly bruised leg. The only thing that saved him was the fact that he was conscious long enough to unhook his seat belt and open the door. The paramedics think he fell out of the car and crawled to shore. I don’t think he’ll wake up, but if he does, keep him sedated until I reevaluate his condition.”
The nurse put her hand on her hip and studied John Doe’s face. “I bet he’s nice looking when he’s not so banged up.” She pushed a strand of curly hair from his forehead. “I bet someone is missing you, Hot-shot.”
“Have you made a decision, yet?”
“Stop it, Flora. No, I haven’t. I told you that I need to talk to Blade first.” She flipped over the OPEN sign, having called Dinah first thing to tell her she was home and could tend to the gallery in her stead. The young woman had promised to stop by during the day to bring Lily up to speed on what had gone on in her absence.
“Blade. Blade. I still can’t believe you met Blade Jensen. What was he doing on St. Phillip’s Island anyway?”
“Avoiding crowds around his place in Texas until some changes could be made to the entrance of his property.” She found a pair of scissors and began to snip off the newspaper wrapping that Blade had used to protect Mirage.
“So, have you got in touch with him, yet?”
“No, not yet.” Lily wrestled with the newsprint, folding it over her knee so she could stuff it in a nearby garbage can. “I’m about to call his agent and get his phone number.”
“No agent worth his salt is going to give a stranger his client’s phone number,” Flora argued.
“I’m not a stranger.”
“Unless he has some proof you know Blade, the agent will consider you a stranger. It’s his job to protect the man from stalkers, especially after what happened to Jensen’s little girl.”
“Katy, yes, I know. Blade told me all about it.” Flora didn’t say anything to Lily’s revelation, so she changed the subject. “There are some questions I have about the procedure that I didn’t think to ask yesterday. Do you think Jay would mind if I picked his brain?” She frowned at her own wording. “He might know the answers and I wouldn’t have to bother Dr. Fields until I’ve made a decision.”
“Sure, he’s in surgery this morning, but we could have dinner tonight. Why don’t we pick you up at seven and we’ll go somewhere nice? Hey, if Blade has arrived by then, we can make it a double date.”
“Perfect, tell Jay thank you for me and I’ll see you then.” Lily hung up quickly, before Flora could make more innuendoes about Blade.
Once she was off the phone, Lily went to the computer and entered Blade’s name. Her eyes almost crossed at the sheer number of hits. This wouldn’t do much good, there was everything here from sites dedicated to his movies to gossip rags. After browsing through a half dozen websites, she settled on the official one maintained by the Screen Actors Guild and jotted down the numbers for Blade’s agent and manager.
Taking a deep breath, she dialed the first number.
“Alexander Curtis’s office, may I help you?”
“Yes, I’m trying to reach Blade Jensen. Could you give me his number, please?”
“I’m sorry, we don’t give out personal information.”
“You don’t understand, we spent a few days together and he was supposed to join me…”
“I’m sorry, we don’t give out personal information.”
“Look, let me speak to Mr. Curtis, please. This is important.”
Click.
“Damn!”
Lily entered the next number in her phone and was met with similar results. She felt a sick feeling in her midsection. “Where are you, Blade?” Did he have car trouble? Did he decide to go to Texas first for some reason?
Did he change his mind?
She covered her eyes with her hands and shook her head as if to dispel the doubts she was having. After walking to the window and seeing no sign of Blade or his rental, she decided to study her new acquisition. After placing Mirage on a drafting table with an overhead lamp and a large magnifying viewer attached to a swingarm, Lily slowly and methodically began an examination of the painting, verifying the authenticity of Abraham’s signature and the originality of the brushstrokes. Comparing the painting to others she possessed of the same artist, Lily was able to conclude it was indeed Abraham’s. Going to the counter, she browsed around until she found Charlotte’s diary that she had left out for Dinah to read. Thumbing through it, she found the section that described when Charlotte hid Abraham and his wife from the man who was searching to recapture Genevieve. She hadn’t read this part in a long time and a smile came to her lips when she found the name Lili. Before, it hadn’t occurred to her that this name referred to a place and not a person.
Lili will keep Abraham and Genevieve safe, there is magic on the island. I will visit and take them supplies until the danger is passed. Abraham has said he is having visions there, I hope they portend happiness and not sorrow.
Visions. She ran one finger just above the image that looked so much like herself and Bl
ade standing on the beach in the sunset. What other explanation could there be for this?
Again, she tried to remember every word he’d said to her after the phone call from Flora. He’d told her he wanted to be here, that he couldn’t stay away. He’d promised to help her decide what to do. “He said he loved me,” she whispered to the empty room. “He said he would come to me.”
The bell at the front door caused her to jump. “Blade?”
“Sorry, it’s just me.” Bliss came toward her. “I heard about the clinical trial. How did it go?”
Lily rose to give her neighbor a hug, shrugging her shoulders as she went. “Oh, wonderful, terrible, I don’t know.” She laughed at her own predicament. “It’s a huge miracle, but I’m feather-legged, I’m weighing a procedure with no guarantee against a possible few months to live if I don’t have it.”
“Wow, what are you going to do?” Bliss said as she swept on into the gallery. “If there’s a chance, you’re going to take it, right?”
“You’d think this would be easy, wouldn’t you?” Lily followed Bliss as she checked out some of the newer acquisitions. “Hey, you wouldn’t know Isaiah’s friend, Blade Jensen, would you?”
“The actor?” Bliss didn’t turn around, but kept checking out an impressionist piece by a local artist.
“Yea, the actor. I met him while I was there.”
“Oh, really? He was there, I’m sorry.” Bliss apologized. “I know you needed some peace and quiet for introspection. How did you work it out, did he leave?”
Lily blushed. “No, he didn’t leave. We managed to share the space.”
“Oh, really?” She raised her eyebrows and waited for Lily to say more. “So, my love spell, did it work?”
Lily didn’t know if she could attribute the monumental miracle of meeting Blade and them falling in love to the work of a mojo bag, but she sure couldn’t say for sure. The small bag was still nestled down in the bottom of her purse. “I don’t know, we’ll see.” She gave Bliss a small smile. For a moment, Lily considered asking Bliss if she could get in touch with Isaiah and ask him to contact Blade for her. But no, she couldn’t bring herself to do it, something held her back. What if he hadn’t meant what he said? What if… Needing to change the subject, she led Bliss over to see Mirage. “So, come look. I can’t wait to show you what I found.”
“Oh, my goodness! This is another Duvalier, isn’t it?” Bliss stared at the painting in awe. “It’s beautiful!”
“I agree.” Lily waited to see what Bliss would say about the subjects of the painting.
“How interesting.” She pointed at what Lily thought was the most obvious figure. “This is Charlotte.”
“Yes, she made sure Abraham and Genevieve were safe on the island.”
“And this is Lili.” Bliss pointed to the figure in the long white dress. “I’ve seen her many times. Did you?”
“Yes, I did. More than once.”
Continuing to study the photograph, she gasped. “Lily, this could be you!”
Lily was prevented from responding by the welcome bell. Turning, she recognized their visitor. “Dinah, come in!”
Bliss’s sister joined them. “Oh, wow. Another Duvalier.”
“Yes,” Lily said, reverently. “Mirage, no less.”
“Look, Dinah, do you see anything really strange?” Bliss was excited.
Dinah moved closer. “Is this?” She looked at Lily. “This is you.”
“I thought there was some resemblance,” Lily said excitedly, thrilled that the sisters agreed with her.
“And what’s this?” Dinah stared at the small inset in the top right-hand corner of the couple on the beach.
“Blade thought it looked like him…and me,” Lily confessed.
“Blade?” Dinah asked, still staring at the painting.
“Blade Jensen. Apparently, Isaiah gave him a key and he showed up at the same time as Lily,” Bliss explained.
“Wow!” Dinah teased. “When you head out for a vacation fling, you don’t mess around!”
“So, what does this mean?” Lily waved her hand over the entire painting. “Charlotte hinted that there was a secret message in the painting.”
“Obviously, he was seeing the future, if this was you,” Bliss remarked on the same possibility that Blade had noted on the island. “Every member of our family has a power of some kind, some more than others.”
“Or maybe the secret message is somewhere on the painting.” Dinah started to pick it up, then glanced at Lily. “May I?”
“Please,” Lily waved her hand in a permissive gesture, “I’m just the caretaker. When I’m…no longer here, the whole collection will belong to your family.”
“Hush.” Dinah hugged Lily, holding her close for a few moments. “These pieces belong on display and they mean as much to you as they do to us. Since you’re going to have this procedure and outlive us both, let’s agree to share them.”
Tears came to Lily’s eyes. She helped Dinah turn the painting over and together all three women poured over the back of the canvas. “Do you see anything? Anything at all?”
They all searched and stared, but saw nothing. “No, I don’t see anything.” Bliss sighed. “Foot. I wanted there to be some revelation concerning the end of the world or something.”
Dinah giggled. “I was expecting some words of magic. How about you, Lily?”
“I don’t know,” she said, lifting her hand to push her hair from her face. Her hand was shaking and she felt funny. Out of nowhere, her head had started to swim and her vision was fuzzy. “Maybe we’re just missing it, I’ll look closer…later.”
“What wrong?” Bliss cried out, making a grab for Lily who was swaying on her feet.
“Dizzy. Sick feeling,” she muttered, holding onto her neighbor’s arm and taking deep breaths.
“Let’s call 9-1-1.” Dinah started toward the phone.
“No, it’s just the damn tumor. Normal for me.” Her voice was weak and her heart was pounding very fast.
“Get her some water,” Bliss directed Dinah, who ran for the back.
The sound of the door opening caused Lily to glance up, hope rising anew. “Blade?” she said, before her eyes rested on the man who stood there. It wasn’t Blade. Instead, a giant of a man stood there, concern written all over his face. Beside him, was a female whirlwind with a baby on her hip. “T-Rex? Glory Bee?”
“We came as soon as we heard.” Glory handed her baby off to T.
Dinah came running back with the water. “Glory called for you on the day Flora got the news. I told her what was going on.”
Lily could read the tone of Dinah’s voice easily. She was afraid she’d overstepped. “I’m always glad to see my friends.” She hugged them both when they came over to her. “How’s baby Alice?”
“She’s growing like a weed.” T proudly held her near enough for Lily to kiss.
Dinah and Bliss, knowing she wanted to visit with her friends, prepared to take their leave. “I made some notes for you about the Cummings showing and a few other things.” She placed a folder on Lily’s desk. “Don’t worry about a thing, I’ll be glad to help you when the time comes.”
“Thank you for everything, both of you. We’ll talk soon.” Lily tried to stand up, but Bliss urged her to remain seated on the couch. Her mind wasn’t really on gallery business. She knew she might have to cancel the showings, if…
Glory knelt by Lily. “When are you going into the hospital?”
“I’m not sure.” She sipped the water Dinah had brought to her.
T-Rex moved a couple of chairs next to Lily so they could sit with her. The gallery surrounded them, valuable paintings hung on every wall, every room divider and every decorator panel. Pedestals held sculptures, while large antique bookshelves were filled with smaller paintings and art pieces like carvings of birds and porcelain flowers.
The beauty surrounding Lily usually gave her an immense amount of peace and satisfaction. Now, it only made her sad becaus
e everything seemed so temporary. A spike of sorrow sliced through her when she realized that she was the temporary one. After she was gone, the paintings would remain, the sculptures would still be standing…but she would only be a memory.
“What do you mean you’re not sure?” Glory grabbed her hand and knelt by her
“You and Dr. Kimmel found Dr. Degas and he saved me. Now, it’s your turn. Don’t let this miracle pass you by.”
Lily started crying and Glory held up her arms to gather her close. “I’m just taking a day or two to look at every aspect.” She knew that explanation sounded bizarre to most people who would grab onto the chance at a cure with both hands. “I just wanted to discuss it with this man I met.”
“You met a man?” Glory’s face changed from concern to joy. “On your trip? You told me you would! I’m so glad! When can we meet him?”
“Well, he was supposed to be here yesterday…” Lily was saved from explaining when Alice began a bout of crying. T stood to his feet and walked around the gallery to pacify the baby.
“I’m sure he’ll be here today.” She soothed Lily’s hair away from her face. “You’re feeling sick, aren’t you? Is it like the other times? Are you in any pain?”
“Pain, no, not really.” Lily took a few deep breaths. “Yes, it’s like before. The dizziness and my vision is beginning to blur.”
“Oh, sweetie.” Glory came up to sit on the seat next to her. “You need to get the procedure done, you can’t live like this.”
When a man came in off the street, T-Rex handled it, telling the guy that the owner was indisposed and turning the OPEN sign to CLOSED. Lily’s immediate reaction was, what if Blade came and saw the closed sign and turned away. A heartbeat or two later, she realized how silly she was being. If Blade showed up, he wouldn’t be turned away by something so simple as a locked door. He’d beat on it. Or call her on the phone. With that thought, she glanced over at the table to view her phone to see that there were no missed calls and no text messages.
Where was he?
She couldn’t rid herself of the notion that something was very wrong.
Alexander Curtis poured himself a shot of Scotch and one for the man sitting across from him. “I know who you are Mr. Kenner, what I don’t know is why you’ve come to see me?”