Southern Secrets

by Shelley Stringer

  “We?” I asked as I removed my jacket and hung it and my purse on an antique hall tree Everett had recently purchased for us on one of his road trips. I carried the portfolio of papers from the courthouse with me into the living room, finding Mr. Jackson seated on the sofa, with Ava Grace in his lap. A host of dolls surrounded them.

  “Mrs. Chandler, it sho is good to see you. I came down fo a front porch sit and Ava here has been a-entertainin’ me till you got back.”

  “Hey, Mr. Jackson. You look much better than the last time I saw you. Have you been feeling all right?” I inquired, sitting down beside them on the sofa and depositing the folder of papers in the floor beside me.

  “I been right as rain, thank you. I had a couple ’ole remedies my Auntie gave me fo you to try on yo bad dreams.”

  “You have an Aunt who is still living?” I asked in disbelief. Then I realized the question was rude and I blushed.

  Mr. Jackson chuckled. “I knows it be a stretch, with me as ancient as I am, but my mamma’s baby sister is only a-couple o’ years older dan me. My Auntie Chloe, she remembers a-right smart about de old Creole ways. She told me to dust yo front stoop with de brick dust – I have some here dat I be thinkin might work.” He held a small burlap bag up for me to see. “And she sent you some gris-gris makins, with lavender and what-not, for you to slip under yo mattress. She says our Grandmama set great store by dese here fixes, but she says no matter what, it’l make yo room smell good, anyways,” he chuckled as I took the things from him.

  “Thank you, Mr. Jackson. I’ll place them there tonight. Please thank her for me.” I leaned over to hug him and he seemed startled, but pleased.

  “You will have to instruct me how to use the brick dust. I don’t know how,” I stammered.

  “Oh, no, Mrs. Chandler. I do dat part. It needs to be done by someone dat cares for you an wants to protect you, not you yoself,” he explained and then seemed to be embarrassed by his revelation of how he felt about me.

  “Mr. Jackson, can you stay for supper?” I asked, after several moments of silence.

  “Oh, no, thank you, Mrs. Chandler. My daughter Eugenia is a’comin by to see about me dis evenin. She is a’bringin me some homemade chicken and dumplins, and maybe some of my great-granbabies to sees me.” His eyes shined with pride as he told me about his anticipated visitors.

  “Where does she live?” I asked curiously. I’d never seen anyone at his apartment, but I hadn’t spent a great deal of time outside the house the last couple of months.

  “Oh, she lives up to Alexandria, it be a few hours drive fo her.”

  “How many children do you have, Mr. Jackson?” Claudia asked; she’d been silently listening to our conversation from across the room.

  “I has me fo boys and three girls. My wife died when the two little ones was just babies and I raised dem wid de help o’my oldest daughter, Eugenia,” he replied, sounding proud of his daughter.

  “Where do all the rest of them live?” I asked as Ava began to place her dolls about around the coffee table, playing her usual game of tea party. I helped her place the last two.

  “Deys scattered about all over de place. One o’my boys, he lives way up to Saint Louie, and de other three, deys’s all over de bayou. I don’t see dem much, just sometimes at de holidays at Eugenia’s house. De oldest daughter, it be her place to git de family together, you knows. De other two, one lives up at Shreveport – she’s a nurse at de big hospital, and de baby, she live down at N’awlins. She comes to see me de most. She usually be a’needin money, so’s I do what I can. She seems to be down on her luck more dan de others, but she’s a lovin chile, dat she is.”

  “Well, it sounds as if you have a big family.” I smiled at him, it was the first time he’d ever spoken of any kin.

  “De most an ol man can ask of de Lord, is to die in his sleep, surrounded by the love o’ family and sweet, sweet memories. Yes sir, it sho be true.” He grinned his toothy grin at me and then patted Ava on the head as he rose. “I best be a-gittin back now and gits ready fo my visitors. you all take care, Mrs. Claudia, and Mrs. Chandler…” He took his leave, shutting the door gently behind. Claudia peered out the living room window and watched as he paused by the front door and sprinkled dust from the burlap bag he’d held in his lap while we visited. He then moved down the steps, sprinkling the last of the contents of the bag onto the steps as his went. Then he folded the bag up, stuffed it in his pocket and retrieved his cane by the pillar on the front porch, making his way slowly back down the sidewalk.

  “Do you want to tell me what all of that ‘gris-gris’ and brick dust was about? You don’t believe voodoo folklore, do you?” Claudia asked disbelievingly. “And what is all this about dreams?”

  “Claudia, there is much I’ve had to reconsider since I moved to Louisiana.” I turned as I heard the front door open and close.

  “Okay, Sister, road trip time. I took my first test in Advanced Chemistry this morning, and it will be to my whole family’s disbelief, I made a ‘B’! We are going to celebrate…Let’s get on the road!” Constance exclaimed, dropping her books down on the hall tree table and rushed into the living room.

  “You made a B? That’s great!” I exclaimed.

  She plopped down on the sofa beside me.

  “You’re as bad as momma and daddy. Yes, I can make B’s,” she glared at me stubbornly and I laughed.

  “Well, they certainly can’t say your new boyfriend is a bad influence on your grades,” Claudia added, helping Ava pick up her toys.

  Constance took the portfolio of papers from the floor beside the sofa. “What is all of this?” she asked as she flipped through the jumble of old records.

  “I stopped by the courthouse today and made copies of all of the old deeds, survey records and transfer papers for the house. I’m doing a little research on the history. It seems this house was originally part of a forty acre tract, deeded to a daughter by a judge from his plantation holdings. The house was built right before the war broke out, around 1860, I believe it says. The lady in the parish clerk’s office was helpful. She even told me a little of the history on the cemetery up the road.”

  “You should ask Mr. Jackson to look this over. He told me when Mr. Philippe and I walked him home the other night, he’s lived within a mile radius of here his whole life. I bet he knows a lot about your house, and the cemetery,” she surmised as she folded the papers, placing them back in the folder. I stared at her. It had never occurred to me to ask Mr. Jackson about the history of the house. He did seem to know a lot about the spirits lurking here.

  “Well, let’s get going. Claudia, what are you and Ava Grace going to do this weekend?” Constance asked.

  “Will is coming down. I’ve booked a room uptown and we have a whole weekend of family fun planned for Ava Grace.” She grinned as she swept a giggling Ava up into her arms.

  “I guess that gives Everett and Mr. Philippe time off. Do they know?” Constance asked me.

  “Yes, I told Everett yesterday. He is going to drop in at his grandmother’s and ‘pacify her curiosity’ as he put it. It seems Grandmother Wellington isn’t happy he is spending a lot of time elsewhere lately.” I clued them in on Everett’s family obligations.

  “Who’s going to keep Beau?” Claudia worried. She glanced his way; he stood in the foyer waiting for someone to let him outside.

  “I was going to board him,” I began.

  “Absolutely not! We’ll take him with us.” Constance jumped up, and swept into the entry, kneeling to embrace him. “Mother and Daddy will love to have him. He’ll fit right in with Cade and Drew’s hunting dogs!” She rubbed his ears, and then opened the front door to let him roam around the yard while we loaded the car.

  After we’d packed everything for our trip, I kissed Claudia and Ava Grace goodbye and turned to wave to Grant as he backed his car out of the driveway.

  “Are you going to let me in on why they qualify as bodyguards for anyone? What are they going to do, swat
an intruder with a sample of fabric?” Claudia asked flippantly.

  I fumbled for an explanation.

  “Um, please trust me on this one. They are absolutely the best ones for the job. Someday, maybe I will be able to explain. And don’t come back to the house until you talk with me, and one of the three of them is here with you.” I kissed her cheek one last time.

  “I already promised Ev this morning. He’s quite the mother hen, you know.” Claudia moved around me to kiss Constance’s cheek as well.

  “Y’all drive safely, now…” She waved as she got into her car.

  Chapter Fourteen

  “How long do you suppose you will be able to put her off that explanation, sister?” Constance gave me a sideways glance as Beau settled down on the back seat behind me. He had just enough room to curl up on the seat, sandwiched in between my luggage and Constance’s.

  “I don’t know, but I can’t let her know about Everett, Mr. Philippe, and Grant. Too many people know already, and I’ve been warned,” I shuddered, thinking about the warning Grant had given me the day Banton was bitten.

  “I know; Grant gave me the same speech. Everett and Mr. Philippe… they are wonderful, but I’m a little uneasy around Grant. I can’t seem to make him out…” she trailed off and glanced sideways at me as she adjusted her rear-view mirror.

  “I know what you mean. He’s nice, but curt, business-like and aloof. Not friendly.”

  “Exactly. I thought it was just me, I feel he’s just there observing us. I’m sorry, but he’s just creepy!” she shuddered as she turned her car onto the Interstate.

  My cell phone buzzing in my purse halted the conversation about the Aldon’s personality. I reached in and retrieved it hurriedly, hoping it was Banton.

  “Hey! How’s the married life?” Laurilee asked.

  “Hey, Laurilee. It’s great, just a little lonely, right now.”

  “What do you mean? You’re not having problems already,” she asked.

  “No, of course not. We just had to cut our honeymoon short and come home early. Banton’s been called out on a mission and I miss him. It’s harder than I thought it would be.”

  “Oh, Chandler, I’m sorry. It’s so soon after your wedding and everything. Hey, how are the babies?” she changed the subject abruptly.

  “They’re fine. Everything seems to be right on track. I already have a bump.” I placed my hand on my abdomen, and Constance giggled, knowing how much the weight gain was going to worry me.

  “Okay, I’ll tell her…” I could hear Laurilee talking to Dan in the background. “Andie, Dan wants to know if you’re going to name one of the babies after him,” Laurilee laughed.

  “It would be cruel to saddle a poor, defenseless baby with the name butthead. I just couldn’t do that to him.” I snickered as I heard Laurilee repeating what I’d said to Dan in the background.

  “Okay…yes, I’m getting to that…” I heard her talking to him again. “We want y’all to come to Texas in May. Dan is riding in the Santa Rosa this year. We want you to come home for a visit during rodeo week. It would be just like old times and you could show Banton around, introduce him to everybody.”

  “Well, it will depend on what is going on with the SEALs around that time, I don’t know. I know Banton would love to see him ride, so we’ll see if it can be worked into his schedule.

  “Great! I want your opinion on some details. I graduate in May, and we’re planning on getting married in the fall. You’re my matron of honor, of course.”

  “Laurilee, I can’t believe you would do that to me. I’ll have all of the twin baby weight on me, and then you will probably try to stuff me in a mermaid dress that will make me look like a whale,” I protested as she laughed.

  “That is exactly what Everett said you would be worried about, and he has assured me he will fix it all. So call me whenever you can talk to Banton about it. And call me more often. Your cell is always down!” Laurilee exclaimed.

  “I’m sorry. I’ll be a better friend and call. Take care of Dan the Rodeo man for me…I love you both.”

  “We love you too. Bye.”

  I flipped the cell shut, and glanced at Constance’s amused expression. “What’s with the face?” I asked as she took the cutoff to her house.

  “You. You’re exactly ten minutes away from facing the firing squad!” she teased, returning my grin.

  “Very funny. Seriously, I don’t know how to begin to tell them.” I began to chew on a fingernail nervously.

  “Chandler, you’re married. Quit worrying, they might have their reservations about your age, and having just gotten married. But it’s not as if they can talk you out of it, or ground you…”

  “Nope, guess not,” I sighed, and watched out the window at the quaint old houses passing by outside the car window.

  * * *

  Exactly twenty-four hours had passed since we’d pulled into the driveway at Aunt Sue’s, and I still had no idea how to broach the subject of my pregnancy. Cade and Drew were constantly present and somehow, it seemed it would be easier to tell Aunt Sue in private first. Telling Aunt Sue was as close as I would come to telling my mother, and I looked forward to sharing it with her, and dreaded it at the same time. My emotions were all over the place. Everett had told me on the phone it was to be expected… I was hormonal, still emotional from the transformation, my husband was gone, and so on. But somehow I knew if you took all of the variables out of the equation, I’d still feel the same way about breaking this news to my family.

  We sat in the great room of their rather large home, watching LSU basketball and eating pizza. Some of Drew’s friends showed up, and they were drawn outside for a quick game of driveway hoops during halftime. When Uncle Lon went into his study to take a phone call, I realized I’d found my opening. Constance must have sensed my apprehension, and as she grinned at me and tilted her head toward Aunt Sue, she cleared her throat.

  Aunt Sue looked at her questioningly and then glanced over at me. I must have had the pained expression on my face I felt I did, because Aunt Sue exclaimed, “For heaven’s sakes, Chandler, what is wrong? What is Constance trying to get you to do now?”

  “Well, you will be relieved to know she has nothing to do with this one.” I smiled nervously at her and then continued. “I have no idea how to tell you this, so I’ll just come out with it. Aunt Sue, Banton and I are expecting.” I’d planned to be calm and unemotional when I told her, but the tears pooled as always in my eyes.

  “WHAT? DID SHE JUST SAY SHE’S EXPECTING A BABY?” Uncle Lon boomed disbelievingly from behind me. I jumped so, I shook the table behind the sofa, toppling a candlestick over on its base.

  “Dad, calm down. Married people have babies all the time,” Constance commented matter-of-factly, knowing full well it might be a good time to keep her mouth shut. My glare told her just that.

  “Who’s expecting a baby?” Cade asked breathlessly as he blew in the French doors from the driveway.

  “What did we miss?” Drew chimed in as the other three of their friends piled through the door behind him.

  “I think one of our darlin’ sisters is fixin’ to get ex-communicated,” Cade laughed, bouncing the basketball on the tile floor.

  This circus just got better and better.

  “I knew I should have done this over the phone,” I stated, glancing back at Aunt Sue. She was having the exact reaction Mrs. Elaine had. Tears brimmed in her eyes as she gazed at me. Uncle Lon, on the other hand, was having a completely different reaction.

  “Oh, must be Andie. Way to go, Andie-girl.” Drew flipped the hood of my sweat top up over my head as he passed by the back of the couch.

  “I guess SOMEBODY wasn’t practicing safe sex!” Cade remarked sarcastically, flopping down on the couch beside me.

  I turned and smiled at him sweetly. “There is no such thing as one-hundred percent safe sex. There is only abstinence if you want to know the truth, so I’d remember if I were you, Mister.”

 
The other three boys hooted as they all grabbed another slice of pizza and filled their glasses, returning to the floor in front of the television.

  “Chandler Ann, I want to continue this conversation in here if you don’t mind,” Uncle Lon cleared his throat behind me. Constance raised her eyebrows as Aunt Sue continued to cry silently. I stood to go into Uncle Lon’s study with Aunt Sue following close behind me.

  “Where are you going?” Drew asked Constance as she rose to follow us.

  “I’m not going to let her go into that firing squad alone!” she answered, stepping over him. “You just want to watch someone else besides you in the hot seat for a change!” Cade shot back at her. I had learned a long time ago Drew and Cade might fight like tigers when they were together, but in times of strife they banded together like hyenas.

  Constance retorted, “Oh, you’re going to be in the hot seat when Mom finds out you knocked a hole in the wall in your room at the last party you had without them knowing? That poster can’t hide it for long…”

  The last image Cade saw before the door shut was a glare from his mother and her mouth hanging open.

  I was weak and shaking all over. The last time I’d felt this was when Laurilee and I sneaked my dad’s spare key out of his sock drawer when we were fourteen, and then took his pickup for a joy ride. I never thought to check the gas tank so we ran it out of gas out on a country road, and had to wait till he got home to tell him.

  “Now, do you want to tell me what you were thinking? You aren’t even out of college yet! Your husband is away all the time, and you know who will be helping raise this baby?” His voice rose with his blood pressure.

  “Lon, I can’t believe you’re behaving this way. Calm down,” Aunt Sue admonished him as he glared at her.

  “Better yet, what was Banton thinking! It was bad enough to marry you so young, but to get you pregnant…I thought he was more responsible than this. I knew I couldn’t trust him!”

  When he started attacking Banton, I found my voice. “Uncle Lon, he has always been the responsible one. He held off from having sex with me until the night we were engaged, and I think he only gave in then because I wanted to!” I exclaimed loudly.