by Donna Hill
Shay stirred then settled under the light blanket. Michelle eased off the bed and she and Jackson tiptoed out.
She took his hand and looked up into his eyes. “Are you sure?” she asked in an urgent whisper.
He nodded. “Yes, I am.”
She tugged on her bottom lip with her teeth, her own troubles forgotten. “Tell me. Tell me everything. What’s she like? Is she cute?”
Jackson tossed his head back and laughed. “Very cute. Come on downstairs. I’ll fix us a drink.”
They held hands going down the stairs just like they used to do when they were kids, and the realization simultaneously hit them. They looked at each other and chuckled.
“I have some raspberry rum,” said Jackson.
“Add a little coke and some ice and I’m good.”
“Yes ma’am.”
Michelle curled up in the side chair. “Soooo, what is she like?”
Jackson handed Michelle her drink then sat down opposite her on the couch. “She’s stunning for starters.”
Michelle grinned. “Of course you would say that. What else?”
“Well, it’s kind of hard to describe. She’s…” He trailed off, then frowned for a moment searching for the right words. “She’s everything. That’s the only way I can put it.” He looked at his sister, hoping that she would understand what he couldn’t explain. “Her voice. Her eyes. Her spirit.” How could he put into words that someone whom he’d only imagined to be real actually was?
“When are you going to see her again?”
He sipped his drink. “We didn’t get that far.”
“Huh?”
“Let me start from the beginning.” He told her about the feeling he had at the museum and carefully told her about losing Shay and that it was Zoe who found her.
Her mouth opened then closed it. “Shay got lost?” she finally said.
“Sis, I’m sorry. It happened so fast. One minute she was there and then she wasn’t. I…”
“It’s okay. She’s safe. She wasn’t hurt. That’s what’s important.” She paused a moment. “You know how Grandma used to always say that everything happens for a reason?”
“Yeah?”
She let out a slow breath. “As awful as my reason for being here is, maybe we were supposed to be here today. Shay was supposed to get lost so that you two could find each other.” Her eyes filled and she turned her head away. She pressed her fist to her mouth.
“Mikki…” He sprung up from his seat and squeezed in beside her in the chair. He put his arm around her and pulled her close.
“I’m sorry,” she whimpered. “You should be celebrating.” She rested her head against his chest and he held her as she cried.
“You are what’s important right now. And it’s going to be all right.”
“I can’t stay here forever.” She sniffed. “Shay has school.” Her body shook. “I just can’t go back there, Jack. I can’t.” She buried her face in his shirt. “What am I going to do?” She snorted a derisive chuckle. “At least I don’t have to worry about a job.” She sniffed hard and swiped at her wet eyes. “Travis made sure his wife didn’t have to work. Biggest mistake I made other than marrying him was not holding on to some part of my identity.” Her chest heaved. “I was just Travis Holder’s wife and Shay’s mommy.” She cried harder.
“Shh. It’s going to be okay. You are a helluva lot more than that bastard’s wife and Shay’s mother. You’re my sister. That’s what matters,” he said in a teasing tone hoping to get her to smile.
She glanced up through tear-filled eyes and a smile crept across her mouth. She playfully socked him in the arm. “See what I mean? There’s no me.”
“There’s plenty of you,” he said seriously. “Look, we have the weekend to come up with a plan. On Monday, you’re going to call Shay’s school and tell them that there was a family emergency and she will be out for a few days. We’ll take it from there. One day at a time.”
Michelle sighed heavily and rested against her brother. “All right,” she whispered.
Jackson leaned his head against the back of the couch and momentarily closed his eyes. This has been a day for the record books, he thought as he gently rocked his sister in his arms. First it was Victoria’s cryptic bombshell, then Michelle showing up with her horrible news and then meeting Zoe Beaumont. It was almost too much to process. But he had to.
He didn’t know who had it in for him at the college or why. Travis had an ass-whipping coming and Carla… Well, like his grandmother always said, God don’t like ugly. Her day was sure to come. He gritted his teeth. Then there was Zoe. In the midst of all the turmoil and confusion she was the calm, the peace amid the storm. When he was with her, even for that short period of time, his mind and his spirit were at rest, as if he’d come home after a long journey. He didn’t know how it was possible to feel that strongly about someone that you barely knew. But he did know her. A part of him knew her. He had no idea how or why, just that it was a truth that he accepted without question. Did Zoe feel the same connection?
“Wait, wait, tell me again,” Sharlene squealed with excitement. “You find this little girl and it’s his niece? O-M-G.” She shook her head in amazement. “You know this is fate, girl, no two ways about it. And you can kick all that logic crap of yours out of the window, ’cause there is no explaining this.”
Zoe hugged herself and scooted to the corner of the couch. “I’m really finding it hard to stick to my guns. I mean it’s all so surreal.” She reached for her glass of iced tea from the coffee table. “But what if it is true, that someone, some cosmic force or family legacy really brought us together. And what if we fall for each other and what if it doesn’t work out, just like all the others? What then?”
“Zee, you can’t think like that. Remember what Nana said. You’re the one, girl, but you have to believe.”
Zoe closed her eyes for a minute. She didn’t know what to believe. The struggle in her mind still raged—logic versus the inexplicable. She had to admit that the instant she’d laid eyes on Jackson Treme, a trip wire went off inside her. There was a connection, a vibe, a sense of awareness that she had no way of explaining. And if she were to totally buy into the family lore, and what was expected of her, she could believe that he was the one who’d been sent to her. On the other hand it could be something as simple as good, old-fashioned lust.
Sharlene sipped her drink then put it down on the table. She leaned forward. “Tell me the story again.”
“Sharl…” Zoe shook her head and smiled. “How many times have you heard the legend?”
“It doesn’t matter,” she said with a grin. “Come on. It’s girl’s night. If we were guys we’d been telling ghost stories or fish tales or trying to one-up each other’s bedpost notches.”
They both burst out laughing.
“All right, all right.”
Sharlene settled back. She’d been hearing bits and pieces of the Beaumont legacy since she was a little girl. On more occasions than she could count, she would sit at the Beaumont kitchen table listening to Aunt Fern or Aunt Flo tell stories about their many loves, failed marriages and the reasons why. Or she’d become enthralled by Zoe’s fabulous mother when she dressed up in all her fancy clothes to sing at a nightclub or hurry out to a waiting car that took her who knows where for months on end. But she never grew tired of the stories, the magic and mystery of it all.
“My great-great grandmother and grandfather were captured during a raid on their village in the ancient city of Djenne in Mali, West Africa,” Zoe began in that sultry storytelling voice that Sharlene loved. “My great-great grandmother, Zinzi, was the conjure woman of the village. Everyone came to her with their problems. After she and my great-great-grandfather were taken and enslaved, the village slowly died off.” She drew in a breath. “At least that’s what Nana said. The village was wiped out. When they were brought to Louisiana, they were separated and sold off at auction. Nana said Zinzi’s wails could be heard up and down
the Mississippi. She was sold to Ezekiel Beaumont and she never saw her husband, Etu, again. The way the story goes, Ezekiel became so consumed by Zinzi that he put her up to live in his house, with his wife. He even bought her freedom. Zinzi had three children by him—all girls. Nana said that Zinzi put a spell on him. And when he died, he didn’t leave his wife a thing. He left it all to Zinzi and her daughters—the land, the house, all his money and even the servants who still remained after the Civil War.
“She was a wealthy woman. But she never got over losing Etu. She still cried for him and some nights she could be seen at the top of the hill just wandering around looking for her husband. One morning, her oldest daughter, Willa, found her up on the hill, slumped against the tree. She had a piece of cloth clutched in her hand. She’d often told her daughters it was the only thing she had left of her husband.”
Zoe drew in a long breath and gave her head a quick shake, coming back to the here and now. She turned her faraway gaze toward Sharlene, who was entranced.
“So sad and beautiful,” Sharlene murmured.
“Hmm. And every Beaumont woman since then has had nothing but heartache. All of their loves end in tragedy.”
“It’s like you all are being punished over and over again. But why? I never understood that.”
“Neither did I until Nana told me on my last visit.”
Sharlene leaned forward. “Well…what is it?”
“Zinzi and Etu’s marriage was a sacred one. Their marriage brought together two of the most important tribes in Mali with all their riches and their powers. When they were taken from the village, what had been joined spiritually was broken. And until they found each other and were reunited as man and wife, happiness would remain elusive in their household. Zinzi and Etu never found each other.”
“And heartache has continued to follow your family.”
Zoe nodded. “Now you tell me that isn’t a hard story to believe. I mean, I can totally understand being taken from Africa and sold into slavery, but curses and legacy and sacred bonds? And I’m supposed to somehow fix it all when no one before me could?” She shook her head.
“Did Nana tell you how?” Sharl cautiously asked.
Zoe looked right into the eyes of her best friend. Slowly she nodded. “Yes, she did.”
Chapter 10
Jackson peeked in on Michelle and Shay. They were still sound asleep. He eased the door closed and went back downstairs. Even with all that had gone on, last night was the first night in weeks that he’d actually slept. He felt rested and ready to take on whatever came his way.
He went into the kitchen and made a pot of coffee then went out front and retrieved the newspaper. He snapped the paper open and walked back inside. The headlines featured the usual stories of unrest around the world, local and national politics. He turned to the Arts section and there smiling back at him was a photo of Zoe along with an interview she’d given about the opening. He sat down at the table and read the article but his gaze kept shifting back to her picture.
At the end of the article it gave the days and hours that the museum was open and how long the exhibit would be on display. He set the paper down and went to pour a mug of coffee. The schedule noted that the museum opened at noon on Saturday. He wondered if she was working today. He checked his watch. It was nearly ten-thirty. He listened for any movement upstairs. They were still asleep.
Getting up from the table he found some paper and a pen from the kitchen drawer and scribbled a quick note to his sister and posted it on the fridge. He scooped up his car keys from the table near the front door and headed out.
Zoe did a slow walk through the main hall of the museum, taking notes along the way and continued checking to make sure that nothing was broken or out of place. Although maintenance had already been through the entire space, she always felt better when she followed up. The museum was scheduled to open in another hour and although she didn’t anticipate the crowd to be the size of the night before, Saturday was always busy.
She stopped just outside of the room that had been set aside for the exhibit. The statues sat regally on a pedestal. Slowly she approached. The closer she drew, the warmer she became as if the statues were radiating some kind of heat. She stopped in front of them.
“Do you really have some kind of power?” she asked cautiously. She laughed to herself. “Someone has to believe it, I suppose.” She turned to leave and spotted Linda walking down the corridor.
“Linda.”
She slowed and turned. “Oh, hi.”
“I thought you were coming in at two.”
She shrugged. “Figured I’d come in early and get some work out of the way.”
Zoe walked toward her. “You okay?” she asked, referring to Linda’s confession about her feelings for Mike the previous day.
Linda drew in a breath and slowly let it go. She forced a tight smile. “Yeah, I’m good. And I’m sorry about all that. No reason for me to lay my problems on you. It was totally out of character and I apologize.”
“No need, really. I just want to make sure you’re okay. I know it can’t be easy feeling the way you do and working with Mike every day.”
“It’s not. But I’ll figure it out.”
“Have you ever had a real conversation with Mike?”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean a conversation that wasn’t an argument. You’re a wonderful woman. You’re smart, your pretty, hardworking, independent. But to be honest, you don’t let Mike see that.”
Linda frowned in confusion. “I don’t know what you mean. We work together practically every day.”
“Yes, and because he doesn’t see you the way you want him to, your frustrations come out. That’s when tensions flare up between you two.” She paused. “Listen, it’s not my business, but I will give you this one piece of advice and then I’m going to leave it alone. Take it easy. Give yourself some breathing room and just be you. And if he can’t see it, well, then maybe he’s not the one.”
Linda pursed her lips, and then slowly the corner of her mouth lifted ever so slightly. “Thanks,” she said sincerely.
“Sure.”
“I better get finished. I need to put out more brochures on each of the floors before we open.”
Zoe nodded and watched her walk away before returning to her office. Imagine her giving advice on relationships when she hadn’t had a serious one in longer than she cared to admit. But for some reason she felt infused with wisdom. She laughed and opened the door.
Before she had a chance to sit down, her phone rang. She rounded the desk and picked up the phone.
“Ms. Beaumont, speaking.”
“There’s a gentleman here to see you,” the security guard said.
“Who is it?”
She heard some muffled conversation.
“Jackson Treme.”
Zoe’s heart jumped. “Um, let him know I’ll be there in a moment.” Her hand shook ever so slightly as she hung up the phone. She drew in a steadying breath, stood and tugged on the hem of her suit jacket. He was here. For an instant she squeezed her eyes shut then walked out to the main floor.
Jackson paced back and forth in front of the security desk. He’d rehearsed what he wanted to say on the drive over and all his thoughts had gone out of his head when he saw her coming his way.
“Mr. Treme.” Did she sound as breathless as he felt?
“I’m sure you’re busy—”
“No, not at all. I’m glad you came.”
Jackson’s dark eyes darkened even more and the warmth of his smile lit up her soul.
He took a step closer. The soft scent of her embraced him. “I’d like to come back when you get off. Take you out to dinner or a drink, whatever you want.”
“I’m off at six.”
“I’ll be here waiting. Did you drive?”
“I actually walked today,” she said.
Her eyes glided over his face. Her mouth was suddenly dry and when she ran her tongue across
her lips, Jackson’s body reacted instantly. Inadvertently he groaned deep in this throat.
Zoe reached for his arm. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah, yeah, fine.” He swallowed. “Um, listen, I’d better let you get back to work.” He tugged in a breath. “I’ll see you at six.”
Zoe nodded and Jackson walked out.
On legs that suddenly felt weak and wobbly, she crossed the expansive floor, hurried back to her office and locked the door behind her. She flopped down in her chair, leaned back and spun around. When she came to a stop she shook her head in disbelief. She felt giddy as if she’d just been asked to the senior prom by the high-school heartthrob.
It was crazy the way she reacted to this man. She’d even agreed to a date without a second thought. “Crazy, just crazy,” she said aloud.
She’d been out with her share of men. But she’d never allowed herself to let go, give in to her feelings. Part of that was because of what she’d seen happen to the women in her family, what she’d grown up with. And partly because there had never been anyone who made her feel anything beyond the superficial. Yet, Jackson Treme had been able to do that from the moment he’d grabbed her to keep her from falling. But hadn’t all the other men who’d come into the Beaumont women’s lives done the same thing? Look how that turned out.
She rested her arms on her desk then covered her face with her hands. What if Nana was wrong? What if all the dreams were just that, wishful fantasies with no substance? She wanted to just let go and give in to this glorious new feeling that Jackson had awakened in her, but she was so afraid.
Zoe looked at her watch. The museum was open now. She’d been there since ten o’clock, and she’d taken care of what she’d needed to. She picked up the phone and dialed Sharlene’s cell phone. Sharl picked up on the third ring.
“Hey, sis. What’s up?”
“I got a date.”
“Get out! Wait, with Jackson?”
“Yes,” she gushed.