Magnolia's Fall From Grace

by Zara Teleg

“Be there in a few minutes.” I drove down Highway 405. I was relieved we got a sunny day, considering it was usually raining in August.

  We parked behind the cars that lined the area. There were over two hundred people all dressed in their Sunday best. I suddenly realized I’d stick out like a sore thumb.

  Maggie was bouncing with excitement. “Come on, we stopped. You can take the blindfold off,” she begged.

  “No, angel, I can’t. I have to explain first. This is someplace specially meant for you. I want you to enjoy every second, then we will go on our picnic.”

  “What? Why? I don’t want to spend a moment without you.” She frowned.

  “It won’t be for long. Besides, I need to go get something I forgot.”

  “But I don’t want to be alone.”

  “Oh, you won’t be.” I smiled and nodded at the couple making their way to the chapel. It was just before nine, and the mass would begin soon.

  “Okay, ready?” I yanked off the mask, and a smiling Maggie looked around.

  “I don’t understand. Where are we?”

  “You’re going to attend mass at the famous Madonna Chapel, the world’s tiniest church.” I smiled, pointing to the line of people heading into the property. Her mouth hung open for a second before she launched herself onto me and threw her arms around my neck, peppering kisses all over my face.

  “Go on, Maggie, you don’t want to be late. Tell me all about it when you get back.”

  “You’re really not coming?” Her face went from beaming to disappointed.

  “Sorry, but I don’t want it struck by lightning if I go in. Hurry, put your shoes on and get going. I’ll be back shortly. Maybe we can picnic near here and stop back when it’s not so busy.”

  “Are you sure?” she asked, sliding on her sandals.

  “Yes, I’ll see you soon.”

  When she leaned over to give me a kiss, my medallion swayed loosely on her neck. My chest ached. I loved seeing my name on her.

  Magnolia

  It was thoughtful of Vincent, taking me to the chapel. The place was cute, as his grandfather had said. The tiny church was adorned with statues and one of the most beautiful Blessed Mother figures I’d ever laid eyes on. Hundreds gathered on this sunny August day to honor our Holy Mother. Being born on her feast day, I always felt a special connection to Our Lady.

  My cheeks ached from the smile I wore all morning. When I found Vincent sitting on the trunk of the GM, the butterflies started again. His handsome face was gazing at the sky, blowing a cloud of smoke from his lips. His dark hair was tousled from the drive, and the diamond earring he wore glinted in the sun. He was so cool. My body swooned just looking at him. He looked as if he had not a care in the world. Reaching into his jeans pocket, he retrieved a small black device. He looked down at it before he lifted his head, spotting me. I quickened my pace, not wanting to waste a moment of our time left. My stomach lurched at the thought of only having days left with him.

  “How was it?” he asked, taking his last drag before flicking his cigarette to the ground.

  “Oh, Vincent, you would have liked it. Everyone was so kind, and the priest said a beautiful homily.

  “Homily?”

  “Like a sermon.” She waved her hand.

  “Oh, well, I’m glad you had a nice time.”

  “I loved it. You couldn’t have thought of a better birthday present. You know, I prayed for your family. I hope things get better.”

  “Uh, thanks,” he said awkwardly before changing the subject.

  “Maggie, that wasn’t your only present.” He started up the car and drove back out onto the highway toward the camp.

  “Really? You didn’t have to—”

  “Stop it, Maggie.” Vincent squeezed my knee.

  “Where are we going now?” I looked around as we turned on a road that had a gas station.

  “I got to make a call real quick.”

  “Oh, okay.”

  Vincent sped into the service station, stopping in front of a payphone. He reached into his jeans and handed me some cash. “Why don’t you get us a couple of cold drinks?”

  I gave him a kiss on his cheek, accepting the money. I could feel his eyes on me as I practically skipped into the store. I wandered around, looking at what they had to offer. I noticed a slushy machine in the corner next to an arcade game. I filled the two plastic cups with blue raspberry and cherry cola.

  After paying the clerk, I became concerned when I noticed Vincent pacing in the small area limited by the phone cord. His hand flailed, and his voice was raised but then quieted as I approached the car, holding up our drinks. He put his finger in the air for me to wait a minute. I nodded and plopped into the seat, tasting the frozen sugary drink.

  “Everything alright?”

  He ran his hand through his hair and let out a huff as he got back in the car.

  “It’s fine, sorry about that. Club things happening.” He pointed to the cups. “Which is mine?”

  “I tried both, so either is fine with me.”

  He picked up the blue one and sucked in a long drink. “Oh shit. Brain freeze.” He rubbed his forehead.

  Since the pitstop, Vincent seemed a bit distracted. He pulled out the device several times, checking it.

  “Is that a pager?” I asked. He’d been quiet for a while.

  “Yeah, Voodoo gave it to me. I’m just making sure everything’s good. Nothing for you to worry about.” He placed his arms around me, pulling me closer to him. I rested my head on his shoulder. I thought only doctors and drug dealers had pagers, but I kept that comment to myself.

  We drove for at least an hour before turning off to a road surrounded by tall trees. Vincent pulled down a private driveway leading to a grassy stone lot that looked abandoned. I scanned the desolate area as he cut the engine.

  “Where are we now?” I was intrigued by the gorgeous scenery.

  “This is where my Paw-paw used to take Viper and me fishing when we would visit. It was his little getaway. He traded a rich guy that owned hundreds of acres some woodwork for a few acres. He and my grandmother planned on building out here when they retired, but instead, he ended up just having a fishing cabin and a dock on the pond. He never sold it. I asked him earlier this summer if I could use it. I think he was happy that I even remembered it. He said, ‘Of course, it will be yours someday. Maybe someday you and your wife will build something that I never did.’ Anyway, I thought you might want to see it, and it wasn’t far from the chapel.”

  The way he looked at me made my heart melt.

  Vincent opened the car door and began gathering our things. “The path is overgrown, so stay close to me.”

  We hauled the blanket and picnic stuff down to a tiny cabin that sat in the middle of the beautiful swampland. A pond and a dock were not far from the little house. Cypress trees decorated with Spanish moss soaked in filtered sunlight made the place enchanting.

  A wood-carved gnome greeted us next to a funky carved mushroom. The paint had long faded, leaving only traces of the vibrant colors they once were.

  Frogs croaked, birds sang, and it all took my breath away. “This place…it’s magical.”

  Vincent’s eyes followed me as I explored the soft grassy grounds. Carrying the blanket, I found a perfect spot where the sun warmed the damp grass.

  “Vincent.” He circled his arms around me, lifting me off the ground. He kissed my neck before we fell on the blanket. My breathing was heavy from laughter. Vincent leaned over me, his fingers outlining my jaw before he brought his lips to mine. I drank in each kiss. His lips were tender and his breaths shallow as his hand ran up and down my thigh.

  “Want to swim?” He pointed to the dock that extended over the slow-moving water.

  “I didn’t bring a suit.” My hands swept over my dress.

  “Neither did I. We don’t need one here. That’s the point.” His violet iris flashed a sexy glance up and down my body.

  “What the heck? I did add skinny-di
pping to my list after Sissy had told us that story.” I began to laugh and unstrap my sandals. Vincent toed off his boots and was down to his boxers in seconds. We walked to the dock in our underwear, discarding them when we got to the edge.

  “Are you sure there are no gators here?”

  “Nah. We’re okay.” He placed his hands on my hips, pressing his fingertips under the band of my panties as he moved closer behind me, biting my shoulder. I wiggled as chills spread through my body.

  “You go first.” I wasn’t about to jump into the water, even though it was surprisingly clear.

  “If you say so.” Vincent stepped in front of me, about to leap. But, before he jumped off the dock, he looped his arm around me, taking me with him. I screamed as we hit the water, plunging deep. I smacked at him when we came to the surface.

  “That was mean!”

  “Aww, you’re okay. I didn’t want you to chicken out.” Vincent swiped back his wet hair, beads of water running down his stunning face.

  He held me in his arms as we bobbed in the water, and I wrapped my legs around his waist. I became hypnotized by his eyes, and I lost the words I wanted to say.

  Vincent snagged my lip with his teeth, sucking it into his mouth, sending an ache straight to my core. We played in the water, splashing, kissing, and dunking each other.

  “Are you hungry?” I could hear his stomach growl as we lay back on the dock, drying ourselves in the sun.

  “I could eat.”

  “Me too.”

  “I’m so glad you like it here.”

  “Who wouldn’t? This is a perfect secret hideaway.” I leaned back on my elbows, admiring everything my eyes could take in.

  “Shannon gave me this too.” He pushed play on the tape and turned the volume higher on the radio he set next to the cooler.

  We spread out the sandwiches, chips, and container of watermelon on the blanket. He poured us both glasses of the sweet tea I made.

  “I could see myself living in a place like this someday.” I took another bite of my turkey sandwich. “It’s so peaceful, but I bet it gets scary at night.”

  “Nah, it’s not so bad. We used to run all over these woods at night, catching fireflies and playing tag when we were kids. That light was always bright yellow and showed the way back even on the darkest of nights.”

  “I used to play with Paige like that when my parents were on vacation. They went to Europe for weeks at a time and my brother would be away at some camp. I stayed with Viola and Frederick often. It was more fun than any camp. Viola would let us bake cookies and sleep in a blanket tent in their tiny family room.”

  “They meant a lot to you.” I nodded.

  “Still do.”

  “Didn’t you miss your big mansion?”

  I took the brush from my bag, combing through my damp hair. “No way, my bedroom was half their house, but it was way better there. They were a family, not a postcard of what you wanted people to think. My parents live in a world of fake people. Everything is about appearances. My momma would have a stroke if she saw me now.”

  “I guess I understand that. Our family was the same way, but it was how tough you were, making sure to never show weakness, and under no circumstances, even as a little kid, were you to ever cry.”

  I reached over, running my fingers through his dark, damp hair. Vincent was still, staring at me, leaning back on his elbow.

  “Guess neither of us had a normal life—completely different, but not normal. I envied Paige as a kid. I didn’t know what it was then, but I knew how her parents and siblings loved her and each other and, well, I never had that. I always felt like an accessory.”

  Vincent sat up, rolling over on top of me, grasping my wrists. His face was inches from mine. “Tell me you know you’re more than that. You’re a great woman, Magnolia Grace, and your family is missing out if they don’t know how special you are. I don’t deserve a single moment you have given me.” He kissed my lips. “For the rest of my life, my heart will be yours, and no matter what happens, I’ll always be grateful for my stupid-ass brother getting us sent here.”

  Our eyes were locked. I blinked. I couldn’t believe Vincent just said those beautiful words. “You know you could be anything you want. You don’t have to live this life. It’s not the only way. You’re smarter and more talented than you give yourself credit for. You do have a choice.”

  “No, I don’t.” He rolled off me. “This is it for me, Maggie.” He reached over and pulled a rolled-up towel out of a bag. “Just forget it, let’s get back to celebrating you.”

  He held it out to me. “Happy birthday, Magnolia Grace.”

  I took the towel, but my eyes never left his. “What’s this?”

  “Open it and find out.” He lit a cigarette, waiting for me to reveal what was inside.

  I rolled out the towel, only to find an object wrapped in a tee shirt. I peeled back the corners, and she began to reveal herself.

  “Oh my god, Vincent, where did you get her?”

  “Get her? I didn’t buy her. I made her.”

  Tears sprang from my eyes as I studied the hand-carved Blessed Mother. I hugged her to my chest and then wrapped her again carefully. I didn’t want Our Lady to see what I was about to do to the man who had a heart way bigger than he thought.

  “Do you not like it?” Vincent seemed concerned.

  I launched myself onto him, kissing his face everywhere. “I love you, I love you, I love you.”

  His smile beamed at me as he tightened his arms around me. We were on a cloud of bliss, making love for what felt like forever under the late afternoon sun. Exhausted, we lay naked on the blanket, our bodies entwined. I sat up partially and began kissing his neck, chest, and down his arms. Tears bubbled up as I realized this may be the last time I would ever feel Vincent inside me. I wanted to tattoo every part of him in my memory. A pain struck my chest as I knew in my heart that this was the only man I could ever love this way.

  “Are you crying?” Vincent sat up, placing a hand on either side of my face, forcing me to look at him.

  “I just… I just don’t want this to end. I know it’s stupid and selfish, but I can’t imagine anything in my future making me feel as happy as you do.”

  My fingers stilled on the thick X scar that marred his shoulder. “What happened here?”

  “Way to change the subject, Maggie.” He flicked my nose with his finger before lifting me and situating me with my back against his chest. I leaned my head back on his shoulder and laid my arms over his.

  “Well?” I asked again.

  “When I was about twelve years old, me, Viper, and a few other kids thought we would start our own club until we were old enough to become members of the Cajun Kings. We thought we were tough shit. We started our ‘future Kings club’ and wanted to bond like the real Kings do. But we were too young for tattoos, so we thought a scar would have to do. So we all cut ourselves and placed our open wounds over each other so we could all be ‘blood brothers.’ Then we kept picking the scab off until it scarred. Voodoo was pissed, but by the time he saw us, it was too late. Our scars were forever.” He chuckled. I sat up, twisting to face him.

  “I want to do that,” I blurted out.

  “What?” He looked confused.

  “I don’t want a tattoo because those fade. I want a permanent reminder for the rest of my life that this happened. That you were real. I want to bond, have your blood in my veins.”

  “Maggie... I’m not going to cut you.”

  “Fine, give me your knife. I know you always have one. I’ll do it.”

  “You are not ruining your perfect skin with a knife.” He kissed my shoulder.

  “Then I guess since you are the expert with knives, you can make a clean, small cut that only you and I will know is there.”

  He didn’t look convinced.

  “Please,” I said again.

  Venom

  Maggie’s green eyes pleaded with mine. I didn’t know what to make of her reque
st, but I couldn’t deny that even though she wanted a physical reminder this was real, she had marked every part of me internally. I would never be the same after loving Maggie.

  “Please,” she said again.

  “Alright, alright.” I smacked a kiss on her head and reached for my jeans. I pulled out the knife that was always there and picked up the lighter off the blanket. Maggie sat on her knees in front of me, brushing her messy hair over her shoulder.

  “Can you make a cross? Right here?” She moved her finger to the area below her shoulder blade and above her heart.

  “Do you have a clean towel? It’s going to bleed.”

  I watched her dig in her bag for something at the bottom and held it up with a victorious smile. “Even better, I always have a first-aid kit.”

  “I need to sterilize this, but I’m sure, Doctor Magnolia, you already know that.” I ran the blade back and forth through the flame until it darkened the steel.

  I placed the hot blade on the area over my heart. Guiding her hand, I gently placed it over mine, so Maggie could feel me making the cross. I sliced through my skin, dragging the knife down two inches and then across. A crimson trail ran down my chest. Maggie let go, covering her mouth and inspecting the area.

  “Did it hurt?”

  “No, the blade is as sharp as a razor,” I reassured her. “Are you sure about this?” I cleaned the blade again.

  She nodded yes several times, her eyes pleading with mine.

  “Okay.” I huffed, leaning to her. “I can’t believe you talked me into this. Stay still.” She kept her eyes looking at the sky while she waited.

  I stopped an inch from the milky-white skin sprinkled with a few freckles that couldn’t be seen unless you were this close.

  “Just do it, please, Vincent.” She closed her eyes as I placed the blade against her skin, wincing as I dragged the edge down and then across, making a perfect bleeding cross.

  “It’s done. Come here.” She opened her eyes, and we pressed our bodies together.

  “You may need this to remember. But, for me, the memories we made are embedded in me like a scar.”

  Maggie smashed her mouth to mine, her tears mixed with our kiss.