“What you up today, Lilly?” Jacob, my live in
bodyguard comes into the kitchen. I hired him a few months ago at
the advice of Elliott when there were some signs of an intruder.
Jacob had set up some security cameras. We have seen footage of who
we think is a man, but it’s dark so we are not sure, walking in the
timber that lines the plantation. Since he has put more
surveillance along the property line we haven’t seen anything.
Jacob wonders if it was just a squatter looking for some place to
live. Even though there hasn’t been a sign of anything for over a
month, I still feel a little safer with him here.
Jacob is ex-military that works for a very
elite security firm. He’s short, just a few inches taller than me,
but very muscular with dark black hair and very attractive. He has
a dragon tattoo on his right arm that goes from his wrist to above
his elbow. It has the prettiest blues and greens, and the tail of
the dragon loops around his arm. He is here 24/7, and even though
the firm would send someone out if he left to take his place for a
night, he doesn’t leave. He has told me he has nowhere to go so why
leave.
I keep trying to get him to go out and have
some fun, but his answer is always, “I will sometime.” I do enjoy
his company at night when the rest of the staff has left. Since
Miss Finnegan goes to bed so early it is nice to have someone else
around to watch TV with, or play games, or to just talk. We have
spent many nights up talking into the wee hours of the morning. We
have become very close. He feels like the big brother I’ve never
had. He knows all about Luke and my feelings for him. He has been
great just listening to me go on and on about him.
Jacob had a girlfriend when he went into the
military, but after a six month tour he came home to find out that
she had been cheating on him with one of his friends. Since then
he’s had no interest in looking for another girlfriend. She really
broke his heart. It’s obvious it still pains him by the way he
talks about her.
“Good Morning, Jacob. Emma and I are going to
New Orleans for some shopping,” I tell him giving him a huge smile
while he pours himself some coffee and sits next to me.
“That’ll be fun. Girls gone wild, huh,” he
says returning the smile. “I’ll be gone most of the day. I’m going
to Baton Rouge to pick up some upgrades for the security main
frame,” Jacob says taking a drink of coffee.
I hear Emma come through the front door and
shout to her that I’m in the kitchen.
“Hey sexy bitch, oh and Jacob,” she teases
kissing both of us on the cheeks. Reaching between us she grabs my
tea and takes a big drink. “You look hot,” Emma coos.
I’m wearing cut off jean shorts and a light
pink tee. My brown wavy hair is hanging passed my shoulders. Emma
is constantly trying to boost my self-esteem, even though I tell
her it’s not necessary I secretly like it.
“Stop it,” I say blushing as I hear the
doorbell ring.
“She’s not wrong,” Jacob says grinning at me
knowing that I hate compliments.
I walk to the front door and am shocked when
I open it. Adeline Grace is standing there. My mind goes back to
the article and what she said about me. I haven’t seen her since
the funerals. We did not speak, but I did get plenty of nasty
little looks. I still chuckle at her comment that all of the estate
should go to Jane’s charity. They’re a segregated group of women
who only allow women of a certain status type to join. I would be
surprised if any of the money actually went to a true charity.
“Well, Adeline Grace, if this isn’t an
unpleasant surprise,” I smile sweetly at her and I hear Emma giggle
beside me.
“Lilly,” she greets looking me up and down.
I’m sure she’s disgusted at my clothes and wish I was wearing
something more revealing. “Are you going to ask me in?” She stands
there with her lips pursed.
“Well I wasn’t going to, but I guess you can
come in.” I roll my eyes and move from the door as she steps into
the foyer.
“I’m so pleased to see you haven’t changed
any of Jane’s magnificent décor,” she says looking around at the
atrocious foyer. It is one of the worst in the house. The walls are
painted gold and burgundy, dark marble floors with gold flecks
streaking throughout, and the ceiling tile is an awful faux
gold.
“It will be redecorated soon. I was thinking
down home southern feel.” I wink at Emma knowing this statement
alone would be enough for her to fly off the handle. Surprisingly
she keeps her composure and doesn’t say a word, but I can tell her
body tenses.
“For the life of me, Adeline, I cannot think
of one reason why you would be here,” I say to her. I hear Emma
cough to disguise her giggle.
“Well as you know, Jane’s charity has
suffered greatly since her death.” I can tell she truly is fighting
off tears at the thought of Jane’s death, and Adeline seemed to
live and breathe for Jane. “I’ve come to ask you to reconsider your
donation. Our letters have gone unanswered except for the one,” she
says with disgust in her voice.
I did respond to one of their money requests
telling them I would donate money if they agreed to release the
restrictions of who was allowed to join regardless of income, and
that I had to see proof of where the money was going. I received
one letter after that that informed me their donations were
anonymous, which is the way Jane wanted it, and in respect to her
wishes they were going to keep it that way.
“Adeline, I am not giving you a cent of my
money. Your club is nothing but a bunch of stuck up snobs and you
don’t help anyone but yourselves,” I shout at her. My reaction
makes her face contort in repulsion at the way I spoke to her. My
voice raising has triggered Jacob to walk in and I look at him
giving him an I’m-all-right-look. He motions that he will be in the
kitchen and steps out of sight.
“Well, I’ve never. Jane is probably turning
over in her grave right now at the way you just spoke to me,” she
yells as her face starts to get the look I know so well. It’s a
look of loathing, hatred, and utter disgust. It’s the same way Jane
used to look at me. My skin crawls at this sight.
“Get the hell out of my house,” my face red
with anger at the way she’s looking at me. I used to have to take
it, but not anymore.
“Oh you haven’t heard the last of me little
girl, Jane was so right about you. You’re an ungrateful little
bitch who never appreciated anything that wonderful saint of a
woman did for you,” she shouts pointing her finger at me.
“GET OUT!” I scream directly in her face and
she steps back in phony fear. This makes Jacob come back into sight
and I put my hand up to him. No way is he going to have the
pleasure of throwing her out. This pleasure is all mine.
“So violent, I can’t even imagine what in the
world I’ve done to deserve this treatment,” she says now acting
wounded and afraid noticing Jacob. She gives him a please help me
look.
“Sorry lady, you’re on own,” Jacob shrugs
leaning up against the kitchen doorframe.
“Are you bi-polar or something?” Emma chimes
in at the 180 in her emotions. “I think someone forgot their meds
this morning,” Emma laughs and I can’t help but join in.
“You have five seconds to get out of my house
before I throw you out!” I shout again trying to look mean and
tough although all I want to do is burst out laughing at the look
on her face.
“Is that a threat? Are you threatening me?”
She says with her face contorted again trying to look like she is
scared.
“Well right now you are an intruder in my
house, and according to Louisiana State law I am allowed to shoot
any intruder that is in MY house. So I guess if I were you, I would
be gone before I get back with my gun!” I shout and start to walk
away headed for the study. Even though I don’t own a gun, I figure
the study would be a good place to have one if I did. When I am
about reach the door, I hear the front door slam and Emma laughing
hysterically. I return to her, “Well that was fun. We should do
that more often.”
“So what were you going to do if she didn’t
leave? Shoot her with a banana?” Emma teases me knowing I don’t
have a gun in the house.
“You ladies have fun shopping,” Jacob says
shaking his head and laughing at what just happened before
disappearing back into the kitchen.
“Let’s get out of here,” I tell her as we
make our way to the garage. I press the button on the side of the
door allowing the garage door to open, and there he is, my Luke. He
is standing just off of the driveway digging a large hole for a
tree I want planted. He looks as good as I remember, his hair wet
with sweat and his white t-shirt is drenched in it also. It sticks
to him so I can make out all of his muscles rippling under his
shirt. He looks up noticing us standing there and Emma grabs my arm
leading me to him.
My knees feel weak as he looks me in the
eyes. I feel an electrical current pass through me when I’m closer
to him. My stomach is in knots and I can’t take my eyes off
his.
“Good to see you Lilly,” he says not taking
his eyes off mine. “You are more beautiful than I remember,” he
says shyly. He still has that sideways wicked grin that makes my
heart skip a beat. I want to say something but I can’t make my
mouth move.
“I just got here and dad put me to work right
away. If you have stuff you want me to do just let me know,” he
says standing there awkwardly as I’m hypnotized by his gorgeous
brown eyes.
“Yes, I like trees,” I mumble like an
idiot.
“Miss Finnegan has started a list of a few
things needing done,” Emma says shaking her head at me. I must look
like a mental patient right now.
“Yes there’s a list,” I finally assemble a
few more words together.
“Well I’ll get started on that as soon as I’m
done here.” He smiles at me again and I feel faint. “Where you
beautiful ladies headed to this nice afternoon?” He asks so
debonair I almost faint.
“New Orleans,” Emma finally says after a few
seconds of awkward silence.
“Shopping?” He asks, his eyes never leaving
me when Emma answers. He’s got me in a trance. If he would just
look away for a second I could regain some composure.
“Yes,” I answer finally after a couple of
seconds.
“Drive safe, I want you back in one piece,”
he says only to me again. Emma pulls me away finally and I can talk
now that I’m not looking at him. “See you later, Luke,” I chime and
all Emma can do is laugh.
“Damn girl, I knew you had it bad for him,
but I never knew you had it this bad,” she says rolling her eyes at
me. “And you’re not the only one who’s got it bad either,” she says
getting in the passenger seat of my Aston Martin.
“I’m sure he has a super model girlfriend.
Look at him for heaven sakes! He probably has to beat them off with
a stick,” I say climbing in the driver seat. I fire up the engine
of my cherry red Aston Martin V12 Zagato. This was the first big
purchase that I made as a millionaire heiress, and I have loved
every minute I’ve spent driving it. Not a bad car to learn how to
drive in and get your driver’s license with. Jeffrey taught me and
was very patient with me. He would tell me stories of when he
taught Luke and his daughter Sarah how to drive. It kind of made me
feel like part of the family.
“Umm well if he does then she better watch
out because he didn’t take his eyes off you the whole time,” Emma
states fiddling with the radio, while I back out of the driveway.
Luke gives us a salute that makes my breath catch in my throat. Not
wanting him to see the look on my face I speed through the live
oaks to the end of the lane.
“So you think he has a girlfriend?” I turn to
Emma in horror at the thought, even though I’ve tried to prepare
myself that he might have lost all feelings for me. The thought of
another girl with Luke makes my stomach turn.
“I don’t know. You’re the one who said it.
You need to get a grip sister,” Emma says rolling her eyes at my
insane behavior.
“I can’t help it. I had no idea seeing him
again would do this to me,” I tell her giving her my most pathetic
help me look. “How DO I get a grip around him?”
“Got me, I’ve never had a guy render me
speechless before. My best advice is to try to relax.” Her words
don’t help at all. “Whatever is meant to be, will be.” She says in
a low hum.
“Ok, fine relax. What am I going to do if he
has a girlfriend and he brings her to the guest house?” Suddenly
panicked again, I don’t think I can handle that.
“Scratch her eyes out,” Emma giggles and I
look at her stunned. She’s got her fingers up like claws scratching
and hissing like a cat. This makes me laugh and she is able to keep
my mind off of it for a while.
Chapter 7
It takes about an hour to get to the out
skirts of New Orleans. We spend the whole trip singing aloud to the
radio and giggling. As we reach the French Quarter, I find a
parking spot and we get out to head down the street.
“I need to get some oils for Maria,” Emma
says as we head into Bon Dieu’s, a small voodoo shop in the
quarter.
Maria is Emma’s parent’s housemaid. She is a
short Haitian woman whose great grandmother was a voodoo priestess
back in the day. Maria practices it and I am fascinated by the
history and lore of it all.
As we head into the little shop, there are
rows and rows of incense, herbs, and oils. Amulets and charms line
the back wall. I know enough that you can use these to protect
yourself or harm others. Some of the rows are just for tourists
with trinkets and souvenirs. The place gives me the shivers. I have
always wondered what true “black magic” really is about. Maria
would talk about rituals and sacrifices that would give you
nightmares. The store is dark. Wind chimes made of bone, human I
think, clink together making a haunting sound as the breeze comes
through the open doors.