by Ciana Stone
"I am or will be tomorrow."
"But?"
Lula leaned back and regarded him in silence. She'd been taught that to be trusted, you also had to trust. Obviously, one of them was going to have to take the first step. She'd been asking herself the question since they left the cook-out. Was she that interested in Lincoln? Enough to trust and hope her trust wasn't misplaced.
Now, as he met her gaze unflinchingly, she realized that it didn't matter if she trusted him. She'd given her word to people who'd been loyal to her and she couldn't betray them. So, she'd have to try and tell as much truth as possible without divulging things that she had to keep to herself.
"I will teach PE at the high school, just like I said, and I'll coach the gymnastics team and the cheerleaders, but I'm not really experienced in teaching."
"Then why did they give you the job?"
"Because I had good recommendations and I am an Olympian so that carries weight even if it was a million years ago. But they definitely don't know that among other things, I've worked as an exotic dancer and I'd like to keep that quiet. What about you?"
"Originally, I came to make peace with my family."
"And?"
"And to make sure Reese stayed safe."
"Why wouldn't she be safe?"
"That's not my story, so all I can say is she's also not what she seems."
Lula chuckled. "I'm starting to think I landed in a place where there's a whole lot of people who aren't what they seem."
"I can't say you're wrong."
"So, where does that leave us?"
"Where do you want it to leave us?"
"On the road to discovery."
Lincoln reached over to put his hand on top of hers. "What is it you hope to discover?"
Lula figured that even though she couldn't be totally honest about her professional life, when it came to how she felt, there was nothing preventing her from showing her cards. "Whether these feelings I have for you are a flash in the pan that will burn out when the passion cools, or if they're more than just desire."
"And how do we start on this road to discovery?"
She slid over closer. "Get out of those clothes, and I'll show you."
Lincoln smiled. "I thought you'd never ask."
Lula had to bite her tongue to keep from spewing a string of expletives when Lincoln's phone rang. He looked at it and ignored the call. "Come here."
She climbed onto his lap, straddling his legs and the phone rang again. He again hit ignore and claimed a kiss. Just as she was feeling the heat, the damn phone buzzed. This time a text.
It was Wiley and read this is important. I need to see you now.
Lincoln looked at the phone and then her. It was clear to her that he was torn between wanting to stay and feeling he needed to go. She made it easy for him. "Go. He wouldn't ask if he didn't think it was important. Probably a good idea for me to get to bed early anyway. Tomorrow is likely to be stressful. Seeing as how I haven't ever really taught anything before."
"We're still on that road, right? The one to discovery?"
"Oh most definitely. Drop by for dinner tomorrow. You can be dessert."
"It's a date. What time?"
"Six?"
"I'll be here. Thanks for understanding."
"It's family, Thor. If my brother called I'd already be headed for the airport, so I get it. Just be safe."
He gave her a quick kiss, she climbed off his lap and watched him walk to the door. "See you tomorrow at six," he said just before he walked out.
"I sure hope so."
Lula lay back on the couch and stared off into space. She was a bit concerned that maybe she was letting things happen too quickly. While she'd parted on good terms with men before when the feelings she wanted to feel didn't materialize, she didn't want that to happen with Lincoln.
Why? What was it about him? Maybe her hormones were affecting her ability to make sound decisions. This was the first time Lula had ever been celibate, and perhaps she was allowing her desire for him to blind her to things she should have seen. Like the fact that he obviously had secrets and wasn't eager to share them with her.
That sudden bout of insecurity had her wondering if she was making a mistake. Damn, she was tired of second-guessing and keeping secrets. But what choice did she have?
None.
*****
"Thanks for coming," Wiley said when he opened the door.
"Sure. What's up?" Lincoln walked inside.
"Let's go back to the kitchen."
Lincoln followed and was surprised to find Molly and Mercy sitting at the table. "Where's the kiddo?"
"Taking a bath and then bed," Molly answered. "We wanted to speak in private."
"We?"
"It's about Lula," Wiley said.
Lincoln hated the way that sentence made his hackles rise. Wiley had never interfered in Lincoln's personal life, and the idea that he'd start now didn't set well.
"What about her?"
"Please, sit." Mercy encouraged.
"Fine." Lincoln took a seat. "But before anyone says another word, I have something to say."
"Have at it," Wiley agreed.
"Lula said I needed to talk with all of you. About Kaylee. And now seems as good a time as any."
"What about Kaylee?"
Lincoln looked around at everyone. "She can see ghosts."
"So can your friend, Lula." Molly replied. "And apparently she's who brought the ghost to our house."
"Why do you say that with such condemnation?" Lincoln asked. "I'm sure she wouldn't have come if she'd thought she was bringing any harm or inconvenience to you."
"I didn't mean to imply she would, so if that's how it sounded, I'm sorry. I guess I'm just a bit shaken to find out that Kaylee has abilities we didn't realize."
"Or know quite how to deal with," Mercy added. "None of us talk to the dead, so it's a bit outside our wheelhouse."
"Then maybe Lula can help Kaylee since she obviously has the same skill."
"Perhaps," Mercy agreed.
"So why did you call?" Lincoln asked, eager to change the subject.
"What we were just discussing," Wiley said. "Kaylee was pretty adamant about wanting to help Lula and the child spirit. She said they need to find the child's sister."
"But how do we do that?" Mercy asked.
"That's what Lula and I have been trying to do," he said. "Based on the style of clothing, her size and hairstyle, we think she was between five and seven during the mid-thirties. We visited half a dozen cemeteries in the area today, looking for gravestones of children who died in the 1930's but came up empty-handed."
"So you have no clue who the child could be?"
"No. Kaylee said she and Lula should ask the child who her sister is since she's here looking for her sister."
Mercy nodded. "Pretty smart."
"But do we want Kaylee communicating with the dead?" Molly asked.
Lincoln saw the way Mercy reached over to take Molly's hand, offering support and comfort. "I don't think it's up to us," Molly said in a calm tone. "The spirit presented herself to Kaylee, and there is a very real chance there will be others. I think, as her family, our task is to prepare Kaylee, as best we can, for dealing with such situations."
"According to Lula, Kaylee wasn't at all frightened." Lincoln pointed out.
"And Lula is obviously experienced in dealing with the dead," Mercy added.
Lincoln nodded. "She helps them find peace."
"Which is honorable," Wiley commented.
"Very," Molly agreed. "Okay, then I think we need to invite Lula over and come up with a plan on how to deal with this. Lincoln, would you like to ask her?"
"I think it should come from you. Otherwise, she's going to feel that she's being asked to present herself like a kid going to the principal. If you invite her, it will be a lot friendlier. And, just as a personal favor, I'd really like you to give her a chance."
"Because she means something to you," Me
rcy added.
"Yes, ma'am."
"Then she means something to us as well, and we will extend every courtesy." Mercy looked at Wiley and Molly. "Right?"
"Yes, ma'am." Lincoln didn't even bother to hide the smile from seeing and hearing them both answer in unison. One thing he'd learned was that Mercy rarely exerted control or made demands. But when she did, everyone fell in line.
She had that kind of effect and had earned that level of respect. From him as well.
"Thank you, Mercy. So, anything else?"
"No," Wiley said at the same moment Molly said "yes."
"Okay, what?" Lincoln asked.
"Have Lula and Naomie met before today?"
"How would I know. Why do you ask?"
"Just the way they were when they were talking. They seemed quite familiar."
"Maybe they just hit it off."
"Maybe. Okay, that's it. Have a good night and thanks again."
"Sure." He stood, leaned over and kissed Mercy on the cheek. "Good night."
"Walk well." Mercy said.
"In my dreams?"
"Especially there."
"Yes, ma'am. Thank you."
Wiley walked outside with Lincoln. "So, you and Lula?"
"If you have something to say, then spit it out."
"Just that I've been consulting with Russell Walker and he mentioned his brother had received some threats, so they decided to up security on all family land and holdings, and for all the family."
"And?" Linc asked.
"Nothing, just popped to mind. Are you still involved in that line of work? Protection?"
"Not in the consumer market, bro."
Wiley nodded. "Okay, just curious. Thanks again."
"You bet. See you soon."
Lincoln thought about the day as he drove home. A lot had changed. Lula had revealed that she cared, Kaylee had revealed a new psychic ability, and Wiley had shown that he'd known about Lincoln's true line of work, after all.
And Lincoln had experienced a revelation of his own. He was falling for Lula.
Chapter Thirteen
Lula sat at the old desk, staring at the equally old monitor. She was attempting to access the game schedule for the football team so she could create a practice schedule for the cheerleaders as well as work in time for gymnastics practice.
Unfortunately, the computer was as old as the monitor, and so far she'd sat there a full five minutes, waiting on the spreadsheet to load. Her phone chimed, alerting her of the meeting she had with Coach Walker in ten minutes.
Fuck it. Maybe it would be loaded by the time she got back. She'd agreed to walk over to the training facility field house where his office was located. Lula locked her office, as she'd been instructed and headed for her meeting.
It took far less than ten minutes to reach the structure, and she took time to admire it. If this school had nothing else, it had one hell of a football stadium and training center. She wondered how many millions had gone into it and why a couple of hundred couldn't have found its way into some of the other programs.
But questioning that was probably fruitless, and from what she'd observed in just a couple of days, a sure way to make enemies. Football was king in Texas.
She spotted Dillon Walker, headed her way, so Lula stopped and waited. He smiled, and she wondered if he was one of those men who used his good looks like a tool. Or a weapon. His uncle and father were handsome men, and neither seemed to rely on looks. But perhaps that was due to age and them being so accustomed to power.
They seemed to effortlessly exude power. Dillon had not during their initial meeting. Would that be the way of things today? She was about to find out.
"Hi, Coach Walker."
"Dillon."
"It might be safer for me to address you as Coach. I'd hate to raise any ire from the powers that be."
"Don't worry about it. And call me Dillon."
"Okay, Dillon. I'm Tallulah. Lula to my friends."
"Where do I rank?"
"Hopefully, we'll make it to friends, so let's just start there."
"Sounds good."
They went into his office, and she couldn't help but notice along the way, that the area occupied by the assistant coaches, equipment managers and drivers was equipped with not one but three huge flat screen televisions mounted on the wall, comfortable seating and nice desks that all had new iMac's sitting on them.
Lula was willing to bet that this setup was a thorn in the paw of many teachers. Cotton Creek High School was nice enough, but nowhere had she seen anything that came close to being as nice as what was associated with football.
"Have a seat," Dillon said as they entered. "Can I get you something to drink?" He went to a stainless steel refrigerator set into cabinetry that boasted of a sink, microwave, oven and range top, along with plenty of storage.
"I've got soda, water, tea, lemonade, orange juice—"
"No, thanks, I'm fine."
"Sure?"
"Positive. But I could use a print out of the game schedule. I've been trying to get it to load on the computer in my office but so far haven't had any luck."
"Yeah, those things are a mess. They should have replaced the computers. I think the previous PE teacher used her own."
"Are you kidding?"
"No, why?" Dillon took a seat, ostensibly completely innocent or uncaring of the imbalance in the allocation of resources in the school.
"You do realize you're sitting in a state of the art facility, with a full kitchen in your office, iMacs for every member of your staff and the rest of the faculty are using PC's that were obsolete ten years ago."
"No, actually I didn't."
"Well, now you do."
"I'm sorry. I don't know what you want me to say."
"Nothing. I get the pecking order, and it's not your fault. I'd just like a print out if you wouldn't mind."
"Not at all." He set to work on his keyboard, and a few seconds later a soft hum indicated a printer working. Dillon leaned down to one side and a moment later straightened with a piece of paper in his hand. "Here you are."
Lula reached out to accept the printed page. "Thank you."
"No problem, and hey, if you ever need to use a computer, come here. I'm sure we can set you up on one of ours."
"Thanks, Dillon, that's kind of you. So, tell me, what are my biggest challenges going to be with the cheerleaders?"
"Hell if I know. All I know is that you show up to the games, they do their thing, and I do mine. Honestly, I don't pay much attention to anything but the game."
"Not even your fan club?"
"Say what?"
Lula laughed. "Oh honey, you cannot be that blind. Half the girls in this school have a crush on you, along with a good portion of the teachers. Hell, I've already been told twice today to not even bother because you don't date teachers."
To his credit, he actually looked uncomfortable. "If I have – what you say, then I assure you it's not because I've encouraged it. And no I haven't dated any teachers. Not that you're not attractive and—"
"I wasn't fishing Dillon, and I'm not interested in dating you."
"You're not?"
She laughed again. "Well that surprise was honest, and I'm glad to see it because now I know you're aware that you're hot and there are women young and old who notice. But no, I'm not. I'm involved. So you're safe with me, Coach."
His smile was as genuine as she'd ever seen. "And you're safe with me, Lula."
"Good, because the way I see it, you can't have too many friends."
"Amen to that."
"Well, good." She stood. "Then thanks for your time and the printout. Now, can you tell me about the cheerleaders going to the away games? Do I have to ride with them?"
"Ride with them?"
"On the bus."
"Oh, yes. The school allows you to use one of the buses. You just have to arrange for a driver if you don't want to drive."
"Wait. You mean they don't ride with the team
on that big custom bus that's parked in the garage alongside those golf carts you guys have to get to the field?"
"No, that's just for the team."
"Ah, I see."
"And I'm guessing you're getting more pissed by the minute. The last cheerleading coach was the same."
"And you don't understand why?"
"Well, sure I do, Lula, but what do you think I can do about it?"
"Honestly?"
"Yes."
"Everything. I think if you made an announcement today that the cheerleaders would be riding with the team to and from away games, no one would argue at all. I mean, you're the golden boy, Dillon. The coach that took the team to state. You could pee in their cornflakes, and they would smile and wolf them down."
"That's just plain nasty."
"I'm discovering there are a lot of plain nasty things in this school, and gee, it's only my first week. It's a wonder people last a year in this place."
"You're pretty opinionated for someone who's been here five minutes."
That's when it hit Lula. She was letting herself get caught up in things, and that would only draw attention to her, attention she didn't want or need. "You know what, you're absolutely right, and I apologize. I know it's not your fault, and you're doing exactly what you were hired to do, and my hat's off to you. I just hate inequality."
"It's not my doing, I promise. And if it'll make you feel better, I'll ask that we share the bus."
"No, don't do that. It will only ruffle feathers, and that's really not how I want to start out here. To be truthful, I came here wanting to coach gymnastics. I was a gymnast when I was younger. The PE and cheerleading things are just what I have to do if I want to coach gymnastics."
"That's a lot to juggle."
"I'll manage, and I'm sorry, Dillon. I shouldn't have dumped on you."
"It's okay, and it'll stay between us."
"You know, I think maybe we are going to be friends."
"I hope so."
"Me too. Thanks again. See you around, Coach."
"Yes, ma'am."
Lula headed back to her cramped little office beside the girls' locker room in the gym. Keeping an eye on Dillon from here wasn't going to be easy. She was going to have to speak with the man who'd hired her to come here, and see if something could be worked out that gave her easier access.
