by Ciana Stone
"Oh Thor, do you really have to ask?" She turned in to face him and wrapped her arms around his waist.
Lincoln smiled and hugged her, lifting her off the ground and twirling her around. She laughed and held on until he stopped, then brushed his hair back from his face and gave him a look that made something swell inside him.
"You slay me Tallulah Christmas. You know that?"
"You sure know how to sweet talk a gal."
Lincoln laughed and gave her a quick kiss. They resumed their walk to his truck and got in. It was only a couple of miles to Wiley and Molly's place. Molly answered the kitchen door when Lincoln knocked.
"Hey, come in." She stepped back and smiled. "Thanks for coming over. Have you eaten?"
"No. Lula was teaching a class at the gym, and we thought we'd hit the diner after we left here."
"No you won't. Elisi and I are cooking, and you're joining."
"Elisi?" Lula asked.
"It's Cherokee for Grandmother."
"That's beautiful. Can I help?"
"Sure," Mercy said from where she stood at the butcher's block. "How are you at rolling out biscuits."
"I've rolled a ball of dough or two. Where can I wash my hands?"
"There's handsoap beside the sink on the left."
"Where's Wiley?" Lincoln asked.
"Out back. He's building a rope bridge from the playhouse to the treehouse.
"Maybe I'll give him a hand."
"Sounds like a plan. We'll yell when it's ready."
He cut a look at Lula who was drying her hands, and she smiled, so he headed outside.
Lula got to work and for the first minute or so they all worked in silence. "So, I'm guessing it's a bit of a shock to discover that your child can talk to the dead," Lula said.
Molly turned from setting the table. "I don't even know how to begin to talk to her about it."
"You're psychic right?" Lula looked from Molly to Mercy. "Both of you. Lincoln told me. And Wiley is an energy healer, and his brother Deacon is an empath, and his daughter is an energy healer, too. And that's odd, Wiley is, and Deacon isn't. But anyway, you all have more than your share of experiences that are out of the ordinary, right?"
"Yes." Mercy answered.
Lula nodded. "My grandmother's people were gifted. Particularly my ancestress Lalia. She was said to be very powerful. Apparently, what she passed down was diluted over time. My grandmother Aribella Angelique Fachon Duval—whew that was a mouthful, wasn't it? Anyway, she was quite strong, but to my great embarrassment, as she aged, she came to favor the dark. But she was the first person I knew who talked to the dead. Well, my dad did, but he never told me until right before he died."
"Oh, I'm sorry," Molly spoke up.
"Me too."
"How did he die? If it's not too personal or painful."
"My family – well, all but me and my brother Eric—died in Katrina. A tornado destroyed my grandmother's house where we were living. They all died. My parents, my younger sister and my grandmother."
"Oh, Lula. How awful. I'm so sorry. But you and your brother survived?"
"Yes, we were in Georgia. On the farm where my mother grew up. Eric stayed and worked the farm when my grandfather died, and my parents moved us to New Orleans to take care of my dad's mother and her big old horrible house."
"Horrible?" Mercy asked. "What made it horrible?"
"It was full of the dead. I never realized how many people have unresolved issues that keep them from leaving this plane. Honestly, the Fachon-Duval clan was a piece of work. As it turned out, Grandmother Aribella wasn't the only one in the family attracted to the dark. It was a real challenge to cling to the light in that place.
"But it taught me that despite the souls trapped in pain and confusion, there are plenty who easily embrace the light and witnessing just one such soul is a life-affirming moment, so I learned how to deal and how to help the ones trapped here to make the crossing."
There was a few moments of silence, and Lula wondered if maybe she'd shared too much. Then she felt Mercy's hand on her shoulder. "My poor child." When Mercy wrapped Lula in her arms, tears suddenly burst from Lula's eyes. How long had it been since she felt this kind of acceptance and comfort?
"I'm sorry." She pulled back and swiped at her eyes with the back of her flour-covered hands.
"Don't be." Molly hurried over and hugged her as well. "Thank you for your honesty."
"Dishonestly dishonors us all. My mama taught me that."
"I think I would have liked your mama."
"Yes, ma'am and she would have liked both of you. But anyway, this isn't about me. It's about your sweet little girl."
"Yes," Molly agreed. "She said she saw a little blonde girl who's very sad because of her sister. Kaylee said you and she have to find the child's sister."
Lula nodded. "First, you need to understand that the spirit didn't appear to Kaylee. Kaylee is simply able to see what others can't. The spirit manifested to me, and I'm honor bound to help her."
"Why?"
"Because my grandmother cursed me."
"What?" Molly and Mercy both went still.
"I wasn't there when Katrina hit. I'd been in a competition—a gymnastics competition, in Atlanta. My brother Eric and his wife came to watch, and I went home with them. I was going to take a bus back to New Orleans, but the hurricane was headed there, and I didn't want to go. I knew if I did, I'd die. I begged my family to leave and come home to Georgia, but they wouldn't. After it was all over, and I mean weeks later, I went and searched for them, but I never found them. I visited all of the morgues and centers where the bodies of the dead were stored, but I couldn't find them.
"The night before I left New Orleans my grandmother came to me. She said she was putting a curse on me. Until I made recompense for the lives I was responsible for, I'd never find love, only empty passion, and men who wanted to use my body as a receptacle for their lust. I had to save four lost souls to be released."
"My god, that's horrible," Molly said. "What kind of monster would say something like that?"
"Dear ol' Grandmama."
"And?" Mercy asked.
"And the spirit of this child is soul number three."
"But it's a child, how could it be trapped here?" Mercy asked.
"I don't know, but I need to figure it out. The point of all this information I'm dumping on you is that the spirit is here for me. Kaylee can see her, but only as a child who needs help. She's pure and protected by the light, you need to know that. When I look at her I see it, it's like the glow you see in books that surround angels. The spirit won't hurt her, it will be in awe of her."
"But how do we talk to her about something like that?" Molly asked.
"Straightforward, like it's simply a fact of life because for her it is. The less momentous you make it, the less it will be for her. She'll come to accept it as an ability like any of the others she has."
Molly nodded and looked at Mercy. "It makes sense," Mercy said and looked to Lula. "Thank you. What was said here will stay here."
"Thank you. I've already told Lincoln, and Molly, I wouldn't ask you to keep it from Wiley. I just wouldn't want it bandied about in conversation if you know what I mean."
"Trust me, we know."
"Thank you."
"No, thank you, Lula, and if I could add, I really hope things work out with you and Linc."
"So do I, but I still have two souls to save."
"And you will." Mercy said. "Now let's get those biscuits in the oven, and while they're cooking, we'll get started on the meat and eggs."
"Yes ma'am," Lula agreed and smiled. This wasn't what she'd imagined, but she was glad she'd been honest with Molly and Mercy. They were genuinely worried about Kaylee, and she'd do anything she could to help them deal with this new ability Kaylee had demonstrated. If she could just find a way to help the spirit of the little girl, maybe Kaylee would be spared further contact. That was Lula's wish for her because helping the dead was a
difficult and emotionally taxing task that she honestly wouldn't wish on anyone.
The doorbell rang, and Molly hurried to answer. Lula heard voices, and a few moments later Molly returned with a stunning brunette woman. "Look what I have," Molly announced and held a book up in front of her.
"Oh, I'm sorry. Lula Duval, this is Annie Morgan, aka Ana Lise, the famous author."
"Seriously?" Lula smiled. "I love your writing and oh my, that dedication to your hubs after you got married. Hit me big time in the feels. It's such an honor."
"The pleasure is mine," Annie replied.
"It was like a love story all its own, what you wrote about meeting your husband and him turning out to be a famous actor and oh my Lord girl when I read who he was, I swooned. Swooned, I tell you."
Annie laughed, as did Molly. "I did, too."
"No kidding. That was perfect. I did find it interesting that three books ago you started a recurring character, the angel. Can I ask what prompted that?"
Annie looked at Molly before answering. Mercy spoke up as Molly remained silent. "Since I trust all of you, I'm going to say it. You can trust her with the truth of your angel Joe, Annie. Just like Lula can trust you to know that she can talk to the dead."
Annie's eyes rounded. "Seriously?"
"So can Kaylee," Molly added softly. "Lula's going to help us to help her deal with that ability."
"Oh I have so many questions," Annie said. "And I bet that made your heart sink, didn't it?"
"Not really," Lula said. "Because I have questions as well. About your angel. Joe?"
"Yes, Joe."
"So, maybe we could get together some time?"
"I'd love that. Want to do breakfast one morning at the diner, or maybe lunch?"
"I'd love to, but I'm teaching at the school and don't get much time for lunch. But we can definitely work something out."
"And we will. Can I get your number?"
"Sure, do you have your phone handy?"
Annie fished her phone from her purse. "Okay, what is it?"
Lula provided the number. "Thanks." Annie gave her a bright smile."I'll text you so that you'll have my number. Let's please work something out soon?"
"Absolutely. Thank you."
"Oh, you probably won't say that after I start with the questions." She looked at Molly. "Remember when I wanted to use your product testing for a book?"
Molly laughed. "Oh yes, I do. But it was fun."
"You mean you were the inspiration for the Sadie character?" Lula asked.
"She was," Annie said. "So, be forewarned."
"Not a problem."
"Annie!" A bellow from the front door had Annie going "oh-oh, gotta run. Riley and I are meeting Callie and Jayce for breakfast, and I think we're late."
"Thank you again for the book," Molly hugged her.
"My pleasure. Have a great weekend, you guys. And you'll be hearing from me, Lula."
"I look forward to it."
Annie hurried out, and Lula looked at Molly. "Wow, Ana Lise. I never thought I'd actually meet her."
"She's a wonderful person. So is her husband, Riley."
"Seems like this town is full of wonderful people."
"It is." Molly reached for Lula's hand. "I'm sorry if we got off on the wrong foot, Lula. I think this pregnancy has my hormones doing somersaults."
Lula looked at Molly's hand then at Molly. "I'm going to ask something big of you. I know you can pick up things, and I swear by all that's holy, I have nothing in my past aside from what I've told you that is awful. But I do have things I need to keep to myself for reasons I can't say, so please don't look, okay? I promise that when the time comes that I can tell you my secrets, I will. But until then, will you please let me keep them to myself?"
"She most assuredly will," Mercy said in a tone of voice that, had it been directed at Lula, she would have most certainly have obeyed.
Apparently, Molly took it the same way. "I promise."
"In that case." Lula clasped Molly's hand. "Thank you."
"For what?" Lincoln's voice had her looking past Molly to where he stood in the doorway.
"For making me welcome in this home."
Lincoln's smile did more than warm Lula's heart, it filled her with something she had never really experienced. Hope for a future with a man she adored.
Chapter Sixteen
Lincoln looked at the car parked in front of Lula's house and even slowed to look inside the window as he walked by. He didn't recognize the vehicle. Maybe it was someone from school. Lula was the type to make friends easily.
He rapped on the front door but got no answer, so headed around the side of the house, toward the backyard. The moment he rounded the corner, he saw them. Lula was lying in the grass with something white and flimsy draped over her body, blowing bubbles into the sky and a guy was less than ten feet away, sitting on the ground and taking photos.
Just as jealousy started to boil, Lincoln remembered. The photographer who'd asked if he could take photos of her, what was his name? Nick something. That had to be who it was.
"Hey," he announced his presence with a casual greeting.
"Lincoln!" Lula quickly set the bubble wand and liquid aside, gathered the fabric to her and jumped up to run to him.
He had no mind for anything but the sight of her. Damn, she was gorgeous. Uninhibited and almost innocent, her smile was one of genuine delight. "Hey, you," she nuzzled his neck and pressed up against him as his arms went around her.
"Hey, yourself. This is a surprise."
"I told you about Nick wanting to take pictures, remember?"
"Yes, I remember."
"Well, we're almost done, and it's kind of been fun, to be honest."
"Do you realize he's still taking pictures?"
"Oh?" She looked over her shoulder and then back at him, her expression changing from delighted to worried. "I'm sorry. I'll tell him to—"
"It's okay."
"Are you sure?"
"Positive. He can't use them without a release, so it's no biggie."
"Then how about we let him take some more."
"Of you? That's entirely up to you."
"No. Of us."
"Uh..." Lincoln's mind when into a whirl, trying to come up with an excuse. He'd never been keen on having his photo taken, and he was a bit nervous about what the photographer might want, considering Lula's current state of undress.
"Doing what?"
"Pardon?" She seemed confused.
"Pictures of us doing what?"
"I can think of all kinds of things."
Her sexy tone and the look on her face made it hard to say no. The damn woman was a seductress without even trying. "Let's see what your ideas are, and I'll let you know."
"Yay!" She turned and yelled to Nick. "He said let's talk about it."
Nick gave a thumbs up, stood and walked over to them. "Nick Sanders."
"Lincoln Shaw," Lincoln took the hand Nick offered. "So what kind of photos did you have in mind?"
"Dark, seductive, low key light."
"Clothed?"
"I'd prefer not, but assure you the photographs will not show genitals if that's a concern."
Lincoln looked at Lula. "You want to do this?'
"I do."
"Fine. Out here?"
"Oh, no." Nick chuckled. "Inside. I left my lights in the house, and we will need to cover windows to get it dark enough."
"Then let's do it," Lula suggested. "If you have what you want from out here?"
"Actually, there is one shot I'd like to get. The two of you in the water together. Lincoln, you can keep on your underwear."
"Thanks." Lincoln hated that it made him feel somehow prudish, but wasn't about to strip down.
Once he was in the water with Lula, things changed. Nick told them what he wanted, but Lincoln didn't have to think about it. Lula led him into it without effort, and her focus was so much on him that for seconds at a time he forgot about Nick and the camera.
>
Afternoon turned to evening and evening to night, and when they finally finished, Lincoln had to admit it'd been a remarkable experience. Nick left with a promise to set up a gallery online with the images for them.
Once he'd left, Lula closed the front door and leaned back against it. "That was something, huh?"
"Yeah, it was. I never imagined I'd do something like that."
"But?"
"But it was pretty amazing. You're amazing."
"I think that goes double for you, Thor."
"Ah, back to Thor?"
"You know it baby, and after all that foreplay, we better get down to some next level lovin' or this gal might just lose her mind?"
"How about this gal loses her mind while we get down to some next level loving?"
"Oh, I do like the way you think, Thor."
Lincoln smiled and pulled her to him. Lula was definitely one of a kind, and every day became more the one. He didn't know if he was more scared or excited at that realization but tabled the thought for another time. Right now, he had her in his arms, and tonight he'd show her that she'd be hard pressed to find a man who would be as dedicated to her satisfaction as he.
Funny how that had quickly become a priority. Maybe later that was something he'd have to consider as well. Lula Duval had cast a spell on him that was getting stronger every day. The question was, did he run from it or toward it?
*****
Halloween in Cotton Creek was a festive time. All the shops and businesses in town were decorated, and the smell of pumpkin spice wafted from more than one eating establishment. Lincoln had a date to meet Lula at the high school where the Halloween festival was being held.
Usually, he'd pass on such an event, but Lula had volunteered to work the dunking booth with the football coach, so he agreed to meet her there, and once her shift was up, they would cruise through the event. A lot of the local businesses were setting up displays, tables and selling food and merchandise. There were games and contests, and from what he'd heard, nearly the entire town would show up.
He had no desire to spend hours waiting on Lula to be free so he waited until almost nine before driving to the school. She'd said she would be done by nine, so the way he figured it, he'd arrive at the perfect time. If he were completely honest, he'd admit that he had no real desire to watch her and the football coach.
