Southern Spirits

by Shelley Stringer

  He turned to me and pulled me into his arms.

  “I’m sorry, Banton. I guess my imagination is running away with me. It’s an old habit,” I murmured. He pulled me away and shook his head.

  “No, Andie. I caught a scent too, but only for a brief moment and then it was gone. Maybe a rogue, out for a nightly run…a coincidence, I’m sure.” He looked down at me, rubbing my arms for reassurance. He glanced down at his watch.

  “It’s five forty-five. The sun will be up soon,” he whispered as he leaned over to place a kiss on top of my head.

  “Last night was wonderful, Banton. It was magical,” I said as I gazed up at him. “Thank you for my birthday present.”

  “You are entirely welcome. I just wish I could have finished that massage completely,” he teased with a twinkle in his eye.

  “Rain check, then? We’ll be back from N’awlins in a little over five days,” I grinned up at him.

  “Oh, yes. Definitely. Let’s go out and make sure all the candles are out, and I’ll lock up the pool house. The babies should be up soon,” he said, pulling me toward the greenhouse.

  After we’d secured everything and I’d gathered our clothes up from the previous evening, we headed back into the house. As we started up the back steps, Banton swept me up into his arms and carried me through the back door.

  “Well, if it isn’t the lovebirds,” Everett chirped. Miss Astrid turned to gawk at us.

  Banton chuckled. “Ev, you’re up awfully early. What gives?”

  “What do you mean, up early? I never go to bed, remember? I just thought I’d stay and help Constance and Ty out, if they needed me. Miss Astrid and I were just getting the bottles ready for our sweet little Matty and Elly.”

  As if on cue, the sound of both babies’ wails rang out from upstairs.

  “Come on, let’s get them before they wake Constance and Ty,” Banton said as he dashed for the stairs. I hurried after him, racing up the staircase right behind him. As we burst into the nursery, we both stopped dead in our tracks. Both babies stood at the foot of each crib, clutching the edge as they teetered on their feet.

  “They’re standing! Banton, they’re too young for this!” I exclaimed. He turned and gave me an incredulous look.

  Banton moved to pick up Matty as I turned to get Elly. When I approached her crib, she turned loose and held both arms up to me. I grabbed her up in my arms, and watched as her little eyes glowed with the turquoise flecks that I’d come to expect whenever she was hungry. I turned back to Banton and exclaimed, “Turquoise is now my favorite color in the whole world.”

  He nodded at me with moisture brimming in his eyes. “Yes, next to velvety brown,” he murmured as he placed his forehead against mine, “Turquoise would definitely be my next favorite.”

  We both took a rocker, settling down with the twins and giving them their morning bottles. As we rocked, I savored the moment…breathing deeply, taking in their sweet baby scents mixed with my lotion and Banton’s clean, earthy smell…I was making a memory. Both babies held their hands up, touching our faces as we talked baby-talk to them. I became aware that we had an audience.

  “Wow, this is a Norman Rockwell painting,” Constance giggled, leaning against the door facing. “Good, you’re up. Now I can go back to sleep and catch another two hours,” she yawned as she turned to go back to her and Ty’s room.

  “Oh, no you don’t, we’re going running in exactly forty-five minutes, then time to pack for our trip to Claudia’s,” I corrected her as she rolled her eyes at me.

  “I’m going back to bed. If you want to run, come and roll me out then,” she called out in a big yawn.

  “Chandler, I bet Ev will watch the babies if you want me to run with you?” Banton offered.

  “Well, I don’t know. Constance and I run a pretty consistent pace. You might not be able to keep up,” I teased. He narrowed his eyes.

  “You’re on, Miss Collins,” he challenged as I glared at him.

  “Miss Collins? Did I get demoted?”

  “Only until you prove you can run like a Gastaneau,” he mocked me as I looked back down at Elly. She must have sensed my mood. She dropped the nearly empty nipple from the corner of her mouth and grinned at me, drawing her breath in and cackling.

  “See, even your daughter is on my side,” he challenged further, his eyes sparkling.

  “Okay, hot-shot…you’re on. I’ll change her diaper and take her down to Ev. You’d better hurry. I’ll meet you on the front porch in fifteen.”

  “You’re on Miss Collins,” he took the challenge, removing the empty bottle from Matty’s mouth.

  He battled to get Matty to burp as I quickly changed Ellyson’s diaper. I dashed in the bedroom with Elly and placed her in the center of the bed as I dug out a pair of spandex running pants and sports bra. After I located my running shoes, I found Ellyson playing with her toes in the air, giggling as she caught her feet. I scooped her up in a hug, and silently wished we had some of those strollers you could run with. I hurried down the staircase and called breathlessly out to Everett.

  “Bebe, what are you doing?’ he called out as he came down the hallway from the kitchen.

  “Banton has challenged me to a little run this morning…will you watch the twins for me?”

  “Mais oui, Ma Cherie! This is my favorite time of day with them; they’re so playful after their morning bottle. Just be sure you’re back before doody-time, or I might have to wake poor Constance and Ty. I don’t do diapers,” he wrinkled his nose as I laughed.

  I handed him Elly, and he immediately smothered her face in kisses as she collapsed into a fit of baby giggles. I smiled watching him. I couldn’t believe I so readily handed my precious daughter to a vampire. A vampire who I couldn’t imagine my life without…my best friend.

  As I heard Banton start down the stairs, I flashed a grin at Everett and dashed out the front door. Just as I finished stretching the right side of my body, Banton flung the front screen door open.

  “Ready?” he asked excitedly.

  I didn’t answer. I just streaked toward the road. I could hear Banton’s feet as he followed closely behind me, so I picked up the pace. I had no idea how fast we were running; I just knew that once daylight was upon us, we would have to slow down or we would draw a news crew to see the couple speeding like a locomotive down Rue Dauphine. After a few miles, I turned to find Banton struggling to keep up.

  I slowed, allowing him to draw along beside me.

  “Too much for you,” I asked as he glared at me.

  “Chandler, you’ve got to be kidding. There is no way you are that much faster than me,” he exclaimed as we reached the end of the road, turning on a wider avenue that had wide sidewalks. We took to the bicycle path along the sidewalk and slowed our pace.

  “How about a race?” he challenged.

  “Banton, this isn’t about winning,” I said, trying to catch my breath. I had to admit, the running was exhilarating. This is what I’d needed for my nerves and the post-pregnant hormone changes.

  “Stop here. Rest a minute,” he urged as he placed his hands on his hips, taking in big gulps of air. “Do you see the four-way stop ahead, about one and a quarter miles up the road, with the flashing light? Race me to that corner. Give it all you have, don’t hold back.”

  I nodded and grinned at him.

  “Okay, now…on three. One, two…three!” he yelled when we both bolted forward.

  I streaked along as fast as my legs would carry me. Never looking back, I pushed on, pumping my arms in rhythm just as my track coach in high school had taught me. I was amazed…my breathing wasn’t even shallow. Soon, it seemed as though if I thought about my legs, they would tangle up. I just focused on the stop sign, and found myself there in record time. I paused, shaking my legs out, and then turned to find Banton about a half block behind me. I smiled at him smugly as he pulled up beside me, winded.

  “Chandler Ann, how did you do that?” he asked breathlessly.

&nbs
p; “I…I really don’t know. It’s just easy. I could never do that in high school. I was never fast. It’s like I don’t even have to will my legs to move, they just do,” I explained. He shook his head.

  “Why were you holding back?” I asked.

  “Chandler, I wasn’t. I gave it my all. I couldn’t catch you. That’s amazing,” he whispered as he pulled me in to his sweaty torso and kissed me deeply. My heart raced right there on the street corner.

  “Come on, let’s jog back. I don’t want to stay gone too long, with the smell we noticed this morning,” he urged as I nodded.

  We jogged back at a leisurely pace for a couple of Sange-Mele. I was sure it was quite fast to the casual observer. In less than ten minutes, we were back in our yard.

  Constance and Ty were waiting for us on the front porch swing.

  “I thought we were going running,” she pouted as we bounded up the stairs.

  “Come on, babe. Race me for a change,” Ty challenged. She grabbed his hand and they were off.

  I took Constance’s place on the porch swing, suddenly tired. Banton sat down beside me and pulled my feet over into his lap, unlacing my tennis shoes.

  “Feel okay?” he asked, massaging my foot.

  “I feel fine. Why?”

  “No cramping today?” he asked as he looked up at me.

  “A little, but exercise helps. I’ll be fine after today.”

  “Well, why don’t we go and take a shower and then I’ll treat you to a little rubdown, if you’ll return the favor,” he grinned impishly. “Then we’ll finish packing. I thought we’d go on to Claudia’s tonight, if you’d like.”

  “Banton, I’d love to. You read my mind.” He pulled me over into his lap. Sweeping me up in his arms, he whisked me into the house and up the staircase as I heard Everett chuckling from the living room.

  * * *

  After our shower and rub-downs, we returned downstairs to find Everett, Constance and Ty totally enthralled by the twins.

  “Chandler, did you know they’re pulling up already? Watch Ellyson,” she exclaimed, placing her beside the coffee table. Elly immediately reached out and grasped the edge of the table and pulled one knee under her. She then moved her wobbly other knee up, then one foot, then the other. As soon as she was standing, she looked around the room for approval. Everyone burst into applause, and she let go, plopping down on her padded backside and giggling.

  “I could watch them all morning, Bebe! Whatever did we do for entertainment before you brought these two darlings into the world?” Ev declared. Miss Astrid smiled at him.

  “We watched you, Fruit-Loop,” Ty teased as everyone laughed.

  “Well, I think I’ll take them upstairs and give them their bath,” I said as I scooped both of them up and started up the stairs. Banton soon followed and took Elly from me as he kissed my neck.

  “Let me help, I’m never here when you do this,” he said, grinning at me.

  I ran our tub about a third of the way full of water, and then Banton stripped the twins naked while I placed both of them in the tub. They sat and splashed as Banton added bubbles to the water. We both took a small washcloth and soaped them while they played together in the water, giggling as they splashed each other and then Banton and me. Beau nudged the door to the bathroom open, not wanting to be left out of the fun. He hung his head over the side of the tub and lapped at the water as the babies giggled. I scolded him as he tried to lick the water from their faces. I glanced up at Banton, and he was serious, staring at me as I rinsed the soap from Elly’s hair.

  “What is it?”

  He shook his head, leaned over and placed a soft kiss on my lips. Pulling back, he murmured, “I just love them so much. I can’t imagine my life without them. To think only a year ago, I was just falling in love with you, and now I have all three of you,” he said in amazement.

  I just nodded, choked up. We finished their bath, and then wrapped them in towels as we carried them back into the bedroom. By the time we had both of them dressed for the day, they’d fallen fast asleep on the bed. Banton carried them back into the nursery and placed them in their cribs as I finished packing for our trip to Claudia’s.

  * * *

  “Man, it sure is more of a production to load the car for a trip than when it was just you and me,” Banton stated, turning to look at the babies. Beau answered him with a big slobbering kiss right across his mouth. Beau had positioned himself in the seat right between the babies where he could watch over them. He’d proven to be protective of the babies, just as I’d known he would be.

  After wiping Beau’s slobber off his face, Banton got us on the road. As always, the miles seemed to fly by. We talked the entire way to Claudia and Will’s.

  “Everything has been so quiet since you’ve been back. Do you think Dante and Lucien have given up?”

  He sighed as he checked the rear-view mirror, and then turned back to study my reaction.

  “I think we hit them hard enough here, and then in Somalia, that they’re having trouble regrouping. But make no mistake, they will regroup. They won’t give up. I just wish I knew why.”

  “I know why, at least why Lucien is so obsessed.”

  He snapped his head toward me. “What do you know, Chandler?’

  “Everett told me a story while you were missing. It has to do with his past,” I began as he drew his brows together in a frown.

  “It has to do with Everett?”

  “Actually, Everett’s father. He was a human and was bitten and transformed before he and Everett’s mother were married. You remember Mr. George, Grandmother Wellington’s butler?”

  “Yes, Ev told us he raised him.”

  “Well, he is an Aldon, and he and a group of Sange-Mele found Everett’s father in the swamp after he transformed and helped him gain control. He and Everett’s mother were married, and they had Ev’s sister and Everett. Then one day, two boys broke in on Everett’s family. They raped his mother and sister. Everett saw part of it. He was only about seven. He blamed himself for not fighting them.”

  “He was a little boy. There’s nothing he could have done.”

  “His father went on a rampage and attacked the boys and their family and left them for dead. Only the two boys didn’t die, they transformed. One of those boys was Lucien,” I finished as Banton’s eyes widened.

  “So Lucien has this vendetta against Everett because Everett’s father is the one who transformed them?”

  “Yes, and then years later Lucien and his brother killed Marie-Claire. Everett chased them and killed Lucien’s brother. He said the brother was the only one that Lucien cared about. He vowed to hurt anyone close to Everett,” I finished.

  “But that still doesn’t explain Dante’s obsession.” Banton said as he took my hand in his.

  “Banton, do you think the scent we picked up last night means more trouble?” I asked.

  “It was faint, Chandler. It was most probably random. We’ll just have to keep our guard up.”

  I nodded. I’d been feeling for weeks like we were being watched, but had decided I was just paranoid.

  As we drove into their driveway for the first time, I decided the only word that described Claudia and Will’s new home was elegant. It was new construction, built on a site in an older district which had been cleared of old structures, keeping the trees intact. The house was Greek revival, with massive columns across the front porch, and floor to ceiling windows across the entire front that opened like French doors. The wide front porch was dripping with enormous baskets of southern ferns. Ava Grace was the first out the front door when she spotted our SUV in the driveway.

  “An Andler! Unca Banin! Where’s Aba’s babies?” she babbled, meeting us at the car.

  “Come here Doodle-Bug and let Uncle Banton get a look at you! I thought I told you to quit growin’,” he teased her as he picked her up and swung her around.

  “How do you wike my haw-ouse” she asked in her little southern-girl drawl.

&
nbsp; “It’s beautiful, Doodle-Bug, just like you!” he exclaimed as he tickled her, causing her to collapse into a fit of giggles.

  Claudia and Will hurried down the steps to greet us.

  “Chandler, you look great! I swear you are smaller than you were before you got pregnant! How did you lose so much weight so quickly?” Claudia asked, hugging me.

  “I really didn’t even have to try. I guess it’s trying to keep up with both of them,” I motioned to the back as Banton and Will took the babies out of the backseat. Finally having been unblocked from unloading, Beau bounded out and ran around to greet Ava. She giggled as he licked her face in his usual greeting.

  “Ava, you are going to have to give Beau a little attention! He needs some serious fetch time,” Banton assured her. She ran inside to find a ball for him. After we were seated in the living room, Banton and Will unloaded the car as Claudia and I took the babies out of their car seats.

  “I can’t wait for you to see the babies’ room! I have it all ready, and I have two cribs already set up for you,” she gushed, cradling Elly and cooing to her.

  “You didn’t have to go to all that trouble. We brought their pack-n-plays,” I offered.

  “Don’t be silly. I loved doing it, and Ava and I had so much fun decorating it! I just hope we will be able to use it for something more than a guest nursery for these two,” she lamented, kissing Elly on the forehead.

  I knew even though they had been lucky enough to adopt Ava, she still longed for another baby. As I watched her, I could see the pure joy in her eyes as she cradled Ellyson to her. I spread a blanket out on the floor and placed Matty down on his back. He immediately threw one little leg in the air, and twisted his little body until he rolled over and pushed up to look at his Aunt Claudia.

  “Chandler! When did he start doing that! Isn’t it a little too early?” I nodded as Banton and Will came back into the room.

  “They just started a few days ago, and they both started pulling up this morning. Everett says it’s normal for Aldon babies to develop their motor skills faster than humans,” I stated as Banton sat down beside me. “And I will warn you, Ellyson and Matty have started the glow thing with her eyes.”