by G. F. Frost
“I’ll take care of everything. Let me write up the appraisal invoice for my part,” the man said as he placed a pair of reading glasses on his nose.
After typing in a few numbers on the computer, the man walked to the credenza behind him and brought back a copy of an invoice. Theo looked down at the piece of paper as his eyes opened widely.
“There was a lot to appraise, sir,” the jeweler said stoically.
Theo looked over the invoice and handed the man his debit card. He thought fifteen hundred dollars was a huge amount for the man’s work, but he didn’t argue. He was pretty darn sure the jewelry would more than pay for its own appraisal. Theo helped the man as he slipped each piece into deep purple drawstring bags and into the silver box. Massey was grateful to have each piece in an individual pocket. They thanked him and turned to leave.
“Oh, and madam, you may be interested to know that the silver jewelry box your husband is carrying is worth thousands itself, so don’t forget to insure it as well,” he said, limply waving his wrist and hand to them as they left.
“Don’t say anything until we get in the truck,” Theo said as he tightened his grip on Massey’s hand.
They walked quickly down the uneven sidewalks towards the parking garage. Massey glanced over at the large silver box under Theo’s arm. For the first time, she was nervous about having it with them. She could hear her own heart pounding in her chest as Theo handed the parking stub to the attendant. It seemed like forever before the sound of the screeching truck tires rounded the corner of the garage. Theo pulled some bills out of his pocket and told the attendant to keep the change, then walked Massey to the passenger side and opened the door. Massey climbed inside as he handed her the heavy box.
Theo ran around the vehicle and jumped in. As he turned to look at her, they broke into laughter. Massey bent down, sat the box on the floor of the truck, and patted it. She looked back at her husband and smiled broadly.
“We sho’ is rich now, Captin’Butler!” she said.
“We just might be, Miss Prissy!” Theo laughed.
As they pulled out of the garage, he suggested that they return to Lovesong House and grab dinner there. He didn’t want to stop at a restaurant and leave the box of jewelry inside. Massey agreed. She pulled her phone out of her purse and called Sadie. Theo chuckled when he heard Sadie’s screams over the phone.
“It’s great to be an only child!” Sadie said laughingly.
“Well, you’ll definitely be the best adorned girl in your circle, chick!” Massey replied.
Sadie asked as many questions as she could think of, and Massey told her all she could remember of the descriptions the jeweler had given them before hanging up the phone. Theo told Massey that they would have to sit down and make some important decisions about what to do with the jewelry after the final appraisals were in. Massey hadn’t thought about selling the pieces. She hadn’t quite gotten over the initial shock of discovering it all. She could tell by Theo’s quiet demeanor on the trip home that he was mulling over every possible scenario.
Chapter Twenty
The phone was ringing off the hook when Theo unlocked the front door.
“Here it comes,” he said as he turned on the foyer lights.
Father Patrick was on the other end. When Massey answered the phone, he told her that the safe had been a huge topic of conversation at church that night. He said he’d tried to cool the gossip by suggesting the story had been through too many sources for anyone to accept it as fact, but he felt his efforts had fallen on deaf ears.
“The way I heard it, you stumbled upon Blackbeard’s treasure,” Father Patrick said as he laughed.
“Not a pirate’s treasure, just some antique jewelry. You’d better get the word out that it’s been stored away in a safety deposit box in the city, before we’re besieged by pirates here at Lovesong House,” Massey replied.
“I’ll get on it, Massey,” he replied.
“Father, Marie’s diary was inside too, just as Mrs. Purdue said,” Massey offered.
“You’re kidding. Have you read any of it?” he asked interestedly.
“I haven’t had time. It’s been a crazy day. Would you like to come over tomorrow and see it?”
After all, no one deserved to see the journal more than Father Patrick.
“Sure, that would be great,” he said. “Congratulations on your find. I’ll try to keep the wolves here at bay for you. I’ll tell them it was just a few pieces of old jewelry that have already found their way to the bank. After all, everyone knows that the locksmith, Tom, stretches the truth a tad, especially if he’s had a few brews at the corner bar. I think I can help tame the rumors a bit.”
“Thanks, Padre. I’ll look forward to seeing you tomorrow. How does lunch sound?” Massey already knew the answer.
“Great. See ya at noon,” Father Patrick said as he lowered the receiver.
Theo was placing the box on a shelf in his study when Massey found him. She watched as he surrounded the box with his self-improvement manuals. He stepped back and looked at the shelf from a distance to make certain the box wasn’t visible.
“I don’t know if I’ll sleep tonight, honey,” he said as he turned to her. “I’ve never had anything valuable enough to hide.”
“All the things around us are valuable. Do you realize how much this antique desk could fetch alone?” Massey said.
Theo shrugged. He knew she’d seen just about every episode of Antiques Road show, so he didn’t bother to question her.
“This huge house is dripping with valuable antiques. We don’t even know what we may be sitting on,” she said confidently.
Theo just stood looking at Massey nodding. He turned and went into the kitchen. Massey knew he was getting hungry. She’d have to whip up something quick because she still had Marie’s diary to read. She had to get him fed and out of the way so she could find a quiet place to curl up with the book. Thank goodness he was easy to please. She threw a frozen pizza in the oven and told him what time to take it out. Theo looked at her helplessly.
“Shit, Theo, you can manage to get a pizza out of the oven, can’t you? After all, you’re a corporate executive. How hard is opening an oven door and pulling out a pan?” Massey asked sharply.
Theo didn’t like her tone, and Massey felt bad when she saw the look on his face. Oh, well, she thought, she was just getting even for his attitude the night before. He’ll get over it. She could feel the guilt creeping up her spine as she curled up in Theo’s chair in the parlor. She’d check on the stupid pizza later. She’d make him feel better somehow.
Massey began to laugh to herself after she realized that Theo was still sitting at the kitchen table waiting on the pizza. She could hear him thumping his fingers against the tabletop. She couldn’t start reading for her own laughter.
“I’ll take care of the pizza, honey. Just come on in the parlor and turn your shows on,” she yelled towards her husband.
Theo sighed as he rose and walked to the parlor. He could do many things at work and around the house, but cooking was something he didn’t have a clue about. Except for helping with the grilling, Theo had never tried to learn to cook, that was Massey’s domain. Eating was his part, and he did it well. The sofa and remote control put him right at ease. He looked at Massey and nodded. Why had he suddenly begun to get on her nerves after all these years? Maybe she did need hormones after all.
After only a few pages, Massey smelled the pizza and knew it was time to get it out and on a plate for her starving man. Jenkins stood by her at the oven door, wagging his furry tail as if he thought it was just for him.
“You’ve got your food, silly. Go eat it,” she said as she pointed to the half-full bowl of kibbles and bits.
Massey reached for a plate to put the pizza on and carried it and a beer to her hungry husband. A look of sheer pleasure came over his face when he realized she was feeding him in the parlor tonight. Massey smiled as she handed him the plate.
“Yo
ur dinner is served, my lord,” she quipped.
Theo didn’t take his eyes off the plate, and he didn’t respond to her sarcasm. He was just happy to eat. Massey returned to the kitchen and threw the pizza pan into the sink. As she was running the warm water over the metal pan, she noticed a dim light through the kitchen curtains. She felt a chill run up her spine. As tempted as she was to peer through the glass, she resisted. Today had been too glorious to allow something melancholy to spoil it.
Massey felt angry as she walked back to the parlor. She didn’t understand why anything would appear in the cemetery. Father Patrick had blessed it with the house. She hoped it was just a reflection of some kind or her eyes playing tricks on her. She had a sinking feeling in her chest though, and she didn’t like sinking feelings at all, especially since moving to Lovesong House.
Thank goodness, Theo was laughing at another one of his idiotic programs when she entered the room. His laughter always made her feel better. As she walked over to the chair in the corner, he raised his beer can up as if to toast her for the dinner. She stuck her tongue out at him and laughed. He was cute, she thought, and the bastard could always make her laugh. It wasn’t fair; she couldn’t stay mad at him, not ever.
The first part of Marie’s diary was about her young life, school in New Orleans, parties, cotillions, friends, and holidays at plantations around Louisiana and Mississippi. She had even recorded the details about each special gown. Massey would smile at certain phrases or words that she read. Ladies like Marie wrote so passionately and properly about the simplest things.
Massey had barely made it to the teenage years before she began to feel drowsy. She’d have to put it down for now, but she’d pick up just where she left off tomorrow night.
The deep warm water of the bathtub nearly put her to sleep. She piled her hair into a chignon on top of her head and leaned back. The water smelled of honeysuckle and lavender. She closed her eyes as she squeezed the warm water from the sponge over her face. As she leaned back relaxing, Massey heard the faint sound of sobbing.
She raised her head and listened. Yes, that was it, sobbing, she thought. Massey couldn’t tell where it was coming from. It seemed to be the sound of a woman crying somewhere in the house. Jenkins raised his head from the cool bathroom tiles and looked at Massey. His ears perked up as he and Massey heard footsteps approaching the bathroom.
“Are you okay? I thought I heard you crying or something,” Theo said as he stepped into the room.
“I heard it too,” Massey replied.
Neither said anything more as they listened and heard the faint sound again. Theo stood looking up at the ceiling and Massey at the bathroom wall.
“Where’s it coming from?” Theo asked.
“I can’t tell.”
“I’ll bet its coming from a car on the highway. Maybe some kids playing around in the woods or something.” Theo sounded unsure.
Massey shook her head. The sound was familiar and she knew it was coming from somewhere near. She rose from the tub and pulled on her robe. Theo stood by the bedroom door quietly listening. He shook his head and walked to the bedside table to turn on the television. He didn’t want Massey jumping to conclusions. She knew exactly what Theo was doing, but she didn’t argue. No sooner than the television came on, the sobbing ceased. Theo looked at Massey and began to take off his shoes.
He slipped into his pajamas and went downstairs to check all the doors and windows before returning. Theo was always cautious, but he was extra cautious this evening. Massey pulled on her sweats and threw her robe across her shoulders. She had to take Jenkins out one more time before bed. Usually, she didn’t give it a thought, but tonight she felt a bit jittery about walking outside alone. She stood at the front door watching instead of walking with Jenkins. She watched as he sniffed and circled and finally decided to make Theo’s truck tires his target.
She clapped her hands together and called him in. As she closed the door, she glanced towards the cemetery. All was dark and peaceful. Jenkins bounded up the stairs and Massey followed. She brought the diary with her and planned to read a little more before going to sleep. She could hear the winter winds coming in from the West. Maybe that was what she and Theo had heard, she thought. She knew better.
Massey was amazed and interested to read how many places Marie had visited growing up. Nannies and servants had cared for her until she began school in New Orleans. She studied languages, needlework, history, and culture. Massey wasn’t sure what “culture” meant, but she imagined it was something all the fine girls of the South needed to know at that time.
The details of Marie’s diary only vaguely touched on her life as a small child living at a plantation near Natchitoches. The long, detailed accounts of her life started as a young teen. Marie’s handwriting was flowery and feminine and some of the wording gave Massey pause. She’d have to think about why Marie used certain words in certain ways. Marie would throw in French terms also, from time to time. Massey’s attention perked when she read a passage about a bracelet Marie’s father had bought for her in Atlanta on one of his trips to meet cotton brokers. She knew by its description that it was one she had found in the safe. Massey loved knowing the history behind it, and knowing for certain that Marie had worn it. Before she could finish the entry about Marie’s school Christmas cotillion, Massey felt her eyes droop, and she laid the book on the bedside table. She was sleepy. Theo was still watching a program on CNN when Massey dozed off.
* * * *
Some time into the latest hours of the night, she began to dream. She saw herself standing in her room in front of a lovely four-poster bed. She knew it was the one she had seen before. Lying before her were Joseph and Marie. He was naked lying on his side stroking her long black hair. She lay on her back looking towards the ceiling. She too was naked, only covered to the waist by sheets. Her young breasts moved slowly up and down as she breathed. Joseph kissed her softly on the lips and ran his hands along her face and neck and down to her chest. He let his hand cup one of her breasts and leaned down to kiss it. She turned to him and began to kiss his face. She had that glow about her that women get after having sex.
Massey could see the small beads of perspiration on her neck. Joseph’s smile was one of satisfaction and adoration. He began to kiss her neck and shoulders and made his way slowly and softly to her waist and hips. Marie sighed and lay back in the feather pillow as she placed her hands on his head and pulled his face to hers. Climbing on top of her, he began to kiss her beautiful lips tenderly. She pushed her body against his as he kissed her even more deeply. Massey wanted to look away. She felt as if she were doing something wrong by watching the two lovers but she could not move.
As she watched, she saw Joseph roll off of his wife and onto his side again.
“You are the most splendid creature in creation,” Joseph said as he stroked her body with his fingers.
Marie smiled and brought his hand to her lips, softly kissing it.
“Your beauty and gentleness have me under your control. I pity the rest of the world,” Joseph said as he ran his finger across her lips.
“I will be old and ugly one day, husband. Then, what will you think of me?” Marie asked with a smile.
“I will think I am the most blessed man in the world,” Joseph answered.
Marie laughed as he poked her gently in the side.
“You know it is time we should think of storing that away for a while.” Joseph pointed to the baby’s bed against the wall.
“Maybe it will bring us luck, and we’ll soon have another son,” Marie replied as she turned and looked towards the elegant crib.
Joseph sat up on the side of the bed and pulled the sheets over his legs. Marie reached across to stroke his back. He turned and pulled her up into his arms. Pushing her firmly against him, he kissed her passionately. When he released her, he reached to touch the locket hanging between her breasts.
“Do you never take this off?” he asked as he let the locket
fall.
“No, and I never will. I will always carry a piece of you with me as long as it’s around my neck,” she said as she lay down.
Massey awoke to someone gently nudging her shoulder. She could see a dark figure standing over her.
“Theo?” Massey asked.
“You must help her, Massey,” the man whispered lowly as he bent down towards her face.
As the man drew closer, she could see it was Joseph. She was not dreaming, he was standing over her in her room. Massey began to scream and kick at the covers.
“Theo! Ahhh! Theo!” She screamed as she pushed herself into the head of the bed.
“What’s wrong?” Theo asked sleepily.
“Joseph is in the room!” Massey yelled.
Theo reached to shake her.
“Wake up, wake up, honey!” Theo said.
“I am awake, Theo. He was standing right there,” she said as she pointed into the air.
Theo rolled to his side and put his arms around Massey. She slid down into the bed and into his arms. She was trembling wildly. Theo pushed her face against his and held her tightly in his arms. They lay there together quietly until he felt her trembling lessen. He kissed her head.
“It was just a bad dream, sweetheart,” Theo said softly.
Massey felt safe in his arms. She thought of the dream, Joseph holding Marie and kissing her. She closed her eyes and leaned her head back against Theo’s chest.
* * * *
Theo lay there quietly holding her until he knew she was asleep. Looking down at her, he kissed her again, and slowly laid her head down on her pillow. Pulling the blanket over her, he smiled.
“My little sweetheart,” he whispered.
Just as he was about to close his eyes, he heard something outside the bedroom door. Turning his head, he noticed Jenkins rising from the pillow and standing at the foot of the bed. He began to growl. Theo moved to the side of the bed and was about to stand up when he heard the knob on the door began to turn. He frantically looked around the room for something to use as protection. As he reached down to grab one of his shoes from the floor, the door flung open.
