“Holy crap, get a room, would you?” Constance came up from behind us.
“Hey, Constance.” Banton and I stood up at the same time, and I leaned in to kiss her cheek. She grabbed me to hug me, not knowing about my ribs. I winced, causing her to consider me and ask, “What’s wrong with you, Andie?”
I sat back down slowly as Banton helped me, and took my hand in his. “It’s a long story.”
She grinned conspiratorially. “I love long stories. But are you hurt?”
“Yes. Banton and I went on the cemetery tour yesterday morning after breakfast. We went to the one with Marie Laveau’s tomb – St. Louis?”
“Yes. I’ve been on that tour. It’s neat.”
“Well,” Banton inserted, “we got more than we paid for. A man attacked Andie while I wasn’t paying attention, and he shoved her up into a tomb. She has two cracked ribs, a head wound and a concussion, and a sprained arm.” He frowned as he replayed the attack, obviously still blaming himself. I rubbed the back of his hand.
“Chandler! Why would someone attack you! Was he after your purse? Did he try to…” She didn’t finish the sentence, but her question was obvious.
“I’m not sure, but Banton came running when he heard me scream, and scared him off before he could do any more damage.”
“Did you report it to the police?” she asked with concern.
“Of course. The police took our statements at the hospital.”
“You had to go to the hospital! Chandler, why didn’t you call me! I can’t believe you didn’t call me! What were you thinking?”
“Well, by the time I’d thought to call you, they’d already stitched me up, and Banton had me back at the hotel. I didn’t want to upset you last night. There wasn’t anything you could have done. Besides, Banton took really good care of me.” I leaned over and kissed him.
“I’m just glad you’re okay…. Mmm, well…that explains things.”
“What things?” I asked, looking back at her.
“That explains the free-spirit bra-less phase I thought you were going through. It is a little cold up-in-here!” She laughed as I looked down at my chest. It was apparent it was chilly in the restaurant.
“Oh, gosh.” I crossed my arms in embarrassment. Banton coughed, smothering a smile, and took a drink of his iced tea.
We ate a lunch of po-boys and sensation salads. My appetite was definitely back, but so was the throbbing in my head and my ribs. I retrieved the bottle of painkillers Banton had put in my purse, and took two out. Banton looked at me knowingly, and slid a glass of water over to me.
“Well, I guess we’d better get on the road.” Banton stood as I turned to Constance.
“Please come to Ma Maw Ann’s for Thanksgiving. You just have to, both of you. Momma has already said she is planning for both of you to come.” Constance begged.
“We will, we promise,” Banton answered for me. This meant going to a family holiday together as a couple. My heart took a little leap.
I smiled, and kissed her cheek as she hugged me more gently this time. “I’ll call you. Keep your cell charged!”
“I will.”
As she walked down the sidewalk in the other direction from our SUV, she waved and said to Banton, “And keep her safe, or I’ll come up there and kick your ass!” It was so Constance.
“Yes, Ma’am!” Banton saluted.
After he had me safely buckled in the car, with two pillows around me on either side, and one between me and the seatbelt, we started the two hour drive home. I reclined my seat, the painkillers already taking effect and making me drowsy.
“Are you hurting? I noticed you taking the pills,” Banton asked.
“A little. I just thought it would help on the way home.” I turned to look at him, and smiled.
He took my hand in his, and then raised them to kiss mine. I laid my head back on the headrest and looked at him. I still couldn’t believe someone so perfect, so handsome could be my boyfriend. That is what he’d called me to his mom…his girlfriend. I sighed again, gazing at him.
As if he were reading my mind, he glanced at me as we took the exit to the interstate that would take us back to Baton Rouge. “Remember, Friday at my parent’s?”
“Yes?” I replied.
“I called you my girlfriend. You know, you are so much more than that.”
“Am I?” I whispered
His eyes fairly sparkled. “Yes. So much more. You’re everything.”
Chapter Twenty
I slept the entire way home. When I felt the SUV slow to turn on our street, I opened my eyes and stretched. I was stiff from sitting in the car for so long, and the soreness was really beginning to set in. Banton parked in the drive, and reached over to unbuckle my seatbelt for me. He could tell I was still groggy from the pain pills, and he murmured, “Don’t move. I’m coming around.”
I lay still, the seat still reclined. Banton came around the SUV, opened my door and lifted me out. I put my arms around his neck. “I can walk, you know,” I said to him sleepily.
“I’ve told you before, this is so much more fun. I live for this.” He grinned lopsidedly at me as he carried me up the front steps to the porch. John met us at the door and opened it for us.
“Well, looks like you two had a good time …Andie! What happened?” he exclaimed. I looked down to see what he was looking at, and my oversized sweater had slipped down my arm when Banton lifted me. You could see the large, purple and black bruise on my shoulder and down my arm.
“It’s a long story, John. I’ll fill you in on everything after I get her to bed. She’s tired, and on drugs.”
“I’ll get your bags and close the doors,” John said, concern obvious in his voice as he ran out the front door. Banton climbed the stairs to our rooms, and took me straight to my bed. He laid me down gently, and then pulled a blanket from the end of the bed to cover me.
Leaning over to kiss me, he whispered, “You have three missed calls from Mrs. Sue. I’m thinking Constance told. You might want to call her back. I’ll be back in a few minutes.”
“’Kay.” I already had my eyes closed, snuggling down under the blanket.
I grabbed my phone from on top of my purse without looking, and hit Aunt Sue’s speed dial. She picked up on the first ring.
“What in heaven’s name happened to you? Constance called us and said you’d been attacked, and had to go to the hospital?”
“Relax, Aunt Sue. I’m all right, just sore. It was just some riff-raff in the Quarter in New Orleans, probably after my purse. I have some cracked ribs and a couple of stitches, but I will be fine,” I assured her.
“I can be there in an hour, sweetheart. Uncle Lon has been beside himself,” Aunt Sue insisted.
“That’s really not necessary. Banton is taking good care of me, I promise.”
“I’ll bet…” Aunt Sue’s voice sounded suspicious. “Well, if you need anything at all, promise you will call us.”
“I promise. I love you.” I yawned.
“We love you too, Dear. ‘Bye.”
My mind drifted. I was so relaxed, but also wired. The pills seemed to have that effect on me. I could hear Banton and John talking downstairs, mostly Banton. I figured he was relating what happened on our trip, and also what we’d found out from his father, and from the lady in the voodoo shop. After a while I heard my door brush open, and then felt a large, wet nose against my cheek. Beau had come in to welcome me home.
“Hey, sweet boy,” I said as I reached to rub his ears without even opening my eyes.
“You’d better be careful, rubbing on just any old dog. For all you knew, that could have been a stranger.” I heard Banton’s voice from the doorway.
“Knew it was him,” I mumbled.
“How?” Banton crawled on the bed next to me, a chuckle in his voice.
“Because he had a really wet nose, and he smells like your cologne. It had to be him or you, and you don’t have a wet nose.”
“Good deduction.�
�� He put his arms around me as I turned over to him.
“Glad to be home?” Banton asked, his lips pressed against my neck.
“Yes. But away with you was nice too.”
He pressed another kiss against my neck, and sighed.
“Did you fill John in on everything that happened on our trip?” I asked.
“Pretty much. He is worried about you. We are going to make sure you are never alone here at the house. There is just so much going on, so I’m not sure you shouldn’t stay with Everett or something for a while…”
“No! I don’t want to be away from you. Besides, what would I tell Everett? I can’t just blurt out, ‘Oh, there’s a bunch of vampire-like creatures John and Banton are chasing, and they live in my backyard,’”
“Okay, you don’t have to tell him that. We can make up an excuse,” he began.
“If we see a need, I’ll consider it,” I said as I circled his dimple with my fingertip.
“John and I have a meeting tomorrow with our commander. We’re going to get some things straight tomorrow, and he is going to deal straight with us before we go any further. And, we are going to check out the greenhouse in a few minutes. John’s gone to get some reinforcements before we go in there. I called Everett to come over and stay with you for a while, I told him we had some business to take care of because of what happened the other night with the murder.”
“Did he…” I began.
“He heard about it Friday morning, and called John when he couldn’t get you. John filled him in.” Banton twirled a stray strand of my hair between his thumb and forefinger. “I’ll let you explain about why you’re on drugs.”
“I wish you’d quit saying that like I’m an addict,” I objected.
“You know I’m just kidding.”
“Banton, please be careful back there. Please!” I began to get really nervous about them opening the metal door on the floor.
“Andie, we’ve got three buddies we served with backing us up with some firepower. And we’ve got some gear…we’re taking some special precautions.”
I sat up suddenly, wincing. “What special precautions? What if you…”
“Shhh.” Banton put his finger to my lips, leaning over me and pulling my head over to his chest. “Top secret mission, need to know basis only, Miss Collins,” he ordered sternly. “Quit worrying, Chandler. I will be back in the house as soon as we know what’s down there.”
“Well, it is my backyard,” I mumbled in protest.
He chuckled, wrapping his arms back around me and pulling me back down with him as he covered my lips with his. I sighed and gave in.
“Uh-huuum. Knock, knock…Can I interrupt?” John’s voice called from the doorway.
Banton made a growling sound, and then let me up for air.
“Hey, John.” Blushing, I sat up and straightened my sweater.
“Just bringing in the last of the bags, and your laptop. And here, looks like somebody got a whole lotta lovin’ on this trip, huh?” He placed the vase of roses Banton had gotten for me on the dresser, along with my camera. “Oh, and I just thought I’d mention, a really good-looking redhead came by this afternoon looking for you.”
“Oh, that was Gabriella…I mean, Brie. We’re supposed to have lunch tomorrow. I’d better call her, I forgot all about it.”
“You don’t have to. That’s why she stopped by. She forgot she has a meeting with her department chair after class in the morning, so she can’t make your lunch date. She said she would call later in the week.”
“Oh. I wonder why she didn’t just call.”
“Your cell was dead again, Andie.” Banton chuckled at John’s comment.
“You seem to be well informed. Did you have a long conversation?” I inquired in an amused tone.
“Well, we sat on the porch and talked while I played with Beau. Um, do you know if she is dating anyone?” John asked, looking at the floor. Banton and I exchanged an amused look.
“I don’t know. Would you like me to find out?”
“Um, yeah, uh, just wondering.” He shot out the door and down the stairs.
Banton nuzzled my neck, whispering against my skin “If I know you, you’re planning a double date next week.” Then he moved up to my lips, not waiting for an answer.
A few minutes and several kisses later, we heard someone at the front door downstairs.
“That will be Everett,” Banton whispered against my lips.
“He has a key,” I whispered back as I continued kissing him.
After a few more minutes, we heard footsteps coming up the steps and into the bedroom.
“Well, pick my cotton and pay up, if it isn’t the lovebirds! Here, sweetie, have a drink and tell Uncle Everett all the juicy details.” He swept into the room with two glasses of wine.
Banton rolled over and stood up. “None for her.” He took one glass away from Everett, and placed it on the dresser. “She’s on drugs.”
I picked a pillow up and threw it at him. “Quit saying that!” I winced as I jarred my shoulder in the process.
“Whatever is the matter, Bebe!” Everett exclaimed as Banton went out the door and closed it behind him.
“Well, someone attacked me while we were touring the cemetery on Decatur Street, and I have stitches on the back of my head, two cracked ribs, and a lot of bruises, and no pride left after Banton had to dress and undress me, and nurse me all evening Saturday evening. It pretty much spoiled the weekend,” I blurted out, lifting my hair in back to show him the stitches on my scalp and the bruises on my shoulder.
“Sweet Jesus, Darlin! Start at the beginning!” he said, as he sat gently on the bed, surveying my injuries.
I relayed all the events of the weekend, leaving out the part about the blood-drinking Orco, and then Everett spent time playing the concerned mother hen, hovering over me, getting me iced tea, gathering anything I might need from downstairs and bringing it up. He went through my closet and picked out things that buttoned down the front, so I wouldn’t need help with getting dressed. When he couldn’t think of another thing to do for me, he sat down beside me on the bed.
“And who is taking you to the doctor for your follow up tomorrow?”
“I hadn’t really thought about it. I don’t really think it is necessary, besides, I don’t have a family doctor here.”
“I’m taking you to mine. I’ll call and get you in first thing in the morning, then we’ll have brunch, and you can come back to the shop with me. You can go back to classes Tuesday morning.”
“Banton,” I guessed. “He already talked to you about my not being here by myself,” I said, matter-of-factly.
“Yes, Bebe, and I agree with him. After the murder Thursday night, you will not be left alone till they catch who did it. Don’t give me a fuss, Miss Scarlett!”
“Okay,” I sighed. Banton had already given him a cover story about why I didn’t need to be here alone. A lot of time had passed since I heard the guys leave the house, and we had heard nothing. I was beginning to get nervous. Everett sensed my impatience, and he asked, “Can I unpack your suitcase for you, Bebe?”
“Sure. Just put everything out on the trunk and dresser. I’ll put it all away later.”
“Shush. I’ll do it all. I know my way around your room better than you do.” As he began putting things away, I picked my camera up off the nightstand, and shot a couple of pictures around my room, and then shot a couple of Everett. He stood up, glaring at me as I giggled. Then he came across the bag containing the mirror, brush and comb. “What’s this?”
“A birthday present from Banton,” I replied.
“And when was your birthday, Miss Thing?” he asked me, placing the set out on my dresser.
“A couple of weeks ago. Banton found out on the trip, and he bought me those in an antique store while we were shopping. He sprang them on me at dinner with Constance.”
“Well, they’re beautiful, I’ll give him that. Antiques, too. I was really hoping for diamonds
, Sister, but I guess it is a bit soon for those.”
“Well, he gave me those too.” I smiled as I pulled the neck down on my sweater, and pulled my hair back, revealing the necklace and earrings.
His eyes lit up like Christmas lights. “Sweet Mary, those are gorgeous! I bet that one around your neck is two and a half, at least!”
“I think Constance’s reaction was nothing says I’m getting laid like the gift of two carats or more,” I laughed.
“I think Constance and I are kindred spirits. Just when do I get to meet her?”
“Soon. She says she is transferring here after Christmas.”
I jumped as I heard the screen door in the kitchen slam. Everett glanced at me, the relief on his face apparent too, although for different reasons. He finished putting my things away, and then opened the bedroom door. I swung my legs around to get up off the bed just when Banton got to the top of the stairs. Forgetting my ribs and all that was sore, I flew into his arms.
“Everything is good. We didn’t find anything.” His eyes shot over to Everett and then back to me.
“I’m so glad.” I squeezed my arms tighter around him.
“Well, I’ll be off. I’ll be here bright and early in the morning, Sister. See you then.” Everett kissed me on the cheek as he passed us at the top of the stairs.
“Thank you, Everett,” Banton said quietly over my head.
“You’re entirely welcome. Take care of my sweet Bebe for me,” Everett called from the bottom of the stairs.
“I will.” Banton glanced down at me.
Chapter Twenty-One
Banton and I lay under the covers in my bed, him fully clothed in sweatpants and t-shirt, me in my flannel pajamas. He’d insisted on helping me with my bath again this evening, rewrapping my ribs, and then carrying me up the stairs and putting me to bed. I secretly suspected it was his way to cop a feel and steal a glance without breaking his own rules. This was getting to be a habit, and I was entirely okay with it. I had turned into exactly the kind of female I never thought I’d be. But I never thought I’d be with anyone like Banton, either. We were wrapped around each other, whispering in the dark. Beau lay sleeping on the rug in his usual spot beside the bed.
Southern Comfort: Chandler's Story (The Southern Series Book 1) Page 21
