by Robin Caroll
It would be worth it to gain her trust, and perhaps one day her love.
“Adelaide, would you go out to dinner with me sometime?” The question was out before he could stop it.
She jerked straight. “You mean, like on a date?”
Twenty-Eight
Adelaide
“That was some delicious jambalaya, sweetheart.” Vincent Fountaine finished separating the leftovers into two containers.
Adelaide smiled. “I’ll let Dimitri know you enjoyed it. He added some new spices and I think it makes it really stand out.” She slipped the last fork into the dishwasher, then shut the door. She should’ve probably brought Dimitri with her to meet her father. He’d asked before, and now . . . well, she probably should introduce them. Especially since Dimitri had asked her out.
She hadn’t given him a straight answer, just told him she’d think about it. She still didn’t know what to think about that. She needed to talk to Tracey to get her input and advice. Right now, Adelaide’s mind was too crowded.
Her father poured two cups of coffee and slid one to her. “I’m still finding it hard to believe Claude Pampalon has been bested.” He shook his head as he carried his coffee to the kitchen table and sat in his well-worn chair.
“According to Dimitri, his father really had no choice.” She sat down in the chair across from her father. “Mr. Pampalon didn’t fire me, so there’s that.”
“He’d be stupid to fire you.” Her father took a sip of his coffee. “Still, I’d be careful. Claude Pampalon isn’t a man accustomed to not getting his way. I’d bet he’s working an angle to turn the tables. It’s what he does. Who he is.”
“That’s what I told Dimitri and Lissette.” Adelaide took a sip of her coffee, savoring the familiar blend that she’d grown up on. “They feel confident he’ll continue to play by their rules. Dimitri said they have an appointment tomorrow with Mr. Pampalon’s lawyer to add Lissette to the will.”
“I don’t know that I’d trust that if I were Dimitri, but that’s none of our business as long as it doesn’t affect your job.” He stared at her over the rim of his cup. “Don’t go getting messed up with the Pampalons more than as an employee. You see what type they are—how that poor girl and her mother were just ignored.” He shook his head.
“Dimitri isn’t like that, Daddy. He abhors the way his father has behaved.”
“Maybe so, honey, but he was born with that silver spoon in his mouth and raised by his father alone. People like that are usually self-centered and focus on their own needs before anyone else’s.”
Was her father actually judging Dimitri because of who his father was? “Dimitri is nothing like his father, and I know it. His father threatened to fire me unless Dimitri stayed at the Darkwater Inn and moved up into the CEO position. Dimitri agreed to it. He was willing to sacrifice his own happiness so that I could keep the job I love.”
Her father ran his finger along the cup’s rim. “And yet it’s Lissette moving into the CEO position, and you’re still the general manager. He’s still cooking, so he didn’t sacrifice much.”
“Daddy! That’s not fair. It worked out the way it did because Dimitri demanded Mr. Pampalon treat Lissette as he should as his daughter. Many would have wanted to protect their own interests and inheritance, but Dimitri cared more for doing what was right.”
“You haven’t considered that maybe he really didn’t have a choice, since she truly is Claude’s daughter? If Dimitri hadn’t been her advocate, she still would have gone to Claude and demanded he acknowledge her.”
“You don’t know him. Dimitri is a good man, despite who his father is. He didn’t have to let his father manipulate him even for a day by taking up for me, but he did.” Why was her father trying to turn her against Dimitri?
“Yes, I’m asking myself why he would do that for you.”
“Gee, thanks! I am a good employee, you know. Or maybe Dimitri did it because we’re friends. Maybe because he likes me.”
“Does he? Like you, I mean?”
“Of course. He wouldn’t have made me the jambalaya to bring over if he didn’t like me.”
“You know what I’m asking, Adelaide.”
She swallowed. “He did ask me out today.”
“What did you say?”
“That I’d think about it.”
Her father nodded. “Ahh, so you’re not sure about him either.”
“That’s not it.” She stood and carried her cup to the dishwasher. “He’s been one of my bosses basically since I started at the Darkwater, so it’s a little hard to switch that mind-set so quickly.”
“He’ll always be Claude’s son, a Pampalon. Demoting himself to work in the kitchen doesn’t change that.”
“No, it doesn’t, but it does change our position now that he’s no longer my boss.” She opened the refrigerator and slipped one of the leftover containers inside, then reached for the other.
Her father stopped her. “Leave that one out. I’m taking it to Beau.” He poured himself another cup of coffee before returning to the table. “Or maybe you could drop it off on your way home.”
She shut the fridge and leaned against the counter. “Daddy, did Beau tell you that he was a match for donating to Mom?”
“Yes.”
“When?” How could her father not have told her?
“We talked about it this week, in fact. That boy’s been letting guilt eat him, thinking it was some big secret.”
What? “I don’t understand. I didn’t know. He never told me.”
“Oh, honey, I knew back when he was tested.”
“You never said anything.”
“Why would I? It wasn’t your business. Wasn’t really mine, to be honest.”
“She was my mother. He was my friend. I had a right to know.”
“No, darlin’, you didn’t.” He took a drink of coffee. “You were fourteen years old and it was your mother. You two had a tentative relationship from the day you were born. Your momma did her best to destroy every relationship she ever had. She was an embarrassment to you, and there were times you wished she wasn’t your mother.”
How did he know? “I never said any of that.”
“You didn’t have to. Your momma didn’t just hurt you, she hurt everyone who ever cared about her. But she hurt me most when she chose the bottle over you every single time. I hated it. Hated her for doing it more times than I’d like to admit, but that’s the truth.”
“You never said a word to me.”
“I couldn’t. She was your mother and I kept hoping and praying she’d change. That she’d stay sober and be the mother you deserved. That’s the only reason I let her stay—the hope that she’d turn her life around and it would benefit you.”
Adelaide went to her father and hugged him. “I love you, Daddy.”
“I love you too, sweetheart.” He released her. “And you shouldn’t be so hard on Beau either. It was his decision to make, and at eighteen, he made the decision he felt at the time.”
“It’s not that he chose not to save Mom that hurt me. It’s that he lied to me about it for so many years. And I found out by accident.”
“You should talk to him. Give him a chance to explain.”
Adelaide chewed her bottom lip.
Her father stood and hugged her. “The boy’s been part of your life forever. Let him tell you what happened.” He nodded at the container on the counter. “And you’ll save me a trip out to boot.”
Was she ready to hear what Beau had to say?
Beau
Knock! Knock! Knock!
Beau pushed himself off the couch and made his way to the front door, trying not to trip over Columbo, who seemed to think he was Beau’s nursemaid. “Get from between my feet, Columbo!” Marcel was on duty, so he’d probably sent a uniform over to check on him.
The cat meowed twice, then ran back to the couch and curled up on Beau’s blanket and glared.
Typical Columbo.
Beau
shook his head and opened the door, then froze. He hadn’t expected to see Addy on his step. For a moment, he didn’t know what to say.
“Dad wanted me to drop this by on my way home.” She held up a plastic container. “Do you want me to put it in the kitchen?”
“Sure. Yes. I mean, I can take it, but if you want to.” He opened the door wider and let her in.
“Have you eaten tonight?” She headed toward the kitchen. “Fridge or do you want to heat it up?”
“Marcel made me eat earlier.”
“Then fridge it is.”
Columbo jumped off the couch and followed her into the kitchen, meowing pathetically.
“Hey, boy. How’re you doing?” Her voice wafted into the living room.
“Don’t let the little monster fool you. He’s eaten too!” Beau hollered as he sat back on the couch and waited until she came back. His heart thudded, echoing off the pain medication in his head.
“Are you okay?” Addy stood in front of him, her hands on her hips.
“Will you sit down, please? I want to talk to you, but I can’t stand for long without getting tired.” Maybe he used the sympathy card.
She took a seat in the chair adjacent to the couch. Columbo jumped into her lap, settled, and purred.
Little traitor.
“Do you hurt?”
“It’s more sore than actual pain. Or maybe the pain pills dull that enough. I don’t know, but it’s bearable.”
“Well, that’s good.” She ran her fingers through Columbo’s thick fur. The treacherous cat leaned into her touch, purring louder.
Beau took in a slow breath. “I understand why you left and why you wouldn’t answer my calls.”
“I did come to the hospital, but you were already gone. I hope you know I wouldn’t have left you stranded.”
“I know. Marcel came and got me. I actually saw you as we were leaving, but it was too late to turn back.”
She nodded, her lips pressed tightly together.
Columbo’s tail twitched and he opened one eye to stare at Beau, as if daring him to upset Addy.
Beau let out a burst of air. “I need to explain about why I didn’t donate part of my liver to your mom.”
“You don’t owe me an explanation.”
“I do. I’m not sure how much you remember about my mom, but she was everything to me. Especially after Dad died.”
Addy smiled, her fingers buried in Columbo’s gray striped fur. “I remember your mom’s gingerbread at Christmas. I loved to come over when she was baking because the whole house smelled so good.”
He smiled too. “She was a great cook. Loved to bake.” If he closed his eyes, he could still smell how the house welcomed him home during the holidays after she’d spent the better part of a day in the kitchen.
“I remember she hemmed one of my dresses for me because Mom had forgotten to take it to be altered. I was so upset that my play would be ruined because of Mom’s drunkenness, but your mom just took the dress and hemmed it without a word.”
Yes, he remembered. He remembered even more that she did for Addy—like making Vincent take her to the makeup counter to have the ladies show her how to apply her makeup. Or how she told Vincent a lady needed a special shopping trip to get unmentionables when she became a certain age, and took Addy herself. He smiled and nodded. “She was like that. She loved you and appreciated how your dad took me under his wing after my dad died. It worked.”
“It did.” Addy still wore the smile.
“I loved her with everything I had. Then in one moment, she was just gone. I don’t know if you remember, but she died instantly, which I’m grateful for so she didn’t suffer. But I didn’t get to tell her goodbye. I didn’t get to hold her hand and tell her what a wonderful person she was, how much I would miss her, and how much I loved her.” Tears burned his eyes, but he didn’t care.
Addy moved to sit beside him on the couch. Columbo’s ears flattened as he stared at Beau, then readjusted himself next to Addy, who took hold of Beau’s hand. “I know. I’m so sorry.”
“But you see, I was only eighteen. I was so bitter that some drunk had gotten behind the wheel and taken her from me.”
“You had every right to feel that way.” The warmth from her touch crept deep into his bones.
“I did, but when the time came after that to be tested for possible liver donation for your mom, I was still so angry. When I came back as a match, at first I was shocked. Then I was angry. I couldn’t save my mother, my world, who was killed by a drunk, but I could save a drunk?” He glanced at Addy. “Sorry.”
“No, she was a drunk. That’s the truth, no matter how ugly it is.”
“I thought I could donate, Addy, I really did. I never wanted you to lose your mom. But I couldn’t. Every time I looked over the paperwork, I could only see Mom’s coffin. It was messed up, but in my mind, donating to your mom was like giving a seal of approval to a drunk. I just couldn’t do it.”
Tears seeped out of Addy’s eyes. “I understand.”
“I hated myself for not being able to go through with it. I didn’t want to hurt you or Vincent, but I just couldn’t. So I lied. I told you both I wasn’t a match. You both accepted my word without question and it was okay. Until your mom did die. Then I felt like I’d killed her.”
“Oh, Beau, you didn’t kill her. She did that herself with every drink she took.” She grabbed his other hand as well, holding both as she stared into his eyes. He saw no judgment or condemnation in them, only pain and pity.
“In my immaturity, I hadn’t realized how awful I would feel.”
“You shouldn’t have. Daddy never asked the doctors to let me be tested, even though they would have made an exception to the minor rule as her daughter.”
“I didn’t know that.”
She smiled. “I didn’t either until Daddy told me. I was okay with it because, well, you know Mom and I didn’t have the best relationship.”
“I’m so sorry.” He wanted nothing more than to hold her, but he couldn’t.
“I’m not upset that you didn’t donate, I was hurt you lied to me.”
He opened his mouth to apologize again, but she put her fingertips against his mouth. “No. I understand now. It’s okay. We’re okay.” She dropped her hand and smiled. “Just no more secrets, okay?”
He nodded. “No more secrets. I promise.”
“I promise too.”
“You’re pretty amazing, Adelaide Fountaine.”
“So are you, Beauregard Savoie.”
Emotions filled the moment. Beau ran a finger along the side of her face, cheekbone to jawline, then he cupped her head with both his hands. Slowly, he lowered his mouth to hers. A soft graze of his lips against hers. Warmth. Sweetness. He tilted his head to deepen the kiss.
Brrring!
She started, then jumped to her feet. “I need to go. We’ll talk soon.”
He stood. “Addy, don’t go.”
Brrring!
“I’ll check in on you tomorrow. Goodnight, Beau.” She slipped out the front door so fast, there was no way his sore body could have stopped her.
Brrring!
The one moment he’d dreamed about for years, gone. Why hadn’t he put his stupid cell phone on silent?
Twenty-Nine
Adelaide
“What do you mean, he kissed you? Back that truck up and spill the tea, woman!” Tracey pulled her hair up into a messy bun and plopped down onto the couch.
“You know what kissing means. He kissed me.” The back of Adelaide’s neck grew warm just remembering how it felt to have Beau kiss her. She still wasn’t sure how she felt about it, emotionally, but physically . . .
Tracey groaned and pulled a throw pillow into her lap. “Girl, did he peck your cheek or kiss you, like really kiss you?”
Maybe it’d been a mistake to tell Tracey, but Adelaide had needed to tell somebody or she’d go nuts with the myriad emotions bubbling inside her. “It was a real kiss.”
“Wow. After all this time. It’s so about time.”
“What?”
Tracey shook her head. “Don’t tell me you didn’t know that man’s been hung up on you since we were in high school. Everybody knows that.”
“I didn’t. I mean, I don’t.” Adelaide shook her head. Her best friend had to be messing with her. “He hasn’t.”
“Oh, yes, he has. Ask anybody, or better yet, start paying attention. Beau has always been soft on you.”
No, she would have known.
Adelaide thought back to all the times Beau was there for her. Opening doors, always being super nice. The way he looked at her.
She took the other throw pillow from the couch, covered her face, and screamed. How could she have been so blind?
Tracey laughed. “Girl, it’s okay. I’m just glad he finally made a move.” She pulled the pillow away from Adelaide’s face. “This is the first time a man’s touched you since . . . yes?”
“Since I was raped? It’s okay to say it. I’m not ashamed anymore. Finding out what all he did, not just to me but to so many others, made me realize I’d done nothing wrong. It was not my fault.”
“You know I told you that very fact years ago.”
“I know. I just needed to learn it for myself.”
Tracey grinned that toothy grin of hers. “Go ahead and say it. Come on, you know you gotta.”
Adelaide shook her head. “You were right.”
“Ahh. Music to my ears.” Tracey closed her eyes and leaned her head back on the couch.
Adelaide threw the throw pillow at her.
“All kidding aside, were you okay with him kissing you?”
“You know, I’ve turned down a lot of dating opportunities because I was worried that if there was any physical contact, I’d freak out.”
“But you didn’t?”
Adelaide shook her head. “I didn’t even think about it, to be honest.”
“That’s awesome.” Tracey stretched a leg out and propped it on the coffee table. “What did you think?”
“At first I was shocked, but then it was . . . nice.” Heat blasted across her face.
