by Jana DeLeon
She lifted the next document and began to read, unaware of when she dropped off to sleep. Her only memory was the steady hum of rain on the roof and her eyes growing fuzzy.
* * *
THE BEDROOM wasn’t the same when she opened her eyes. A lantern on the dresser cast a dim glow over the room. She could still hear the rain falling on the roof, but the bed was narrower and the sheets silk rather than cotton. A rustling sound caught her attention and she looked toward the bedroom wall where the sound had originated.
Her baby sister tossed and turned in her sleep. Her fine locks of hair were damp from the humidity the storm had driven in, and clung to her pale skin. She turned to the left and saw her middle sister, curled in a ball in the twin bed next to her, her pink blanket kicked to the floor long ago.
It must have been a dream that had woken her, she thought as she turned over and closed her eyes again. Then she heard the voices. Mommy and the mean man were arguing again. It happened often, after she and her sisters had gone to bed. They probably thought she couldn’t hear in that big house, but sometimes their voices carried all the way to the sisters’ bedroom.
She pulled the covers over her head, trying to block out the arguing. Mommy was unhappy with the mean man—she was certain—but every time Alaina thought Mommy would make him leave, she was disappointed. Daddy had never made Mommy cry or raise her voice. Daddy had loved her and her sisters and was never cross or stern with them.
Daddy was in heaven and couldn’t come back. Mommy had told them that, so it must be true. But Alaina would have been happier with just Mommy. Not as happy as she’d been before Daddy went to heaven, but almost as happy.
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw something move and she threw back the covers, figuring her sister had heard the arguing, too.
But she wasn’t prepared at all for what she saw.
* * *
ALAINA BOLTED UPRIGHT in bed, her eyes locked on to the ethereal figure from her dreams that hovered above her bed near the ceiling. Lightning struck the tree outside the bedroom window, sounding off like a sonic boom.
But her scream was even louder.
Chapter Eight
It wasn’t even daylight when Alaina pressed her foot down on her SUV’s accelerator and launched it as fast as safely possible down the road to Calais. She’d seen a café on Main Street as she’d driven through town the day before. Surely it would be open soon. If not, she’d sit in her SUV until it did. Now or an hour from now, coffee was the first order of business. Coffee and a heavy dose of sanity.
After her ghostly sighting, she’d run out of the house and spent the rest of the night sleeping in her SUV. Her neck and back ached from being in the same position so long and she was more exhausted than she’d ever been before—including law school or when working an important case.
Just minutes ago, she’d managed to go back into the still-dark house long enough to change clothes, but the thought of thirteen more days and nights locked up in that house with whatever that was in there with her had her rethinking her inheritance. She didn’t need the money, whatever it turned out to be. Per the stipulations in the will, she wouldn’t even find out the worth of the estate until she fulfilled her end of the bargain. And even then, her sisters had to be located and agree to the same ridiculous concession in order for any of them to collect.
You made a mistake.
The thought always lingered in the back of her mind, picking its way through like a splinter. She’d managed to keep it at bay for a week—convincing herself that quitting her job and moving off to the middle of the bayou was a great plan—but she could no longer ignore the thought. Maybe she’d been too hasty with her career. She could have sucked it up and stayed where she was while putting out feelers for positions with other firms. Sure, Peterson, Winstrom and Wilson was the most prestigious in Baton Rouge, but it wasn’t as if she had ties to that city. New Orleans had always been fun to visit. She could have moved there, or out of state...maybe back to New England, where her law school friends had settled into successful careers.
She blew out a breath. All of that was hindsight, which didn’t do her any good. She had to face the situation in front of her and decide if she wanted to chuck it all now. At least she would only have lost a couple of days. Not to mention leaving now would likely improve her health. Living in Calais was certain to cause her high blood pressure, maybe even a heart attack.
A bit of relief coursed through her when she saw the lit Open sign in the café window. A small building with lights and people was exactly what she needed to get her back to normal. When she wasn’t panicked, she could make decisions.
A pretty, young waitress greeted her when she walked into the otherwise-empty café. “Take a seat anywhere. The cook’s late as usual, but I’ve got a fresh pot of coffee almost ready. You interested?”
“Absolutely,” she said and slipped onto a stool at a bar in front of the grill, wanting to be near the only other person in the room.
The waitress smiled and poured her a cup of the steaming liquid. “You must be Alaina,” she said as she set the coffee in front of her. “My name’s Connie.”
Alaina stared at her for a moment.
“Small town,” Connie explained. “Your arrival is big news and even if everyone in here yesterday wasn’t talking about it, I would know you weren’t from here anyway. I know everyone in Calais. Took me all of four days to meet the whole town when I first moved here.”
Alaina smiled. “Four whole days?”
“The Johnsons were on vacation or it would have been faster.”
Alaina laughed, feeling more at ease in the company of this pleasant woman. “I guess I haven’t settled into the small-town role yet.”
“I have to admit it took a bit of getting used to. I’ve lived mostly in cities, where you can get robbed on the street in broad daylight and everyone will pretend they didn’t see. In Calais, a new haircut is worth at least thirty minutes of breakfast conversation.”
“Then I guess I’ll disappoint everyone. I had a haircut right before I left.”
Connie poured herself a cup of coffee and took a big sip, then leaned on the counter in front of Alaina. “How was your first night in the house?”
Alaina felt her stomach clench. “It was fine,” she said, hoping her voice sounded normal.
Connie stared at her for a moment. “You sure?”
“Why do you ask?”
“Because when you came in here, you looked like you’d seen a ghost.”
Alaina set her coffee cup down too hard and coffee sloshed over the edge of the cup and splashed onto her hand.
“Oh!” Connie turned around and scooped a piece of ice out of the cooler behind her. She wrapped it in a thin dishrag and handed it to Alaina. “I am so sorry. I didn’t mean to startle you.”
Alaina placed the cool rag against the red spot on the back of her hand and instantly felt some of the pain dissipate. “It’s not your fault,” she assured the clearly distraught waitress. “I might have exaggerated my comfort level with the house just a bit.”
“We have some ointment in the back and some bandages.”
Alaina lifted the cloth to inspect her hand. “It’s fine.” She held up her hand toward Connie to show her that the tiny pink spot was all that was left.
“Thank goodness,” Connie said as she studied Alaina’s hand. “Burns are nasty and will bother you at the most inconvenient times.”
“I’ve been fortunate to only have the occasional hair-implement burn, but then I’m not much of a cook. I bet working with food, you’ve seen more than your share.”
Connie nodded. “A basic hazard of the job. I’ve gotten good at avoiding most problems, but then, I’ve been at this since I was a teen.”
She stopped speaking for a couple of seconds and Alaina could see the indecision in her expression. Finally, she spoke again. “Do you want to talk about it? I mean, whatever spooked you? I know I’m basically a stranger, but I was new in town not long ago. I know
how your mind can work against you in a new place.”
Alaina gave her a rueful smile. “I can’t imagine you nervous anywhere. You seem so collected.”
“I have my moments. Had one my first night in Calais. I rent a cabin from your mother’s estate. I think a groundskeeper lived there years ago. If you take a left at that last split in the road on the way to the big house, the cabin I’m renting is another two miles down a dirt road into the middle of the swamp.”
“Oh, I didn’t realize there were other structures beyond the main house and the caretaker’s cabin, but then, I was very young when I left. I suppose the living situation of staff wouldn’t have been on a seven-year-old’s mind.”
“I’m sure it wouldn’t.”
“So I take it your cabin is as remote as the main house. Is it as run-down?”
“The first time I drove out there, I was convinced it was at least a mile past the end of the earth, but everything was in working order. It took me several days to get it cleaned to my liking, but at least no critters had moved in while it was vacant.”
Connie hesitated a moment, then said, “I guess you weren’t as lucky.”
“So far, everything seems to be working, but I didn’t have time to test it all before the storm blew in and knocked out the power. It definitely hasn’t seen the backside of a dusting cloth in ages. And so far, I haven’t seen any critters.”
“But?”
Alaina sighed. In the bright lights of the café, she felt a little silly about her fear. “I overthought everything and spooked myself.”
“That’s what you think now, but when you walked in here, you were debating driving straight out of town after breakfast.”
“How...how did you know that?”
Connie shrugged. “I’ve gotten good at reading people.” She gave her a sheepish smile. “Besides, I have some experience in that area. Let’s just say I’m not exactly used to the night sounds of the swamp. I spent my first two nights sleeping in my car behind the café.”
Alaina felt some of the tension leave her back. “I spent last night in my SUV in the driveway. If it hadn’t been storming so hard, I might have driven away then.”
“It took some getting used to for me, and I have only eight hundred square feet to be comfortable in. It’s no wonder you got spooked in that big old house. I think I saw the place on a late-night horror movie.”
Alaina laughed. “That’s exactly as I’d describe it. It really works the imagination. When you combine that with the drive, the storm and the fact that I’m still trying to absorb the oddity of the entire situation, I guess it did a number on me.”
Connie nodded. “I can imagine.” She pulled a pad of paper from her apron and jotted a phone number on it.
“Here’s my cell number,” she said and handed Alaina the piece of paper. “It’s probably useless in a storm, but if you need anything, I’m probably closest.”
“Thank you.” Alaina took the paper and stuck it in her wallet, a bit overwhelmed by the compassion of this woman who was essentially a stranger. “That’s very nice of you.”
“I know what it’s like to be the new girl in town.”
Alaina smiled. “If you don’t mind my asking, how in the world did you end up here?”
“I’d been working at a restaurant on Bourbon Street and it was my day off. I wanted to get out of the city—away from all the crowds of people—so I just started driving. I ended up here around lunchtime and liked the feel of the place and the food. Then one of the longtime waitresses quit right in front of me to follow a long-haul trucker to Mississippi and I thought, Why the heck not? I guess it sounds a little crazy.”
“Not to me. And if it worked out for you, then it was good to go with your gut.”
Connie nodded. “At first, I was nervous, having never lived in a place this small before, but the people here are great and they look out for each other. It’s not what I’m used to, but it’s nice.” She peered over Alaina’s shoulder and out the café storefront. “Here comes one of Calais’s finest.”
Alaina glanced back just as Carter exited his truck. She whipped back around and Connie raised her eyebrows.
“I take it you’ve met the sexy sheriff?” she asked.
“He’s my babysitter,” Alaina said. “His words, not mine.”
“Hmm. I’d find statements like that a bit irritating, but it wouldn’t diminish his hotness any.”
“Go for it.”
“No way. He’s not my type.”
“Sexy isn’t your type?”
Connie laughed. “Serious and narrowly focused isn’t my type. Law enforcement guys tend to be married to their jobs.”
The bell over the café door jangled and Alaina heard footsteps behind her, then Carter slid onto the stool next to her.
“You’re in my spot,” he said with a smile, “but I’ll allow it this time as you’re new in town.”
Connie rolled her eyes at Alaina, then turned to pour him a cup of coffee.
“You’re up early,” he said as Connie slid the coffee in front of him. “Was everything okay last night? Has the power come back on yet?”
You imagined it.
She was going to keep thinking it until she believed it. The last thing she needed was Carter reporting back to the estate attorney that the heiress was crazy.
“Things were okay. The storm was a bit intense and the power’s still off, but I’m hoping it’s on by the time I head back.”
He nodded. “A couple of power lines are down, but a crew was already working on them when I drove past. It shouldn’t take long.”
She shrugged, trying to appear casual about the whole thing even though she didn’t feel that way. “I have nothing to hurry over. I’ll sit here and have a good breakfast—assuming the cook ever shows up—and then make a trip to the store to get some supplies.”
“Sounds like a good plan. Except for the cook part.” He looked over at Connie, who was refilling salt shakers. “Jack isn’t here yet?”
Purcell’s former errand boy had fallen in love with a local widow six months before and decided to make a go of the straight life. He’d been fortunate to get a chance cooking at the café.
“No. Ten minutes after is normal, but it’s thirty past now.” She frowned. “The past week, though, it seems he’s been pushing later every day.”
Carter sighed. “He’s drinking again.”
Connie’s eyes widened. “I didn’t say that.”
“You didn’t have to. I’ve known Jack my whole life. I’ll drop by this evening and have a talk with him.”
“If he’s got a real problem,” Alaina said, “it probably won’t do any good.”
“No,” Carter agreed, “but when my mom asks if I’ve spoken to Jack, I can say yes with a clear conscience and not have to endure her disapproval.”
Alaina smiled. “I think I like your mother.”
“Everyone likes Mrs. Trahan,” Connie said. “She’s absolutely fabulous.”
The back door of the café slammed and a couple of seconds later, a scruffy man—probably in his mid-forties—walked up to the grill and turned it on. Then he reached for the coffeepot and poured himself a huge cup. Alaina saw his hands shaking a bit as he poured.
“And good morning to you, sunshine,” Connie said.
Jack barely turned and mumbled a hello before starting to oil the grill. But it was long enough for Alaina to catch a glimpse of his bloodshot eyes. She glanced over at Carter and saw him frowning. He’d been right about the drinking.
Connie forced a smile. “Can I get you guys some breakfast?”
“I’ll have the special,” Carter said.
Alaina glanced at the menu and nodded. “I’ll have the special, as well.” Two eggs, toast, bacon and hash browns sounded like a great way to start the morning, especially because her dinner had consisted of peanut butter, chips and cookies.
Connie took the orders and handed them to the cook before heading away from the bar to take care of a
group of men who’d just walked in. Alaina looked down at her coffee to avoid Carter’s gaze, wishing she could move somewhere else to eat without looking incredibly rude. It hadn’t been so bad when Connie was there in the midst of the conversation, but Alaina didn’t really want to talk to the sexy sheriff one-on-one.
“So,” Carter said, “William tells me you resigned from your position with the firm in Baton Rouge to come here. Wouldn’t they let you take a leave of absence?”
Great. Aside from what she thought she saw last night and her unwanted attraction to Carter, he’d managed to ask about the only other thing she had no desire to talk about—her job.
“I suppose they may have given me a leave,” she said, not about to tell him she’d quit before finding out about the inheritance, “but I didn’t ask.”
“So you just walked away from the most prestigious firm in Baton Rouge—per William—to meet the completely irregular requirements of a will, even though if your sisters don’t also meet the requirements, it will turn out to be a complete waste of your time.”
“Yes.”
“Okay, then. Don’t bother with the details. I’ll just go on wondering if you’re mental.”
Alaina felt her frustration rise. She imagined quite a few people thought the same thing Carter did. And even though it seemed that way on the surface, it rankled her that people immediately jumped to her being flighty and irrational with her decision to resign her position. Especially when men did it. Men couldn’t possibly understand what women were up against with the good ol’ boy network. They were biologically prevented from getting it on anything but a surface level.
“I wasn’t aware that sharing my personal business was part of the stipulations of the inheritance. But if that’s the case, then I have to assume that goes for you as well because you’re part of this bizarre requirement. Mr. Duhon tells me that you’re quite good at your job because of all the experience you gained from being a detective with the New Orleans Police Department. So why would you leave a solid career path like that to come back to Calais and babysit heiresses?”
Carter’s jaw flexed and Alaina could tell he wasn’t happy with the turnaround, but as he opened his mouth to speak, Connie cleared her throat and slid their breakfast in front of them.
