Haunting Refrain

by Mary Marvella

  He used the fancy computer Avery had provided for Roxie. Within ten minutes of signing on line he found a website of historical sites. From there he moved to plantation house restaurants, then plantations. He stopped when noticed the Jackson family home-place. After supper he’d call his grandfather and ask what he knew about the place.

  Tomorrow morning he’d ask her help locating the place. By the time he’d printed the information he had a plan to get closer to Sarah. He’d spend his day off courting her.

  Roxie ate supper in a snit so Peter dared not ask what she’d meant by her earlier slip. She obviously meant to bail as soon as she could. She didn’t even hint for compliments on the meal. How could he have considered their shared interest in fine cuisine a basis for anything?

  ##

  Morning dawned far too early for Peter. He hadn’t slept worth a crap last night, though he’d been tired and had downed plenty of Avery’s expensive wine.

  He’d spent a lot of time on the phone with Grandfather Jackson who had told him stories about his wasteful family. Of course the wily old man had brought up reasons marriages of convenience worked just fine as long as everyone showed respect. He had a point there. Not one of his wealthier aunts complained. His mother and his grandmother seemed happy, content, in love. Maybe they got what they paid for.

  No wonder the Jackson men had to marry women for their money. Not one of his relatives had amounted to a damn as wage earners but they were trained to be charming and considerate. Well, once he and Sarah married, they’d raise their children to work hard and be independent. His sons wouldn’t gamble or drink their lives away.

  He sang as he showered. He hummed as he blow dried his hair and shaved. He made it a point to allow Roxie time to leave for work before he headed downstairs. Rummaging in the kitchen he found a picnic basket and a cooler. From the wine rack he selected two bottles of wine for the cooler. A couple of bottles of sparkling water and soft drinks would keep them refreshed in the summer heat. The ice he added would keep the cheese, chilled salads, leftover shrimp and lobster fresh.

  By the time he had packed more food and supplies in the basket he‘d psyched himself up.

  Sarah would love Creation Community, where his family had once owned land. Maybe she would tell him more about her family and their history, a perfect chance to build their connections.

  He grabbed the printouts for the Jackson’s home place and that of the Overbys. He was so ready to snow his Sarah with his love of history.

  ##

  New daylight painted the room in ghostly pale gold. William’s body gleamed like a gilded statue. Sarah rubbed her face against his hairy chest. Last night they’d made sweet love. He had needed her and she had needed to be close to him. After supper they had returned to read more of his mother’s diaries but William had seemed so down she had seduced him instead.

  Even now she wanted to love him, to give him as much as she could. She touched her lips to his chin, his neck, and lightly his lips. The vein in his neck pulsed more with each touch. She ran her hands over his nipples, through the dark, springy curls on his broad chest.

  The smooth plains of his stomach moved under her gentle explorations. He hadn’t uttered a word, but she knew he was awake. How long could he pretend to sleep? Smiling against his hard muscles she kissed each rib on one side, then the other. By the time she reached his navel, she lowered the sheet that had covered his groin. Oh, yes he was awake, heating, and aroused.

  Following the trail of hair downward she absorbed his tangy smell, kissing each inch toward his jutting sex. Detouring to his thighs she licked her way toward the insides. The closer she moved toward his arousal, the faster his breath came.

  She loved his salty taste, his scent, the texture of his hair and his skin.

  When she could stand it no longer she kissed the hot swollen tip of his penis, licking him, tasting him. When she drew him into her mouth he groaned, calling her name.

  “Oh, God, Sarah.” His voice raised. “Oh, my God.”

  When he tunneled his hands into her hair and tried to pull her up, she made him suffer by lavishing attention to that part of him he couldn’t control, the part that ignored his brain.

  By the time she did let him pull her up she wanted him inside her. He flipped them over and entered her in one hard, powerful thrust. Her orgasm hit hot and bright, like fireworks, starbursts and all.

  Inside her, he stroked, hard and fast, building tension again, building to an earth-shattering climax for both of them.

  When William finally found his breath and could formulate words, he grinned down at his ladylove with her kiss swollen lips. “Mornin’, Sarah, darlin’.” His voice rasped. He flipped them over again, holding her on his sweat-slick body.

  He loved to stroke her smooth back down to the dent at the bottom of her spine, to her round, firm buttocks, and back up to her shoulders.

  “Mornin’ yourself, sleepy head.”

  “I love wakin’ up this way.”

  “It was fun, wasn’t it?” Her grin said she was pleased with herself. He was pleased with her, too.

  His alarm jangled. “Yeah, now we face the world, woman.” He popped her bare bottom. “I have appointments today and your parents will think you got lost on the way home last night.”

  He let her rise and watched her back as she walked toward his bathroom, swinging her sexy rear. Too bad he couldn’t lock her in the house and keep her naked so he could enjoy her charms day and night.

  When she stopped to grab and small backpack, she grinned back at him over her shoulder.

  “No, they won’t, Mama knew I brought this.” She held the bag. “For overnight stays with friends.”

  ##

  Peter opened the oven and removed the pan of cinnamon, nut crumble coffeecake. This should get me an invitation inside for a cup of coffee. This, and the fresh roses from Avery’s garden.

  He loaded his car and headed toward his future, humming oldies with the radio, in the mood for making Sarah love him.

  ##

  Sarah unlocked her backdoor - that meant no one had been on the back porch yet - and strolled into the kitchen.

  “Morning’, Mama,” she said.

  Her mom looked up from her laptop and smiled. “Want some breakfast? Bacon’s on the stove.”

  Sarah opened the refrigerator and grabbed the orange juice. She plucked a tall glass from the cabinet and filled it. “Want some?” she asked.

  “No, thanks.” Her mom took a swallow from her coffee cup. “I’m good for now.”

  “I’ll take a quick shower, then maybe have a bite, if there’s any bacon left by then.” She hugged her mama, then took her backpack to her room where she found her ghosts sitting on her bed. Each leaned against a pillow at the headboard.

  Mattie said nothing, but Eloise did. “We didn’t think you’d mind, since no one was using this nice soft bed.”

  “Not a problem,” Sarah said as she put her pack at the foot of her bed. “I’m surprised you’re not pesterin’ Mama.”

  “She started working as soon as your daddy left for work. We didn’t want to disturb her.”

  Sarah grinned and rummaged in her dresser drawers. Since she had company she wouldn’t wander from her bathroom half-naked or even wearing a towel. “Shower time,” she called from the bathroom, then closed the door.

  Ten minutes later Sarah stepped from the bathroom, wearing shorts and a cotton shell. Her company occupied the only chairs in her room. She replaced the undergarments in her bag with a matching sheer pink thong and a bra. She added beige panties and a pair of tap pants. The silky top she folded on top might come in handy, if she and her professor spent time together in his bed dressed. She packed no nightie.

  “Sarah, are you planning to spend the night with a friend tonight?” Mattie’s voice sounded odd, embarrassed.

  Sarah laughed and gave Mattie a kiss on her forehead. “I like to keep a bag packed in case of last minute decisions.”

  Eloise laug
hed. “Gotta be prepared, don’t you? Sarah, do you carry condoms, for just in case?”

  “What?” Sarah nearly choked on the question.

  Eloise shrugged. “The soldiers during WWII carried them. In fact they never left camp without being issued a supply.”

  She didn’t answer that question. Though she had stopped at drugstore to buy them, she never remembered to have one when she needed it. There were three unopened boxes in her purse. She didn’t plan to explain such things to her nosy, liberated ghost.

  She folded a pair of walking shorts and put those in the bag, too.

  Sarah almost made the fifteen-minute deadline she’d given her mother. Which didn’t matter, because when she and her ghosts entered the kitchen she found her mom typing away, oblivious. She looks so young and full of mischief when she’s concentrating, smiling that secretive smile.

  Sarah refilled her juice glass and brought the bacon platter to the table. When she sat to eat she tried to crunch quietly. It didn’t matter because her specters also grabbed cups and sat in the empty chairs.

  “They’re doin’ it again, aren’t they?”

  At her mother’s laugh she smiled. “Seems that way. The girls didn’t want to disturb you while you were working.”

  “I really wouldn’t mind, if I could see them or hear them, you know, have a conversation with the ladies.”

  “I know, Mama. They understand. I can ask them not to move things around in front of you.”

  She watched Mattie put her cup down and start to rise.

  “No, no, I’ll learn to enjoy having them around. Maybe I’ll write a book with ghosts.”

  The doorbell rang, startling everyone. Her mother moved first. “Eat, I’ll get it.”

  Mattie raised her coffee cup again. “It smells so good. There were many times we couldn’t have real coffee. I can’t believe how easy it is for your Mama to make it.”

  Eloise laughed. “We had things better than Mattie’s generation, but we were at war, too. And we certainly didn’t have a Mr. Coffee machine. I wish I could taste the cappuccino people talk about, it sounds so yummy.”

  Mattie looked dreamy. “Lat-te sounds tasty too.”

  Peter’s voice caught Sarah’s attention. Peter’s voice? What’s he doin’ here?

  Her mother’s voice sounded cheery. “Come on in, Peter. I have coffee ready and Sarah’s just having breakfast.”

  Sarah nearly choked on her last swallow of juice. She didn’t need to sit at the table with Peter when she’d so recently left William’s bed. She rose to make an escape but Peter’s voice sounded from the doorway.

  “Good mornin’, sunshine.” Peter grinned as he sauntered toward the table and placed a large pan on it.”

  “Sunshine?” Sarah asked.

  Chapter Twenty-one

  “Sunshine?” Sarah repeated.

  Mattie frowned and Eloise’s mouth formed a silent snarl.

  Sarah prayed they wouldn’t do anything strange.

  “Ah, Sarah, you’re lovely enough to bring out the sunshine.” He uncovered the square, baking pan.

  A corny man and fresh, homemade coffeecake. She licked her lips and lusted.

  Her mom moved around Peter and opened the cupboard. She removed dessert plates and forks. Peter took them from her hands and set them on the table. He took the knife she held out and cut large squares of cake. Maybe she should add two plates for her other guests. What would Peter do, then?

  Sarah rose and grabbed an extra chair for Peter who looked at the two empty ones, with coffee cups and dishes.

  “Don’t ask,” her cool mom said. “There’s a story from her childhood about tea parties and imaginary guests.”

  “Cute, Mama, cute. Peter, have a seat and joins us.” She pointed to the bacon platter. Want some?”

  He lifted the cup placed beside him and added cream and sugar from the containers her mom had used. When he took a sip he looked like he had tasted ambrosia.

  “Mrs. Overby, my coffee never tastes this good. You must show me how you make it, I mean, you must have some secret.”

  “Why, Peter, I make it like everyone does, I even use my Mr. Coffee machine.”

  The man sipped the coffee again like a professional taster. “Hmmm. Maybe it’s the brand.”

  Eloise made a gagging sound but no one seemed to notice. Then she reached for her cup. Sarah nearly choked when she thought that cup would move through the air.

  “What Sarah?” he asked, before her mother could respond.

  “Oh, nothing. Just a little ringing in my ears. Must be my allergy acting up.”

  “I spoke with Granddaddy Jackson last night.” Peter let dropped that tidbit but why?

  She chewed a bite of the best coffeecake she’d ever tasted. “Really? What did he have to say?”

  “Well, I asked him what he knew about any problems between out families.”

  “Problems?” Sarah’s mom asked. “My husband never mentioned any problems in his family.”

  Now how can I respond to that one? Mama doesn’t know about the feud and Peter doesn’t know about the ghosts who told me about the feud.

  Mattie inched her hand toward Peter’s cup. Oh, God, no.

  “What did your granddad say?” Sarah asked. Frowning at Mattie. She couldn’t say anything.

  Peter grinned again. “It seems no one still alive knows much. He did give me vague directions to the old plantation site, though. No one’s been there for a long time.”

  “Oh?”

  “I thought I’d drive out to it and see what’s left, if anything. Wanna go with me?”

  “Hmmm, how long would we be gone?”

  “Just a few hours. Did you ever learn anything about your families’ homes?”

  “Yes,” Her mother sounded excited. “we went online and located the plantation. My family came from tradesmen in North Carolina.”

  Peter nodded toward her mom. “That is interesting. You must tell me all about your roots the next time I see you. I’m a sucker for family histories.”

  Maybe they could kill two birds with one stone today. “Peter, would you like to tour both family places?”

  Mattie and Eloise rose and headed toward Sarah’s side of the table. “Of course I would. I’d love to spend the day with you.” He looked at her mom. “Won’t you come with us, Ma’am?”

  “No, no, thank you. I have a deadline and pages to finish on my current work in progress.”

  “I just admire people who are creative. I could never write a book.”

  Sarah stood and took her dishes to the sink. “We really should head out soon, if we want to see both places. I’ll be ready in ten minutes.”

  She strolled to her room to put on jeans and tennis shoes in case they trekked through weeds and tall grass.

  Mattie stormed in after her. “Have you lost your mind goin’ off with that scoundrel?”

  Eloise was only a step behind. “Didn’t you learn anything from what we told you? Sarah, are you crazy?”

  She packed a different pack with bug spray and first aid items. She threw in an extra pair of socks and a clean shirt.

  “Peter is not Miller. He’s a decent man who wants to help me end the stupid feud. If he and I can see start a new family relationship, we can stop the dangers you think I’m facing.”

  Sarah added moist-wipe packets, put her hair up in a high ponytail and grabbed her sunglasses and sunscreen.

  Mattie touched Sarah’s arm. “William wouldn’t like this at all. Wait until he comes home and talk to him before you go dashing off with another man.”

  “Ladies, I don’t need William’s permission to spend time with my friend or to go where I want to.”

  “But Sarah,” Eloise began.

  “I know what I’m doing. Mama will know where we are and I’m taking my cell phone.” She grabbed her shoulder bad and her phone. “See?”

  For a minute she thought she would have to walk through her ghosts, but Mattie moved aside. Both followed her.


  Back in the kitchen she gathered storage bags and a knife

  Peter stood at the sink helping wash the dishes. “What are you doin’?” he asked.

  Her mother laughed and answered. “Sarah’s always prepared. She found berries the other day and she needed a bag for them. This time she’ll have a bag if she needs one.”

  By that time Sarah had her soft cooler and dug in the freezer for four bottles of frozen water from the freezer. At Peter’s frown she explained. “Works better than ice cubes. It lasts longer and provides cool water for drinking as it melts.” She also added frozen juice boxes.

  “You don’t need that, I have coolers in my car, one for food and one for drinks.”

  “You had this planned?” she stopped and glared at him.

  “I hoped.” He shrugged.

  “What if I’d said I wouldn’t or couldn’t go with you?”

  “I’d have tried to get your mama.” He winked at her. “I’d have gone alone, but it wouldn’t be as much fun.”

  Sarah grabbed her keys. “We’ll take my car, yours would never make it through the high grass and the weeds.”

  After moving Peter’s provisions they started south. “Read me your directions.” They were awfully familiar.