Legacy of Love

by Donna Hill

  Sharlene squealed her delight on the other end. “How or when did all this happen?”

  Zoe gave her all the details.

  “Well, I’ll be. Now that’s what I’m talking about—a man who takes charge. I like him already. So where are you two going?”

  “I have no idea. But I thought if you had some time, we could go shopping. He’s picking me up here at work and I have on a boring navy business suit.”

  “You don’t have to ask me twice. You want to meet me here? We can go to Vintage on Market. I love that place.”

  “You know better than I do. I’m heading over there as we speak. I should be there in about fifteen minutes.”

  “See you in a few.” She disconnected the call, pulled open the bottom drawer of her desk, took out her purse and walked out.

  Her step felt light as she walked along Peachtree Street. The weather was exquisite. There wasn’t a cloud in the sky. She pulled in a long lungful of spring air and lifted her face toward the warmth of the sun.

  She turned the corner onto the street where Sharlene’s shop was located and stopped dead in her tracks. She peered a bit closer certain that she was seeing things. But she wasn’t. Seated on a bench under a tree on the opposite side of the street, eating what looked like her favorite Pinkberry yogurt was Mike and Linda. They were deep in conversation and apparently oblivious to anyone or anything.

  “Well, I’ll be.” She smiled to herself. Maybe her words of wisdom to Linda made some sense after all. Obviously something had happened. She’d love to be a fly on the bench and eavesdrop on their conversation.

  Picking up her pace she continued down the street until she reached Moore Designs. Wait until she told Sharlene. Maybe it’s the weather, she thought.

  “You have got to be kidding,” Sharlene said as they walked out. She kept peeking over her shoulder hoping to spot the new couple.

  Zoe nudged her in the arm. “Would you stop? You’d make the worst spy.”

  “You have to admit it’s hard to imagine if you don’t see it with your own eyes. Mike actually grinds his teeth when he talks about Linda.”

  Zoe laughed. “Oh, stop. He does not. Well, maybe sometimes.”

  “See?” Sharlene chuckled. “Vintage is right around the corner. Come on.” She hooked her arm through Zoe’s.

  For the next hour they combed the racks and tables, searching for the perfect outfit.

  “I don’t want anything too suggestive,” Zoe said, when Sharlene held up a sleeveless black number with a nice split up the left side. “And not black. I mean, it’s an after-work dinner. It’s too much.”

  Sharlene flashed her a “you have got to be kidding me” look. “A little black dress is always appropriate,” she said drily. She pushed aside a few more dresses on the rack and finally pulled out a soft, Wedgewood blue dress in a bamboo cotton and spandex mix. It had an utterly feminine rosette detail, a draped waistline and a slimming sash with a hemline that just kissed the knee. The deep neckline was tempting, but tasteful. She held it up. “This is perfect for you. With those size C-cups and those legs, you’ll be a knockout.”

  Zoe reached for the dress and loved it on sight. “What size it is?” She lifted the tag. “Ten.” She looked at Sharlene with beginnings of a smile on her lips. “Just my size.” She checked the price tag and her mouth dropped open. “A hundred and fifty dollars! Sharlene!” She shoved the dress back at her. “I’m not paying that much money for a dress that I’ll probably never wear again, or worse, feel like I have to wear all the time to compensate for the money I spent on it.”

  “Oh, stop! Splurge a little. When was the last time you did something for yourself—something spontaneous and completely out of character? Here, just feel it. Imagine the feel of it against your skin. Imagine Jackson when he sees you in it.” She winked and shook the dress in front of Zoe in a teasing fashion.

  Zoe made a face and finally snatched the dress. “Okay, you win.” She hugged the dress to her. “I don’t have anything to go with this.”

  “Easily fixed, my sister,” she said and steered her toward accessories.

  By the time they walked out nearly an hour and a half later, Zoe’s credit card was two hundred and fifty dollars heavier.

  “So have you thought any more about the offer to go to New York?” Sharlene asked as they walked back.

  “No. Not really. So much has happened so quickly. I’m not sure what I’m going to do.”

  “It’s a fantastic opportunity for you and it would be a serious boost to your career.”

  Zoe nodded in agreement.

  “I hear a but.”

  Zoe threw her a look. “I have to see how things go.”

  “Between you and Jackson?”

  “Yes.”

  Sharlene smiled to herself. Maybe Zoe was beginning to believe after all.

  They stopped in front of Sharlene’s office. “Call me the minute you get home and let me know how it went.”

  “I promise.”

  “And just relax and have fun, if for no other reason than because you deserve it. You haven’t been out on a real date in ages. You’re long overdue.”

  “All right, all right. Don’t rub it in,” she joked. She kissed her friend’s cheek. “I’ll call you.”

  She started off down the block in the direction of the museum. The next four hours were the longest of her life.

  Chapter 11

  Jackson stirred the pot of chili. He sprinkled more cayenne pepper and lowered the flame. Since he would be eating out, he’d prepared his favorite recipe for his sister and niece. He was really worried about Michelle. Travis’s betrayal was hitting her hard. One minute she seemed like she was holding it together and the next she was in a daze. Other times he would walk into a room and find her crying.

  He couldn’t begin to imagine the kind of pain that she felt. Even though he and Carla had broken up a while back, he was devastated and sickened by what she’d done to his sister—his sister of all people. Michelle had befriended her. They’d hung out together, traveled in some of the same circles. It was unthinkable. Yet he couldn’t decide who was worst, Travis or Carla. How long had it been going on? Were they seeing each other when he was still seeing Carla? What kind of people had he and his sister fallen for?

  He put a pot of water on to boil, added a dash of salt and some olive oil for the rice.

  When he and Michelle were growing up, their parents used to fix chili and rice on Saturdays. It was always a treat. They were each assigned a task in preparing the meal: adding the ingredients, grating the cheese, steaming the beans, browning the meat or fixing the rice. He still carried on the tradition. And at least one Saturday a month he fixed chili just the way his family had when he was a kid. He hoped it would stir up some pleasant memories for Michelle, at least for a little while.

  “Is that the famous Treme chili I smell?” Michelle yawned as she walked into the kitchen. She came up behind Jackson and wrapped her arms around his waist.

  “The nose knows.” He poured in two cup of rice and covered the pot.

  “Remember those Saturdays?”

  “Absolutely. I figured it would be like the old times, a pleasant memory.” He turned around.

  Michelle looked up into his eyes that were identical to her own. “I could use that right now.” She backed away and lowered her head.

  Jackson lifted her chin with the tip of his finger. “I don’t like tears in my chili,” he teased. “And I was thinking that maybe it’s time we carried on the tradition. Share the famous family recipe with Shay.”

  Michelle wiped away a sniffle and a slow smile gently blossomed. “I think she’d like that.”

  “Great. You remember all the ingredients, right?”

  “Of course!” she said.

  He wiped his hands on a dishtowel. “Good. I got the basics started and you can finish up with Shay while I get ready for a date.”

  “A date! With…with Zoe?”

  He grinned like he’d won the
lottery. “Yep. I’m picking her up at six.”

  Michelle leaped up and wrapped her arms around his neck. “I am sooo crazy happy for you.” She kissed him all over his face. “How did all this happen?”

  “If you let go of my neck I swear I’ll tell you,” he said, chuckling.

  She settled down and sat in a chair. She crossed her legs and waited. Jackson leaned against the fridge and told her about going to the museum and asking for her.

  “So you just asked her out to dinner and she said yes? You could be a serial killer,” she said with a grin.

  “Thanks, sis.”

  “You know what I mean. You don’t know each other.”

  “Last time I checked that’s how people got to know each other. Dinner, lunch, talking.” He winked.

  “I guess it’s been a while,” she said softly and lowered her gaze.

  Jackson came over to her. He took her hand. “Hey, sorry.”

  “It’s all right.” She stroked his cheek. “I’m happy for you. I really am.”

  “Thanks.” He kissed the tip of her nose. “So I’m going to leave Shay and the Treme family recipe in your very capable hands. I don’t want to be late.” He started out of the kitchen.

  “She’s a lucky lady, Jack.”

  Jackson glanced back over his shoulder. “I have a feeling that I’m the lucky one.”

  Zoe was a bundle of nerves as six o’clock approached. She’d changed clothes an hour earlier and spent the rest of the time pacing back and forth in her office. She’d called Sharlene at least three different times just to be reminded that she was going to have a wonderful time.

  She’d been so consumed with her impending date that she’d totally forgotten about seeing Mike and Linda together earlier in the afternoon until Linda knocked on her office door.

  “Come in.”

  Linda eased the door open and stuck her head in. Her eyes widened in surprise when she saw Zoe all dressed up.

  “Wow. Is it okay if I come in?”

  Zoe’s face heated. “Sure.”

  Linda came in and closed the door behind her. “Great dress.”

  “Thanks.” She quickly sat down and tried to look busy as she began flipping through papers on her desk. “What can I do for you?”

  “You already did it.”

  Zoe looked up. “What do you mean?”

  “I talked to Mike today, like you said.”

  Zoe folded her nervous fingers together. The scene she’d witnessed earlier played in her mind’s eye. “What happened?”

  “He listened. I told him that I realized that I was making his life miserable, but it wasn’t my intention. I told him that sometimes I have an unorthodox way of letting someone know that I’m…interested in them.”

  Zoe smiled. “And?”

  “He said he thought I hated his guts. That’s why he never asked me out before.”

  “What?” Her expression brightened with delight. “So did he ask you out?”

  Linda bobbed her head. “We’re going to Gladys Knight’s place tonight. Can you believe it?”

  Zoe laughed. “Yes, I think I do.” Amazing things just kept happening. “I’m glad for you, Linda. I really am.”

  “Thanks. And, uh, I really appreciate the advice. I was making a mess of things.” She paused. “You look like you have a date yourself.”

  Zoe cleared her throat. “I do. Well, not exactly. Yes, I do.”

  “Well, whichever it is, have a good time.” She backed up toward the door.

  “You, too.”

  “Thanks. Good night.” She opened the door and walked out.

  Must be the weather. She took a quick look at her watch. It was five minutes to six. Her heart started racing. She tapped her fingers on the desk. She didn’t want to keep him waiting, but she didn’t want to appear overeager and be downstairs waiting before he arrived. Maybe he was going to be late. But if he was going to be late, he would have called. Then again maybe he wouldn’t. Maybe he was the kind of guy who didn’t care about making others wait for them. Maybe he… She jumped at the sound of her phone ringing. She looked at the flashing extension number. It was security.

  She snatched up the phone. “Ms. Beaumont.”

  “Yes, there’s a Mr. Treme here to see you. I told him we were closed.”

  “I’ll be right there, Frank. Thank you.” She hung up the phone. “Oh, my goodness.” He was really here.

  She pushed back from her seat and all of a sudden her mind went blank. Where was her purse? Her keys? Should she take the shawl that Sharlene insisted she buy? What if she was overdressed? He never said where they were going. “Get a grip,” she said out loud. She drew in a deep breath, opened the bottom drawer of her desk and took out her purse where she always kept it. She opened it and her keys were inside as they always were. She took the shawl that was draped across the back of the chair and put it over her arm. She took one last look around her office, turned off the light and walked out.

  Jackson wasn’t sure what to expect, but the vision that was coming toward him was more than he could have ever imagined. She was stunning. The blue against her bronze skin was mouth watering. She’d styled her hair in an updo. The combination of the hairstyle and the deep neckline of her dress nearly did him in. He was staring so hard that it took him a moment to realize that she’d stopped walking and was standing right in front of him.

  “Sorry if I kept you waiting,” she said.

  Jackson swallowed the tightness in his throat that matched the one in his groin. “I’d wait all night if that’s what it would take to see you. You look incredible.”

  She started to say something silly like “this old thing,” but good sense intervened. “Thank you.”

  “Ready?”

  She didn’t trust her voice when he was looking at her like that, as if he could see into her soul. She nodded her head instead.

  “I’m parked right out front.”

  “Good night, Frank,” she managed.

  “You two have a nice time.”

  Jackson looked back. “Thanks.”

  “I hope you like soul food,” Jackson said as he opened the car door and helped her in.

  She turned to look at him and their gazes collided. Heat stirred her body. “What self-respecting Southern girl doesn’t like soul food?” she said with laughter in her voice.

  “A woman after my own heart.” He shut the door and hurried around to the driver’s side. He stuck the key in the ignition and Marvin Gaye’s classic, “Let’s Get it On,” filled the interior. They both burst out laughing and the tension evaporated like morning mist.

  “I swear I didn’t plan that,” he said as he slowly pulled off.

  “That’s what they all say,” she said.

  He gave her a quick look. “I would think that would be something you wouldn’t know anything about.”

  “Really. And why would you think that?”

  “Because I think that you are the kind of woman who can sense a line a mile away. And the poor fool who tried to hand you one would never get the chance.”

  “Is that right?” She relaxed against the soft leather interior and angled her body in his direction. “And what else have you surmised about me in the less than twenty-four hours that we’ve known each other?”

  “That you think about things before you do them. You look at all the possibilities. You don’t like mistakes or having regrets.”

  Her brows rose. “And you know all of this how?”

  He came to a stop at a red light and turned fully toward her. He looked directly into her eyes. “I don’t know. I just do.”

  Zoe felt as if the air had been sucked from her lungs. As illogical as all this was, it made perfect sense.

  Chapter 12

  The streets of Atlanta were teeming with Saturday night diners and partygoers. Rather than spend half of their evening hunting for a parking space, Jackson parked in a nearby municipal garage and they walked the two blocks back to the restaurant.

 
; “I love Mary Mac’s Tea Room,” Zoe cried when she realized where they were going. “I haven’t been here since I first moved to Atlanta.”

  “This will be my first time. I heard it was great.” He opened the door for her. “I made reservations for the Skyline Room. They have a piano player tonight.”

  “Can’t wait.”

  “Good evening and welcome to Mary Mac’s. Do you have reservations?” the hostess asked from behind the podium.

  “Yes, two for Treme.” He placed his hand at the small of Zoe’s back.

  Zoe felt her insides quiver. The heat of his hand scorched her skin. She drew in a sharp breath and concentrated on putting one foot in front of the other as they were led to their table.

  After the waitress seated them she ran through the house specials then took their drink orders. Zoe ordered an apple martini. Jackson opted for Rob Roy on the rocks.

  “When we walked up, you said you came here when you first moved to Atlanta.” He tilted his head to the side. “Where did you live before you moved here?”

  “New Orleans. Born and raised.”

  Jackson’s skin tingled. “New Orleans?”

  “Mmm-hmm.” She opened the menu.

  “So was I.”

  Zoe’s gaze lifted. “What?”

  “I grew up in New Orleans. I only moved to Atlanta a little more than a year ago.”

  Zoe blinked back her surprise. “And we had to move all the way to Atlanta to meet each other. How crazy is that?”

  “No crazier than anything else that’s happened since we met.” He leaned forward. “I don’t know if you feel it, but ever since that day of the fire when I saw you for the first time, it felt like it wasn’t the first time. I mean…”

  “I know exactly what you mean,” she said, with a lilt of surprise in her voice.

  His eyes creased at the corners, studying her face seeing if he could discover the truth there. Was she simply humoring him or did she really believe what she’d said?

  “It’s been like that for me, too.” She swallowed. “I can’t explain it.” After the words were out of her mouth she couldn’t believe she’d said them to a man she barely knew. But you do know him. He’s always been there. Waiting for you. It was her grand mother’s voice in her head as clear as if she were sitting right beside her.