by Donna Hill
Zoe’s breathing hitched. All of the foreshadowing, the legend was coming to pass. She couldn’t ignore it or pretend it was just a bunch of stories handed down among heartbroken women to explain away their unhappiness. But if that was true—then so was the rest.
“See, I’ve freaked you out.”
Zoe blinked back to the here and now and looked into Jackson’s eyes. She smiled softly. “Once you meet my family, you’ll realize that you’ll have to do better than that to freak me out.”
Jackson blew out a sigh of relief then leaned across the car to share a quick kiss. “Ready?”
“Yep.”
“I’m so glad to finally meet you,” Michelle said as she shook Zoe’s hand then pulled her into a quick hug. “Jackson has been telling me all about you—well, not all about you,” she said over her laughter. “Oh, and I can’t thank you enough for looking after Shay the other night.”
Zoe liked Michelle immediately. For a woman who was dealing with her own drama, she was warm and bubbly and genuinely sincere. And she could tell from the looks that she flashed in Jackson’s direction that she adored her brother.
Michelle was also tall and slender and had the same deep dark eyes and strong features as her brother. There was no mistaking that they were siblings.
“He’s told me about you as well.”
“Mommy, that’s the lady who found me.”
Michelle picked Shay up and propped her on her hip. “Yep, and she came to say hello.”
“Hi.”
“Hello, Shay. You haven’t been doing any wandering around, have you?”
“No,” she said, shaking her head vigorously back and forth.
Zoe winked. “Good girl.”
“Can I get you anything?” Michelle asked.
“No, I’m good.”
“I was just starting dinner. You are staying for dinner, right?” Her tapered brows rose.
Zoe turned to look at Jackson, who nonchalantly shrugged.
“Sure. Can I help?”
“I never turn down help. Hope you like baked salmon.”
“Love it,” she said following Michelle and Shay into the kitchen.
While the ladies were busy in the kitchen, Jackson went up to his bedroom to change clothes, but he had a feeling that they wouldn’t be going anywhere. Once Michelle got to talking there was no stopping her. He smiled and opened his closet door. Zoe might just be the medicine that Michelle needed. She could use a friend, especially now.
“So how long have you lived in Atlanta?”
“Just about five years. I came here from New Orleans.”
“You’re kidding!” She spun toward her, holding a piece of salmon in her hand. “We grew up in New Orleans.”
“I know,” Zoe said over her laughter. “It’s crazy that we never met.”
“Where did you go to school?”
“Montclair High School and then the University of New Orleans. I came to New York for grad school then moved back home, then here.”
“I’ve never lived anywhere other than New Orleans. Everything I know is there,” Michelle said, her voice losing its vitality. She turned back toward the sink.
“Atlanta is a wonderful city. Full of history, nightlife, places to eat, great schools, good people.”
Michelle was quiet then talked with her back still turned. “Did Jackson tell you why I’m here?”
Zoe wasn’t sure how much she should admit to. Was Jackson breaking a confidence by telling her? “Um…not a lot.” She sliced and diced tomatoes and added them to the spinach in a large glass bowl.
“It’s okay if he did. I trust my brother’s judgment.” She paused and sprinkled some black pepper on the salmon and then squeezed lemon juice over them. “I’m kind of at a loss right now. I feel like I’m in some kind of limbo.” Her voice began to wobble.
Zoe felt her pain right in the center of her chest. She couldn’t imagine that kind of betrayal, from not one but two people who you trusted. She got up from her seat at the table and came to stand alongside Michelle at the sink.
“Limbo is probably where you need to be right now. Just for a little while,” she added, when Michelle turned a stunned look on her. She gently touched her arm. “Give yourself some time. Time to be angry, sad, confused, hurt, whatever it takes and then you put one foot in front of the other and move forward.”
Michelle’s eyes were watery as her tears cascaded over her lashes. She sniffed and wiped her eyes with the back of her hand. “I just…” Her slender shoulders heaved and she broke down and sobbed.
Zoe gathered her in her arms and held her close, whispering soothing words, telling her that it would be all right. Jackson appeared in the doorway and stopped short. Zoe looked at him over Michelle’s shoulder and mouthed that it was all right. He quietly turned and left.
“I feel so silly crying all over you and we just met.” She sniffed and sputtered a nervous laugh.
“As long as you don’t get all those salty tears all over that salmon,” Zoe teased.
Michelle giggled self-consciously and wiped her eyes. She blinked back the rest of her tears and focused on Zoe. “Thank you.”
“I didn’t do anything.”
“I see why Jackson is with you. You’re a very special woman.”
“Mommy! I’m hungry,” Shay said, bursting into the kitchen.
The two women turned to Shay then looked at each other and knew that they’d found a new friend.
“Dinner was delicious,” Jackson said, wiping his mouth with a paper napkin. “I could get used this.”
“Don’t,” Michelle said, beginning to pick up empty plates from the table.
“I told Michelle that as long as she was going to be here for a little while, if she wanted to stay busy we have a part-time opening for a docent at the museum.”
Jackson’s brow rose. He looked from one face to the other. “Really?”
“I haven’t decided yet, but I’m thinking about it. I mean there are things that I need to take care of first, back home.”
“Whatever you decide to do, sis, you know I’m behind you one hundred percent.”
“Whenever you’re ready,” Zoe added.
Jackson checked his watch. “If you still want to catch that movie, we need to leave to make the last show.”
Zoe stretched and covered a yawn with her hand. “Hmm, maybe I should take a raincheck on that. I have to be in the office early tomorrow.”
“I’ll drive you home.”
Zoe put the last of the dishes in the dishwasher. “Great dinner, Michelle.” She lightly kissed her cheek. “Next time dinner is on me.”
“I’ll be there. And thank you,” she added for only Zoe to hear.
“Don’t even think about it. And call me. We can have lunch. I’d love for you to meet my friend Sharlene.”
“I will. Night.”
Zoe followed Jackson out of the kitchen, said good-night to Shay who was drifting off to sleep on the couch and walked out into the balmy spring night.
“You and Michelle really seemed to hit it off. I kinda knew you would.” He opened the passenger door to the Explorer.
“Did you?” She grinned and hopped in.
Jackson came around and got in. “She could use a friend. And that was really nice of you to offer her a job.”
“Our tour guides are mostly students, so they come and go. It’s easy work. Great hours and it will take her mind off of her own problems for a while.” She fastened her seat belt. “Has she said what she plans to do about her husband?”
He turned the key in the ignition. His jaw clenched. “No, not really. I think she’s still in shock. I know I am. I want her to relax for a while before she even thinks about dealing with Travis.” His head snapped toward her. “You know the bastard didn’t even call.” He slammed his palm against the steering wheel.
Zoe reached out and covered his clenched fist with her hand. “She’s going to come through this.”
He lifted his gaze. “Y
eah. But she shouldn’t have to go through it at all.” He put the truck in gear and pulled off.
Shortly after, Jackson and Zoe pulled up in front of her house. He cut off the engine.
“This has been an amazing two days. I feel as if I’ve known you so much longer.”
“I know. I feel the same way.” He reached across and rested his hand against the back of neck.
She sighed softly. “Don’t go home,” she said, capturing his hand. “Stay with me tonight.”
“Do you promise to keep your hands and body to yourself and let me sleep undisturbed?”
She grinned. “No.”
“Now that’s what I wanted to hear.” He kissed her softly and they went inside.
Chapter 16
“Where have you been? I’ve been calling you for two days! I started to come over there, but then I figured I might interrupt something,” Sharlene said. “I should be pissed that you didn’t call your best friend in the whole world and tell her every intimate detail.”
Zoe bit back her grin. “If you give me half a minute I’ll tell you.”
“Did you actually turn off your phone?”
“Yes.”
“Damn. It was like that?”
“All that and more,” Zoe said dreamily. “I don’t know where to begin.”
“At the beginning!”
Zoe laughed. “Over lunch.”
Sharlene huffed. “Fine. I’ll see if I can squeeze you in.”
“You betta. Two o’clock. I’ll meet you at your office. Gotta run.”
“See you later.”
Zoe hung up the phone and it rang again. “Zoe Beaumont,” she said without checking the caller ID.
“Baby.”
“Mom?” She sat up. “What’s wrong? Is it Nana?”
“Nothing’s wrong. She wants to talk to you and she insisted that I call your job. Hang on.”
Zoe briefly closed her eyes in relief and her racing heart slowed.
“Zoe.”
“Nana. Hi. How are you?”
“I’m fine, better now that I hear your voice.”
Zoe relaxed against the chair. “This is a treat. You never call me at work.”
“He’s in your life now, sweetheart.”
Her pulse kicked up again. “How do you know that?”
Nana chuckled. “The same way I know everything. I got the gift, just like you. When you gonna bring the boy to see me?”
Zoe’s eyes widened. “Nana, I just met him. Can I get used to him first before I spring the family on him?”
“Don’t wait too long. There’s not a lot of time. Your birthday is coming.”
“I know. And I’ll turn thirty just like anyone else.”
Nana chuckled. “Here’s your mama.”
Zoe listened to the shuffling, clicking and back ground noises as the phone was passed to her mother.
“Hey, sweetie, listen I wanted to do something really special for your birthday.”
“Ma, really you don’t have to. I—”
“No, I do and I want to.” She paused for a beat. “There’s so much that I’ve missed in your life, Zoe. So many birthdays and school trips and first dates. It would mean so much to me if you would let me do this one thing for you.”
It was true. Everything that her mother said was true. For years their relationship had been less than ideal and for most of her growing up years her mother played no real part in her life. They’d made amends to a degree. She loved her mother but there was a part of her that still resented that her mother thought of her second instead of first. It made it even more difficult for her to feel secure in any relationship.
“Please, Zoe. It will be fun and tasteful.”
“Nothing too extravagant,” she said finally conceding.
“Of course not.”
Zoe shut her eyes and laughed lightly. She knew what that meant—horse-drawn carriages, fireeating entertainers, magicians and acrobats. “Don’t embarrass me,” she playfully warned.
“I wouldn’t dare. And you are going to bring him with you.” It was more statement than question.
“Him?”
“We all talked about it.”
“We? Who is we?”
“Your grandmother, your aunts and me.”
“What did you talk about?” she hesitantly asked.
“That it had taken all these years and four generations, but this time, this time the legacy will be fulfilled—by you.”
“Ma,” she breathed. “I don’t want to be the one responsible for everyone else’s happiness. I can barely manage my own. And I don’t want you and Nana and Aunt Fern and Aunt Flo to depend on that and then be disappointed.”
“We won’t be,” she said, confident in her pronouncement. “Well, you get back to work. And I’m going to start preparing for a party! Goodbye, sweetheart.” She disconnected the call.
Zoe flopped back in her chair. “A party.” A slow smile tugged the corners of her mouth.
“What happened to you Friday night?” Jackson asked, striding alongside Levi as they headed down the corridor toward their respective classes.
“Man, I had every intention of coming. I went home, sat on the couch and that was the last thing I remember. Out like a light.” He chuckled.
“Not as young as you used to be, man. You can’t be burning it on both ends.”
“I know. As soon as this dissertation is presented on Wednesday I can take a breather and the semester will be over. Think I’ll take a trip somewhere and just chill.”
“You’re gonna need it.” As much as Levi pretended to be a hound with a laundry list of women, he was really a hardworking, driven man who was actually pretty old-fashioned when it came to relationships.
“So how was it?”
“Crowded. I think the class enjoyed it, though. I’ll find out in a few.”
“You look like you have an extra pep in your step this morning. What’s up?” he asked conspiratorially. He lightly nudged him with his elbow.
“It’s all good,” he said evading the real question that he wasn’t quite ready to discuss.
Levi shrugged. “Cool.”
They reached the fork in the corridor.
“Catch up with you later, man,” Levi said.
“Yeah, have a good one. Listen, Lee, I was thinking about throwing some steaks on the grill this Saturday. Why don’t you swing by?”
He grinned. “Free food. I’m there.”
“We can celebrate your new PhD. Dr. Dr.”
“Thanks, man.” He adjusted his designer glasses. “Let me know what I need to bring.”
“Just bring yourself. The night’s on me.”
“Cool. We’ll talk.”
They gave each other some dap and turned off in opposite directions.
It had been a while since he’d had real guests at his place or thrown a party. He would definitely have to get Michelle involved. Dinner parties were right up her alley and it would give her something to do and keep her mind off of Travis.
At some point, he was going to have to go down there and deal with Travis and so was Michelle. He cringed every time he thought about the whole sordid mess. And to think that at one time he actually thought he was going to marry Carla and make a life with her. He didn’t even know her.
Jackson approached his classroom and was surprised to see Victoria standing in the hallway. She was busy talking on her cell phone and he didn’t think she noticed him. So much had happened over the weekend that he hadn’t had a chance to process what she’d told him. He started to approach her but she started off down the hall and was quickly swept up in the rush of students heading to classes. Meanwhile he didn’t know who she was talking about and he still needed an assistant. He opened the door to the lecture hall and took his place at the head of the class.
Victoria pushed through the exit doors and stepped outside, heading for the parking lot.
“I said I’m done. It’s not right. I should have never agreed in the first place
. You need to move on.” She used the remote and unlocked the car door and got in. Victoria took one look back at the campus, stuck the key in the ignition and drove off.
“Hey, Mike!”
Mike stopped halfway up the staircase then came back down. He crossed the main floor to where Zoe was walking toward him.
“Hey. I hope we are proud of ourselves,” he said with a grin.
“We certainly are. I wanted to thank you for all of your help. The opening was spectacular.”
“Just following directions, boss. I gotta check on a delivery. Need anything?”
“No. Back to writing some grants. So I’ll be in my office most of the day.”
He nodded and started to walk off.
“So how is everything with, uh, you and Linda? Things working out with the scheduling and all?” She held her leather portfolio up against her chest.
He eyed her for a moment. “Yeah, everything’s good. Why? Did she say something?”
“No,” she squeaked in a voice she didn’t quite recognize. “I was only wondering.”
“Oh.”
“Anyway, let me get busy. See you later,” she said a bit too quickly and walked off. That went over well. I should have simply confessed what I knew for all the subtlety that moment lacked.
Her cell phone chirped. She took it from the tiny pouch on her waist and checked the lighted face. Her heart leaped. “Hey, Jack,” she said, her voice taking on a husky tone.
“Just finished up with my class and I wanted to hear your voice. How’s your day going so far?”
“I’m glad you called.” She opened her office door and closed it behind her. “How glad?”
She giggled. “Hmm, maybe I can count the ways later this evening.”
“Those are the kind of numbers I like to hear. I’ll go home, grab some things and come by around seven?”
“Perfect. I’ll see you then.”
“Enjoy your day.”
“I already am,” she said softly. “See you at seven.”
Zoe floated through her morning with a smile on her face, breezing through the painstaking details needed for the grant that she was working on. By the time she looked up she realized she had about five minutes to meet Sharlene. She saved the data on the computer and shut it down, grabbed her purse and just as she was on her way out her office phone rang. She started to let it go to voice mail, but at the last second she picked it up.
