Magnolia's Fall From Grace

by Zara Teleg

  “I mean no disrespect, but it seems it was you who made that choice. You know, all those years ago when you could have stayed with your grandkids and been there for them when their mother wasn’t.” His eyes appeared sad. “You could have put your disagreements aside and stayed. I don’t understand what any of this choice you’re telling me I’m making has to do with the papers to buy your land.” I huffed, rubbing my temple.

  “Vincent, this is about more than land. You know I can take the money and move somewhere smaller and easier to care for. I could live on a boat like I always wanted. But if I sell this land to your father or those other men, I’ll be responsible for starting a war. These papers are about control. My property is the last piece of the puzzle for power.”

  Paw-paw unfolded the envelope and opened it. He dumped out the documents, scanning through them until he found a map. Placing his beer on the floor, he smoothed the paper onto the small table that sat between us. His finger stabbed at a spot on the map. “Here we are, and all this is my land.” His finger traced a large area that covered both sides of the road and was divided from the prime coastal real estate. “You know who has recently acquired these properties?” He pointed to the ones all around his land.

  “Aloysius Kingston,” he said when I didn’t answer.

  “Kingston? As in the hotel and casino Kingstons?” I turned the paper to get a better look. “Well, he must have offered you way more than Voodoo could.”

  “He did. Kingston needs this property to build a bridge that could make his River Boat Casino and Resort a reality. It would be the first of its kind here.”

  “Well, I don’t understand. If you hate my father so much, it must be an easy decision, especially with all that money.”

  “Son, there comes a time in your life when money is just a means to an end. You only need so much to survive. And when you take money that you know will lead to bad things, you are selling a piece of your soul. I don’t need a lot, and I’ll die before letting Kingston get the property. If he builds here, gone will be all the wildlife. The delicate nature that God created in the Bayou will vanish. Trash, pollution, people, and noise will overtake the serenity. I can’t be responsible for destroying the home I love. Besides, your grandmother will never let me join her in heaven if I did.” His eyes watered at the thought of her. He had told me she was a nature lover and would run naked and swim in the bayou at sunrise. She fed all the birds and wildlife. They had always dreamt of buying a houseboat when he retired, but she was gone before I was born. He blamed the curse.

  “I had many other offers, but I know they would all cave to Kingston and his minions eventually. Your father is the only one who won’t, but that’s because he’s always had dreams of his own here.”

  I’d never heard that before. “Wait, who are Kingston’s minions? You don’t seem like the type who would be afraid of lawyers.”

  “Lawyers I can handle. He sent the Devil’s Damned to set up shop, recruit new members, and harass all the landowners that would not take his generous offer. Poor Elaine and Jacob Finn had a family restaurant on the bayou for thirty years. Elaine was a stubborn woman who wouldn’t cave, and her place was burned to the ground. I suppose I have your father to thank that that hasn’t happened here yet. I think that’s why the Damned had to recruit—your father nearly destroyed their club years ago, and they know who I am.”

  My head was spinning. I couldn’t believe that after everything he’d said, he still would not just give the property to Voodoo. “So why don’t you want Voodoo to have it?”

  “Choosing the devil I know, doesn’t make it easier. He is still the devil.”

  “You know that is my father you’re calling the devil. He may have motives that I’m not aware of, but you should know he would never do this place wrong.”

  “Look, I’m going to make this easy on you. I am going to take these and meet with him myself. If my son ain’t a big enough man to come to me, I’ll go to him. You can tell him I’ll meet him Friday at noon at Carl’s. If he wants me to sign these,” he waved them in the air, “he’ll be there.”

  “Can’t you tell me more about what you think he’s up to?”

  “I wish I could, but there are conditions I need to discuss with him. It would probably be better for you if you didn’t let him know we had such a detailed chat. You know how paranoid he gets when he thinks people are prying in his business.”

  Paw-paw picked up his wood and chisel again. “And, Vincent, I meant what I said. You should think real hard about the life you want before it’s too late.”

  I stood and was getting ready to go back to my bike when I turned to him. “I’m a King. I will always be a King. Maggie and I are not heading in the same direction. Our paths may have crossed, but in another week, she’ll be packing for college and be on her way to save the world, and I’ll be back in my town ready to rule my world.”

  I didn’t stick around long enough for him to comment. I was sick of people defining Maggie and me.

  Magnolia

  Venom kissed his way down my neck. My hands roamed over his chest before they circled his neck and I brought my mouth to his.

  “I love you, Maggie Grace, forever,” he whispered as he kissed me.

  “I love you too.” I look into the violet eyes that I adored. Only, when I saw his face, one side was scarred entirely.

  “Maggie, what’s wrong?” he asked, sitting up. I jumped from our blanket and backed away. He was holding a knife that had blood dripping from it.

  “Whose blood is that?” I screamed.

  “Armon’s blood,” Lex’s voice answered maniacally as he cocked his gun.

  Pop. Pop. Pop.

  I shot up, opening my eyes, relieved the noise was coming from the percolating coffee pot on Alcide’s stove. A cold sweat coated my body as I held the sheet tight. The door opened and closed. Alcide jogged past the window as he went out for his morning run.

  When my heartbeat became normal again, I noticed the purpling marks around both my wrists. Oh no, someone would surely notice these.

  I looked around Alcide’s room until I found one of his long-sleeve, button-down shirts. I slipped it on, and it covered my wrists nicely. I began searching his kitchen for ingredients. By the time he got back, I had the cast iron skillet loaded with a fluffy pile of scrambled eggs and strips of bacon. I found a few potatoes and cooked up some Cajun home fries.

  Alcide opened the door huffing with a towel around his neck. His muscles were lined with pulsing veins. My eyes locked to the floor to avoid looking at his sweat-glistened chest.

  “Wow, Maggie, that looks and smells amazing. You didn’t have to make breakfast.”

  I poured coffee in blue enamel mugs. “It’s the least I could do after last night. Which I still do not want to talk about.”

  I stirred the coffee, blending the milk and sugar, and slid a mug across the thick wood counter.

  “Um, I was a little chilly. I hope you don’t mind, I borrowed a shirt.” I smiled weakly, despising myself for lying.

  “Long sleeves? Maggie, are you sick? It’s already eighty-five outside.” Alcide walked to me, putting his lips on my forehead.

  “Uh, what are you doing?” I stepped back.

  “Checking your temperature the old-fashioned way. My bag is at the office, so I don’t have a thermometer here.” He confirmed with the back of his hand. “You don’t feel warm.”

  “I feel just fine. Let’s eat before this gets cold.” I placed the dishes on the table as Alcide grabbed juice from the fridge and set two small glasses in front of us.

  “By the way, I let Paul and Catherine know you were with me. I don’t have a phone here, so I called on my run. I’m sure Shannon would have been worried, and I wanted them to know you were safe.

  Alcide offered to take me back to camp, but we didn’t want to be late to the worksite. I didn’t mind wearing the same clothes. I always had a few things at the medical tent. After getting thrown-up on by a child with heat exhaust
ion, I had learned to always keep something extra around. I was lucky that he traveled so much and had a new toothbrush to spare. I took a quick shower and put my clothes back on, including the long-sleeve shirt.

  We gathered our things and headed to the job site. Lucky me, with the Jeep wide open, it was too loud for me and Alcide to talk on the way over.

  He dropped me close to the medical tent so he could grab a few supplies. My stomach churned as I walked to the front to open the curtain. It didn’t take long for me to feel Vincent. My head snapped up to where he was marching toward me.

  Oh God. His face was red and his eyebrows were drawn in. “Maggie, where the hell have you been?”

  “Vincent. What’s wrong with you? Keep your voice down.” I smiled as workers strained their necks to see what was happening.

  He followed me into our tent, and I closed the door. “So, where have you been?” Vincent’s jaw was tight, and his eyes narrowed as he scanned my body.

  “Don’t look at me like that. I have done nothing wrong. You were the one who went missing.”

  “I couldn’t help it. Voodoo made me go to see Paw-paw at the last minute. I had no choice. But you still didn’t answer me.”

  I blew out air. Closing my eyes, I knew Vincent’s head was probably going to explode.

  “I, uh, I was worried about you, so I went to find you at the club. When I got there—”

  “Magnolia, why are you wearing a man’s shirt?” His fists balled at his sides.

  “Vincent, just hold on. I—”

  “Who took you to the club?” he growled.

  “Alcide.” My voice was higher than I intended.

  “Alcide?” He shook his head. “And after you didn’t find me?”

  “Well, after Lex and some other guys pulled guns on us, I was a little shaken, and it was too late to go back to the campground.”

  Vincent picked up the Coke bottle on top of the refrigerator, smashing it to the ground. I jumped back, my heart running away in my chest.

  “Vincent, what are you doing? I was upset. What do you think, that I was with him? Alcide’s my friend. I confide in him. I trust him.”

  “Don’t you trust me, Maggie?” His face inched to mine. “You wouldn’t have come looking if you did. You need to know when things are not your business.”

  My eyes burned. I didn’t like seeing this side of Vincent. This was not him. This was Venom. The vein bulging in his neck pulsed.

  “Get out. Get out now.” I held in the tears as I stomped my foot, pointing to the door.

  “Maggie, I-I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have—”

  I turned my back, walking as far away from him as I could.

  “I think she asked you to leave.”

  Alcide. I turned around.

  “I’m okay. Vincent, can we please talk about this later?”

  “I think Vincent and I need a moment.” Alcide pushed himself in front of me.

  “I don’t think that’s a good idea,” I protested.

  “Maggie, give us a minute,” Vincent said dismissively as he straightened, puffing out his chest. I didn’t like this at all.

  The two men stood eyeing each other the way boxers did before a fight.

  “You know what? I need a break from the two of you acting like children.” I gritted my teeth and charged away from the tent.

  I thought walking would cool the racing thoughts that were building in my mind. Did he really not trust me? I didn’t appreciate getting talked to that way. Vincent had never disrespected me before. I didn’t think he would ever speak to me that way. It was like hearing Voodoo coming from his mouth. It was the first time I saw a glimpse of why everyone was warning me. How could he be so cold?

  I continued to do laps in the parking lot, getting out the energy that had been building since last night. Beeping caught my attention. Shielding the sun from my eyes, I saw it was Mongo’s truck. A wildly waving arm was trying to get my attention. The truck stopped and Sissy tumbled out, taking off straight for me.

  “Sissy?” She collapsed in my arms.

  “Oh, Maggie. I’ve been looking for you since last night. I went to the mission. I drove all around and couldn’t find you.” Her pale skin was so red that her freckles were invisible. Black makeup ran under her puffy eyes. She embraced me for a moment before she grabbed my shoulders, her eyes pleading for me to understand.

  “Maggie, I don’t have much time. After what happened the other night, Voodoo kicked me out and wants me to stay with another chapter. I was supposed to go last night, but I couldn’t leave without seeing you,” she said as Mongo leaned on the vehicle and kept a lookout. “I’m going to do it.”

  “Do what? I don’t understand.”

  “I’m running away. I’m going to do anything to save money for beauty school. I am not getting stuck like my mother. I couldn’t leave without saying goodbye to you. You were the best friend I ever had. You were my first real girlfriend, and I am so happy that I got to know you.” She hugged me again, squeezing me so tight I couldn’t breathe.

  “I also needed to tell you that I know Voodoo is trying to come between you and Venom. You can’t let him. He thinks you’re bad for him, makes him grow a conscience or something.” She sniffed, her eyes nearly overflowing.

  “There are a lot of bad things going down, and Venom is going to need you. He loves you so much, Maggie. Please don’t give up on him. You can change everything for him.” She looked me square in the eyes. “Like you did for me.”

  She opened the fringed bag she carried on her side. “I don’t have much time. I am going to stay with Mongo’s aunt in New Orleans. No one knows. Please don’t tell anyone you saw me. Mongo is risking everything to take me.”

  “I promise, Sissy. I won’t tell anyone. Cross my heart,” I said, my mind reeling.

  “I’m giving you her number. I want to hear about all your college adventures. I always want to have you in my life. No one has ever treated me the way you have, and because of you, I’m going to make something of my life. I’m going to be somebody.” Her smile beamed through the tears.

  “Sissy, you already are somebody. You are my friend, and I love you. I’m so proud of you.”

  We hugged our final goodbye. She spun around, running back to the truck.

  “Mongo, take good care of her,” I yelled. We waved ‘til we could no longer see each other. What did she mean? Is that why Vincent was acting so strangely and didn’t come back last night? I couldn’t face him right now. I needed to think.

  I decided not to return to the tent. I found Catherine and told her I was not feeling well. She arranged for one of the workers to take me back to camp.

  Venom

  “Vincent, you need to calm down. Haven’t you hurt Maggie enough?” Alcide blocked my way so I couldn’t find where Maggie disappeared to.

  “Hurt her? I think you were the one that had my girl at your place. You know what I would do if we weren’t here and this happened back at home in my town?”

  “Well, after seeing the characters lurking outside your family’s club, I can imagine it would be colorful. Vincent, how do you think this is going to end with Maggie? It seems like both of you are in for a world of hurt. I tried to give you the benefit of the doubt when this thing between you two started. I didn’t like it, but Maggie has never had much freedom of choice in her life, and I didn’t want to put doubt in her choices, but I regret that now. You know she has quite a life full of opportunities ahead of her. She can go places. Where are you going?”

  “Fuck you, Doc. I know you think I’m a piece of garbage, that I’m not good enough for her. Shit, I know I’m not good enough for her.” I shook my head, taking a breath.

  “Maggie’s a fucking dream, and I’m not ready to wake up. I may not be on her level, but I’d do anything for her. I’d protect her with my life. If you don’t think that is good enough, then I won’t try to convince you. I’m trying to accept the fact that we are running out of summer. I plan on spending every last mi
nute with her. But when it’s over, I would never hold her back. But, fuck, I’m going to be selfish for one more week.”

  Alcide rubbed his temples. “You two have gotten more deeply involved than I thought.” He placed a heavy hand on my shoulder. “If you mean what you said about letting her go, and you promise to keep her far away from your club, I will keep quiet about what happened last night. But know that I am doing this for Maggie.”

  Alcide offered his hand. I looked at it and then in his eyes before shaking it. He gripped my hand, not letting go as he spoke. “I mean it, Vincent. Keep her away from there. If one hair on her head is hurt, I’ll hold you and your family personally responsible. I don’t care who you people are, if that girl is harmed, you’ll all be brought down. You understand?”

  I squeezed his hand right back. “Not because you are making idle threats, but Maggie will always be safe with me.” I yanked my hand back and left the tent to find my girl.

  I couldn’t find Maggie anywhere. “Hi, Vincent.” The little girl with golden-blonde hair was sitting on the edge of the table kicking her legs while her mother, Catherine, unloaded boxes from a truck.

  “Hi, Ana. Have you seen Maggie?”

  Her toothless smile lit her face. “Yes. She asked Mama to get her a ride home. I asked her if she wanted to color because that always makes me feel better, but she said she wasn’t feeling very good.”

  Catherine turned, glaring at me for talking to her daughter. “She’s not here, Vincent.”

  “Yes, Ana told me. Sorry to have bothered you.”

  Fucking people. I hated how they made me feel like dirt scuffing Maggie’s shoe.

  The rest of the day wore on, and time seemed to tick in slow motion. Viper was babbling about something, but I didn’t hear a word he said. All I could think about was getting back to Maggie.

  “You going to the club tonight?” Viper asked as we pulled into the camp.

  “No. I told Voodoo what Paw-paw said. I’m staying out of it now. I’m showering and finding Maggie.”