Gift of Wonder (17 page)

Alice motioned to a chair.

He unfolded onto the cushioned seat, his bones creaking and his breath sharp with the effort. “I did a lot of thinking tonight. Your sister…seeing the ambulance take her away like that…brought it all back, all the pain and the lies and the secrecy. I had to watch them take my wife away in an ambulance and she never came home. She died in the hospital. I wished time and again I'd told her the truth about her son and his shortcomings. I tried to protect her 'cause I loved her. Anyway, tonight I got to wondering how…how Esther fared when she had Jonah.”

Alice wanted to lash out at him. How dare he come here now and ask that question after all this time? But she was too tired and too upset to muster up the strength to scream at a broken old man. “Nobody knows what became of her…how she managed after she had Jonah,” she said. “All we know is that she left Jonah at an orphanage upstate when he was around four or so. He had a picture of Rosette House with him. We're pretty sure Esther drew that picture when she was young.”

“She liked to draw,” Samuel said. “I do remember that. She dreamed of going away to some fancy art school. Least that's what Sonny used to tell me.”

Alice sat up. “Do you remember where?”

“New York, maybe,” Samuel said. “Sonny used to tease her about that. He told her to forget it—she'd never make it to New York. Maybe she did, though.”

“Did Sonny talk about her a lot?”

“Only to me,” Samuel admitted. “His mama didn't know none of it. It would have killed her. She had such high hopes for that boy.” He coughed, then shook his head. “My wife introduced him to the woman he married. She was from a good family and she managed to calm him down some. But…he came over here to Bayou Rosette to do some handy work, trying to earn extra money, and that's when he met Esther. I think it was love at first sight. I only found out about it when things started getting nasty between them. He actually came to me for advice. That was a first.”

“And then he came to you again for help.”

“He did. And I believed him, only because I knew he loved her and would never intentionally hurt her. So when Esther showed up, starting trouble, I knew what I had to do. I had to protect his mother and him.”

“Why didn't you at least listen to Esther and follow through? Wasn't that your job?”

“Should have been. I guess I just didn't want to believe her. Her old man found out and…I think he beat her. After her pa and those mean brothers threatened to blackmail me, I came up with a solution.”

“You bought their land and forced them to leave.”

“It was a mutual agreement,” he said, his tone defensive. “They knew a good thing when they saw it and they were just greedy enough to take the offer. They didn't care about the girl. Just the money.” He shifted on the chair then stared down the long hallway. “Now I'm wondering if I did the right thing.”

Alice got up to glare down at him. “No, you didn't
do the right thing. The right thing would have been to investigate this and get to the truth, good or bad.”

He gave her a watery-eyed look. “We could do that now, you and me.”

Alice couldn't believe what she was hearing. “You're not serious?”

“You started this, girl,” he said, drawing back.

“Yes, and now I'm finished with it,” she said. “We broke Jonah's heart back there, or did you fail to notice that?”

“I saw,” he said. “And that's why I'm here now. I…I need to make it up to the boy.”

“Too little, too late,” Alice said. “If you really want to make it up to him, and if you have any pull left around here, you'll find Esther Mayeaux and let her see her son. You owe her and Jonah that, at least.”

“What if she doesn't want to see him?”

Alice's mind raced as she sank back down in her chair. She'd never considered that. Never once. Even when Dotty had tried to warn her that sometimes knowing the truth wasn't the best thing.

“I can't answer that,” she said. “I know I've hurt Jonah and I don't know if he'll ever forgive me. Even if I did agree to find his mother, it would only make him hate me even more. He wanted me to stay out of it, but I didn't.”

Samuel got up, bent and worn. “Well, he already hates me so I got nothing to lose.” With that, he tipped his hand at her then said, “Tell the new mama I'm glad things turned out good for her and the little one.”

“I will,” Alice replied.

Then she watched as he slowly made his way to the elevator. And left her sitting alone in the quiet of the hospital waiting room, wondering where Jonah was right now.

T
hree days later, Jonah sat in his high-rise office in Shreveport, staring out the wide window at the Red River swirling down below. He watched as a piece of driftwood floated by, caught up in the current.

He felt about as helpless as that piece of water-soaked wood. Still numb from what he'd heard that night on the bayou, he wondered for the thousandth time why Alice hadn't just immediately told him what she'd discovered. If she'd only been honest with him…

You would have still been angry, he told himself.

Yes, he would have been angry but not at her. Maybe mad at her for being so stubborn, but he could have handled that. His anger though, would have been the same.

Because he knew more now than he'd ever wanted to know about his mother, yet he still didn't know the whole story. And tracking her down wasn't easy. He'd gone through death certificates on Web sites in every
Louisiana parish and so far he hadn't found one bearing her name. He didn't know if she'd even stayed in the state. And he'd tried tracking down the two brothers. One was dead and the other one was out of the country, working for an oil company. Their father, his other grandfather, had died fifteen years ago.

He was seriously considering hiring a private investigator. He had to do something, anything, to end this constant wondering and imagining. For now, he tried busying himself with daily updates from Burt, including pictures and e-mails and countless phone calls. His community was coming to life without him there to watch it. Bayou Branch would soon be a reality. But the reality of his life had taken a twisted turn.

He was alone again. All alone and in love with a woman who'd done the same thing his family had. She'd kept the truth from him. How could he forget something like that?

In spite of his anger, he wondered what Alice was doing right now. Had she noticed that the frame of the model house was now up, that the walls were beginning to take shape? Had she missed him at all? Had he been too hasty to just walk away like that?

A knock on the door brought him out of his thoughts. “Yes?”

His secretary came in, smiling softly. “Jonah, there's a man here to see you. He doesn't have an appointment, but he says it's urgent.”

“Who is it?”

“A Mr. Samuel Guidry.”

Jonah's shock must have registered on his face.

“Should I tell him to wait?” she asked, uncertainty in her words.

“No, I can't see him—”

But the door to his office slammed open and Samuel Guidry filled it. “You need to see me, Jonah. It's very important. I think I know where your mother is.”

Jonah looked past his surprised secretary to the man hunched like a grizzly bear inside the door. Waving a hand to reassure the frightened woman, he said to Samuel, “Come in. I'll give you five minutes.”

“I won't take that long,” Samuel said, stepping aside to let the secretary pass. As she closed the door, he looked around the office. “You did pretty good for yourself.”

“No thanks to my parents.”

“No, no thanks to them. They didn't do right by you, that's for sure.”

“So you're here to make up for that?”

Samuel slowly worked his way into the high-back chair across from Jonah's desk. “I guess I am.” He gave Jonah a plaintive stare. “I don't have much time left on this earth so I'd like to be able to make amends.”

“To ease your guilt?”

“Maybe. But…mainly to set things right. I was a hard, mean law officer, but I never used my position to break the law. And this thing with your parents—that was the only time I ever bent any rules. I've regretted it since, I can tell you.”

He tapped a wrinkled finger on the desk. “After I bought the Mayeaux place, it sat dormant for years. I kept waiting for the right buyer to come along. And I
think he did, son. I placed the ad to sell it right after the doctor told me my heart was shot. If ever there was a sure sign from the good Lord to make things right, I'd say this is it. You're doing a good thing with that old place. You're gonna wipe away all the bad memories and build new ones. Your parents would be proud of that and…I'm proud for you, too. It kinda makes sense, things coming full circle. And I guess that's why I'm here now. To bring things full circle so you can get on with your life.”

“But justice hasn't come full circle, has it?” Jonah pushed away from his desk, then sat back in his chair. “Did you ever wonder if maybe my mother was telling the truth?”

“Many times,” Samuel said, nodding. “But…it just didn't add up. She loved your father and he loved her, even if that love was doomed. I just had a gut instinct that something didn't make sense. But I never investigated it.”

“And what is your gut telling you now?” Jonah asked, his bitterness toward this man brooking no pity.

“That I was right all along,” Samuel answered, his tone firm. “I called in a lot of favors to get it done, but I found your mama, son. She's living in Taos, New Mexico. And…after a long conversation, she's willing to see you. She wants to set the record straight once and for all. But a warning—you might not like what she has to say.”

He threw a folder across the desk. “Here's all the information. I hope it helps.” He got up, using the desk as leverage. “Oh, and any time you want to get to know
me a little better, you can find me right there in Century, Louisiana. Just don't wait too long, you hear?”

Jonah watched, unable to say anything, as Samuel turned to leave. What was there to say to this man, anyway? Samuel had been the last link he'd needed to find his past, and now he wasn't so sure he wanted to see that past. The picture he'd always had in his mind couldn't match the ugliness of what he was slowly piecing together.

Samuel turned at the door. “And you might consider cutting Alice some slack. She wasn't searching for a story to put in print. She was trying to help you, but she dreaded telling you all of this and that's why she held back. She was trying to put off breaking your heart. I think she wanted to protect you, same as I wanted to protect the ones I loved all those years ago. Just consider that before you write her off, son.”

 

Thanksgiving morning rose over the bayou in a crisp, shining golden halo that made the woods and water shimmer right into the noon hour, the fall sunshine dappling the turning leaves with a paintbrush-soft clarity. A lone egret strolled gracefully through the shallow water just beyond the old bridge, ignoring the orange-and-yellow tallow tree leaves falling all around. Two squirrels chased each other and quarreled inside the big live oak across the way.

The park was almost completely finished. Stone benches sat in place around the crushed shell pathways, and azaleas and crape myrtles formed a meandering path toward the new houses springing up around the
curve. The whole place would come alive with pink-and-white blossoms next spring. But first, it had to get through winter.

Alice shifted her gaze to the model house. The frame was up now. But today, the workers were gone and the bayou was quiet. Too quiet. She'd grown used to the noise of hammers and drills and construction crews laughing and talking.

And she missed the noise of Jonah's truck coming up the rut-filled dirt lane. She missed the sound of his voice, calling to her across the water. She missed seeing him waiting just outside her door—waiting to be invited in. She missed Jonah so much, the ache stayed centered inside her stomach like an open wound. Would he ever come back here?

“Hey, I think your dressing-stuffing stuff is burning,” Jay said from behind her. “Want me to take it out of the oven?”

Alice turned, her smile forced. “I'll get it. I'm not sure how eatable it's going to be, but at least we have food.”

“Well, it smells just the same as always—shrimp, crawfish and corn bread with lots of chicken broth mixed in. Can't go wrong with that combination.”

“We did follow Lorene's recipe to the letter,” Alice said, thinking Jay always managed to roll with the punches. “I appreciate your help, by the way.”

“My fried turkey is just about perfect,” he countered, the look of hope in his eyes making her smile. “We might get more kitchen duty around here if we do a good job today.”

Jay had tried so very hard to keep her cheered up this morning, but she wasn't so sure she could muster much past a fake smile. Lorene was doing her part, too, always making sure Alice got to help with little Jayson's care and well-being. Her sister's way of reminding her that even in the midst of grief and pain, life was still precious.

Alice went to the oven and pulled out the dressing. “You're right. It does smell like dressing, at least,” she said, putting it on the counter to cool. “And I have string beans and sweet potatoes, bread from the Bayou Inn and two pies—pumpkin and pecan, thanks to Paulette.”

“You did okay for a first effort,” Lorene said as she came into the kitchen. “Thanks for helping out today.”

“Not a problem. How did you and Jayson sleep last night?”

“He was hungry,” Lorene said with a grin. “So…I didn't get a good night's sleep, but that's okay. We'll both have a long nap after dinner. Then we'll go over to visit with Jay's folks for a late supper, if we're still hungry, which I doubt.” She glanced around. “Where's our guest?”

“Dotty should be here soon,” Alice said, glad for Dotty's no-nonsense attitude. It had kept her sane these last few days and she could use a good dose of it today. “She's bringing some dip and vegetables.”

“That sounds good,” Lorene said. “I'm hungry now that I've gotten Jayson settled.”

Alice put the rest of the food on the counter. “We'll leave it all here to stay warm, then transfer it to the table after Dotty gets here. I think that's it.”

“Why don't you sit down and rest a bit?” Lorene asked. “We haven't had a chance to talk much lately.”

Alice understood what Lorene was asking. She was worried about her baby sister. Lorene had always worried about Alice. After Jay had brought her and little Jayson home, Alice had told Lorene the whole story about Jonah's past. What did it matter now who she told? Wishing she could take away that concern in her sister's eyes, she nodded. “I could use a rest.”

They went into the den while Jay went out back to check on his prized Cajun fried turkey that was cooking in a big vat of oil in a turkey fryer, the spicy scent wafting through the yard.

“Are you really okay?” Lorene asked, her own fatigue showing in the dark circles underneath her eyes.

“I'm fine. I've tried to stay busy.” Alice glanced out the window. “I keep expecting to see Jonah out there, waiting. I wish I'd been honest with him.”

“He's hurting from things you had no control over, honey. You can't blame yourself for the choices his parents made.”

“But…I knew and I didn't warn him. I'll never forget the look he gave me when Samuel Guidry blurted out the truth.”

Lorene touched a hand to Alice's arm. “It's Thanksgiving—and God is watching and waiting, too. Anything is possible as long as we cling to that.”

Alice nodded, but she wasn't so sure. She believed God was all-knowing and all-forgiving, but she just couldn't put as much hope in humanity. Jonah was hurt and angry and confused. How could God make that right?

Then she heard the door opening and Dotty walked in. “Why so glum?” she asked in her pragmatic way. “I figured you'd at least smile since I actually showed up.”

Alice did smile. “I'm so glad you're here.”

“Then let's get this show on the road,” Dotty said. “I'm sure ready for a feast.” She winked at Alice. “And, I have to get home and wait for a phone call.”

“What kind of phone call?” Alice asked, curious about the spark of life in Dotty's eyes.

“From my ex-husband,” Dotty said, shaking her head. “Okay, after what happened with you and Jonah…I called him…just to talk.” She put her hands in the pocket of her long peasant skirt. “He was actually glad to hear from me and he thinks we made a big mistake—getting a divorce.”

“I think you did, too,” Alice said. “But how do you feel about that?”

Dotty shrugged. “I'm not so sure. But all this business with Jonah and you, well, it's taught me to look at things in a different light. I might learn how to forgive myself, after all. We'll see if the man really has made a change of heart.”

Alice hugged Dotty close, not caring if her friend wasn't into being hugged. “Dotty, that's so wonderful. I hope things work out this time.”

Dotty whispered in her ear. “You'd better—making me confess all of this. If I go back to the Big Easy, you get to be the boss at the
Bayou Buzz.
”

Before Alice could react to that news, Jay walked in, carrying a huge turkey on a white platter. “He's all
cooled down and ready to carve. I think this is my best bird yet, if I do say so myself.”

Alice looked around and saw the blessing of her life and, in spite of her aching heart, she knew God was with her today. And He'd get her through this. She was going to be okay.