Relentless Pursuit: A Novel (Secrets of Roux River Bayou) (24 page)

“Zoe, you look mighty pale,” Tex said. “You feelin’ okay?”

“I’m not, actually. I’ll see y’all later.” Zoe turned and marched toward the kitchen. Could Adele and Pierce and Sax have been any more obvious? How could she not have seen it coming? This was all a setup!

Chapter 25

Zoe pushed open the kitchen door and spotted Pierce standing at the worktable with Dempsey Tanner.

“Can I talk to you privately?” she said to Pierce.

“Babe, I can’t lose my train of thought just now. I’ve got crusts in the oven and my lunch special half made. Can it wait for a bit?”

“No, it can’t,” Zoe said.

Dempsey put his hand on Pierce’s shoulder. “I know what to do. Go ahead. I can handle it.”

“Sure?”

Dempsey nodded.

“Thanks.” Pierce picked up a towel and wiped his hands.

“Not here,” Zoe said. “In the office.”

Zoe turned and hurried out of the kitchen, across the dining room, and out into the alcove. She heard footsteps behind her as she put the key in the knob and opened the office door.

She let Pierce in and closed the door behind her.

“What’s this about?” he said.

“Oh, I think you know
exactly
what this is about!”

“I don’t.”

Zoe held his gaze and steadied her voice. “Do you really think I’m so weak and incapable that you had to team up with Adele and trick me into meeting my brother?” She threw her hands in the air. “Good grief, Pierce! This is
huge
!”

“I know.” Pierce scratched his ear and shifted his weight from one foot to the other. “I wasn’t trying to trick you. I was going to tell you who Sax really is, but I was waiting for the right time. How did you find out?”

“Sax said something to Tex about being in town to find a gal he used to know from
Devon Springs
. It took me about thirty seconds to put it all together. When did he first contact Adele? How long have you known? Why didn’t you just—”

Pierce held up his palm. “On Saturday evening, Sax showed up on Adele’s doorstep, claiming to be Shelby Sieger’s brother, Michael. He had an old driver’s license with his picture. He’s since changed his name. He wanted to know if she could tell him where you were. Apparently he’d been looking for you for a long time.”

Zoe listened as Pierce told her everything he knew about the encounter, including Adele’s questioning why Michael had left Shelby in an abusive situation.

“Adele knows how I’ve struggled with this.” Zoe took the back of her hand and dabbed the perspiration from her cheeks.“Why would she tell Michael how to find me?”

“She didn’t,” Pierce said. “In fact, she pretty much gave him the third degree and told him that
if
she was convinced he had your best interests at heart—and not just his own—she would consider contacting you and letting you make the first move, if you wanted. She made it clear it would be your choice.”

Zoe flopped into the desk chair and tried to comprehend what was happening. “You call this a choice? Why didn’t Adele come to
me
?”

“Because every time she’s broached the subject, you’ve brushed her off. She’s well aware of how potentially life-changing this encounter could be. But she also knows how hard you’ve worked to put the past behind you. So she came to me and asked what I thought.”

“That’s just great.” Zoe shook her head. “So what did you tell her?”

“I told her what I told you, that I’m concerned it’s going to be devastating to you when you lose the people you’ve adopted as family—especially Adele and Hebert. And I think it’s important that you settle things with your blood family. She’s talked with Sax at length and is convinced what he has to say is worth your hearing.”

“I’m glad everyone thinks they know what’s best for me!” Zoe folded her arms across her chest and rocked nervously. “So Sax doesn’t know who I really am?”

Pierce reached over and gently grasped her arm. “He hasn’t got a clue. Adele didn’t tell him anything about you, other than you’re married and have kids and have a good life. He’s hanging around Les Barbes, waiting for Adele to see if Shelby’s
husband
can convince her to see him.”

“And he hasn’t figured it out?”

Pierce shook his head. “And he won’t hear it from me or Adele. It’s your call.”

“Good.” Zoe moved his hand. “Because I’m not talking to him anymore. I told you I wasn’t ready.”

“Babe, we didn’t go looking for this. Your brother came here, looking for you. God put him back in your path for a reason.”

“You don’t know that!”

Pierce held her gaze, and she looked away.

“You’ve already broken the ice with him on a number of levels,” Pierce said. “He’s not a total stranger. You’ve already had a couple of poignant conversations.”

Zoe picked up a pencil and bounced the eraser. “I’m not going to be manipulated into doing something I’m not ready to do!”

“No one means to manipulate. But this is a window that may not be open indefinitely. If you refuse to talk to Sax, you don’t know that the opportunity will ever present itself again.” Pierce bent down next to her chair, his dark eyes filled with compassion. “I can only imagine how you’ve pictured what it would be like to see your brother face-to-face. No one is telling you how to act or what to say. But even an explosive encounter is better than a lost opportunity.”

“Easy for you to say. You’re not the one he left trapped in a nightmare with a sweaty drunk pawing me … forcing me …” Zoe swallowed the emotion that balled up in her throat. “I’m not doing this. Nothing you say is going to change that! I loathe Michael! Why shouldn’t I? If he wants forgiveness, he came to the wrong place. He’s the one who left me. Now it’s my turn to walk away.”

Pierce was quiet for half a minute. Finally he exhaled loudly and rose to his feet. “All right.”

“That’s it—all right?” Zoe studied his face. “You’re not going to try strong-arming me into meeting with him?”

“Not if your heart’s not in it.”

She was quiet for a moment, caught off guard that Pierce didn’t push her. Was she willing to let Michael go away without telling him exactly what she thought?

“Maybe you’re right,” she said. “Maybe I
should
confront him. Let him have it with both barrels and get it off my chest. Then send him packing.”

“I know the type of Christian you are,” Pierce said. “You won’t feel better unless you’re willing to forgive him.”

“I’m not ready.”

“That’s what you said.”

“Stop trying to make me feel guilty. I don’t want to feel this way!”

“I’m not trying to make you feel anything,” Pierce said. “Feel whatever you feel. I just think you’re stronger than you realize.”

Zoe cocked her head and shot him a crusty look. “I’m glad you have me all figured out.”

“Can you honestly tell me that it wouldn’t be a relief to make peace with Michael? You’ve been forgiven so much, Zoe. You know what that is, what it feels like. Forgiving him doesn’t mean that his abandoning you was right or that you weren’t deeply wounded. It just means you clean the slate and start over. It’s grace.”

Zoe fingered the gold cross around her neck, remembering the meeting in this very office five years before, when an extraordinary act of grace on Adele’s part had changed their lives forever.

Pierce kissed her forehead. “You’ll do the right thing. When you’re ready.”

“I need time to think.”

“Take all the time you need. If you want to leave town and spend a few days by yourself, I’ll keep the kids. I’m sure Dempsey would jump at the chance to take on more responsibility.”

“I don’t know what I want.” Zoe brushed a tear off her cheek. “I’m scared. I never expected Michael to show up out of the blue.”

“Or to be so likeable?”

Zoe sighed. “I envisioned him to be a hippie-looking, pot-smoking, whiskey-guzzling guitar player in some wacko rock band. I didn’t expect him to be so nice and refined—and normal looking.” Zoe turned her gaze on the framed family portrait on the desk. “Grace has his topaz eyes. I see it now.”

“Adele thinks you should hear what he has to say. I get the feeling that he’s stuck in a nightmare too.”

Emily straightened another shelf in the garage at Chance’s house, wishing she had on shorts and a tank top instead of a sundress.

“How’s it coming out here?” Reba stood in the doorway.

“I’m making good headway.” Emily wiped away the perspiration dripping down her temples. “I’ve just about got these shelves straightened and the junk thrown out. I can see that Mr. Durand was a very different temperament than Chance.”

Reba put her hands on her hips. “Huet was a proverbial pack rat. Lydia was constantly throwing things out, trying to reduce the piles of magazines and such. She and Chance always preferred that things be neat and tidy.”

“I’ve made a significant dent out here,” Emily said, “but it’s getting too hot to work outside. Maybe there’s something I can do indoors to help you. I can come back to this in the morning.”

“Yes. Yes. By all means, come in where it’s cool and have some lunch. I laid out the leftovers for us. Chance fixed himself a plate and went back in his room. I wish he didn’t resent me so. I’d like to think it’s the grief talking. But the truth is, I don’t think he’s ever been fond of me.”

Emily followed her inside to the kitchen, where Reba had laid out quite a lunch spread.

“Seems a shame for this fine food to be shared by only three people,” Reba said.

“Well, there was quite a crowd here yesterday.” Emily popped a green olive into her mouth. “The family seemed to appreciate being together. It was so kind of the women at Saint Catherine’s to take care of providing all this food.”

“It certainly was. So tell me … are you and Chance going steady—or whatever it is young people call it today?”

Emily shook her head. “We’re not exactly
together,
but we’ve been through a lot together, which does make us feel close. Plus we both want to be doctors, and that’s a major thing we have in common.”

Emily filled her plate and told Reba about her longtime desire to be an ob-gyn.

“It’s really nice that you know what you want,” Reba said.

“I do. I’m not sure where the idea came from, but after I was present for my nephew’s birth, I just
knew
. I’ve never considered anything else.”

“Few people decide at age ten what they want to do with their lives.”

“I know.” Emily set her plate on the table and sat. “It’s a real blessing to know where I’m headed.”

“So you’ll be at LSU for another three years. And Chance will be at Harvard. Not exactly ideal for romance.”

Emily smiled. “There’s always email and texting and Skype. People don’t have to be cut off anymore. Chance and I can continue building our friendship from wherever we are.”

“Doesn’t sound terribly romantic.”

Emily stared at the food on her plate. “Truthfully, romance would complicate things. We have a lot of schooling in front of us. We’re better off to stay just friends.”

Reba smiled wryly. “Pity. I like you. I think you’re good for Chance. I’m sure Lydia would’ve liked you.”

“I met Chance’s parents once. They seemed happy.”

“They had their bumps, like every other couple. But they worked through them. If you ask me, Lydia was a saint. I would never have put up with Huet’s cruel humor or his carrying on with that woman.” Reba put her hand to her mouth, her eyes welling with tears. “I didn’t mean to say that. Lydia swore me to secrecy. Huet had been having an affair for some time with a woman they knew from the country club. Needless to say, Lydia was devastated and didn’t want Chance to find out.”

“He won’t hear it from me,” Emily said. “But are you sure he doesn’t know? He has a big chip on his shoulder where his dad’s concerned.”

“That’s because Huet rode him all the time.” Reba stared at her hands. “Lydia confided in me and no one else. She made sure Chance knew nothing about the affair. She felt their father-son relationship was too fragile to handle more disappointment.”

“I can’t argue with that,” Emily said.

“So you’ll keep this between us?”

Emily nodded.

“All right, then,” Reba said. “I’m finished with canceling accounts. How about, after lunch, we clean out closets? Whatever we decide to give away, pending Chance’s approval, of course, we can take down to the Saint Vincent de Paul Thrift Shop.”

“Sure. I’ll do whatever helps.”

Emily took a bite of potato salad, wishing Reba hadn’t told her about Mr. Durand’s indiscretion. How was she supposed to build an open, honest relationship with Chance while protecting a secret like that?

Chapter 26

Sax sat at a corner table at Zoe B’s, finishing a lunch portion of chicken and andouille sausage jambalaya, surprised that neither Zoe nor Pierce seemed to be around. He watched with amusement as Hebert, Father Sam, and Tex talked out the problems of the world over a game of checkers they all knew Hebert would win.

He looked out the window and saw a horse-drawn carriage pull up in front of the Hotel Peltier and let off passengers, many of them smiling children. He could count on one hand the times he remembered smiling and laughing as a child. There must have been good times. Why couldn’t he remember them?

Savannah appeared at the table, her ponytail tied with a flowered scarf. “Here, let me take those dishes out of your way.”

He noticed a redheaded man in chef’s attire walking in his direction, carrying a plate of something.

“Mr. Henry, I’m Dempsey Tanner, the sous chef. Chef Broussard isn’t here this afternoon, but left instructions for me to bring you a complimentary dessert he would like you to try.”

“That was nice of him.” Sax smiled. “It looks delicious.”

“It’s strawberry banana nut cream cake.” Dempsey set the dessert on the table. “Four layers of Chef Broussard’s signature buttermilk cake filled with a special blend of whipping cream, cream cheese, ricotta, as well as vanilla, amaretto, and almond extract. We add to the layers fresh-sliced strawberries, bananas, and pecans—and
voilà
. We’re still tweaking and would appreciate your input. You’ll be the first to try it, except for Chef Broussard and myself.
Bon appetite
!”

“Thanks. I’m sure it’s going to be wonderful.”

As Dempsey disappeared into the kitchen, Sax eyed the culinary delight, flattered that Pierce thought to instruct his sous chef ahead of time to serve it. He picked up his fork and took a bite, letting the icing melt in his mouth, able to taste every flavor Chef Tanner had named, surprised at how nicely the rich buttermilk taste held its own. Another culinary masterpiece by Chef Broussard.

“Hi.”

The little voice startled him, and he turned, surprised to see Zoe’s daughter looking him squarely in the eyes.

“I’m Grace. Remember me?”

“I certainly do. My name is Sax, in case you forgot. I know you meet lots of people. It’s hard to remember all those names.”

“My daddy’s the chef. But he has a helper chef.”

“Your daddy’s a very good chef,” Sax said.

Grace bobbed her head, soft blonde curls framing her face. “He makes the bestest grilled cheese samwiches in the whooole world! I like mine with pickles. Yum.”

“Me, too. What color cheese do you like—white or yellow?”

“The yellow kind.”

Sax smiled. “Me, too. Sounds like we have a lot in common.”

“Grace, let the man enjoy his lunch.” Maddie arrived at the table, holding Tucker in her arms. “I’m so sorry. I apologize for the interruption. Grace’s extroversion gets the best of her.”

“She’s not bothering me,” Sax said. “She’s delightful.”

Grace’s face beamed as if she understood the compliment. “Did you know I live here?”

“You do?”

“Yes, up the very big stairs. Mommy and Daddy and Tucker and
me
.” She pointed to herself with her thumb.

“That’s perfect, isn’t it?” Sax said. “You can come visit your parents while they work.”

Grace put her index finger to her rosebud lips. “But I have to use my indoor voice when I come here.”

“That’s right,” Maddie said softly. “Can you tell this nice man good-bye now? I need to get Tucker down for a nap.”

Grace’s eyebrows came together. “I want to go swimming.”

“We’ll go later this afternoon, after Tucker wakes up. Your mom said you could sit with your uncles and watch them play checkers, if you like.”

“Yay! Bye, Mister Sax.”

“Bye, Grace. It was nice seeing you again. You can come talk to me any time.” He smiled at Maddie. “Really. She’s no bother.”

“Okay, lacy Gracie,” Maddie said. “Let’s go see who’s winning.”

Maddie took Grace by the hand and walked over to the table by the window, where Grace’s booster seat was waiting for her in the chair next to Father Sam.

Grace opted instead to crawl up into Hebert’s lap. It was so obvious the three men adored her. Sax felt a pang of disappointment that he had never been able to father a child.

Sax took another bite of the scrumptious dessert and stole a few well-spaced glances at the old guys doting on Grace Broussard. What a lucky kid. He remembered when Shelby was as innocent and adorable as Grace. It was unconscionable that their father had violated her. But almost as unthinkable that he and his mother had let it happen by choosing to remain ignorant.

Sax put his fork down. What was he doing here? Did he really think Shelby could ever forgive him when he couldn’t even forgive himself?

Emily knocked on Chance’s door. “It’s me.”

“Come in,” he said.

Emily went in and shut the door. Chance was lying in bed with his hands behind his head.

“I was hoping you’d have lunch with us,” Emily said.

“I don’t feel much like talking. All I can think about is how I’m going to go on without my mom.”

“You will. It’ll take time. My family went through it when my grandparents died in the car wreck. My dad seemed lost for a while. Even as a little kid, I knew some of what he was feeling. I missed them dearly too.”

“I don’t think grandparents are the same as a mother.”

“No, but I do know what grief and sorrow feels like. It’s a deep aching that never goes away. It’s there when you close your eyes and hope you can fall asleep. And it’s there when you open them and remember what’s happened. It’s like a giant weight that sits on your heart. It’s awful.”

“That’s about it.” Chance sat up and moved to the side of the bed. “Come sit with me.”

She walked over and nestled beside him.

“I’m glad you’re here.” He slid his arm around her. “Thanks for helping Aunt Reba.”

“You’re welcome. We’re thinking of cleaning out your parents’ closet and dresser this afternoon, if that’s okay with you. What Reba can’t use, we’ll give to Saint Vincent de Paul.”

“That’s fine. I really don’t want to be involved in it.”

“I wanted to check first.”

He pulled her closer. “You’ve been such a great friend, Emily. Thanks for everything. When we started hanging out I never dreamed what a nightmare I was pulling you into.”

“You didn’t pull me into it; I came willingly. Did you really think I would leave you to deal with this by yourself? What kind of friend does that?”

“I haven’t had many friends—and none I would call close. I guess I really don’t know much about friendship.”

“You’re doing just fine. We’ll take it one day at a time.”

“
Un jour à la fois,
as Mom used to say.”

Emily patted his knee. “I should finish having lunch with Aunt Reba and keep the momentum going. I want to get as much done as we can before I have to go back to work on Saturday.”

She started to get up. And before she realized what was happening, Chance cupped her face in his hands, his warm lips melting into hers. Emily went limp, her heart fluttering, and let herself enjoy the moment.

Chance slowly, seemingly reluctantly, ended the kiss and looked into her eyes. Finally he said, “Wow. I didn’t plan that. You’re not mad, are you?”

“Did I act mad?” Emily poked him with her elbow. “Some of the nicest moments in life are unplanned.”

Chance’s face turned bright pink. “Spontaneity’s good?”

“It certainly was just then.”

“You’re a great kisser.”

Emily felt her own cheeks warm. “I haven’t had all that much practice.”

“Apparently, you don’t need it.”

There was a comfortable pause.

“Emily, I need someone like you in my life,” Chance said. “You’re a sensitive person in every way. And yet you’re strong, decisive, and persuasive. Don’t ever change. The only other person I know with those qualities was my mother.”

“Thank you. What an incredibly nice thing to say.”

“I wish you’d had time to really get to know her.”

“Me, too.”
I hate that I know something about her life you don’t.
“I’d better go find Aunt Reba. I’m sure she’s wondering what’s keeping me.”

“We wouldn’t want her to think there was any hanky-panky going on in my parents’ house, now, would we?” Chance winked.

“Don’t spoil what happened by saying that. I made it clear to her what our relationship is.”

He took her hand. “I’m kidding. But we’re a little more involved than we were when you last talked to her about it.”

“An innocent kiss in no way could be classified as hanky-panky.” Emily laughed. “The only time I’ve heard that term used is in old-timey movies.”

“Well, maybe I have an old-timey crush on you.”

“A crush, huh?”

“Absolutely.” He kissed her cheek. “I can’t think of anyone I would rather be with. I just wish it were under better circumstances.”

“It is what it is. That doesn’t change our relationship.”

“Good.”

“I should go.” Emily rose to her feet.

“If it’s okay with you, I’m going to turn on my iPod and let the music put me to sleep while you two clear out my parents’ room. I’d just as soon not see or hear anything until it’s over.”

Zoe sat on a bench in Cypress Park, staring at the duck pond and feeling like a stranger in her own skin. She couldn’t relate to Shelby Sieger anymore. She was no longer that vulnerable, pathetic, angry girl whose brother left her in that living hell on his seventeenth birthday and never came back. Never called. Never even sent a letter or a birthday card. She was Zoe Broussard, an adopted child of the most high God. Happily married to Pierce, and the proud mother of two precious children for whom she would die before ever allowing them to be abused the way she had been.

What did Michael want from her? It had been hard enough coming to a place of forgiveness for their parents. In some ways, forgiving her brother would be even more difficult. How could he have just abandoned her when he knew firsthand the helplessness and hopelessness of being at home with Raleigh and Frank Sieger?

Zoe’s mind flashed back to the last encounter she’d had with Sax.…

“You haven’t answered my question,” he said. “If you give God the credit for the blessings, don’t you give Him the blame for the bad things?”

“Blame is the wrong word,” Zoe said. “He allows everything that happens in my life—for reasons I may never know. But I thank Him and love Him and praise Him in the midst of hard times, knowing that He’s right there with me and will use it for my good.”

She sighed. If that was true for Zoe Broussard, it was true for Shelby Sieger. Any conversation with Michael would require her either to live up to her faith or to let her brother reduce it to the meaningless crutch he had suspected it was all along. If only she hadn’t had that conversation with him!

Lord, I’m not ready to be an example. This is too hard.

She heard children laughing. She glanced up at the bridge that spanned the pond and saw two little girls leaning over the railing, dropping popcorn into the water. Her mind flashed back to a vivid memory.…

“Shelby, you don’t have to be afraid of the geese,” Michael said. “I won’t let them hurt you.”

“They might bite me.”

“They just want the popcorn.” Michael took her hand. “Let me show you how to give it to them. Do you trust me?”

She nodded.

Michael led her to the water’s edge and opened the bag of popcorn. The geese came swimming toward the shore, honking incessantly.

“I’m scared.” Shelby froze. “They’re going to get me!”

“Watch.” Michael reached into the bag and flung a handful of popcorn into the water.

The geese all went for it and then came out of the water and surrounded them. Michael threw a couple handfuls of popcorn on the ground and let the geese fight over it, and then held out a piece to one goose that seemed to have gotten pushed out.

The goose came up to Michael and gently took a single piece of popcorn from his hand. He held out another, and a different goose snatched it in the same way.

“They won’t hurt you, Shelby. You have to hold the popcorn so they can grab the end of it. Sometimes it tickles, but they’re not biting you.”

She clung tightly to Michael’s arm with both hands, giggling and thoroughly entertained, but content to let him do the feeding. She trusted him to protect her from scary things.…

Zoe heard a car door slam and looked over at the parking lot. She spotted a white Camry, and her heart sank. Pierce must have told Adele about their confrontation.

Isabel walked around the car and helped Adele out of the passenger side. Adele took her cane and steadied herself, and then hobbled across the grass toward Zoe.