Relentless Pursuit: A Novel (Secrets of Roux River Bayou) (34 page)

Chapter 41

Five months later …

Zoe cut another piece of triple fudge chocolate cake with cherry cream-cheese frosting and brought it to the head of the long table where Hebert sat with Father Sam, Tex, Adele, Sax, Pierce, Tucker in his high chair, and Grace.

“There you go. A third piece for the birthday boy.” Zoe set the slice of cake in front of Hebert, who was wearing the blue sweatshirt they had gotten him for his birthday party. Across the front and back were white letters:
Kiss me. I’m 100!

Zoe kissed his cheek. “
Joyeux anniversaire, mon ami.”

Hebert reached up and gave her hair a gentle tug.
“Je t’aime, Zoe
.”

“I love you, too,”
she whispered.

Zoe stood for a moment, admiring the colorful streamers hanging down from the one hundred helium balloons on the ceiling. And the huge banner above the cake table that read,
Happy 100th Birthday, Hebert!

“So, you ol’ polecat,” Tex said, “how does it feel to be a hundred years old?”

Hebert was uncharacteristically quiet for a moment. Finally he said, “It’s a privilege dat I’d better not waste. I know dis: I gonna beat you at checkers as long as I got a pulse.” Hebert winked at Grace, and she giggled.

Zoe heard the bell tinkle on the front door and glanced up. “Well, look who’s here!”

She walked out to where Vanessa, Ethan, and Carter Langley were standing and hugged each of them. “Welcome!”

“Wow!” Carter reached up and touched the streamers on one of the balloons. “Cool!”

“Come join us,” Zoe said. “We’ve pushed tables together so we can all sit together.”

“We left the B and B in the hands of our day manager,” Ethan said. “I didn’t even wear my watch. We’re here to help celebrate Hebert’s big day.”

Zoe showed them to the table, and each of them wished Hebert a happy birthday and then sat, Carter and Sax already chatting about the Saints game tomorrow.

“I’ll get you some cake and punch,” Zoe said.

“Let me help you.” Vanessa walked with Zoe to the cake table, her gaze dancing around the room. “This is wonderfully festive. Hebert must be so pleased.”

“And a little embarrassed. It’s a lot of attention. I think half the people in town have already been by. Putting that ad in the paper was a great idea. He doesn’t know it yet”—Zoe glanced at her watch—“but the crew from Channel Five is coming to film a clip for the evening news.”

“Hebert deserves his ‘fifteen minutes of fame,’” Vanessa said. “It’s quite a milestone to hit one hundred.” She filled three cups with punch. “Oh, I almost forgot to tell you, Emily sends her regrets. She planned to drive up for this but has a biology paper due Monday and is spending the entire weekend at the library.”

“Does she still love LSU?”

“Are you kidding? Geaux Tigers!” Vanessa laughed. “Plus she’s started hanging out with a great group of kids in the premed program. She sounds really happy.”

“I’m glad. Does she ever hear from Chance?”

Vanessa shook her head. “Ethan keeps up with him through the prison ministry. Chance is doing okay for a guy who’ll never get out of prison. He thought Jesus was all hype until he read
The Case for Christ.
Now he’s not so sure. He’s reading every Christian apologetics book he can get his hands on, and a Parallel Bible with four translations. I’d say he’s in good hands.”

Zoe saw Jude and Colette Prejean being seated at the table. “Looks like we’ll need two more of those.” She finished cutting five pieces of cake and set them on the tray with the punch.

“Hey, boss, I’ll get that.” Savannah smiled with her eyes. “Go sit with your friends. I’ll bring it to the table.”

Zoe went back to the table and greeted the newcomers, then sat between Pierce and Adele.

“Isn’t this splendid?” Adele said. “What a wonderful thing to live to be a hundred.”

Zoe held her gaze. “Promise me you’ll live that long, Adele.”

“That’s up to the Lord, hon. But I’m certainly open to it. I love living here, close to you and Pierce and the children. These past couple years have brought such joy.”

“For us, too.”

Pierce took his fork, tapped it on his punch glass, and stood, looking very official in his double-breasted white coat and chef’s hat.

“I don’t want to get too syrupy here,” he said, “but while we have a full table of folks who came to honor our friend Hebert on this special birthday, I’d like to say something. We each have our own memories of Hebert. As I’m sure you know, he was the first customer to walk into Zoe B’s fifteen years ago. And he’s been in at least once a day almost every day since.” Pierce picked up his punch glass and turned to Hebert. “My friend, it’s an honor to know you. You have become an icon at Zoe B’s and are, indisputably, the best checkers player in Saint Catherine Parish. But most of all, you’ve brought us love and laughter, compassion and camaraderie, wisdom and warmth. You’re much more than a customer. Much more than a friend. You’re
family
. Happy hundredth birthday!”

“Hear, hear.” Everyone around the table spoke in unison as they raised the glasses.

“And may God bless us with your presence for many more years.” Father Sam patted him on the back.

Hebert’s leathery cheeks were flushed as he looked around the table and nodded at each of those present. “Tank you,
mes amis
. Tank you. You’re da best dere is.”

“Can I get anyone another piece of cake or refills on punch?” Zoe said.

Carter raised his hand. “Cake, please.”

Tex nodded. “That’s the best cake I ever sunk my teeth into. I could handle another piece.”

“Anyone else?” Zoe said. “Okay, I’ll be right back.”

She got up and walked to the cake table, the colorful balloon streamers dangling about a foot above her head, and realized Sax had followed her.

“I really hate to leave,” he said, “but I’ve got to head back to New Orleans. My jazz band has a gig tonight. This was really something. You and Pierce did a great job planning this open house for Hebert. I’m glad I came.”

“I can’t believe you drove up just for this.” Zoe took his hand. “It was great seeing you. You’re coming for Thanksgiving, right?”

“Are you kidding? I hear Pierce makes the best fried turkey in Looziana.”

Zoe smiled. “That he does.”

“Listen, I don’t have a gig
next
weekend. Have you thought any more about what we talked about?”

“Actually, I’ve thought about it a lot. Pierce said he would take off and watch the kids, whenever I felt ready to go through with it.”

“I’ve got the whole weekend free. I’m ready to get this behind us. Are you?”

Zoe nodded. “As ready as I’ll ever be, I guess. Devon Springs is less than a day’s drive.”

Sax put his arms around her and kissed the top of her head. “I love you, Sis. I’ll call you tomorrow, and we can work out the details.”

Chapter 42

The following Saturday, Zoe trudged behind Sax along a narrow earthen path that led upward through the piney woods toward a ridge that overlooked the Devon River. How many times had she come this way to hide from her father? This time, she clutched a bronze urn that held his ashes.

Sax stopped and turned to her, sounding as if he’d been running. “I don’t remember … this climb being … so steep.”

“Me either.”

“You okay?” Sax seemed to study her face.

“A little out of shape … but I’m fine.”

“That’s not what I meant.”

Zoe looked up at the glints of sunlight peeking through the canopy, the scent of pine wafting under her nose. “I admit it feels strange. Who would ever have guessed that one day we would be taking our parents’ remains to the very place we ran to hide from them?”

“Come on”—Sax turned and continued along the path—“we’re almost there.”

Two minutes later they reached the base of a giant rock that jutted out from the rocky ridge.
Story Rock
! It looked exactly as she remembered.

“Here, give me the urn,” Sax said. “Go ahead and climb up, and I’ll hand both of them to you.”

Zoe climbed up on the smooth, flat rock and took the urns from Sax, one at a time, set them carefully on the rock, and then stood, not too close to the edge, a chilly breeze nipping at the back of her neck.

The Devon River glistened in the noonday sun and snaked through a magnificent tapestry of crimson, orange, gold, and purple, intermingled with pines. Billowy white clouds hung in the crisp November sky, a red-tailed hawk soaring like the notes of a song.

“It takes my breath away,” Zoe said, suddenly aware of her brother standing next to her. “It’s even more beautiful than I remember. The fall colors are exquisite.”

“Brings back a lot of memories.”

Zoe nodded. “I wonder how many stories you made up while we hid here, trying to take our minds off the situation at home.”

“I don’t know—a bunch. And you”—Sax nudged her with his elbow—“never forgot a single detail.”

Zoe linked her arm in his. “Most of the happy memories of my childhood happened right here. Story Rock was our safe zone. It seems like the perfect place to let go of the past.”

“I thought so.”

“I’m really glad you waited to release the ashes,” Zoe said. “This is too important for you to have done it alone.”

“I always knew that. I just wasn’t sure if I would ever find you. But truthfully, until now, I wouldn’t have been able to do it with respect.”

Zoe looked out at the raw beauty she hadn’t fully appreciated as a little girl. “I wish I’d had a chance to tell Mom and Dad I forgave them.”

“So do I.”

Zoe looked up at him. “Really?”

“Don’t look so shocked. I’ve been doing a lot of soul-searching myself. I even started going to a Bible church.”

“When did
this
happen?”

“A couple months ago. I didn’t want to tell you about it over the phone. I’m learning a lot. I’m not at the place you are with God, but I don’t blame Him for the abuse anymore, and I know He’s forgiven me for failing you.
And
I’m building a relationship with Him.” Sax smiled. “Don’t say anything. I know you’re pleased.”

Zoe closed her eyes and filled her lungs with the crisp autumn air. “You know what amazes me? How unfailing God’s love is. He wasn’t about to let go of us. He was with us through all the nightmares—even the ones we created for ourselves. We just needed to trust Him.”

“Took me long enough to realize it,” Sax said. “Adele knew. She told me that God is in relentless pursuit of souls who need His love and grace. If only I’d known He was the Father I so desperately needed, I would’ve stopped running from Him a long time ago.”

“It seems so strange, standing here on this rock where we once ran to hide from our painful reality
,
and realizing how blessed we are now.”

“It really is.” Sax was quiet for half a minute and then squeezed her hand. “I’m ready to do this whenever you are. Would you like to say something first?”

“I deliberately didn’t plan this moment,” Zoe said. “I wanted us to do whatever felt right when we got here.”

“That’s okay, take your time.…”

Zoe clung to her big brother, her mind racing with memories—some good, most not so good. But none of them overwhelming.

“Father,” she finally said, “we thank You for taking even our parents’ mistakes and using them to bring about good in our lives. I never dreamed I would see my brother again—let alone love him the way I used to. Or that I would be capable of enjoying a healthy marriage relationship. Or possess the skills to raise children in a family completely devoid of violence and abuse. And never did I imagine that You—the God of all creation—would want a personal, up-close relationship with me. Out of those locust years, You’ve given me the desire of my heart.…” Her voice cracked, but she pushed on. “I love You, Father. Thank You for being my Abba. Be with us as we turn loose of the past and embrace the
now,
knowing that You’re holding us in the palm of Your hand and that it’s Your desire, not to harm us, but to give us hope and a future.”

Zoe rested in the silence a few moments.

Sax pulled her closer. “Father, Zoe said it better than I could. I don’t know why it took me all these years to realize You’ve been there all along. I’m one of the new kids in the kingdom. Thank You that I’m Yours now. Thank You for helping me to find Zoe and her wonderful family. I’m ready to let go of the past. I forgive Mom and Dad for hurting us. I only wish they would’ve known You. That would’ve made all the difference.” Sax exhaled and turned to her. “You ready?”

Zoe nodded. She had tried to envision this moment a hundred times but still didn’t know what she would do.

Sax wet his finger and held it up. “The breeze is steady and blowing at our backs. I think if we move to the edge of the rock and face each other, and give the urns a gentle shake, the wind will take the ashes out over the river. Let’s do this.”

Zoe picked up the urn holding her father’s ashes and knelt sideways at the edge of the rock that jutted out from the ridge, high above the Devon River Valley. Sax knelt facing her, holding the other urn.

“Okay,” Sax said. “Let them go.”

Zoe and Sax removed the lids and shook the urns gently, the ashes of their mother and father forming a pewter cloud that seemed to vanish in the chilly breeze in a matter of seconds.

Zoe was strangely exhilarated and somber as she turned the urn upside down and gave it a final shake, and nothing came out.

She groped for her brother’s hand, her vision clouded with tears, the sanctity of the moment rendering her mute.

Minutes passed before Sax broke the silence.

“Do you see the parallel here?” he said. “Our parents are gone, but this rock is still here. Steadfast. Unchanging. God is our Rock now. He is and will always be our place of refuge and strength.”

“Amen,” Zoe whispered.

She set the empty urn on the rock and lay flat on her back, her knees bent, relishing the warmth of the sun bathing her face.

“This was the perfect place to do this,” she said. “I’m glad you thought of it. You must be so relieved to finally have it behind you.”

“I am.” Sax lay beside her on his back, his hands clasped behind his head, the posture he always had assumed when they were kids and he was telling his stories. “You know what else I’m feeling?”

“Tell me.”

“Peace. From the top of my head to the tips of my toes and deep down in my heart. And there’s nothing make-believe about it.”

Zoe smiled knowingly, her heart overflowing. “Did someone give you peace, big brother?”

“Not just someone, Zoe—a
real
Prince. Well, actually a King. But that’s a story for another day.”