The Good Luck Charm (The Good Luck Series) (13 page)

“I made a wrong turn. Thought I could correct myself by going right. Everyone knows if you keep going right you’ll end up back where you started.”

“Lucinda! That only works in the city.” Keely glanced at her watch and saw it was early evening. How long had she been asleep?

“For how long have you been making these right turns?”

“An hour, maybe two. I lost track of time. Just look at the beauty of these hills. And I thought the good Lord had out-done himself making the Louisiana Bayou.”

Keely glared at her friend. “Stop the car.”

“Why? I’m sure if we keep going, we’ll come to our destination. I can feel it.”

“This is crazy. Why’d I ever agree to this drive,” Keely mumbled, picking up the map and trying to figure out their location.

“You needed the fresh air. Didn’t we have a lovely picnic?”

“Yes.”

“And you relaxed. Didn’t your headache go away?”

Keely nodded, lowering the map. She watched the passing foliage, looking for a road sign that might tell her where they were.

“So it was worth it. Now, help me watch for the marker that says Crescent Creek Lane.”

She glared at Lucinda again. “We’re not really lost are we?”

Lucinda laughed. “You should know I have a better sense of direction than that. You need to lighten up, dear.”

“Lucinda,” Keely growled.

The woman chuckled. “I dare say your momma wouldn’t be pleased to see you in this state of mind, Keely.”

“Probably not, but life isn’t as simple as it was before Mom got so ill. I didn’t have a demanding job. I didn’t have to take care of Alex’s dog.”

“Oh rubbish. You enjoy taking care of Duke for him and you know it. If you didn’t have that dog in your life right now, you’d be lost for what to do with your free time. He gives you something to look forward to each day besides work, besides fighting with Darren.”

“We don’t fight.”

“No? Then what do you call it? It sure isn’t making love.”

“Lucinda!”

“What? When I was growing up making love meant romancing each other, kissing, and sweet talking.”

“Sure it did.”

Lucinda slammed on the brakes and turned right. “Crescent Creek Lane. We’re finally here.”

“Exactly where is here?” Keely asked, settling back in her seat after being lurched forward.

“You’ll see.”

“Somehow I don’t think I’m going to like this.”

“Sure you will, honey. I’ll even bet on the gris-gris that you will love it.”

Keely laughed and watched as a lodge came into view. “This looks like a resort.”

“More like a hotel. I took the liberty of booking us rooms for the weekend.”

“The weekend! Lucinda you said possibly staying over night. I told you I have a presentation to work on. I can’t spend the whole weekend up here. And what about Duke? Who’s going to feed him? Take him for his daily jog?”

“Don’t worry about Duke. I got that very handsome young vet to watch him.”

“You called Kyle Landers?”

“Yes. That’s his name. Nice young man. Sounded happy to help you out.”

“Oh, Lucinda,” Keely shook her head. “But my presentation. I’ll never be ready in time. I’ve already lost two days by being out of work.”

“And I say all work and no play makes Keely a very dull young woman.”

“Try telling that to my bosses.”

“I’ll be happy to on Monday. I’m sure once I get through talking to them they’ll be even more pleased to give you anything you want. I’ll just take my little bag of goodies along with me and sprinkle a little Cajun magic around the room.”

This time Keely snickered imagining Lucinda doing just that. “I remember when I was a little girl. You had me really believing in your little bag of magic.”

“And rightly you should.” Lucinda pulled into a parking space, putting the SUV in park. “Come on, let’s go inside. I hear they have the best spa here and the massages are to die for.”

Entering the lodge, Keely marveled at the high vaulted ceiling and gleaming rafters that ran the course of the lobby area. Delicious aromas filled the air from the onsite restaurant and her stomach rumbled, reminding her it had been hours since they’d had lunch.

“Let’s get checked in and then go eat.”

A dark brow arched as Lucinda nodded. “I thought you’d like it here.”

“I might as well enjoy the weekend.”

“Of course, dear.” Lucinda smiled and approached the front desk. A few moments later she handed Keely a room key. “I’m in room 212 if you need me. I’m going to go change before dinner. I’ll meet you back here in half an hour.”

“Sounds good.” Keely noted they had given her room 224A. She wondered what the A stood for as she picked up her small suitcase and headed up the stairs.

Darren pretended to eat his dinner half-listening to the conversation between his mother and sisters. He pushed the food around on his plate with a fork and thought about Keely’s reaction when he’d told her he loved her. He hadn’t expected her to fall into his arms over the declaration or to even tell him she loved him in return.

“Yo, Earth to Darren,” Patti called, waving a hand in front of his face.

“Huh?” He looked up.

Claire giggled. “Are you up for dessert?”

“No. I think I’ll call it an early night.”

“Are you sure, dear?” Lillian asked, concern evident in her voice.

“Positive.” He laid the cloth napkin on the table and stood. “Today has been very draining.”

The three of them nodded, smiling.

“We’ll see you in the morning then.” Lillian stood, placed her hands on his upper arms and kissed him on the cheek. “Try not to be so hard on yourself. We all face difficult challenges from time to time.”

He half-smiled and nodded, then walked toward the stairs. In the lobby a group of people were crowded around someone and he had to inch his way through to get to his destination. He stopped in mid-step when he heard a thick Cajun accent singing a snippet of a jazz song.

Lucinda? What would she be doing at Crescent Creek Lodge?

Shaking his head, he dismissed the thought and continued up the flight of stairs to his room.

Keely sprayed her towel-dried hair and slipped into the comfy ankle-length tunic dress Lucinda had given her before heading downstairs to dinner. It had been a surprise to open up the overnight bag and find a wrapped present on top. The package had contained the dress and a pair of matching flat sole, beaded slippers.

Walking into the restaurant a few moments later, Keely spotted Lucinda already seated at a table for two, waving her over.

“I thought we were going to meet in the lobby?”

“I know, but I had no idea I’d run into so many people who recognized me.”

Keely smiled. “That’s good isn’t it? To know you have a following, even at a lodge in the Blue Ridge Mountains? So there’s that many people here?”

“Yes, while I waited for you I had a chance to speak with one of the managers.  She was telling me besides the lodge here, they have fourteen private cabins located on the property. And they are booked solid this weekend. We were very lucky to get rooms at the last minute.”

Keely nodded and opened her menu, surprised by the gourmet offerings. Her stomach rumbled again and she made a quick selection, closing the menu as the waiter came to take their order. When he’d left, she took a sip of water.

“Thank you for the lovely present. I was quite surprised when I opened up my bag.”

“You look exceptionally pretty. I’m glad you like it.” Lucinda said. “I picked it up in Paris but wanted to wait until the right moment to give it to you. I see the gris-gris goes well with it.”

Without thinking, Keely reached up and toughed the charm as if she’d forgotten it was there. But she couldn’t forget the meddlesome thing, or how her life had changed since Lucinda gave it to her.

“Don’t frown, child.”

Keely half-smiled for Lucinda’s sake and removed her hand from the gris-gris. Then she spent a few moments rearranging her silverware as her mind replayed her encounters with Darren.

Darren.

Why couldn’t she get him out of her mind?

“Excuse me. I hate to interrupt your dinner,” a middle-aged woman said, coming to their table. “But I just heard you’re Lucinda.”

Keely bit her lip as she watched the woman talk to her friend, but she found it odd how the woman’s eyes kept glancing her way. As if she were more interested in Keely than the jazz singer.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Lillian,” Lucinda said, shaking the woman’s hand. “So very nice. Won’t you join us?”

Keely blinked, not believing she heard correctly. Although her friend enjoyed fans’ support, Lucinda rarely got involved with them. What made this
woman
different?

“No. I couldn’t intrude.”

“Nonsense,” Lucinda said. She moved her arms and her bracelets jingled. “Please join us.”

Lillian hesitated a moment, then pulled up a chair from a nearby table and made herself comfortable. “If you insist.”

Keely shot Lucinda a questioning look, and she winked in response. Before she could say anything the waiter brought their salads and a dessert menu for their guest.

“So Lillian, what brings you to Crescent Creek Lodge?” Keely stabbed a cherry tomato with her fork.

“I’m visiting my daughters who co-manage the place.”

“Ah, I met one of them earlier this evening,” Lucinda said, cutting her salad greens with her knife before sprinkling oil and vinegar over them. “Lovely young woman.”

“Thank you,” Lillian chirped proudly. “May I ask what brings you?”

“She’s running away from her true love, so I brought her here.”

“Lucinda!”

“Well. It’s true,” she said in her no-nonsense voice.

“That doesn’t mean you have to make it public knowledge,” Keely whispered, mortified. Her temples began to throb and her stomach knotted.

Lillian smiled and patted her hand. “My son is going through something similar, dear. So don’t feel ashamed. It happens to us all. In fact, he’s upstairs. Perhaps I should introduce you?”

Keely put her fork down, finding it very hard to eat. “That may be true, but misery doesn’t always love company.”

The woman’s soft chuckle made Keely tense even more.

“Of course not. What was I thinking?” Lillian glanced at her watch. “Oh, look at the time. I’m supposed to meet my girls.”

“It was a pleasure,” Lucinda assured her.

Keely smiled and nodded. “Perhaps we’ll see you again this weekend?”

“I’m positive we will,” Lillian said, waving as she left.

As soon as they were alone, Keely picked up her fork and pointed it at Lucinda. “You, my darling god-mother, are walking on thin ice. What do you mean telling a total stranger about my personal life?”

Lucinda’s thick Cajun voice rumbled forth as she laughed. “Who better? She doesn’t know you; therefore, she can’t judge you.”

“Hah! You heard her. She immediately took the opportunity to try and set me up with her son.”

Lucinda shook her head. “I only heard her suggest you meet him. Nothing more. Perhaps two kindred hearts could shed some light on why you continue to push the boy away?”

“Push him? I didn’t push him. He made it impossible to be with him from the moment he lied.” Keely wiped her mouth on her napkin and laid it on the table. “Now, if you will excuse me. I’m going back to my room. At least there I can have some peace and quiet.”

Lucinda chuckled. “If you feel that way.”

“I do. Good night.”

“See you tomorrow.”

Keely stopped their waiter and signed her check, charging the half-eaten meal to her room before leaving the restaurant. As she climbed the stairs to the second floor, she spotted a blond
e
through the upstairs window, getting out of a car outside the lodge. The woman looked vaguely familiar and she immediately thought of Jama Wright. But what were the possibilities that Jama would be at the lodge the very same weekend as she?

Shaking her head, she continued climbing the stairs and walked to her room. Deciding she didn’t want to have any interruptions, she hung the do-not-disturb sign on the door and locked it. Her head was still reeling from her words with Lucinda. She’d never spoken to her friend like that before. In fact, she didn’t understand what had gotten into her lately.  Without any other explanation, she blamed it on Darren.

Allowing herself the liberty to indulge in self-pity, Keely fell across the bed and cried. The tears were short lived, however, because she felt too much annoyance for this whole mess to cry. She turned over and reached for a tissue, blotting her eyes.

The sound of water running in her bathroom startled her. She sat up and listened closely as she blew her nose. Certain the sound was coming from her bathroom, and not on the floor above, she went to the closed door and turned the knob.