Magic (Coeur du Bayou Trilogy Book 3) Read online

  MAGIC

  Coeur du Bayou Trilogy

  Book Three

  LISA COOTS

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner.

  Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

  Solunapublishing.com

  P.O. Box 775

  Jennings, LA 70546

  Copyright © 2016 Lisa Coots

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned or distributed in any print or electronic form without permission of the author.

  ISBN: 0-9907669-6-9

  ISBN-13: 978-0-9907669-6-4

  Cover Art: Phycel Designs, Inc.

  phycel.com

  DEDICATION

  To my Sun, Dwayne.

  Your music will always

  call to my soul.

  And to my stars,

  Asa, Toni, and Emily,

  my reasons for living.

  You all have brought joy

  and magic to my life.

  All my love, always.

  Forgotten Memories

  Leaves rustle in the distance

  mixed with familiar strains of music

  floating gently on the wind.

  Pulling at my heart

  like a violin string drawn by a gypsy's bow.

  The world stopped,

  all was frozen but the breeze.

  There I stood posing for a portrait,

  hand on hip, skirt billowing at my knees.

  I was her and she was me,

  a proud dark eyed gypsy woman.

  Was it just a dream

  or a forgotten memory?

  Lisa Coots

  Sept. 1992

  CHAPTER 1

  “I’m her husband. Who the hell are you?”

  “What?” a chorus of surprised voices echoed in the darkness around Serena. She tried unsuccessfully to steady the dancing flame she held in her shaking hand. The unexpected appearance of Richie’s ghost had rattled her. Serena hadn’t felt the stranger’s nearness. Except he wasn’t a stranger to her.

  “Husband?” Claire’s terrified voice asked from the shadows at the top of the stairs.

  “No, you’re not,” Serena spat defiantly over the candle.

  “Then why are you using my name?” Even in the darkness she could hear the amusement in his voice. The same voice that haunted her dreams.

  “I like it better than mine.” Her casual shrug and flippant answer invoked a chuckle from the newcomer.

  “Hate to interrupt the reunion, guys,” Ben spoke up never taking his eyes off the gadget in his hand, “but those were some major readings.”

  “Rena, what’s going on here?” His smooth deep voice edged with concern as he took in the attire of the group. Still dressed for the engagement party, her friends remained rooted where they stood when the electricity had gone off.

  “None of your business. How did you even find me?” The question in her head popped out of her mouth even though she knew the answer.

  “Three years I’ve been looking for you. Three years… Then I come across a file on Ben’s desk and find out you’ve been practically in my backyard this whole time.” The pain, resentment, and even a hint of accusation in his voice was not lost on her.

  “Hey, she just contacted me a month ago. I had no idea where she was before that.” Ben’s calm matter of fact tone was one he used often to diffuse tense situations. Serena wasn’t sure how successful it would be tonight.

  A whimper from Claire reminded Serena that everyone was still there, watching the scene in the dim light. Their curiosity obviously kept them quiet, but upon hearing Claire, Evan pushed Ben out of his way and bounded up the stairs. With an arm wrapped around her, he carefully escorted Claire back down, their shadows growing behind them as they descended.

  “If you’re ok, we’ll leave you guys to sort this out.” His statement was directed at Serena, but Evan’s dark eyes watched her friends warily.

  She nodded silently, torn between wanting them all to leave and the fear of being left alone.

  “Wait. You’re married?” Claire stepped away from Evan to search her friend’s face. “You never told us.”

  Thunder rumbled outside, and Serena could feel the tension thicken in the air around her.

  “Somebody tell me what’s going on here,” demanded the man claiming to be her husband.

  “We’re all kinda in the dark here, pal.” Jake stated the obvious.

  “Claire, are you alright?” Serena ignored their exchange to focus on Claire.

  “Was it really Richie?” Her voice trembled as she looked to her friends. At a loss for words, Jake and Faith shrugged.

  “Yes.” Serena answered for them. “He’s been making his presence known.”

  “What?” Evan’s eyes widened in disbelief. “Why didn’t you say something?”

  “I knew you wouldn’t believe me and I didn’t want to ruin this for Claire, or Faith.” She looked back at Faith, who stood half hidden in shadows, not sure what else to say.

  Faith nodded in understanding. “Evan, just go on and take Claire home.”

  Serena felt all eyes on her. The candle only added heat to her flushed face as she gazed around the foyer at her friends. She had come to love and care for them like family, but they really didn’t know her. Would they feel differently once they knew the truth? She had taken a chance calling Ben, but things had become crazy. Richie was angry at her. This was different because it was so personal. She felt she needed help, and Ben, in the short time she had known him, had been a good friend. She figured Mason would find her eventually. Calling Ben had guaranteed their reunion. Thinking she was ready to face him once again, she made the call. Judging by her shaking hand, and quaking insides, maybe she wasn’t ready after all.

  “Maybe they should all leave and you can tell me what’s going on?” Mason lowered his voice patiently.

  “Of course. Y’all should go. You, too.” She smiled at him, desperately trying to appear calm. “There’s no point in staying. I can handle it.”

  “Obviously you can’t or you would have never called Ben for help.” Serena opened her mouth to argue, but he cut her off. “I can feel them. I’m not going anywhere.”

  The glint in his eyes shimmered in the candlelight. Serena had seen that look before. There was no denying or downplaying the activity. He was like her. The reason she thought, at one time, they were meant to be together. She had been wrong. So very wrong, and it hurt. It hurt to look at him and remember everything.

  The lights flickered then flooded them all in brightness. Serena squinted and blinked. All eyes were now on Mason; whose eyes were still on her. His muscular build was not hidden by the damp, plain clothing. His dark bangs fell into green-gold eyes. His hair had been longer last time she saw him. Memories of his long raven colored mane tickling her body during their lovemaking made her break out in a new layer of sweat. Still not as close cropped as Ben kept his, this shorter style suited Mason.

  “I’ll help you finish cleaning up.” Faith looked to Serena then nodded to the newcomer with a raised brow.

  “Oh, sorry. Everyone, this is Mason Del Toro, an old acquaintance of mine.”

  “Ouch,” Jake muttered under his breath.

  Mason pursed his lips, nodding to the group gathered around Serena. “We can discuss titles later, Rena. We’ll have plenty of time for that. This house is an amazing find.”

  Now with the lights on he turned to take in the foyer and staircase. To everyone else, he was just admiring the hou
se. She knew better.

  His gazed wandered back to the group and fixed on Faith. He smiled widely.

  “Ahhhh.” He closed his eyes and sighed. “Love.”

  “Stop it,” Serena hissed.

  “And sadness. So much sadness.”

  Everyone watched in awkward silence, Mason’s face clearly showing the emotion he was feeling.

  “Hmm. Curious.” Mason stepped closer to the staircase, and put a hand out.

  “I said stop.”

  The first step creaked as he put his weight on it slowly. He paused there, hand gripping the newel post. “Ah. So recent and angry.” His eyes closed again as he breathed in deeply. His eyes popped open and found Serena.

  “Oh, Rena. What have you done?”

  CHAPTER 2

  “Hey.” Ben's concerned voice drifted through the opening of the sliding door before hesitantly shouldering his way through.

  “What?” Serena didn’t bother to look at him. She had fled to the big room under the pretense of cleaning up. Unable to bear the looks from her friends, she planned to hide out here until they were all gone. Not bothering with the lights, she stacked chairs by candlelight.

  “I have him settled upstairs. Not in the front room like you asked.” He hesitated a breath, when she didn’t face him he continued, “You sure you don’t want me to stay down here with you?”

  “Yes, Ben.” She sighed finally turning toward him. “I’ll be fine down here. Everyone else gone?”

  “Yeah. They were worried about you. They’re good friends, Serena.”

  “For now.” She rolled her eyes and sighed again. “Once they know everything that will change. It always does.”

  “Not always. I still feel the same about you, so does…”

  “Stop,” she interrupted him, not needing to be reminded of Mason and his feelings. “Did you leave the file for him to find?”

  “No.” He shook his head. “If he even had an inkling that I knew where you were… It doesn’t surprise me that he went through my desk.”

  “I don’t want him here.” The lie echoed off of the walls of the now empty room.

  “Serena, you called me for help. I’m here and frankly, this place is incredible. The things you have recorded here over the last year show more activity than any case I’ve ever seen. And what happened tonight in front of so many witnesses, that’s unheard of.” The excitement in his voice was rare. Normally a skeptic, she could tell he was thrilled at the experiences. His face shone like a kid on Christmas morning.

  “He’s not leaving, and you know it.” Ben shook his head again then looked her straight in the eyes. “He won’t let this go, and he can’t let you go.”

  “That might not be something he can control.”

  He looked around the cleared room thoughtfully, then he nodded towards the narrow opening of the doors. “Should I close this all the way?”

  “No, leave it. That’s fine.”

  “Holler if anything else happens.”

  “It’s been an eventful evening. I think it’ll be quiet for a while.”

  Ben nodded again then slipped back through the opening, leaving her alone.

  The stress of the party, having everyone here while knowing Richie was lurking in the shadows left her drained but restless. The restless part she knew had more to do with Mason.

  She pushed the last standing table up against the wall and put the music on low. Her escape had always been music. The flow of the melody moved her soul, forcing her body to sway with the beat, slowly at first. Lifting her arms gracefully, she let the music take her. As always the freedom of movement began to release the tension in her neck and shoulders as she relaxed into the music. Her mind began to wander.

  She wouldn't leave this time. Coeur du Bayou was her home. She had been dreaming of this house her whole life. She was tired of moving, and her friends were her family. They all needed this place. They were all three drawn to it. All hurting and searching, they had found each other and this place.

  Claire had been wounded physically and emotionally. Running from a past that wouldn't let her go. Richie, her abusive lover from that dark past had come after her looking for stolen money. Now he was stuck here, an active, angry restless spirit. She had tried to keep it from her friends, especially Claire. Knowing how Richie had hurt her, she didn't want anything to ruin the happiness Claire had found with Evan.

  Serena had noticed the sparks at their first meeting. A vision of Evan and Claire dancing together had her convinced it would work out for them. Evan was so serious and level headed it had taken him awhile to come around. Claire was so open and bubbly; she knew they would balance each other out. Turning with the music, she closed her eyes and smiled thinking of the happiness in their future.

  Faith was more tightly tied to the house. The experiences she had encountered were baffling to Serena. Not the encounters per say, just that they happened to Faith and not her. Faith and Jake had more to do with the history of Coeur du Bayou. Their love had obviously triggered forgotten memories. Stepping forward into a sway of her hips, she lifted her arms again as she considered Faith and Jake. Their love was like a comforting heat that surrounded and connected them. Serena likened it to the feeling of a warm bath, comfortable, relaxing and safe. It was definitely going to last.

  As the song ended she let out a sigh, still holding the pose. The next song started, a slower suggestive pace. Her hips gyrated as she lifted her arms over head. The silky material of her skirt caressed her calves, reminding her of other dances, other times. Serena had wished for him. Her perfect mate, someone like her that would understand and not push her away.

  Memories of Mason and their passion burned in her, an uncontrollable fire. A passion beyond reason. She knew their love wasn't so gentle or comfortable. Instead of belonging to each other, they both burned like wildfire. Fire on fire, the heat consumed them, cancelling each other out. A hot tear fell on her face mixing with the perspiration as she moved faster with the beat. She danced hoping to wipe the hateful memories from her mind. They would serve no purpose now. Her grandmother's voice was still clear in her head. “Careful what you wish for, girl.”

  Her head fell forward as she realized Ben was right. She needed Mason's help. Other than the fact she knew she belonged here, nothing else was clear to her. Everything seemed fuzzy. Mason however, had walked in and felt it all. Like magic.

  Mason heard the music as he descended the stairs. He knew he'd find her dancing in the big room. Why hadn't he thought to search for her through belly dancing channels? For all of her flightiness, she was a creature of habit. She would never stop dancing.

  He watched her through the opening and remembered. The first time he saw her, she was dancing. That one dance had cast a spell on him. With every sway of her hips he had lost all reason, ending a two-year engagement to a logical choice of wife. It didn't matter. Passion trumped logic in his world. He knew he could spend the rest of his life watching her dance. Amid the crowd, her dark eyes had opened and found his. He saw the recognition register on her face, her lips parting in a silent gasp. She knew.

  As if feeling him again, Serena turned sharply to face him, chest heaving.

  “No, Mason.” Her breathy plea stopped him from entering the room.

  “It's ok. I've found you once again. I just had to make sure you were real.” He gave her a wistful smile.

  She hung her head, dark curls falling over her face.

  “It took you long enough.” He heard her faint whisper over the music.

  “I was looking for you in the sand, not the swamp. Good night, Rena.”

  Her head snapped up at his reply. Mason watched the memories play across her face as he closed the door. He would leave her alone for now. It was enough to know he wouldn't be the only one reliving those memories tonight, like he did every night.

  CHAPTER 3

  Mason woke with a start, gasping for breath in the unfamiliar room. The weight on his chest pinning him to the bed.

/>   “No!” In his barely conscious state, the yell from his own body brought him to an upright sitting position. The bunched sheet clenched tightly in his fists on either side felt like a restraint. He willed his hands to release, loosening the sheet, and took a deep calming breath. He felt the air around him. Quiet, too quiet.

  “No.” He couldn’t feel her. Trying not to panic, he grabbed his jeans and pulled them on quickly. His bare feet slapped the hardwood floor of the landing as he crossed to the stairs. Taking them two at time, he headed for the voices coming from the kitchen. She was gone again.

  Ben looked up in surprise from his seat at the island counter as Mason burst into the bright, roomy kitchen.

  “Where is she?”

  “Who?” The startled female voice took him by surprise. The dark haired woman from the night before stood near the stove watching him.

  “You...”

  “Me? You're looking for me?” Her hand nervously grabbed at the front of her apron.

  “No. Serena. She's gone.” It was a statement, not a question. He knew she was gone.

  “Oh, she just ran out. She'll be back.”

  “Ran out?” His voice cracked as he took a step in her direction.

  “Bad choice of words. She just means she went to the store. Relax, Mace. You're scaring the cook.” He didn't bother to look at Ben. The scraping of his fork on the plate told Mason he was more interested in his food as always.

  Mason was focused on the woman in front of him, clutching the front of her apron with a death grip.

  “Breathe,” he commanded.

  She gulped the air in. Once. Twice. “How did you know?”

  “There's so much sadness…” He closed his eyes, letting it wash over him.

  “Not anymore. I don't feel it as much as before.” At her soft voice, he opened his eyes to find her hand now covering her stomach.