7. The Pact of Seeds
Chapter seven
The Pact of Seeds
Emily
She has a heated exchange with Baba and then wants to show us her garden? What the fuck? Did I make a mistake by bringing us here?
The question gnawed at me, a persistent shadow trailing my thoughts. From the beginning, I knew Delphine was a force to be reckoned with. I had heard enough stories, seen enough evidence. Yet, the allure of healing, the tantalizing possibility of redemption... it had proven too compelling to resist.
After witnessing the tension-charged duel of words between Baba and Delphine, I was beginning to question my decision.
Should we leave? What the fuck was that about?
A cold prickle of uncertainty crept up my spine. My instincts were screaming at me, raising alarm bells that echoed loudly in the pit of my stomach.
Every fiber of my being twitched with a newfound alertness.
I watched Delphine walk ahead of us. Her every movement an enigma. It was as though she was a puzzle, each piece brimming with danger, and I was growing unsure whether I’d be able to put it all together without losing something precious in the process.
We probably should leave.
A part of me desired nothing more than to grab Kaz, Max, and the boys, then bolt from this place and never look back. I longed for the comfort of familiar surroundings, the reassuring routines of everyday life. Yet, I stood rooted in my place, bound by the hope of healing and an unnerving curiosity.
Plus, I was no stranger to danger. My life hadn’t exactly been a safe haven; I knew when to stand my ground, and when to flee.
But this. . .this was different.
Here, the threat was cloaked in ambiguity and made the hairs on my neck stand on end.
I swallowed hard.
Perhaps, it was time to reconsider her help.
Shit.
However, the tension eased as Delphine guided us around the house. Still, we kept a good amount of space between her and us.
Kaz walked on my right, firmly holding my hand.
Max kept step with me on my left. Worry decorated his expression.
Several feet up ahead, Delphine moved with surprising grace, her cane tapping rhythmically against the ground.
My voice wavered. “What do you make of that whole exchange between Baba and Delphine?”
Max leaned in closer, his reply coming in hushed tones, “I once saw this fantasy flick, right? Two wizards going head-to-head, draped in robes of black and white. They took out their wands, levitating, twirling around each other in this intense duel. I was at the edge of my seat, mouth agape.”
I shot him a sideways glance, “Okay. And your point?”
He held up one finger. “I’m saying, what went down between Baba and Aunt Delphine? It was like a replay of that movie, but double that shit. Then, there was Paolo mentioning her in his dream. . .”
A cold wave of dread crashed over me. “So, it wasn’t just my imagination?”
He shook his head, “Not a chance. Paolo was dead serious, like, ‘Hey, that’s the awesome lady from my dreams.’”
Shit.
Panic bubbled up in my chest, its searing tendrils almost wrapping around my throat, “If she really went into Paolo’s dreams. . .then, Max. . .what am I supposed to do with that?”
His eyes met mine, full of grim determination, “Only thing you can do is try your best not to piss your pants.”
I sighed and looked at Kaz. “What do you think, baby?”
A neutral mask covered his face as he watched Delphine. “She also hinted at Paolo being with someone from her bloodline in the future.”
“Yeah.” I swallowed. “I was thinking maybe Max has a daughter and—”
“Adult Paolo better keep his hot ass away from my little girl.” Max glared. “I know that. I love the little dude, but he is not touching my girl.”
I frowned. “You don’t even have a daughter and you are being possessive?”
“I’m just saying, Em. My girl will be marrying brothers . Brown to fucking shades of black. They can pick out of that spectrum. That’s it. And not any gangsters either. Doctors and lawyers. Black ones.”
“Paolo is not going to be a gangster.”
“What? With you two raising him? Shit.” Max snorted. “You want to put a bet on that?”
“Whatever.”
Kaz spoke, “We cannot forget that Ava is related to her also. So. . .it could be her kid if she ever haves one.”
“Facts. Misha is surely trying to put a baby in Ava.” Max nodded. “But then there’s Rafael and Gwen, if he can ever bag that.”
I shivered. “Why is everything always pointing back to the Jones family? That’s two women that are connected to you Max.”
“What do you mean, Em?”
“I don’t know. It’s just. . .it’s a lot of Jones women around the world and we keep bumping into them.”
Kaz raised an eyebrow. “You think it’s more than just coincidence?”
“Maybe.” My nerves flared. “It just seems strange.”
“Yo.” Max leaned my way. “I brought extra guns just in case.”
I quirked my brows. “You think we will need to shoot Delphine in the garden?”
“She looks small and fragile, but I would keep my eye on her.”
“Would you stop scaring me?”
“I’m just telling you how it is, Em.”
Kaz nodded. “For once, I agree with Maxwell.”
“That we need guns?”
“No, mysh . We need to keep our eyes on her.”
“That exchange between Delphine and Baba set you on edge?”
“I was not happy about it.”
Still following Delphine, we rounded a bend, and a sprawling garden came into my view.
Wow.
The sheer scale and beauty of it was staggering.
Plush rows of spinach and kale carpeted the landscape. Red roses and blue hydrangeas tumbled down banks of wildflowers, their vibrant colors spiraling outward in dizzying waves, like a psychedelic sea of flora. Hidden amidst the rainbow hues, a multitude of vegetables, fruit trees, and aromatic herbs thrived.
I let out a quiet “Well damn. I see why she wanted to show us this garden. It is amazing.”
The heavy, intoxicating scent of pollen swathed the floral perfumed air.
Yet, the tranquility of the garden stood in stark contrast to the tension-filled atmosphere we’d left behind.
Why had Baba been so adamant about Paolo staying away from here?
Up ahead, Delphine came to a halt at the edge of the garden and kept her back to us.
“Here we go,” Max whispered. “Stay alert.”
We closed the distance between us.
With a grandiose sweep of her cane, Delphine gestured towards the garden. “Welcome to Creole Eden.”
“Thank you for bringing us here.” I smiled. “This space is truly beautiful.”
Next to me, Kaz remained silent with his gaze locked on Delphine.
In all honesty, his silence unnerved me.
Relax. Everything will be okay. This will be good.
Max, meanwhile, surveyed the expansive garden and then folded his arms across his chest. “Go ahead, you guys. I’ll hang back here.”
I quirked my brows. “For real?”
He nodded, not taking his wary eyes off the garden. “Yeah. Something’s off about it.”
A creased hit Delphine’s forehead. “Grandnephew, I would like to show you the garden too.”
Max shrugged. “I see the garden just fine from here.”
“There’s nothing in that garden that will bother you, boy.”
“That doesn’t mean I’m going in there.”
I stood at a distance, watching this odd exchange. I’d known Max for a long time, and he wasn’t one to shy away from a garden. Yet, there he was, lingering on the periphery, looking uncomfortable.
“Okay.” I shrugged and looked at Delphine. “That’s fair. If Max isn’t feeling it, then we won’t make him.”
She directed her view my way. “You are very protective of my grandnephew?”
“Of course. He’s family.”
Delphine curved her lips into a small smile. “But he is not your blood.”
“Blood doesn’t define family for me. It just means that you share some DNA.”
“Is that right, Emily?”
“Real family is created from going through shit together and having each other’s back the whole time.”
Delphine studied me. “You believe in creating your family on the basis of love?”
“I do.”
Delphine put her view back on Max. “I was hoping to get some lemon seeds from your tree, but I didn’t feel the tree’s presence on my property today.”
Huh?
I was sure Maxwell had never told Delphine about Lemonisha.
Maxwell kept his gaze steady on her as if awaiting an attack. “It didn’t make any sense to bring her here.”
Delphine narrowed her eyes at him. “I expect to get some seeds before you leave New Orleans. Do you understand me?”
“I understand you.”
“But, will I get my seeds?”
Max unfolded his arms and pointed to the right. “Looks like you have several lemon and orange trees over there.”
Really, Max? You won’t share seeds with her either?
Delphine’s smile left. The frown returned. “I want your seeds.”
“Why?”
“I want one of those trees to reside in New Orleans.”
There was something about the way Delphine was asking for Lemonisha’s seeds that made me feel uneasy.
Max clearly got the same feeling.
Shaking his head, he eyed her. “But, why? I need more than that.”
Yeah. Why are you trying to get our tree’s seeds?
If anybody were getting seeds from Lemonisha it would be me first.
“That tree will end up being a family heirloom. It will be passed down through generations.” Delphine dotted the air with her fingers. “Every new tree grown from those seeds will reinforce the family’s status and power. In fact. . .these trees will become a symbol of the family’s enduring presence and influence.”
“Man, it’s just a tree.”
Delphine leaned her head to the side. “Yet, you are quite possessive of her already. You must feel the tree’s power too.”
“How about this?” Raising one hand, Max ran his fingers along the brim of his hat. “Stop messing with Paolo and going into his dreams, and you can get some seeds.”
Delphine blinked. “Is that necessary?”
Fuck. . .she never said she wasn’t in Paolo’s dreams.
I gritted my teeth.
How will I deal with that?
Max tilted his hat slightly to the other side and lowered his hand. “And be nice to Baba. That shit made me uneasy.”
Annoyance laced Delphine’s words. “You are negotiating with me ?”
“I’m just telling you what I need in order to feel good about giving you the seeds.”
Delphine considered this for several silent seconds and then nodded. “Very well. Your terms are acceptable.”
“We’ll see.”
“What does that mean?”
“I need to make sure you are making good on our agreement.”
“You definitely have our blood, boy. Just as hard-headed as all of us.” Delphine let out a long breath and turned around. “Let us see the garden, Kazimir and Emily.”
Max whispered, “Be careful, Em.”
I swallowed. “I will.”