Chapter 21
The morning news played on the television when Blake got up. Governor George’s smiling face filled the screen with her grandson
Jackson beside her. They sat on the ground while the lemurs rambled around them. The reporter oohed and aahed about the cubs
and the playful mama. George’s smiling face and windblown hair added to the sense of good time the clip showed.
The governor turned to fully face the camera. “We had the best time at The Sanctuary Wildlife Preserve. The animals were so
happy and well taken care of. If you haven’t visited this amazing park, I urge you to do so. What do you say, Jackson?”
“It was the best time ever, Grammy! I want to live there. Oh, and vote for my grandma for governor. She’s the best!”
Governor George chuckled. “That wasn’t quite what I meant, Jackson, but thank you for the plug.”
Her easy manner would gain her votes, and Blake hoped it would result in new visitors.
He and Paradise had prayed last night, and he was grateful God had showed up this morning with the great interview.
There was one last segment of Paradise finding a peacock feather and presenting it to Jackson.
The entire interview was heartwarming and would do wonders for the park.
He followed the enticing aroma of pancakes and warm maple syrup to the kitchen, where he found his mother taking breakfast
off the stove. “There was an awesome segment on TV just now about Governor George at the park. How’s the day look?”
She straightened and a smile lifted the sadness in her expression. “That’s great news. It probably played late last night,
too, and would explain how all the safari tours are sold out for the day. And there are three behind-the-scenes ones at a
thousand dollars each. Let’s pray it keeps up.”
“I am.” He took the plate of pancakes she offered and poured maple syrup from the warm pitcher onto them. “I’m starving. The
boys still asleep?”
“I heard them stirring a little, so I expect them any minute.” She slid a cup of coffee his way. “Did you get any rest?”
“Not much. Worry will do that to you.”
“This shouldn’t be your burden, and it grieves me that you have to be part of all of it. I’m the mom—I should be taking care
of you.”
“I’m a grown man, and I love you and the boys.”
“But it’s keeping you from having a fulfilling life.” She broke off in a choked voice. “You should be slipping a ring on Paradise’s
finger and planning a wedding. You should be dreaming of your own sons and not helping raise your brothers. I’ve messed up
everything.”
“Mom, stop it.” He went around the peninsula and hugged her.
“I have a great life. We’re a close family, and I love it that way.
There’s time for me and Paradise to get engaged and plan that wedding.
She’s only been back in town a few months, and she wants to take it slowly anyway.
She’s got plenty on her plate with her search for who murdered her parents. She’s not pushing for that ring.”
And the realization of that stung a little. He’d hoped she would be as eager to be with him as he was to be with her. She
loved him—he didn’t doubt that. But he didn’t sense the same urgency he felt. Was she worried he might let her down again?
He’d messed up badly all those years ago, and maybe she didn’t fully trust him.
“I have an idea. I don’t know how you feel about it or how she would feel, but I have a beautiful emerald necklace your dad
gave me before he left on that final tour of duty. You could have it made into a gorgeous engagement ring, and the color would
suit her so well. Does she like emeralds?”
A lump formed in his throat at the thought of giving Paradise something so special to his family. He had a few happy memories
of his dad. His dad’s voice encouraging him to get the rubber ball. Being tossed in the air and staring down into his dad’s
face, that image now dim with time. “I would love that, Mom. It would be special to me and to her, too, I’m sure.”
“I’ll get it and see what you think. I told him at the time he paid way too much money for it, but now I’m glad, because she’s
worth it.” She left him in the kitchen and went down the hall toward her bedroom.
He settled at the table and ate his breakfast while he waited for her to return. The sound of cartoons filtered from the boys’
bedroom, and contentment settled through his bones. He didn’t need much, just a family who loved him with Paradise by his
side. They could build a great life here, and after that TV segment, he felt hopeful for the first time in months.
His mother was smiling when she returned. “I’d forgotten how perfect these emeralds are. I can’t wait to see a ring on Paradise’s finger. I love that girl like she’s my own and always have.” She placed the necklace in his hand.
The stones caught the light streaming through the kitchen window. They were almost as gorgeous as Paradise’s eyes. He instantly
imagined a ring that would do them justice. It would take some time to get it designed and created, but it would be worth
the wait.
Paradise wandered the apartment on Thursday after work. Blake had a meeting with the bank and had promised to take the boys
fishing later, so she opted to have an evening to herself to think. Her emotions were so jumbled she found it hard to land
on a plan to figure things out.
The music box sat on a shelf of the bookcase in the living room, and she caught a glimpse of it as she paced the floor with
Merlin in her arms. A few people knew about how much she loved The Phantom of the Opera. Her cousins. She hadn’t seen her older cousin Lily in over a month. Paradise glanced at the clock on the wall. She could
be at Lily’s by seven. Or she could have a chat with Molly, her cousin Rod’s sister. A visit with Molly would be more fun,
but one with Lily might be more productive. She and Mom had been close, close enough that Paradise had been hurt when Lily
refused to care for her and had let CPS take her.
Cowardice never resulted in a victory. Paradise put the kitten down and grabbed her purse.
Lily lived on the outskirts of town, and it only took ten minutes to drive to the older two-story home with a Southern porch complete with a swing.
Lily had always loved working outside, and Paradise spotted her yanking weeds out of the flower bed in the yard.
When the car pulled into her drive, Lily stood and wiped the perspiration from her forehead.
Her scowl didn’t change when Paradise got out of the vehicle.
“Hi, Lily. I hope I’m not interrupting anything.”
“I was about done. I could use some sweet tea—how about you?”
At least she maintained her Southern hospitality. Paradise smiled. “That sounds great.” She followed her cousin to the porch
with its painted floor and haint blue ceiling.
Lily pointed to the swing. “Have a seat while I wash my hands and get the tea.”
It was a gorgeous evening. Paradise settled on the old swing and gave it a nudge with her foot. The gentle swaying reminded
her of sitting in this very spot with her mom so many years ago.
Lily returned with glasses of sweet tea and a small plate of lemon bars. “I made these this morning.”
“I haven’t had lemon bars in forever.” Paradise selected one.
“I suppose you have more questions about your mother.” Lily sounded resigned.
“I’m always interested in hearing any memories about Mom, but this time my questions have to do with that off-Broadway musical
I went to in New Orleans with Mom. The Phantom of the Opera. Do you remember?”
“That’s all you talked about for weeks. I never saw a girl so obsessed with a movie.” Lily took a lemon bar and bit into it.
“Someone has been trying to scare me out of town by having the music play on my phone and in my car. Someone hid a music box
similar to the one in the movie in the lemur habitat. I wondered if Mom might have told someone how much I loved it.”
“Well, sure. Your mom talked about you all the time. You were the smartest, prettiest, most perfect daughter there ever was.” Lily’s tone held a trace of contempt. “But then, whatever Becky cared about was all she cared about. She didn’t like listening to me talk about my kids.”
Pain flared in Paradise’s soul. Mom loved her, sure, but Paradise had never realized her mom bragged about her to her friends.
“Do you know the names of people she might have told?”
“Your eighth birthday party had a Phantom theme. Friends, family, kids from the neighborhood and school. Your dad grilled
burgers and hot dogs for several hours to feed all the people.”
“I—I don’t remember the party.” With a start Paradise realized her birthday was in five days. It had been years since she’d
even gotten a card to celebrate. Not many people knew the date. All of it had been buried by the murder of her parents.
Lily’s gaze softened. “It’s coming right up. Next week, isn’t it?”
“Y-yes.”
“I’ll be the first one to wish you happy birthday.”
Maybe the only one. It wasn’t a day she usually thought about, much less celebrated. When the calendar flipped to February,
Paradise struggled to get through every day, an hour at a time. Her thoughts usually didn’t clear until April.
“Many here in town know how much you loved that weekend with your mom. She showed pictures of it at the party. And since you’re
so determined to dredge up the past, I have a box of stuff I bought from the sale after your parents died. It’s in the attic.
Let me get it for you.”
If she’d loved it so much, why did that music box fill her with such dread? She should have been thrilled to see it. There
was more here than she understood.